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A 200-Year Record of European Air Pressure
Reference
Slonosky, V.C., Jones, P.D. and Davies, T.D.  2000.  Variability of the surface atmospheric circulation over Europe, 1774-1995.  International Journal of Climatology 20: 1875-1897.

What was done
Temperature, precipitation and other climate variables are largely controlled by patterns of atmospheric circulation, especially in the mid-latitudes.  Thus, decadal to centennial changes in atmospheric circulation or pressure may signify changes in global or regional climate.  With these facts in mind, Slonosky et al. analyze atmospheric surface pressure data from 51 stations located throughout Europe and the eastern North Atlantic over the past 200+ years.

What was learned
According to the authors, atmospheric circulation over Europe was found to be "considerably more variable, with more extreme values in the late 18th and early 19th centuries than in the 20th century."  Furthermore, the authors note that the recent positive trend in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) reported in other papers was "not as evident [in Europe] in the context of the past 200 years" nor does it appear "unusual."

What it means
As the earth has recovered from the global chill of the Little Ice Age, the variability of atmospheric circulation -- and, hence, weather -- has lessened, which finding is in direct contrast to climate alarmist predictions of increasing weather extremes due to global warming.  Also, climate alarmists have seized upon the recent positive trend in the NAO as proof of CO2-induced global climate change.  However, with a longer data set, such as the one provided here, there is nothing unprecedented about the NAO's recent positive trend.  It is nothing more nor less than a manifestation of natural climate variability.