From: R. Greenway, ENN
Published October 18, 2009 03:07 PM
September Global Surface Temperature Second Warmest
Since 1880
Image shows Global surface temperature anomalies
(degrees F) for the month of September.
The northeast is getting snow already, and low temperatures. Does
this mean global warming is a myth? Not necessarily. A new analysis of
global temperatures show that the combined global land and ocean surface
temperature was the second warmest September on record, according to
NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Based on records
going back to 1880, the monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis
is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.
Global Temperature Highlights:
- The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was 1.12
degrees F above the 20th century average of 59.0 degrees F.
Separately the global land surface temperature was 1.75 degrees F
above the 20th century average of 53.6 degrees F.
- Warmer-than-average temperatures engulfed most of the world’s
land areas during the month. The greatest warmth occurred across
Canada and the northern and western contiguous United States.
Warmer-than-normal conditions also prevailed across Europe, most of
Asia and Australia.
- The worldwide ocean temperature tied with 2004 as the fifth
warmest September on record, 0.90 degree F above the 20th century
average of 61.1 degrees F. The near-Antarctic southern ocean and the
Gulf of Alaska featured notable cooler-than-average temperatures.
- Arctic sea ice covered an average 2.1 million square miles in
September - the third lowest for any September since records began
in 1979. The coverage was 23.8 percent below the 1979-2000 average,
and the 13th consecutive September with below-average Arctic sea ice
extent.
- Antarctic sea ice extent in September was 2.2 percent above the
1979-2000 average. This was the third largest September extent on
record, behind 2006 and 2007.
- Typhoon Ketsana became 2009’s second-deadliest tropical cyclone
so far, claiming nearly 500 lives across the Philippines, Cambodia,
Laos and Vietnam. The storm struck the Philippines on September 26,
leaving 80 percent of Manila submerged.
Scientists, researchers, and leaders in government and industry use
NCDC’s monthly reports to help track trends and other changes in the
world's climate. The data have a wide range of practical uses, from
helping farmers know what and when to plant, to guiding resource
managers with critical decisions about water, energy and other vital
assets.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment,
from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves
and manages our coastal and marine resources.
From NOAA: Article originally appeared at:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20091015_sepglobalstats.html
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