Press release: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110112_globalstats.html
NOAA: 2010 Tied For Warmest Year on Record
According to NOAA scientists, 2010 tied with 2005 as the warmest year of the global surface temperature record, beginning in 1880. This was the 34th consecutive year with global temperatures above the 20th century average. For the contiguous United States alone, the 2010 average annual temperature was above normal, resulting in the 23rd warmest year on record.
This preliminary analysis is prepared by scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., and is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides government, business and community leaders so they can make informed decisions.
2010 Global Climate Highlights:
- Combined global land and ocean annual surface temperatures for 2010 tied with 2005 as the warmest such period on record at 1.12 F (0.62 C) above the 20th century average. The range of confidence (to the 95 percent level) associated with the combined surface temperature is +/- 0.13 F (+/- 0.07 C).*
- The global land surface temperatures for 2010 were the warmest on record at 1.80 F (1.00 C) above the 20th century average. The range of confidence associated with the land surface temperature is +/- 0.20 F (+/- 0.11 C).
- Global ocean surface temperatures for 2010 tied with 2005 as the third warmest on record, at 0.88 F (0.49 C) above the 20th century average. The range of confidence associated with the ocean surface temperature is +/- 0.11 F (+/- 0.06 C).
- In 2010 there was a dramatic shift in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which influences global temperature and precipitation patterns — when a moderate-to-strong El Niño transitioned to La Niña conditions by July. At the end of November, La Niña was moderate-to-strong.
- According to the Global Historical Climatology Network, 2010 was the wettest year on record, in terms of global average precipitation. As with any year, precipitation patterns were highly variable from region to region.
- The 2010 Pacific hurricane season had seven named storms and three hurricanes, the fewest on record since the mid-1960s when scientists started using satellite observations. By contrast, the Atlantic season was extremely active, with 19 named storms and 12 hurricanes. The year tied for third- and second-most storms and hurricanes on record, respectively.
- The Arctic sea ice extent had a record long growing season, with the annual maximum occurring at the latest date, March 31, since records began in 1979. Despite the shorter-than-normal melting season, the Arctic still reached its third smallest annual sea ice minimum on record behind 2007 and 2008. The Antarctic sea ice extent reached its eighth smallest annual maximum extent in March, while in September, the Antarctic sea ice rapidly expanded to its third largest extent on record.
- A negative Arctic Oscillation (AO) in January and February helped usher in very cold Arctic air to much of the Northern Hemisphere. Record cold and major snowstorms with heavy accumulations occurred across much of eastern North America, Europe and Asia. The February AO index reached -4.266, the largest negative anomaly since records began in 1950.
- From mid-June to mid-August, an unusually strong jet stream shifted northward of western Russia while plunging southward into Pakistan. The jet stream remained locked in place for weeks, bringing an unprecedented two-month heat wave to Russia and contributing to devastating floods in Pakistan at the end of July.
U.S. Climate Highlights:
- In the contiguous United States, 2010 was the 14th consecutive year with an annual temperature above the long-term average. Since 1895, the temperature across the nation has increased at an average rate of approximately 0.12 F per decade.
- Precipitation across the contiguous United States in 2010 was 1.02 inches (2.59 cm) above the long-term average. Like temperature, precipitation patterns are influenced by climate processes such as ENSO. A persistent storm track brought prolific summer rain to the northern Plains and upper Midwest. Wisconsin had its wettest summer on record, and many surrounding states had much above-normal precipitation. Since the start of records in the U.S. in 1895, precipitation across the United States is increasing at an average rate of approximately 0.18 inches per decade.
- The year began with extremely cold winter temperatures and snowfall amounts that broke monthly and seasonal records at many U.S. locations. Seasonal snowfall records fell in several cities, including Washington; Baltimore, Md., Philadelphia; Wilmington, Del.; and Atlantic City, N.J. Several NOAA studies established that this winter pattern was made more likely by the combined states of El Niño and the Arctic Oscillation.
- Twelve states, mainly in the Southeast, but extending northward into New England, experienced a record warm June-August. Several cities broke summer temperature records including New York (Central Park); Philadelphia; Trenton, N.J.; and Wilmington, Del.
- Preliminary totals indicate there were 1,302 U.S. tornadoes during 2010. The year will rank among the 10 busiest for tornadoes since records began in 1950. An active storm pattern across the Northern Plains during the summer contributed to a state-record 104 confirmed tornadoes in Minnesota in 2010, making Minnesota the national tornado leader for the first time.
- During 2010, substantial precipitation fell in many drought-stricken regions. The U.S. footprint of drought reached its smallest extent during July when less than eight percent of the country was experiencing drought conditions. The increased precipitation and eradication of drought limited the acres burned and number of wildfires during 2010. Hawaii had near-record dryness occurring in some areas for most of the year.
Scientists, researchers and leaders in government and industry use NOAA’s monthly reports to help track trends and other changes in the world’s climate. This climate service has a wide range of practical uses, from helping farmers know what and when to plant, to guiding resource managers‘ critical decisions about water, energy and other vital assets.
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us online at www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.
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OK.right…
No Observation At All !!
Hey buddies, just look through the window!
All of course based on raw data and data “adjustments” they won’t release to the taxpayors who fund their operations.
It’s global warming… that’s why it freezing cold everywhere. One can ask, “But where did the heat go?”
/sarc off
Yawn. People are stopping to listen to this nonsense. Defund them.
Nice to list the hot years. Is that blankety-blank 1934 still the record high?
It’s a little like sitting on a little hillock and having some small kid stand on a big stone and say: “I must be the highest person in the world” … well they are the highest person they can see so why not let them enjoy the moment!
In the contiguous United States, 2010 was the 14th consecutive year with an annual temperature above the long-term average.
