State of the Climate Global Analysis January 2012

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Climatic Data Center

Global Highlights

• The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for January 2012 was the 19^th warmest on record at 12.35°C (54.23°F), which is 0.35°C (0.63°F) above the 20^th century average of 12.0°C (53.6°F). The margin of error associated with this temperature is +/- 0.08°C (0.14°F). This January is the coolest of all months on record since February 2008. However, it also marks the 26^th January and 323^rd consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20^th century average. The last month with below average temperatures was February 1985.
• Separately, the global land surface temperature was 0.49°C (0.88°F) above the 20^th century average of 2.8°C (37.0°F), making this the 28^th warmest January on record. The margin of error is +/- 0.17°C (0.31°F).
• The Arctic Oscillation climate pattern played a large role in temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere during January. The positive phase during the first half of the month contributed to well-below average monthly temperatures across Alaska and above-average temperatures across the contiguous United States. The negative phase during the second half of the month contributed to warmth in Canada and also to a cold snap that began during the last week in January across Central and Eastern Europe and North Africa.
• The January global ocean surface temperature was 0.30°C (0.54°F) above the 20^th century average of 15.8°C (60.5°F), making it the 17^th warmest January on record. The margin of error is +/- 0.04°C (0.07°F).

This article continues:  http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2012/1