51.28754 0.44855 Met Office CIMO Class 1 Installed and with continuous temperature archive 1/1/1925
The Met office classes this site administered by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) as a flagship Class 1 site. Tim Channon reviewed this site in 2012 and estimated Class 3 on the grounds of unnatural ground cover. I will bring his review up to date with more damning evidence of the site’s shortcomings.
As Tim emphasized this surrounding area represents experimental fields typical of an agricultural institute. In this case, however, much of the main research revolves around modifying the local conditions and creation of a micro climate. Emphasis is on improving soft fruits, in particular viticulture rather than general field crops. The website heavily focuses on these products which are a large mainstay of the “Garden of England” economy in Kent.
This emphasis becomes more evident when studying Google aerial images. I deliberately did not use the latest image for the headline (that one is from May 2018) so below is a better example is the most recent more typical example.
It really does not look that pristine Class 1 example now does it? 5,000 square metres of poly tunnel starting just 30 metres to the south east and a further 2,200 square metres to the east is rather comprising. An already warmer direction gentle south easterly breeze will inevitably waft artificially warmed air over the vicinity of the screen. However, given the Met Office seems unconcerned about the effects of electricity sub stations and gas turbine exhausts they will no doubt arrogantly hand wave away this real “greenhouse” effect. The 100 metre Class 1 exclusion zone is shown as clearly compromised below.
In all recent historic site images over the last 2 decades there have been large elements of artificial ground and air temperature modifications in the area caused by either poly tunnels or lower ground cloche cover. This is definitely not an area representative of the natural environment and any recent indicated warming will almost certainly be derived from anthropogenic causes other than increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Another question in comparing recent temperatures with those of the past is shown by the 1960 aerial image below.
Where is the weather station? It certainly was not there. I have been unable to identify the prior location which appears to have been relocated sometime in 1963 though it certainly appears to have been moved more than the several hundred metres around that i have visually scoured. The clear evidence is that this site does not have a reliable continuous historic temperature record.
The above screen location to the north west of extraneous heat sources is also replicated in the wider geographic area. East Malling may seem a rural site until viewed in the wider context below. The red kite shows the weather station to the north west of the county town of Kent, Maidstone.
In common with all of the south east of England, there has been a significant population increase with Kent having the second highest population density of any county area after Surrey. Maidstone itself has been subject to extensive urban sprawl and the total area population has more than tripled since the East Malling site was originally installed. The village area of East Malling is surrounded to all directions other than due south bringing the area liable to Urban Heat Island effects on breezes – those south easterlies will have been pre-warmed by the Maidstone urban effect even before it reaches the poly tunnels to be further warmed.
In conclusion the Met Office claim this is a Class 1 pristine site – does anyone else agree with their opinion? I certainly do not and consider it the same as Tim did as at very best Class 3 and more probably Class 4 like Dyce and Bingley.
Footnote: I have enquired of the Met Office if they still maintain this site is worthy of Class 1 status and will advise of their response if and when one is received.
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February 4, 2025 at 08:32AM
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