Globe cools slightly in December 2010: 11th - 17th warmest on record
December 2010 was the globe's 17th warmest December on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies rated December 2010 the 11th warmest December on record. December 2010 global ocean temperatures were the 10th warmest on record, and land temperatures were the 30th warmest on record. Global satellite-measured temperatures for the lowest 8 km of the atmosphere were the 7th warmest on record, according to both Remote Sensing Systems and the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH). The global cool-down from November, which was the warmest November on record for the globe, was due in large part to the on-going moderate strength La Niña episode in the Eastern Pacific. The large amount of cold water that upwells to the surface during a La Niña typically causes a substantial cool-down in global temperatures. Still, December 2010 temperatures were warm enough to make 2010 tied with 2005 as Earth's warmest year in history, as I reported in yesterday's post.
For those interested, NCDC has a page of notable weather highlights from December 2010.
Figure 1. Departure of temperature from average for December 2010. Eastern Canada and Greenland were very warm, relative to average, and much of Siberia and Europe were abnormally cold. Image credit: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).
An average December for the U.S.
For the contiguous U.S., December was near-average in temperature, ranking as the 44th coldest December in the 116-year record, according to the National Climatic Data Center. The year 2010 was the 23rd warmest on record. A strong "Arctic Oscillation" pattern allowed cold air to spill southward over the Southeast U.S., resulting in the coldest December on record in Florida and Georgia. Nine other states in the Southeast U.S. had top-ten coldest Decembers. Five states in the Southwest U.S. had top-ten warmest Decembers. A series of major snowstorms brought the 7th-largest December snow cover to the U.S. as a whole. December 2010 precipitation in the contiguous U.S. was also near average, ranking 54th driest in the 116-year record. Montana and Utah had their wettest Decembers on record, and six other states had top-ten wettest Decembers--Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Maine, and California. Six states had top-ten driest Decembers--Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, and Delaware.
La Niña in the "moderate" to "strong" category
The equatorial Eastern Pacific Ocean is currently experiencing moderate to strong La Niña conditions. Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) over the tropical Eastern Pacific in the area 5°N - 5°S, 120°W - 170°W, also called the "Niña 3.4 region", were 1.5°C below average as of January 10, according to NOAA. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology put this number at 1.45°C below average (as of January 9.) Moderate La Niña conditions are defined as occurring when this number is 1.0°C - 1.5°C below average. Temperatures colder than 1.5°C below average qualify as strong La Niña conditions. NOAA is maintaining its La Niña advisory, and expects La Niña conditions to last through through spring.
Both El Niño and La Niña events have major impacts on regional and global weather patterns. La Niña typically causes warm, dry winters over the southern portion of the U.S., with cooler and wetter than average conditions over the Pacific Northwest. The Ohio and Mississippi Valleys states typically have wetter winters than usual during La Niña events.
December 2010 Arctic sea ice extent lowest on record
Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent in December 2010 was the lowest in the 31-year satellite record, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Ice volume in December was also the lowest on record for this time of year, according to University of Washington Polar Ice Center. At the end of December, the eastern portion of Canada's Hudson Bay remained unfrozen, the first time in recorded history that Hudson Bay has not been completely frozen over at the end of the year. The unusual amount of open water led to temperatures that averaged 20°C (36°F) above normal over a region larger than Texas during the first ten days of January.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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I agree, some of the posters on here need something else to do.
no need to apologize ma'am
Some people on here get WAY too bent out of shape about trivial things, and get all kinds of cranky over the most miniscule things. You are completely correct to get upset about how you are being "spoken" to on here, but bear in mind that quite a few people have a select few blocked... for good reason.
You have every right to be ticked. He can't respond to anyone with anything but insults
This is Great News, man.
But, wait, the Icecaps, the Glaciers, the Tundra. Are these just small local blips in the Bigger Picture??
Or are you posting stuff like this just to see who you can get a comment from?
If that's the case, you Win!
== PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==
Region: SOUTHWESTERN PAKISTAN
Geographic coordinates: 28.782N, 64.048E
Magnitude: 7.4 Mw
Depth: 10 km
Universal Time (UTC): 18 Jan 2011 20:23:17
Time near the Epicenter: 19 Jan 2011 01:23:17
Local standard time in your area: 18 Jan 2011 15:23:17
Location with respect to nearby cities:
47 km (29 miles) WSW (249 degrees) of Dalbandin, Pakistan
253 km (157 miles) W (265 degrees) of Kalat, Pakistan
317 km (197 miles) ESE (105 degrees) of Zahedan, Iran
788 km (490 miles) NE (42 degrees) of MUSCAT, Oman
I can't decide whether global warming is a conspiracy theory or a new-age religion.
it's a goldmine.... just ask Al Gore....
Generally speaking, Yes.
But it's only ten to five....
The Sun has to sink below the Yard-Arm first.
Otherwise there is a strong possibility that I may fall from the rigging.
(I have to stay up here, till the Sun etc etc..... Sad, but True)
Presslord....Would that be Appleton's from Jamaica?
A new satellite for studying climate changes is due to be launched February 23 of this year. The satellite, called Glory will be joining four other climate satellites -Aqua, CloudSat, CALIPSO, and Aura- in what is known as the A-Train and will orbit 438 miles above the planet.
According to Inside Science Glory will be carrying out some very complex calculations. The satellite will measure changes in energy that is entering and exiting the atmosphere as well as the effect that manmade greenhouse gases (GHG) or aerosols, are having on the atmosphere. The exact method of taking those measurements are described as follows: more
You would do well to distance yourself from these folks, you know.
Aint no future in the past, etc etc.
actually...and in the interest of full disclosure....I am generally inclined to view it more as a matter of quantity then quality....
Link
A sorry state of affairs.
But one that is generally admired by Decent People the World over.
hehehehehhh,
how you doing Mr. Press?
Pottery I think that blog was directed to JFlorida
Presslord..Where are you on the South Carolina coast? My ex was stationed at the now defunct Myrtle Beach AFB long time ago as a weather observer... That is wher I learned, and made a passion of weather
Oh!
I FEEL for you, my Man.
But fear not. As you go through your days of Drudge and Misery, know that some of us are filled with Happiness and Good Cheer.
(there, that should make him feel better!)
Folly Beach
...ugghhh...
...like the comments made about "the discredited Monckton, the non-science Watts, or the non-climatologist McIntyre?...
No, that's not poisoning the well. Of course not. Even though you didn't make them, THOSE types of comments are totally justified, right?
Yes, because all three of those deniers have been repeatedly discredited--unlike the many thousands of good, honest, and ethical climate scientists who are slandered here daily for no apparent reason other than the fact that they adhere to lesser or greater degrees with AGWT.
Not really, the person said that they were appologising to 99% of 'you'.
I took that to mean everyone except me.
Just my take on it, since I am paranoid about being left behind......
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