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Global Analysis - October 2004

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Global Analysis

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:

Based on preliminary data for October 2004, global average combined land and sea surface temperature was second warmest on record
October temperatures were above average throughout Alaska, Australia, eastern Europe and the majority of the U.S., with below average temperatures in far northwestern Canada, eastern Russia and Ireland
Precipitation during October was above average across the the United Kingdom, Japan, the Mississippi Valley and lower Great Plains of the U.S., with drier than average conditions in the southeastern U.S., Scandinavia and southeastern Asia
Above normal SSTs across the central equatorial Pacific basin suggest ENSO is in a weak warm phase

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 two maps below utilize different base periods and may reflect different anomaly values of land surface temperatures. 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 blended product which uses satellite and surface anomaly values of measured land and ocean temperatures as well as SSTs with the base period of 1988-2004. Both maps reflect conditions during October 2004, indicating above average temperatures in northwestern Canada, east Africa, Australia, the southeastern U.S., Alaska and portions of Mongolia, with cooler than average temperatures in the northeastern U.S., the Caribbean, Argentina and eastern Russia.

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 October 2004 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.

Click here for current month's Temperature Dot map

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Click here for current month's Blended Temperature map

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Temperature Rankings and Graphics

Current Month / Year-to-date

October	Anomaly	Rank	Warmest Year on Record
Global Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+1.05°C (+1.89°F) +0.47°C (+0.85°F) +0.64°C (+1.15°F)	warmest 3rd warmest 2nd warmest	2003 (+0.53°C/0.95°F) 2003 (+0.65°C/1.17°F)
Northern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+1.01°C (+1.82°F) +0.56°C (+1.01°F) +0.74°C (+1.33°F)	2nd warmest 2nd warmest 2nd warmest	2003 (+1.04°C/1.87°F) 2003 (+0.62°C/1.12°F) 2003 (+0.79°C/1.42°F)
Southern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+1.16°C (+2.10°F) +0.40°C (+0.72°F) +0.55°C (+1.00°F)	warmest 7th warmest 2nd warmest	1997 (+0.52°C/0.94°F) 1997 (+0.57°C/1.03°F)

Click here for Global Land and Ocean Triad plot

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Click here for Global Hemisphere Triad plot

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January-October	Anomaly	Rank	Warmest Year on Record
Global Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+0.82°C (+1.48°F) +0.40°C (+0.72°F) +0.53°C (+0.95°F)	4th warmest 4th warmest 4th warmest	1998 (+1.04°C/1.87°F) 1998 (+0.49°C/0.88°F) 1998 (+0.65°C/1.17°F)
Northern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+0.89°C (+1.60°F) +0.48°C (+0.86°F) +0.65°C (+1.17°F)	3rd warmest 2nd warmest 2nd warmest	1998 (+1.08°C/1.94°F) 1998 (+0.51°C/0.92°F) 1998 (+0.74°C/1.33°F)
Southern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+0.53°C (+0.95°F) +0.36°C (+0.65°F) +0.39°C (+0.70°F)	5th warmest 7th warmest 5th warmest	1998 (+0.85°C/1.53°F) 1998 (+0.49°C/0.88°F) 1998 (+0.56°C/1.01°F)

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The most current data may be accessed via the Global Surface Temperature Anomalies page.

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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 October 2004, much above average precipitation fell across western Europe, Japan, Alaska, parts of Brazil and the central regions of the U.S. Below average precipitation was observed in the eastern U.S., Australia, Norway, the Korean Peninsula, Mexico and the Caribbean.

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Click here for Percent Precipitation Dot map

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The satellite images below were acquired from SSM/I satellite data using a base period of 1988-2004. The map on the left reflects surface liquid wetness conditions, while the map on the right reflects snow cover conditions for the month. Snow covered areas that are normally snow-free during this month will appear drier than average on the wetness image since a wetness value cannot be determined for regions that are snow covered. Data in these areas that are normally snow covered are displayed as missing. This is due to the snow crystalline structure which produces a considerable amount of scatter and makes it difficult for the SSM/I to accurately detect the surface conditions. The SSM/I products are experimental and are under continuing review and development. Additional data and information can be found on the SSM/I Browser.

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ENSO SST Analysis

Click Here for the last week of the month's ENSO condtions Map

Click here for animated loop

A consensus of indices suggests above normal SSTs in the central equatorial Pacific basins which suggests ENSO continued to be in a weak warm phase (El Niño) during October 2004 (as shown in the adjacent animation of weekly sea surface temperature anomalies). A comprehensive summary of October 2004 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 2004
at the weekly SST page This is a break in the document

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 2004, published online November 2004, retrieved on May 22, 2013 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2004/10.