Weather data must go public

THE public are being asked to lend a hand in digitalising millions of old weather records to better predict the world’s climate.

With 2.5 million pieces of data from between 1860 and 1880 not stored in digital form, scientists are unable to quickly access past measurements.

Undertaking the task in the research community alone would take too long, so people are being urged to help out with the data using a computer at home.

Digitalisation of the Met Office records will enable meteorologists make discoveries about the world’s changing climate.

“It’s a great opportunity for the public to contribute to real scientific research,” said Reading Univeristy’s Professor Ed Hawkins.