<p>In theory the choice of baseline average is irrelevant, because the purpose of using anomalies to to clearly see the change over time, allowing different absolute values to be compared.</p>

<p>Although in climate studies, we try to use baselines that are as 'pre-industrial' as possible to try and get the change from 'natural'.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-11T07:53:39.013Z
2018-10-11T07:53:39.013Z
Andrew Jon Dodds
<p>What is the purpose for doing this? Is it inaccurate to calculate anomalies for variables such as sea surface temperature and precipitation based on a different time period?</p>

<climate><oceanography><precipitation>
Why are climate anomalies calculated relative to 1981-2010 average?
Reqbisha
# Why are climate anomalies calculated relative to 1981-2010 average?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-10)

What is the purpose for doing this? Is it inaccurate to calculate anomalies for variables such as sea surface temperature and precipitation based on a different time period?

**Tags:** climate, oceanography, precipitation


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-10-11. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

In theory the choice of baseline average is irrelevant, because the purpose of using anomalies to to clearly see the change over time, allowing different absolute values to be compared.

Although in climate studies, we try to use baselines that are as 'pre-industrial' as possible to try and get the change from 'natural'.


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