Record High Global Temperature

Global temperature at record high in August, June–August, January–August

Each of global land temperature, SST also highest on record for same periods

The combined average temperature for global land and ocean surfaces (SST) for August 2015 was 0.88°C (1.58°F) above the 20th century average of 15.6°C (60.1°F) and the highest August in the 136-year record, according to the latest State of the Climate Report prepared by NCDC/NOAA.

• August was the sixth month in 2015 that broke the monthly temperature record (February, March, May, June, July, and August).
• August 2015 tied with January 2007 as the third warmest monthly departure from average for any of the 1,628 months since records began in January 1880, behind February 2015 and March 2015 (+0.89°C / +1.60°F).
• Five of the ten largest monthly temperature departures from average have occurred in 2015.

Global land surface temperature for August

The average global land surface temperature for August 2015 was 1.14°C (2.05°F) above the 20th century average—the highest August value in the 1880–2015 record, exceeding the previous record set in 1998 by +0.13°C (+0.23°F).

SST for August

The August 2015 globally-averaged SST was 0.78°C (1.40°F) above the 20th century average—the highest temperature for any month in the 1880–2015 record and surpassing the previous record set in July 2015 by 0.04° (0.07°F).

Combined average land temp. and SST (June-August)

Global land and SST temperature for June–August was 0.85°C (1.53°F) above the 20th century average, surpassing the previous record set in 2014 by 0.11°C (0.20°F). June–August 2015 tied with February–April 2015 as the second warmest three-month period temperature departure from average, behind January–March 2015 (+0.86°C / +1.55°F).

• Much of the world’s land surface was much-warmer-than-average.
• Much of South America and parts of the western contiguous U.S. and parts of Africa and Asia experienced record high temperatures.

Global land surface temperature for (June–August)

Average global land surface temperature was 1.10°C (1.98°F) above the 20th century average—the highest for June–August in the 1880–2015 record and topping the previous record set in 2010 by 0.07°C (0.13°F).

SST for (June–August)

The globally-averaged SST for the three-month period was 0.75°C (1.35°F) above the 20th century average and the highest departure from average for the season on record. This value exceeded the previous record set in 2014 by 0.06°C (0.11°F).

• A large swath across the eastern and central tropical Pacific Ocean and parts of the Indian and Atlantic experienced record warm.
• A patch of much-cooler-than-average temperatures observed across the North Atlantic Ocean.

Global land and SST (January–August period)

Global land and SST temperature during the first eight months of 2015, January–August period, was the highest ever recorded at 0.84°C (1.51°F) above the 20th century average, exceeding the previous record set in 2010 by 0.10°C (0.18°F).

• Much of South America and parts of North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia had record warmth.
• A large portion of the northeastern and equatorial Pacific Ocean observed record warmth.
• Other major basins observed record warmth in some areas.

Global land temperature for January–August 2015 was 1.29°C (2.32°F) above the 20th century average—the highest January–August during 1880–2015 record and topping the previous record set in 2007 by 0.16°C (0.29°F).

SST for the same period was 0.68°C (1.22°F) above the 20th century average and the highest January–August on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2014 by 0.07°C (0.13°F).

Sea ice extent for August 2015

August average Arctic sea ice extent was 1.61 million square kilometers (620,000 square miles), or about 22.3 percent below the 1981–2010 average, making it the fourth smallest August extent since records began in 1979.

Antarctic sea ice extent during August 2015 was 77,700 square kilometers (30,000 square miles), or about 0.5 percent below the 1981–2010 average.

• In contrast, Antarctic sea ice extent has been record/ near-record large in recent years.
• First month since November 2011 that the Antarctic sea ice extent was below average.

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate: Global Analysis for August 2015, published online September 2015, retrieved on September 18, 2015 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201508.

Arctic sea ice maximum extent shrinks to new record low

Record low Arctic sea ice maximum extent also occurs early this year

Arctic sea ice extent appeared to have reached its annual maximum extent at 14.54 million square kilometers (5.61 million square miles), on February 25, 2015, marking an early start of the melt season, said National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). 

The 2015 maximum extent occurred 15 days earlier than the 1981 to 2010 average date of March 12, however, a late season surge in ice growth could still occur, said NSIDC, adding that it will post a detailed analysis of the winter sea ice conditions in April.

Measured at 14.54 million square kilometers (5.61 million square miles), the lowest in the satellite record that began in 1979. the ice probably reached its maximum extent for the year on February 25.  The maximum extent was 1.10 million square kilometers (425,000 square miles) below the 1981 to 2010 average of 15.64 million square kilometers (6.04 million square miles) and 130,000 square kilometers (50,200 square miles) below the previous lowest maximum that occurred in 2011, said NSIDC.

Below-average ice conditions were observed everywhere except in the Labrador Sea and Davis Strait.  This year’s maximum occurred 15 days earlier than the 1981 to 2010 average date of March 12. The date of the maximum has varied considerably over the years, occurring as early as February 24 in 1996 and as late as April 2 in 2010.

“Over the next two to three weeks, periods of increase are still possible. However, it now appears unlikely that there could be sufficient growth to surpass the extent reached on February 25.”

