Use the form below to access monthly reports.
Global Highlights:
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Contents of this Section: |
| 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. |
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 indicate above average temperatures
across the United States, Argentina, China, Europe and the Middle
East while cooler than average temperatures occurred in Alaska,
Canada, southwestern Australia and northern Siberia. |
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Current Month / Year-to-date
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| March | Anomaly | Rank | Warmest Year on Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Land Ocean Land and Ocean |
+1.48°C (+2.66°F) +0.37°C (+0.66°F) +0.70°C (+1.26°F) |
3rd warmest 5th warmest 2nd warmest |
2002
(+1.60°C/2.88°F) 1998 (+0.49°C/0.88°F) 2002 (+0.79°C/1.42°F) |
| Northern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean |
+1.59°C (+2.86°F) +0.42°C (+0.76°F) +0.89°C (+1.60°F) |
3rd warmest 2nd warmest 3rd warmest |
1990
(+1.92°C/3.46°F) 1998 (+0.50°C/0.90°F) 1990 (+0.93°C/1.67°F) |
| Southern Hemisphere Land Ocean Land and Ocean |
+0.91°C (+1.64°F) +0.34°C (+0.61°F) +0.45°C (+0.81°F) |
3rd warmest 7th warmest 6th warmest |
1998
(+1.07°C/1.93°F) 2002 (+0.51°C/0.92°F) 2002 (+0.60°C/1.08°F) |
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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 read the surface conditions. The SSM/I products are experimental and are under continuing review and development. |
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The tables below display
stratospheric conditions for March 2004. 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 is a result of
the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines. The base period
used in both data sets is 1984-1990. |
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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). |
| For additional details on precipitation and temperatures in March, 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. |
For questions on technical or scientific content of this report, please contact:
Ahira Sánchez-Lugo:For general climate monitoring questions, please contact:
CMB.Contact@noaa.govFor climate data orders, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services and Monitoring Division:
NCDC.Orders@noaa.gov
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/index.php
Introduction
