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Climate of 2002 July in Historical Perspective National Climatic Data Center 15 August 2002

Global Analysis / Global Hazards / United States / U.S. Drought / Extreme Events
Use these links to access detailed analyses of Global and U.S. data.

Global Highlights: Global average combined land and sea surface temperature in 2002 was the second warmest on record for July July temperatures were 3-5°C (5.4-9°F) warmer than average over much of eastern Europe and western Russia, as well as parts of the western U.S. Above average precipitation during July occurred across the islands of the western Pacific, including Japan and parts of southeast China, with much drier conditions across India, parts of Australia and the U.S.

Contents of this Section: Introduction Global Temperatures July January-July Global Precipitation Microwave Sounding Unit Data

The data presented in this report are preliminary. Ranks and anomalies may change as more complete data are received and processed. The most current data may be accessed via the Global Surface Temperature Anomalies page.

Introduction

The July 2002 mean temperature was above the 1988-2002 average across eastern Europe and western Russia, much of the United States and over India and Mongolia as shown in the adjacent map of blended satellite and in-situ data. Cooler than average temperatures occurred across South Africa and northern Australia. The mean position of upper level ridges and troughs of low pressure (depicted by positive and negative 500 millibar height anomalies), are generally reflected by areas of positive and negative temperature anomalies at the surface, respectively. Warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures were observed throughout the tropical Pacific during July, the signature of weak El Niño conditions.

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July temperature anomalies calculated from the Global Historical Climatology Network data set of land surface stations using a 1961-1990 base period also show the warmer than average temperatures across much of the United States, and across a large area from Scandinavia southward into north Africa. Cooler than average temperatures were observed over much of Argentina and parts of Australia.

Temperature

July For July 2002, the global average land and ocean surface temperature was 0.49°C (0.88°F) above the 1880-2001 average, ranking as the second warmest July in the period of record The warmest July occurred 4 years ago during the last El Niño episode The July land surface temperature average was second warmest on record, 0.82°C (1.48°F) above average Globally averaged ocean surface tempeatures were 0.35°C (0.63°F) above the 1880-2001 mean, or fourth warmest

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January-July The global land and ocean surface temperature average (January-July 2002) was the second warmest such 7-month period in the 1880-2002 record, 0.62°C (1.12°F) above the long-term mean and 0.06°C (0.11°F) cooler than during the El Niño year of 1998 Year to date average temperature across land areas ranks as warmest on record for the 7-month period from January-July 2002, or 1.10°C (1.98°F) above the 1880-2001 average

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Serial monthly global surface temperature departures with respect to a 1971-2000 mean are shown in the figure to the right The recent return to record or near record temperature departures is evident, and globally averaged surface temperatures (land and ocean) have been warmer than the 1971-2000 average for the last 75 consecutive months

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Precipitation

During July 2002, much above average precipitation fell across the western Pacific, including southeast China, the Philippines and Japan as a number of tropical storms and typhoons affected the region Other areas of above average precipitation were noted over western Europe and the Mediterranean Monsoon rains were much lighter than average over India, while drier conditions were also observed over parts of the United States and most of Australia Additional regional analysis can be found on the Global Hazards page

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Microwave Sounding Unit Data

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Temperatures in the lowest 8km (5 miles) of the troposphere were 0.15°C (0.27°F) above average during July 2002, or the fourth warmest July in the satellite period of record (1979 to present)

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July 2002 temperatures were below average in the lower stratosphere, with a departure of -0.27°C (-0.49°F) July temperatures in the lower stratosphere have been below average each year since 1993. The overall cooling trend is consistent with the response to losses in stratospheric ozone while the warm anomalies in 1992 are due to the warming influence of the Mount Pinatubo eruption which occurred in the Philippines in June 1991.

  For additional details on precipitation and temperatures in July, see the Global Hazards page .

References:

Peterson, T.C. and R.S. Vose, 1997: An Overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network Database. Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 78, 2837-2849.

For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division:

Climate Services Division
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue, Room 120
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4876
phone: 828-271-4800
email: ncdc.orders@noaa.gov

For questions about this report, please contact:

David Easterling
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: David.Easterling@noaa.gov

Jay Lawrimore
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: Jay.Lawrimore@noaa.gov

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