Arctic sea ice extent for February 25, 2015 was 14.54 million square kilometers (5.61 million square miles). The orange line shows the 1981 to 2010 median extent for that day. The black cross indicates the geographic North Pole. Sea Ice Index data. About the data. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center. High-resolution image

Temperatures throughout the eastern Arctic were several degrees Celsius above average at the 925 hPa level (approximately 1,000m, or 3,000 feet altitude) during the first half of March, and climbed as much as 8 to 10 degrees Celsius (14 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit) above average in the Barents Sea between Svalbard and Franz Josef Land, reported NSIDC.

Minimum Ice Extent

The Arctic sea ice will reach its annual minimum extent in September (assuming that there would still be some ice left this year!)

The ice reached its lowest minimum cover in 2012 with 2.11 million square kilometers (1.31 million square miles), which was about 483,000 square kilometers (300,000 square miles), or 18.6 percent, lower than the previous record low of 2.59 million square kilometers set in 2007.

How Much Ice Melting in Arctic Sea?

Arctic ice extent fell 61% faster than average first half of July

Arctic ice cover declined at a rate of 132,000 km² per day during the first two weeks of July, which was 61% faster than the average, said the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

• The average rate of decline calculated over the period 1981 to 2010 is 82,000 km²/day.

• The fastest ice loss was observed in the Kara sea, where  temperatures were up to 5ºC above average, and East Greenland sea, followed by the Laptev Sea.

• Sea ice retreated slowest on the Pacific side,  especially in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.

• Temperatures over Alaska, Siberia and the Canadian Arctic were up to 5ºC  below average.

The graph above shows Arctic sea ice extent as of July 19, 2013, along with daily ice extent data for 2012, the record low year. 2013 is shown in blue, and 2012 in green. The gray area around the average line shows the two standard deviation range of the data. Sea Ice Index data. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center

Arctic sea ice extent for July 19. The orange line shows the 1981 to 2010 median extent for that month. The black cross indicates the geographic North Pole. Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center

Additional Data

• Arctic sea ice reached its annual maximum extent at 15.13 million km²on March 10, five days later than the 1979 to 2000 average date of March 10.
• The 2013 maximum ice extent was 733,000 km² below the 1979 to 2000, and became the 6th lowest in the satellite record, said NSIDC.
• The lowest maximum extent occurred in 2011; ten lowest maximums have occurred in the last ten years (2004 – 2013).

Related Links

• ‘Surreal’ Melt Season Begins in Arctic Sea March 26, 2013
• Antarctic Flood Forms ‘Ice Crater’ July 2, 2013
• Arctic Sea Ice Extent Could Fall to 3M Km² Sept. 3, 2012

‘Surreal’ Melt Season Begins in Arctic Sea

Arctic Sea ice reaches annual maximum extent at 15.13mkm²

Arctic sea ice likely reached its maximum extent for 2013, at 15.13 million square kilometers (5.84 million square miles), the 6th lowest in satellite record, the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reported.

Arctic sea ice extent on March 15 was 15.13 million square kilometers (5.84 million square miles). The orange line shows the 1979 to 2000 median extent for that day. The black cross indicates the geographic North Pole.  —Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center.

The maximum ice extent was 733,000 km² below the 1979 to 2000 average of 15.86 million square kilometers.

• The maximum occurred on March 10, five days later than the 1979 to 2000 average date of March 10.
• The 2013 maximum ice extent was the 6th lowest in the satellite record, said NSIDC.
• The lowest maximum extent occurred in 2011; ten lowest maximums have occurred in the last ten years (2004 – 2013).

Arctic sea ice extent as of March 24, 2013, along with daily ice extent data for the previous five years. 2012 to 2013 is shown in blue, 2011 to 2012 in green, 2010 to 2011 in pink, 2009 to 2010 in navy, and 2008 to 2009 in purple. The 1979 to 2000 average is in dark gray. The gray area around this average line shows the two standard deviation range of the data. —Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center

Over the 2012 to 2013 winter season, sea ice extent grew a record 11.72 million square kilometers (4.53 million square miles). The record growth was primarily a result of the record low minimum last September, leaving a greater extent of ocean surface uncovered in ice to re-freeze this winter. This seasonal ice gain is 645,000 square kilometers (249,000 square miles) higher than the previous record (2007 to 2008) and 2.63 million square kilometer (1.02 million square miles) higher than the 1979 to 2000 average. Last autumn’s record low and this winter’s record ice growth indicate a more pronounced seasonal cycle in Arctic sea ice and the increasing dominance of first-year ice in the Arctic. —NSIDC

Related Links

• Polar Ice Page [Includes an index of links to Arctic Sea Ice  ]

World Sizzling in Hottest Year to Date

Specter of Global Drought Disasters Looming

Global Food Shortages Would Follow

The Planet Can Survive Higher Temperatures; YOU Can’t!

The first six months of 2010 has been the warmest on record so far. The average global temperatures for the first half of the year were 0.03 degree Fahrenheit higher than the previous record set in 1998, according to the National Climatic Data Center.

