Gubler, S., Hunziker, S., Begert, M., Croci-Maspoli, M., Konzelmann, T., Brönnimann, S., Schwierz, C., Oria, C. and Rosas, G., 2017: The influence of station density on climate data homogenization. Int. J. Climatol., 37: 4670–4683. doi: 10.1002/joc.5114.
Abstract. Relative homogenization methods assume that measurements of nearby stations experience similar climate signals and rely therefore on dense station networks with high-temporal correlations. In developing countries such as Peru, however, networks often suffer from low-station density. The aim of this study is to quantify the influence of network density on homogenization. To this end, the homogenization method HOMER was applied to an artificially thinned Swiss network.
Four homogenization experiments, reflecting different homogenization approaches, were examined. Such approaches include diverse levels of interaction of the homogenization operators with HOMER, and different application of metadata. To evaluate the performance of HOMER in the sparse networks, a reference series was built by applying HOMER under the best possible conditions.
Applied in completely automatic mode, HOMER decreases the reliability of temperature records. Therefore, automatic use of HOMER is not recommended. If HOMER is applied in interactive mode, the reliability of temperature and precipitation data may be increased in sparse networks. However, breakpoints must be inserted conservatively. Information from metadata should be used only to determine the exact timing of statistically detected breaks. Insertion of additional breakpoints based solely on metadata may lead to harmful corrections due to the high noise in sparse networks.
It would be better to have two assessment, not counting the ones of the editors. And it would be better to have two editors responsible for a synthesis, but let’s not be too strict in this beginning stage.
Both assessments seem sound and the grades well motivated. Thus I will simply average the grades.
Impact on the larger scientific community. [75]
Contribution to the scientific field of the journal. [85]
The technical quality of the paper. [75]
Importance at the time of publishing. [-]
Importance of the research program. [-]