Global Analysis - October 2001

Note: The data presented in this report are preliminary. Ranks and anomalies may change as more complete data are received and processed. Effective September 2012, the GHCN-M version 3.2.0 dataset of monthly mean temperature replaced the GHCN-M version 3.1.0 monthly mean temperature dataset. Beginning with the August 2012 Global monthly State of the Climate Report, released on September 17, 2012, GHCN-M version 3.2.0 is used for NCDC climate monitoring activities, including calculation of global land surface temperature anomalies and trends. For more information about this newest version, please see the GHCN-M version 3.2.0 Technical Report.

*The GHCN-M version 3.1.0 Technical Report was revised on September 5, 2012 to accurately reflect the changes incorporated in that version. Previously that report incorrectly included discussion of changes to the Pairwise Homogeneity Algorithm (PHA). Changes to the PHA are included in version 3.2.0 and described in the version 3.2.0 Technical Report. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about this update.

Global Highlights:

  • *Global average land and sea surface temperature was the warmest on record for October
  • Lower tropospheric temperatures were above average during the month
  • Temperatures in the lower stratosphere were cooler than average
  • Above average precipitation was most notable across southern Asia, Japan and Argentina, with below average precipitation across the Mediterranean region and the eastern seaboard of the U.S.
  

Contents of this Section:
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Top of Page Introduction

Anomalous warmth (using a 1992-2001 base period as shown in the adjacent blended product of satellite and in-situ data) was notable across Europe and north Africa as well as eastern Asia. While strong upper level ridges of high pressure controlled the weather in these areas during October, upper level troughs of low pressure (depicted by negative 500 millibar height anomalies) were situated across central Russia, west of the British Isles and across much of Alaska and southern Canada. Temperature anomalies calculated from in-situ station data using a 1961-1990 base period also show the cooler than average temperatures in these regions as well as over Australia. Click Here for the Global Blended Temperature in October 2001
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Top of Page Temperature

  • *October 2001 global land and ocean temperature was the warmest in the 1880 to present record and was 0.57°C (1.03°F) above the long-term average (0.47°C / 0.85°F above the 1961-1990 mean)
  • Temperatures averaged across ocean areas were second warmest for October, or 0.46°C (0.83°F) above average
  • Across land areas, October temperatures also ranked second warmest, or 0.84°C (1.51°F) above average
 Click Here for the Global Temp Anomalies in October 2001
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Click Here for the October Hemispheric Temperatures
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  • *Northern Hemispheric temperatures were also warmest on record for October, or 0.67°C (1.21°F) above average using the 1880-2000 mean (0.61°C / 1.10°F using a 1961-1990 base period)
  • Temperatures averaged across the Southern Hemisphere were fourth warmest for October, or 0.47°C / 0.85°F above the long term mean
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Top of Page Precipitation

  • Late season monsoon rains brought above average precipitation to parts of southern Asia, from eastern India into Laos
  • Monthly precipitation surpluses of 100-200 mm (3.94-7.87 inches) were common across parts of northern Argentina as well as Japan
  • Drier than average weather was prevalent across interior Europe and the Mediterranean as well as the eastern seaboard of the U.S.
 Click Here for the Global Precip Anomalies in October 2001 larger image

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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.

Citing This Report

NOAA National Climatic Data Center, State of the Climate: Global Analysis for October 2001, published online November 2001, retrieved on May 22, 2013 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2001/10.