Without mentioning that they are probably talking about a 30 year average, so we would expect there to be 15 years with “above average temperatures”.
In the same bullet, the apparently unrelated:
Since 1895, the temperature across the nation has increased at an average rate of approximately 0.12 F per decade.
Which presumably is included to make one think that they are talking about an average from 1895. Also no mention that this same temperature rise (or higher) has been seen for the last few thousand years (since the last ice age).
If as reported on this site a few days ago that the UHI effect as measured by satelite can average 7 degrees between the outskirts and centre of a big city, this being so I cannot see how this ever-changing microclimates in towns and cities, or near airports and factories, can ever be correctly estimated or adjusted for. For instance what is the UHI difference between the soot filled smoggy London city centre in 1900 and modern car jammed London in 2000? The two Cities are so unlike each other it is impossible to knowingly compare a temperature reading in Hyde Park in 1900 to one taken in the same location in 2000.
I saw that Phil Jones in one of the CRU emails estimated the change in UHI in London between 1900 and 2000 to be zero, with no adjustment made either way. This must be a guesstimate.
Unless they are comparing like for like, ie data from temperature stations that are in isolated locations well away from human habitation, we cannot know if the globe is warming or cooling.
I am not a scientist but this is what makes common sense to me. Am I wrong?
A simple request to governments worldwide:
If mankind really can change the climate, then it’s high time you lot got together and standardised the whole damned thing.
Us lesser mortals just can’t be doing with all this variability – it just ain’t natural!!
According to the Norwegian meteorological institute 2010 was the coldest year in Norway since 1941. However, how this national temperature is calculated is a bit of a mystery. I think all these national or global averages should be taken cum grano salis maximo.
NOAA’s entire depiction of 2010 lacks a crucial qualifier–the temperatures are measured largely at urban sites throughout the world and are adjusted upward in the case of small-town American records. Unbiased estimates show 1994 as the last year below the 20th-century average globally and 1997 in the continental USA. In each case, the consecutive years presently above that average correspond roughly to the runs entirely below it from the late fifties to the late seventies.
This is how I recall the past year of 2010. It was FRIGID during January and February. The freezing temps chipped my concrete drive. March was about normal. Spring was cool. The early Summer was cool but turned very hot (I live in the South USA, so, duh). Autumn came and was a bit of a mixed bag. The Summer seemed a bit slow to disperse, but, brother, when it did! It got cold fast and Winter came early. We haven’t had much freezing precipitation as of yet, but it got into the single digits very early on, and that is absolutely abnormal (read: anomaly).
Yes, yes, weather not climate. I ain’t no scientist. I don’t care about climate. All I care about is weather. Climate didn’t chip my driveway. Climate didn’t bust my radiator. Climate didn’t cause me to bust my heinie on the ice yesterday. Sorry, folks, I understand that there are many astute scientifically minded people at this forum, and you are all assuredly interested in the study and manifestation of climate. I’m a regular joe. I’m only interested in when my dogs will want venture back outside. Right now they run out, turn around, and run right back inside. That is a more accurate gauge of temperature than any thermometer I own. My dogs? Avoiding outside? That means it is cold.
Tonight’s forecast? NOAA says 6F. Local weather stations are saying 0F. For my European friends, 0F is much different than 0C. Trust me. Y’all stay warm!
Well, at least they got the change to La Niña correct. I’ll give them a point for that.
Hansen’s up to his tricks again.
Who runs these statistical pinwheels of the mind anyhow ?
Former Enron employees ?
The key point is not that one particular year is higher or lower than the previous. The real evidence for warming comes from NOAA’s data showing that the 10 warmest years globally have all occurred from 1998 to 2010. That is, the decade from 2000 to 2009 was by far the warmest decade of the last 180 years. This does not say why the global climate is warming, but it does support the idea of substantial warming since the turn of the centry. The observations that 2010 ties for the warmest year suggests that the warming is continuing into the new decade.
Ironically, the warmongers are flipping this Hot War on its head. Don’t trust, no need to verify.
According to NCDC for CONUS temperatures since 1998 are still falling at -0.94F per decade. That is a rate of nearly 10 degrees/century in CONUS.
Go here:
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/cag3/na.html
Enter “most recent 12-month period” for “period” from the pick list (might have to scroll it down, its the last option) (or you can select “annual” as the last month in the database is December)
Enter 1998 as “First Year to Display”
Submit
Hawaii’s “dryness” is no where close to any records. It was unusually dry on Oahu. The other islands experienced the normal drought associated with El Nino. Hardest hit were the usual areas on Maui and the Big Island. I personally have experienced far worst droughts on both islands. The drought is now broken, with heavy rains since December on all islands, including the normally dry Niihau.
Odd this global warming, must be happening to other folk because it’s not happening around here…..
But we know that world temperatures have been rising steadily since 1750. So we should expect temperatures to average higher than the previous 100 years.
Like a bikini, what is concealed is more important that what is revealed. Left out was . . .
Record low total cyclonic energy
Near record sea ice extent for the Antarctic
Arctic summer temps pervasively below the 20th century benchmark (according to DMI)
Exaggerated/biased smoothing of Arctic temps by GISS (filling in the gaps)
Failure to archive original raw data
Perpetual reworking of historic weather data with a bias to the downside
And on and on.
Gary … it’s been a lot colder than 0°F for much of Europe this winter!
PJP wrote:
Since 1895, the temperature across the nation has increased at an average rate of approximately 0.12 F per decade.
Which presumably is included to make one think that they are talking about an average from 1895. Also no mention that this same temperature rise (or higher) has been seen for the last few thousand years (since the last ice age).
PJP, were your statement true, this implies that temperatures have increased 24 F in the last 2000 years. This is completely contradicted by all available evidence.