Articles | Volume 15, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1145-2022
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1145-2022
Research article
 | 
07 Mar 2022
Research article |  | 07 Mar 2022

Truth and uncertainty. A critical discussion of the error concept versus the uncertainty concept

Thomas von Clarmann, Steven Compernolle, and Frank Hase

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Cited articles

Bayes, T.: An essay towards solving a problem in the doctrine of chances, Phil. Trans., 53, 370–418, https://doi.org/10.1098/rstl.1763.0053, 1763. a
Bich, W.: From Errors to Probability Density Functions. Evolution of the Concept of Measurement Uncertainty, IEEE T. Instrum. Meas., 61, 2153–2159, https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2012.2193696, 2012. a, b, c
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Bureau International des Poids et Mésures: Report on the BIPM enquiry on error statements, Tech. Rep. BIPM-80/3, Bureau International des Poids et Mésures, F-92310, https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/rapports-bipm-pre-1990 (last access: 1 March 2022), 1980.​​​​​​​ a
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Short summary
Contrary to the claims put forward in Evaluation of measurement data – Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement issued by the JCGM, the error concept and the uncertainty concept are the same. Arguments in favor of the contrary were found not to be compelling. Neither was any evidence presented that errors and uncertainties define a different relation between the measured and true values, nor is a Bayesian concept beyond the mere subjective probability referred to.
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