Climate of 2003 - September in Historical Perspective

National Climatic Data Center
15 October 2003

Global Highlights:

• Global average combined land and sea surface temperature was warmest on record for September 2003
• Temperatures were much above average across Asia, the western U.S. and eastern Canada with below average temperatures across western Australia, Mexico and Alaska
• Precipitation during September 2003 was above average in the northeastern U.S. and Venezuela, with drier than average conditions over southern India and Japan
• Near average equatorial Pacific SSTs were indicative of near-neutral ENSO conditions

Contents of this Section:

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

Introduction

The September 2003 mean temperature was above the 1988-2002 average across eastern Canada, Europe, Russia and Morocco as shown in the adjacent map of blended satellite and in situ data. Cooler than average temperatures occurred over the central portion of India, Alaska and the U.S.Ohio Valley. The mean position of upper level ridges of high pressure 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. For all Global map products see the Climate Monitoring Products page.

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September 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 Russia, the western U.S. and much of Asia. Monthly temperatures were 3-5°C (5.4-9°F) above the mean in many of these areas. Cooler than average temperatures were present throughout Mexico, the central Great Plains of the U.S. and parts of South Africa where monthly temperatures were as much as 2-4°C (3.6-7.2°F) below average.

Temperature

September For September 2003, the global average land and ocean surface temperature was 0.58°C (1.04°F) above the 1880-2002 average, ranking as the warmest September in the period of record Globally averaged land temperatures were second warmest on record, 0.68°C (1.22°F) above the long-term mean Globally averaged ocean surface temperatures were 0.53°C (0.95°F) above the 1880-2002 mean, warmest on record for September 2003.

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September 2003 temperatures averaged across the Northern Hemisphere were warmest on record, 0.67°C (1.21°F) above the long term mean Temperatures averaged throughout the Southern Hemisphere were third warmest, 0.50°C (0.90°F) above average

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January-September For January-September 2003, the global average land and ocean surface temperature was 0.60°C (1.00°F) above the long term mean, third warmest Globally averaged land temperatures were third warmest on record, 0.84°C (1.51°F) above the long-term mean Globally averaged ocean surface temperatures were 0.43°C (0.77°F) above the 1880-2002 mean, second warmest for January-September 2003. January-September 2003 temperatures averaged across the Northern Hemisphere were third warmest on record, 0.62°C (1.12°F) above the long term mean Temperatures averaged throughout the Southern Hemisphere were third warmest, 0.46°C (0.83°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 89 consecutive months

Precipitation

During September 2003, much above average precipitation fell across Mexico, portions of central India, southern Brazil and Uruguay, and the northeastern U.S. Below average precipitation was observed in eastern Australia, the United Kingdom and the Carribean Additional regional analysis can be found on the Global Hazards page

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ENSO SST Analysis

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Sea surface temperatures were near normal over much of the equatorial Pacific (as shown in the adjacent animation of weekly sea surface temperature anomalies), indicative of neutral ENSO conditions. A comprehensive summary of September 2003 ENSO conditions can be found on the ENSO monitoring page. For the latest advisory on ENSO conditions go to 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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Global temperatures in the lowest 8km (5 miles) of the troposphere were 0.17°C (0.31°F) above the 1979-1998 average during September 2003, the 6th warmest September since satellite records began in 1979 Temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were 0.31°C (0.56°F) above the mean for September 2003 Temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere were 0.03°C (0.06°F) above the mean for September 2003

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Global temperatures in the lower 17km - 22km (10 - 14 miles) of the stratosphere were below the 1984-1990 average, 0.52°C (0.93°F) cooler than the mean Temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were 0.53°C (0.96°F) below the mean for September 2003 Temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere were 0.50°C (0.91°F) below the mean for September 2003

  For additional details on precipitation and temperatures in September, 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.

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