Problem 11        Due 2/18/00

The internet is a tremendous source of
useful information, particularly that of
statistical nature.  In this problem you
will use a simple web searching algorithm
to find information on the average global
temperature over the past several centuries.

Thus:

a) Using a web search engine (there are
many possibilities, but I usually use the
altavista search engine at www.altavista.com)
find the global temperature for at least
the last four centuries and plot the data
up.  Give me the URL, but -not- the data!
You may use the global temperature anomaly
rather than the actual average temperature.

b) Fit the data for the period 1900 - present
with a simple linear model using the normal
equations.  You will want to have saved the
data in matrix form so that it can be read in
as a matlab data file.  If the pattern of the
last century holds true, how much hotter is
it expected to be in the year 2020 than it is
today?

c) Compare the behavior for the last 100 years
with the earlier record.  Do you think there
is a cause for concern?

Hint:  I recommend using the advanced search
utility features, and use a fair number of
keywords to limit the search.  Also, you will
probably want to paste the data into a text
file which can then be edited into the appropriate
matrix form.