Climate of 2003 - June in Historical Perspective

National Climatic Data Center
15 July 2003

Global Highlights:

• Global average combined land and sea surface temperature was the third warmest for June 2003
• Temperatures were much above average across most of Europe and South America with below average temperatures in the northeastern U.S. and the western half of Russia
• Precipitation during June 2003 was above average in the southeastern U.S. and East Asia, with drier than average conditions over most of Europe and India
• Sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific began to indicate that ENSO was less likely to cycle into La Nina

Contents of this Section:

• Introduction
• Global Temperatures
• Global Precipitation
• ENSO SST Analysis
• Microwave Sounding Unit Data

Introduction

The June 2003 mean temperature was above the 1988-2002 average across most of the western U.S., Europe and India as shown in the adjacent map of blended satellite and in situ data. Cooler than average temperatures occurred over far western half of Russia, much of West Africa and the eastern U.S. 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.

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June temperature anomalies calculated from the Global Historical Climatology Network data set of land surface stations (using a 1961-1990 base period) also show above average temperatures throughout most of Australia, much of Europe, South America and Alaska. Monthly temperatures were 3-5°C (5.4-9°F) above the mean. Cooler than average temperatures were present throughout the eastern U.S. into the Great Plains, and in Kazakhstan, where monthly temperatures were as much as 2-4°C (3.6-7.2°F) below average.

Temperature

June For June 2003, the global average land and ocean surface temperature was 0.54°C (0.97°F) above the 1880-2002 average, ranking as the third warmest June in the period of record The warmest June occurred in 1998, when the global anomaly was +0.63°C (+1.13°F) Globally averaged land temperatures were second warmest on record, 0.96°C (1.73°F) above the long-term mean

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June 2003 temperatures averaged across the Northern Hemisphere were second warmest on record, 0.61°C (1.10°F) above the long term mean Temperatures averaged throughout the Southern Hemisphere were second warmest, 0.47°C (0.85°F) above average

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January-June For January-June 2003, the global average land and ocean surface temperature was 0.55°C (1.00°F) above the long term mean, third warmest Ocean surface temperatures were 0.40°C (0.72°F) above the 1880-2002 mean, third warmest for January-June 2003. January-June 2003 temperatures averaged across the Northern Hemisphere were eighth warmest on record, 0.89°C (1.60°F) above the long term mean Temperatures averaged throughout the Southern Hemisphere were second warmest, 0.72°C (1.30°F) above 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 left Globally averaged surface temperatures (land and ocean) have been warmer than the 1971-2000 average for the last 86 consecutive months

Precipitation

During June 2003, much above average precipitation fell across the southeastern U.S., much of Brazil, parts of East Asia and the eastern coast of Australia Below average precipitation was observed in the majority of Europe, India and western Canada Additional regional analysis can be found on the Global Hazards page

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ENSO SST Analysis

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Ocean and climate indicators used to determine the state of ENSO suggest that the projected transition to La Nina stalled during June 2003. The negative anomalies of sea-surface temperature diminshed across the central and equatorial Pacific, as shown in the adjacent animation of weekly sea surface temperature anomalies. This trend as well as others, such as deepening of the eastern equatorial Pacific oceanic thermocline are indications of a cessation of development to La Nina conditions, although there is considerable uncertainty for the next several months. ENSO conditions in the tropical Pacific are near-neutral as of the end of June 2003. The most up-to-date information on ENSO (El Nino/Southern Oscillation) conditions can be found at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) and the CPC ENSO Diagnostic Discussion Images of sea surface temperature conditions are available for all months to date during 2003 at the weekly sst page

Microwave Sounding Unit Data

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Temperatures in the lowest 8km (5 miles) of the troposphere were 0.01°C (0.02°F) below the 1979-1998 average during June 2003 Temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were 0.17°C (0.31°F) above the mean for June 2003 Temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere were 0.19°C (0.34°F) below the mean for June 2003

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June 2003 temperatures were below the 1984-1990 average in the lower stratosphere, 0.34°C (0.66°F) cooler than the mean Temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were 0.27°C (0.49°F) below the mean for June 2003 Temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere were 0.46°C (0.83°F) below the mean for June 2003

  For additional details on precipitation and temperatures in June, 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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