On the reality of climatic changes in wind over the Pacific

It is important to be aware of systematic errors when using data from ship observations to infer climatic changes. The development of our understanding of systematic errors in sea and air temperatures and cloudiness is reviewed. Many reasons for suspecting similar errors in wind data are noted. Wind data for the tropical Pacific for 1920–1979 are then analysed. Trends to stronger trade winds in both the north and south Pacific, and also large anomalies in the winds in these areas during the Second World War, are found in the data. Quantitative comparisons are made with the associated pressure gradients, and qualitative comparisons with rainfall at Pacific island stations. These series provide no support for the suggestion that the wind changes were real.