Global Highlights:
- Based on preliminary data for March 2004, global average
combined land and sea surface temperature was second warmest on
record
- March temperatures were above average throughout the contiguous
United States, Europe, and southern and eastern Asia, with below
average temperatures in southwestern Australia, France and
Spain
- Precipitation during March was above average across much of
Russia, the Amazon Basin and parts of Eastern Europe with drier
than average conditions across a large part of China, Southwest
Asia and much of western Europe
- Near-normal SSTs across the central and eastern equatorial
Pacific basin are indicative of neutral ENSO conditions.
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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. |
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 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.
The mean position of upper level ridges of high pressure and
troughs of low pressure (depicted by positive and negative 500
millibar height anomalies during March 2004) 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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Temperature Rankings and Graphics
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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January-March |
Anomaly |
Rank |
Warmest Year on
Record |
Global
Land
Ocean
Land and Ocean |
+1.07°C (+1.93°F)
+0.41°C (+0.74°F)
+0.61°C (+1.10°F) |
3rd warmest
3rd warmest
3rd warmest |
2002
(+1.51°C/2.72°F)
1998 (+0.52°C/0.94°F)
2002 (+0.75°C/1.35°F) |
Northern Hemisphere
Land
Ocean
Land and Ocean |
+1.20°C (+2.16°F)
+0.45°C (+0.81°F)
+0.75°C (+1.35°F) |
4th warmest
2nd warmest
3rd warmest |
2002
(+1.86°C/3.35°F)
1998 (+0.53°C/0.95°F)
2002 (+0.96°C/1.73°F) |
Southern Hemisphere
Land
Ocean
Land and Ocean |
+0.54°C (+0.92°F)
+0.40°C (+0.72°F)
+0.43°C (+0.77°F) |
8th warmest
6th warmest
6th warmest |
1998
(+0.81°C/1.46°F)
1998 (+0.53°C/0.95°F)
1998 (+0.58°C/1.04°F) |
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The most current data may be accessed via the
Global Surface
Temperature Anomalies 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 March 2004, much above average precipitation
fell across the Mississippi Valley in the U.S., western regions of
South America, and eastern Europe. Below average precipitation was
observed in the western and southeastern U.S., western Europe and
southeastern China. |
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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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ENSO SST Analysis
Animated loop
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- Sea surface temperatures were near-normal over much of the
central and eastern equatorial Pacific (as shown in the adjacent
animation of weekly sea surface temperature anomalies). A consensus
of indices suggest neutral ENSO conditions. A comprehensive summary
of March 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
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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.
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NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
