Measurement uncertainty
The quantified or described doubt associated with a measurement result.
Example
Meter precision, calibration and sampling can influence a methane estimate.
The catch
A narrow-looking number should not conceal a wide uncertainty range.
Related terms
Calibration, Methane, Audit trail, Carbon neutral, Climate positive, Conflict of interest
In more depth
Measurement uncertainty, explained.
Measurement uncertainty is best reported as a range with a stated confidence level, plus a note on what drives it. Random scatter shrinks as readings accumulate. Systematic bias does not, since a meter that reads high will read high all year. Calibration against a reference is the control for bias.
In a methane estimate, the uncertainties in flow, concentration and destruction combine, and the total is wider than any single part. IPCC guidance asks countries to estimate uncertainty for their national emissions inventory, and some crediting methods apply conservative deductions when uncertainty is high. Keep precision and accuracy apart. A figure with many decimal places can still be wrong.
In the journal