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Global Analysis - May 2005

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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, global averaged combined land and sea surface temperatures for both March-May 2005 and May 2005 were 2nd warmest on record.
March-May temperatures were above average over Alaska, Canada, the majority of Africa and Australia. Colder-than-average conditions occurred primarily in the eastern U.S., central Mexico and the Baltic area of Europe.
Precipitation during March-May was above average over the U.S. Pacific Northwest, western Europe, the Caribbean and parts of South America, with drier than average conditions over the U.S. central Great Plains, the majority of Australia, southeastern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula.
ENSO transitioned to a neutral phase as sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were slightly above normal across the central and western equatorial Pacific during May

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

Temperature anomalies for March-May and May 2005 are shown on the two maps below. These dot maps use anomalies that were calculated from the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) data set of land surface stations using a 1961-1990 base period. During the boreal spring, above average temperatures occurred over Alaska, Canada, Venezuela, Russia, the western half of the U.S., the majority of Africa, southeastern Asia and most of Australia. Cooler than average temperatures were observed over the eastern seaboard of the U.S., central Mexico, Finland, western Mongolia and parts of Japan. Despite a brief heat wave that occurred in India during the week of May 17th, central areas of India had cold anomalies for the season.

During May 2005, there were above average temperatures over Russia, Algeria, Brazil, Alaska, Canada, the western half of Australia, the majority of southeastern Asia, much of Europe, and the U.S. West Coast. Cooler than average temperatures were observed over Japan, Scandinavia, far eastern Australia, parts of India, the majority of the eastern half of the U.S., and portions of Mexico.

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The map below is a weekly product based on data from the Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (COADS) of SST data. During May 2005, slightly warmer than average conditions occurred over large parts of the western and central Pacific, reflecting a transition from El Niño conditions to a neutral ENSO phase. SSTs were also warmer than average in much of the northern Pacific and northern Atlantic. Cooler than average SSTs were observed off the eastern coast of the U.S., the western coast of Ecuador and Peru, as well as in the Gulf of Guinea southward along the coast of Africa to Angola.

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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 May 2005 and the March-May 2005 maps) 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.

Images of sea surface temperature conditions are available for all months during 2005 at the weekly SST page

Temperature Rankings and Graphics

Current Month / Seasonal / Year-to-date

May	Anomaly	Rank	Warmest Year on Record
Global Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+0.80°C (+1.44°F) +0.43°C (+0.77°F) +0.54°C (+0.97°F)	4th warmest 2nd warmest 2nd warmest	1998 (+0.93°C/1.67°F) 1998 (+0.53°C/0.95°F) 1998 (+0.65°C/1.17°F)
Northern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+0.82°C (+1.48°F) +0.53°C (+0.95°F) +0.65°C (+1.17°F)	4th warmest 1st warmest 2nd warmest	2001 (+0.98°C/1.76°F) 2nd - 1998 (+0.51°C/0.92°F) 1998 (+0.66°C/1.19°F)
Southern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+0.74°C (+1.33°F) +0.38°C (+0.68°F) +0.45°C (+0.81°F)	4th warmest 5th warmest 4th warmest	2002 (+0.98°C/1.76°F) 1998 (+0.56°C/1.01°F) 1998 (+0.64°C/1.15°F)

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March-May	Anomaly	Rank	Warmest Year on Record
Global Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+1.07°C (+1.93°F) +0.42°C (+0.76°F) +0.62°C (+1.12°F)	3rd warmest 2nd warmest 2nd warmest	2002 (+1.10°C/1.20°F) 1998 (+0.51°C/0.92°F) 1998 (+0.68°C/1.22°F)
Northern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+1.08°C (+1.94°F) +0.48°C (+0.86°F) +0.72°C (+1.30°F)	4th warmest 2nd warmest tied for warmest	2000 (+1.17°C/2.11°F) 1998 (+0.49°C/0.88°F) 1998 (+0.72°C/+1.30°F)
Southern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+0.87°C (+1.57°F) +0.40°C (+0.72°F) +0.49°C (+0.88°F)	3rd warmest 5th warmest 3rd warmest	1998 (+1.03°C/1.85°F) 1998 (+0.53°C/0.95°F) 1998 (+0.63°C/1.13°F)

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January-May	Anomaly	Rank	Warmest Year on Record
Global Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+0.92°C (+1.66°F) +0.43°C (+0.77°F) +0.58°C (+1.04°F)	4th warmest 2nd warmest 3rd warmest	2002 (+1.24°C/2.23°F) 1998 (+0.52°C/0.94°F) 1998 (+0.71°C/1.30°F)
Northern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+0.90°C (+1.62°F) +0.48°C (+0.86°F) +0.65°C (+1.17°F)	9th warmest 2nd warmest 4th warmest	2002 (+1.40°C/2.52°F) 1998 (+0.51°C/0.92°F) 1998 (+0.79°C/1.42°F)
Southern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean	+0.82°C (+1.48°F) +0.42°C (+0.76°F) +0.50°C (+0.90°F)	2nd warmest 5th warmest 3rd warmest	1998 (+0.89°C/1.60°F) 1998 (+0.54°C/0.97°F) 1998 (+0.61°C/1.10°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. During the 2005 boreal spring, above average precipitation fell over the the Caribbean, northwestern, northeastern and southeastern portions of the U.S., southern Brazil and Uruguay, the western coast of Australia, western Europe and far eastern Europe. Below average precipitation was observed along the Gulf of Alaska, the U.S. central Great Plains and middle Mississippi Valley, Peru, parts of Argentina, the majority of Australia, the Philippines and most of southeastern Asia.

During May 2005, above average precipitation fell over the the Caribbean, Uruguay, Malaysia, Scandinavia, northwestern U.S., and the eastern coast of China, while below average precipitation was observed in the eastern U.S., Peru, and most of India.

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Current Month's Precipitation Dot map in Millimeters

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ENSO SST Analysis

Last week of the month's ENSO condtions Map

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SSTs decreased in the eastern equatorial Pacific during May, indicating that ENSO is transitioning from a weak warm phase (El Niño) to neutral conditions (shown in the adjacent animation of weekly sea surface temperature anomalies). A comprehensive summary of May 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 each week during 2005 at the weekly SST 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.

Citing This Report

NOAA National Climatic Data Center, State of the Climate: Global Analysis for May 2005, published online June 2005, retrieved on May 23, 2013 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2005/5.