Comparison of techniques for detection of discontinuities in temperature series

Several techniques for the detection of discontinuities in temperature series are evaluated. Eight homogenization techniques were compared using simulated datasets reproducing a vast range of possible situations. The simulated data represent homogeneous series and series having one or more steps. Although the majority of the techniques considered in this study per-form very well, two methods seem to work slightly better than the others: the standard normal homogeneity test without trend, and the multiple linear regression technique. Both methods are distinctive because of their sensitivity concerning homogeneous series and their ability to detect one or several steps properly within an inhomogeneous series. Copyright (C) 2003 Environment Canada. Published by John Wiley Sons. Ltd.