The El Nino weather pattern was the major driver for the hot temperatures globally, climate scientists say.

“We had an El Nino episode in the early part of the year that’s now faded but that has contributed to the warmth not only in equatorial Pacific but also contributed to anomalously warm global temperatures as well,” said Jay Lawrimore, chief of climate analysis at the National Climatic Data Center.

Although La Nina could bring in cooler temperatures globally later this year, 2010 could still prove to be the hottest year overall since the records began, overtaking 2005 the previous record holder.

“This year the fact that the El Nino episode has ended and is likely to transition into La Nina, which has a cooling influence on the global average temperature, it’s possible that we will not end up with the warmest year as a whole.” Lawrimore said.

Global View

• The Arctic sea, the ice melted to its thinnest level in June.
• Britain has seen it driest year in 80 years.
• Parts of Middle East are  undergoing the most severe drought since records began.
• Northern Thailand is experiencing the worst drought in living memory.
• The U.S.: “It’s going to be pretty warm across eastern Nebraska, Iowa, western portions of Missouri, mid to upper 90s (F),” said Donald Keeney, senior agriculture meteorologist with CROPCAST Ag Services.
• Large temperatures anomalies in most parts of  Africa, Canada and tropical oceans have been registered, a report said.

Land Surface Temperatures, Early July 2010

Global map shows temperature anomalies for July 4–11, 2010, compared to temperatures for the same dates from 2000 to 2008. The anomalies are based on land surface temperatures observed by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. Areas with above-average temperatures appear in red and orange, and areas with below-average temperatures appear in shades of blue. Oceans, lakes, and areas with insufficient data (usually because of persistent clouds) appear in gray. Source of Image and caption (edited) NASA E/O. Click image to enlarge. Download large image (3 MB, PNG)

Note from original caption: “Because this image shows temperature anomalies rather than absolute temperatures, not all red areas are warmer than all blue areas. Red-hued northern Canada, for instance, is not warmer than blue-hued northern Mexico. Although deep red tones predominate along the mid-Atlantic coast, absolute temperatures are probably warmer in the barely orange American Southwest. Unusually warm conditions predominate in South America, but the Southern Hemisphere is in winter.”

News Links:

• Soaring temperatures across Russia destroy 10 million hectares of crops and prompt a state of emergency to be declared in 17 regions.

Related Links:

• U.S. Had 8th Warmest June, Wetter
• Earth: Wounded and Feverish

Arctic sea ice has thinned dramatically

Arctic sea ice thinned dramatically between the winters of 2004 and 2008—NASA

Analysis of data from a NASA Earth-orbiting spacecraft shows that “Arctic sea ice thinned dramatically between the winters of 2004 and 2008, with thin seasonal ice replacing thick older ice as the dominant type for the first time on record.”  The latest discovery “provide further evidence for the rapid, ongoing transformation of the Arctic’s ice cover.”

ICESat measures the distances to the top of the snow cover and to the sea surface. The difference between the two quantities gives the total “freeboard” measurement; that is, the amount of ice above the water line relative to the local sea level. Credit: Courtesy of Norbert Untersteiner, University of Washington

NASA says their and the University of Washington in Seattle researchers carried out “the most comprehensive survey to date using observations from NASA’s Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite, known as ICESat,” to determine “the first basin-wide estimate of the thickness and volume of the Arctic Ocean’s ice cover.”  Their research team, led by Ron Kwok of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., published its findings on July 7 in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans.

This schematic shows the geometric relationship between freeboard (the amount of ice above the water line), snow depth, and ice thickness. Buoyancy causes a fraction (about 10 percent) of sea ice to stick out above the sea surface. By knowing the density of the ice and applying “Archimedes’ Principle” — an object immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object — the total thickness of the ice can be calculated. Credit: Ron Kwok, NASA/JPL

ICESat measurements of winter multi-year ice cover in the Arctic Ocean between 2004 and 2008, along with the corresponding downward trend in overall winter sea ice volume, and switch in dominant ice type from multi-year ice to first-year ice. Credit: Ron Kwok, NASA/JPL

ICESat measurements of winter multi-year ice cover in the Arctic Ocean between 2004 and 2008, along with the corresponding downward trend in overall winter sea ice volume, and switch in dominant ice type from multi-year ice to first-year ice. Credit: Ron Kwok, NASA/JPL

Data visualization of Arctic sea ice thickness, as measured by ICESat, shows the decline of the thickest ice (white, 4 to 5 meters thick) and increase in thinner ice (deep blue, 0 to 1 meter) from 2003 to 2008. Credit: NASA Goddard’s Scientific Visualization Studio.

Data visualization of ice thickness, as measured by ICESat, shows the yearly growth (winter) and retreat (fall) of ice in the Arctic Ocean. Credit: NASA Goddard’s Scientific Visualization Studio

More Images Available at Source

Related Links:

• Arctic Sea Ice Reaches Lowest Coverage For 2008
• Satellites Show Arctic Literally on Thin Ice

FEWW Links

• Strong Quake Strikes Baffin Bay