Climate Monitoring / Climate of 2005 / January / Global / Help

Climate of 2005 - January in Historical Perspective


National Climatic Data Center
15 February 2005
Global Analysis / Global Hazards / United States / U.S. Drought / Extremes
Use these links to access detailed analyses of Global and U.S. data.

Global Highlights:

  • Based on preliminary data, global average combined land and sea surface temperature was 2nd warmest on record for January 2005
  • January temperatures were above average across Europe, Russia, Alaska and the majority of the U.S., with below average temperatures in Canada and Algeria
  • Precipitation during January was above average over the Ohio Valley of the U.S., Scandinavia and parts of Japan, with drier than average conditions in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., southeastern Canada and most of Australia
  • Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) continued to be above normal in the central equatorial Pacific

Contents of this Section:
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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.
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Introduction

Temperature anomalies for January are shown on the map below. The dot map on the left uses anomalies that were calculated from the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) data set of land surface stations using a 1961-1990 base period. The map on the right is a weekly product based on data from the Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (COADS) of SST data. During January 2005, mean temperatures were more than 3°C above average from eastern Europe to Siberia. Above average temperatures were also widespread in much of the United States, Brazil, southern and eastern areas of Africa, and much of Australia. Temperatures were below average in Algeria and other parts of West Africa, much of Canada and the majority of the U.S.

Current month's Temperature Dot map
larger image 		Current month's Temperature blended SSMI map
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Slightly above average sea surface temperatures are also evident in the product above. Warmer than average conditions covered large parts of the central and eastern Pacific reflecting weak, dissipating El Niņo conditions. Sea surface temperatures were also warmer than average in much of the northern Pacific and northern Atlantic. Cooler than average sea surface temperatures covered areas primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, in the southern Atlantic, Indian, and South Pacific Oceans.

The mean position of upper level ridges of high pressure and troughs of low pressure (depicted by positive and negative 500 millibar height anomalies on the January 2005 map) are generally reflected by areas of positive and negative temperature anomalies at the surface, respectively. For other Global products see the Climate Monitoring Global Products page.


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Top of PageTemperature Rankings and Graphics

Current Month
January Anomaly Rank Warmest Year on Record
Global
Land
Ocean
Land and Ocean 		+1.06°C (+1.91°F)
+0.47°C (+0.85°F)
+0.65°C (+1.17°F) 		2nd warmest
2nd warmest
2nd warmest 		2002 (+1.42°C/2.56°F)
1998 (+0.54°C/0.97°F)
2002 (+0.73°C/1.31°F)
Northern Hemisphere
Land
Ocean
Land and Ocean 		+1.09°C (+1.96°F)
+0.52°C (+0.94°F)
+0.74°C (+1.33°F) 		5th warmest
2nd warmest
2nd warmest 		2002 (+1.81°C/3.26°F)
1998 (+0.55°C/1.00°F)
2002 (+0.92°C/1.66°F)
Southern Hemisphere
Land
Ocean
Land and Ocean 		+1.08°C (+1.94°F)
+0.46°C (+0.83°F)
+0.57°C (+1.03°F) 		warmest
5th warmest
2nd warmest		 2nd - 2003 (+0.99°C/1.78°F)
1998 (+0.55°C/1.00°F)
1998 (+0.61°C/1.10°F)

Global Land and Ocean Triad plot
larger image 		Global Hemisphere Triad plot
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The most current data may be accessed via the Global Surface Temperature Anomalies page.

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Top of Page Precipitation

The maps below represent anomaly values based on the GHCN data set of land surface stations using a base period of 1961-1990. The map to the left is precipitation anomalies measured in millimeters, the map to the right is the percentage of average (1961-1990) precipitation. During January 2005, above average precipitation fell across the southwestern U.S., Norway, South Africa, far western Russia and the Caribbean. Below average precipitation was observed in the southeastern U.S., southeastern Canada, the Iberian Peninsula, France, Malaysia and the majority of Australia.
Precipitation Dot map in Millimeters
larger image 		Percent Precipitation Dot map
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Top of Page ENSO SST Analysis




Last week of the month's ENSO condtions Map
Click here for animated loop




  • Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) decreased in the eastern equatorial Pacific, but continued to be above normal in the central and western equatorial Pacific during January (as shown in the adjacent animation of weekly sea surface temperature anomalies), suggesting ENSO is in a weak warm phase. A comprehensive summary of January 2005 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 during 2005 at the weekly SST page

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Top of Page Troposphere

Current Month
The table below summarizes mid-tropospheric conditions for January 2005. These temperatures are for the atmospheric layer centered in the mid-troposphere (approximately 2-6 miles above the Earth's surface) which also includes a portion of the lower stratosphere. (The MSU channel used to measure mid-tropospheric temperatures receives about 25 percent of its signal above 6 miles.) Analysis of the satellite record that began in 1979 indicates that global temperatures are increasing in the mid-troposphere. The 1979-2005 trend for January is 0.04°C/decade based on data from the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH).

January Anomaly Rank Warmest Year on Record
UAH mid-troposphere +0.16°C (0.29°F) 7th warmest 1998 (+0.49°C/0.88°F)
UAH mid-trop image
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Top of PageStratosphere

Current Month
The table below summarizes stratospheric conditions for January 2005. The stratosphere is located between 10-14 miles above the Earth's surface. Over the last decade, stratospheric temperatures have been below average in large part due to the depletion of ozone. The large increase in temperature in 1982 was caused by the volcanic eruption of El Chichon in Mexico, and the increase in 1991 was a result of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines. Therefore the base period used is 1984-1990 which was chosen to avoid contamination by these eruptions.

January Anomaly Rank Warmest Year on Record
UAH stratosphere -0.48°C (-0.86°F) 8th coolest 1983 (+1.2°C/2.2°F)
UAH lower-strat image
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Mid-tropospheric and lower stratospheric temperature data are collected by NOAA's TIROS-N polar-orbiting satellites and adjusted for time-dependent biases by NASA and the Global Hydrology and Climate Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). An independent analysis is also performed by Remote Sensing Systems (RSS).

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For additional details on precipitation and temperatures in January, see the Global Hazards page .
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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 010
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
-or-
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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Climate Monitoring / Climate of 2005 / January / Global / Help