Global Temperatures in 2009 Were Fifth Warmest on Record, Continuing Accelerated Pace of Warming Over Last 3 Decades

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported today (15 January 2010) that:

• "Global land and ocean annual surface temperatures through December tied with 2006 as the fifth warmest on record, at 0.56°C (1.01°F) above the 20^th century average."
• "The 2000-2009 decade is the warmest on record, with an average global surface temperature of 0.54°C (0.96°F) above the 20^th century average. This shattered the 1990s value of 0.36°C (0.65°F)."
• "Ocean surface temperatures (through December) tied with 2002 and 2004 as the fourth warmest on record, at 0.48°C (0.86°F) above the 20^th century average."
• "Land surface temperatures through December tied with 2003 as the seventh warmest on record, at 0.77°C (1.39°F) above the 20^th century average."

Regarding the long term trend, NOAA says:

"During the past century, global surface temperatures have increased at a rate near 0.06°C/decade (0.11°F/decade), but this trend has increased to a rate of approximately 0.16°C/decade (0.29°F/decade) during the past 30 years. There have been two sustained periods of warming, one beginning around 1910 and ending around 1945, and the most recent beginning about 1976. Temperatures during the latter period of warming have increased at a rate comparable to the rates of warming projected to occur during the next century with continued increases of anthropogenic greenhouse gases."

NASA too will report soon on global temperatures for the year.  Though NASA is also likely to rank 2009 as one of the warmest on record, the year's ranking relative to other years is likely to be different from NOAA's. [NASA later on 15 January reported data ranking 2009 as tied with 2007 as the second warmest year on record.  See Southern Hemisphere in 2009 Saw Warmest Year on Record ]

Online Resources:

• State of the Climate.  Global Analysis.  Annual 2009.  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 15 January 2010.
• New Hansen analysis and global temperature data counter disinformers who say the planet is cooling.  Climate Science Watch, 16 January 2010.
• It's Cold so There is No Global Warming.  Video "Climate Denial Crock of the Week" by Peter Sinclair, 16 January 2010.