August RSS Global Temperature – holding steady, still cooler than 1 year ago

3 09 2008

Even though little change has been seen, there is some interesting news in the August RSS numbers. We are still cooler than one year ago, and the 12 month trend continues to drop.

The RSS (Remote Sensing Systems of Santa Rosa, CA) Microwave Sounder Unit (MSU) lower troposphere global temperature anomaly data for August 2008 was published today and has remained essentially unchanged, with a value of 0.146°C for a miniscule change (∆T) of  -0.001°C globally from July 2008.

RSS
2008 1 -0.070
2008 2 -0.002
2008 3   0.079
2008 4   0.080
2008 5 -0.083
2008 6  0.035
2008 7  0.147
2008 8 0.146

The August 2008 number is  0.221°C lower than in August of 2007 which was  0.367°C


Click for a larger image

The RSS data is here (RSS Data Version 3.1)

While is was going to do my own analysis of the numbers, Walter Dnes did an excellent job of summarizing it all in comments on another thread, so I’ll give him the honor:

This brings down the 12-month running mean to +0.086, which is very slightly lower than the +0.091 12-month running mean to the end of November 1987. That’s almost 21 years ago.

What I’m really waiting for is Hadley and GISS 12-month means to drop below their 1995 values. Hadley might make it in the next couple of months. GISS by year end. Once we get annual means matching temperatures on the other side of 1998, global cooling will be undeniable.

We do indeed live in interesting times.


Comments : 116 Comments »

Categories : Science, climate_change

Other August numbers are out

3 09 2008

I’ve been busy with many things, including the sunspot story, and hadn’t gotten around to publishing my blog numbers for August yet. But with the release of RSS data above, it seemed like a good time.

WUWT continues to see growth, and a new record for traffic was set again this month: 667,214 views.

Click for a larger image

I don’t have the “adjusted” numbers, feel free to apply any alogorithm you wish to obtain them.

As always, thanks to all of you, my readers, volunteer moderators, contributors and guest posters, and those who contribute with ideas, assistance, and support.


Comments : 28 Comments »

Categories : Announcements

Arctic Hell in a Handbasket

3 09 2008

Posted by John Goetz

CNN posted an AP story tonight on their website regarding the separation in early August of a 19-square-mile ice shelf from Elsmere Island. It starts:

TORONTO, Ontario (AP) — A chunk of ice shelf nearly the size of Manhattan has broken away from Ellesmere Island in Canada’s northern Arctic, another dramatic indication of how warmer temperatures are changing the polar frontier, scientists said Wednesday.

Derek Mueller, an Arctic ice shelf specialist at Trent University in Ontario, told The Associated Press that the 4,500-year-old Markham Ice Shelf separated in early August and the 19-square-mile shelf is now adrift in the Arctic Ocean.

It sure sounds impressive and scary, but then most people probably think of New York City when they hear “Manhattan”. They might even think of the greater NYC Metro Area. But in reality, Manhattan is but one of the five Boroughs in NYC. And 19 square miles is roughly 4.4 x 4.4 miles. Is it really that impressive or alarming? It is actually smaller than the town limits of the little community I live in.

Furthermore, the ice did not actually melt. The article states that it is adrift in the arctic.

Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 62 Comments »

Categories : Uncategorized

Adventures in Arctic Kayaking – Update: we’re stuck

3 09 2008

UPDATE: kayakers already “stuck” in ice at 80.52397 degrees N

I had this post up for all of an hour before this news rolled in from PolarDefense. Hat tips to Tom Nelson, who’s report is presented below, and to Brian Koochel in comments. – Anthony

Polar Defense Project » We’re Stuck

“We’re stuck”

I have slept poorly. The floating ice, while thin, is so prevalent that, throughout the night, it grinds noisily against the side of the boat in a slightly alarming fashion – imagine someone scraping their nails across an old-fashioned blackboard.The then begins earlier than normal and, unusually, I am not woken by Robbie bounding into my room. Instead the ship’s engine roars to life earlier than normal – at around 5.30 – and the MV ‘Havsel’ begins to judder ominously. I clamber out of bed and scramble up to the bridge – all the ship’s crew are there, and they look serious. I look outside and I can see why. The sea is almost entirely congested with ice floes – I would estimate 80% plus of the sea is covered by them. There is a real risk that we could get stuck up here. We have drifted in the night into a much icier area than where we stopped last night. I wake up the team, and everyone groggily makes their way to the bridge. There’s a mixed reaction in the team to the prospect of getting stuck up here.

See the location on Google Maps, 80.52397, 12.21224

After awaking to find their vessel frozen in ice the team are steaming around looking for a path that’s navigable by kayak.
No paddling today.

At about 69 miles per degree of latitude, it would seem that they’re still 600+ miles from the North Pole.

My original post follows:

Place your bets now folks. If only Robert Peary could have had CNN tag along. – Anthony

Entries from Sam Branson’s Arctic diary – In the mirror.co.uk

My split feelings about this news remind me of another paradox of my expedition up here – the fact that I am spending my days paddling in ice-cold water, with a frozen, painful backside, trying to bring to the attention of the world and its leaders the necessity of stopping the world heating up.

[Sept 1:] Travel this morning was tough. The temperature has dropped dramatically and each time the guys get in the water in is a notch harder. We are starting to see larger chunks of ice, which instead of weaving through, they have to paddle around. The occasional chunk hits the bow of the ship sending small pieces out to the side into the route of travel for our paddlers. One nearly knocked Lewis of his kayak. The water is now below zero and a spill could be quite painful. The moving water by the feet of the guys has started to freeze and this could take a toll on their much needed warmth. I know that Robbie has been struggling with his toes.
…

day5 Read the rest of this entry »

Comments : 180 Comments »

Categories : climate_change, sea ice

Big chill a symptom of climate chaos

3 09 2008

From the Sydney Morning Herald I ask: is there anything that global warming climate change can’t do? – Anthony

September 1, 2008 – 4:47PM


Forget global warming – the latest problem is global cooling.

Conservation group WWF has blamed climate change for the coldest August in Sydney for more than 60 years.

The freezing temperatures are proof of the urgent need to cut carbon pollution, according to WWF development and sustainability program manager Paul Toni.

“We can expect more extremes in climate,” Mr Toni said.

He said climate records had tumbled over the past year.

Australia had its driest May on record, Perth had its wettest April on record, and Tasmania recorded its hottest ever temperature, according to Mr Toni.

He said climate extremes were affecting southern Australia in particular.

“This is consistent with climate modelling showing the southern states will feel the effects of climate change most severely,” he said.

Mr Toni said if action was not taken, more volatile weather would be on the radar.

Gosh, Mr. Toni must be right, because, well, look, it “snowed” in Kenya last night, or at least that is what they call it in “The Nation”. See their report.

h/t to Carsten Arnholm


Comments : 48 Comments »

Categories : Uncategorized