NOAA: Fifth Warmest July on Record for Globe

August 15, 2008

The combined average global land and ocean surface temperature for July 2008 tied with 2001 and 2003 as the fifth warmest July since worldwide records began in 1880, according to an analysis by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

Also, the 7 months from January to July 2008 ranked as the 9th warmest 7-month period for combined average global land and ocean surface temperature.

Global Temperatures

* The July 2008 combined global land and ocean surface temperature was 0.88 F (0.49 C) above the 20th century mean of 60.4 F (15.8 C). For the January–July period, the combined global land and ocean surface temperature was 0.81 F (0.45 C) above the 20th century mean of 56.9 F (13.8 C).

* Separately, the global land surface temperature for July was 1.22 F (0.68 C) above the 20th century mean of 57.8 F (14.3 C). For January–July, the global land surface temperature was 1.35 F (0.75 C) above the 20th century mean of 46.8 F (8.3 C).

* The July global ocean surface temperature was 0.76 F (0.42 C) above the 20th century mean of 61.5 F (16.4 C). The January–July global ocean surface temperature was 0.61 F (0.34 C) above the 20th century mean of 61.0 F (16.1 C).

* El Niño-Southern Oscillation conditions continued neutral through July in the tropical Pacific Ocean, ending the La Niña event that began in mid-2007.

* Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent ranked 4th lowest on record for July. Since 1979, Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent in July has decreased by 6.1% per decade. In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent was slightly above the 1979-2000 average and ranked 10th largest for July out of the last 30 years.

Link to article: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20080815_ncdc.html