Global Temperature Report: November 2004
December 7, 2004
Source
University of Alabama-Huntsville
Global temperature trend since Nov. 16, 1978: +0.08 C per decade
November temperatures (preliminary):
Global composite temp.: +0.15 C (about 0.27 degrees Fahrenheit) above 20-year average for November.
Northern Hemisphere: +0.29 C (about 0.52 degrees Fahrenheit) above 20-year average for November.
Southern Hemisphere: +0.01 C (about 0.02 degrees Fahrenheit) above 20-year average for November.
October temperatures (revised):
Global Composite: +0.24 C above 20-year average
Northern Hemisphere: +0.25 C above 20-year average
Southern Hemisphere: +0.23 C above 20-year average
(All temperature variations are based on a 20-year average (1979-1998) for the month reported.)
Notes on data released Dec. 8, 2004:
A color map of temperature anomalies from the previous month may soon be available on-line at: http://climate.uah.edu/
The processed temperature data is available on-line at:
http://vortex.nsstc.uah.edu/data/msu/t2lt/uahncdc.lt
As part of an ongoing joint project between UAH, NOAA and NASA, Dr. John Christy, a professor of atmospheric science and director of the Earth System Science Center (ESSC) at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), and Dr. Roy Spencer, an ESSC principal research scientist, use data gathered by microwave sounding units on NOAA satellites to get accurate temperature readings for almost all regions of the Earth.
This includes remote desert, ocean and rain forest areas for which reliable climate data are not otherwise available.
The satellite-based instruments measure the temperature of the atmosphere from the surface up to an altitude of about eight kilometers above sea level. Once the monthly temperature data is collected and processed, it is placed in a "public" computer file for immediate access by atmospheric scientists in the U.S. and abroad.
Neither Spencer nor Christy receives any research support or funding from oil, coal or industrial companies or organizations, or from any private or special interest groups. All of their climate research funding comes from state and federal grants or contracts.
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Vol. 14, No. 7
For Additional Information:
Dr. John Christy, UAH, (256) 961-7763
Dr. Roy Spencer, UAH, (256) 961-7960
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