NOAA Reports Record Breaking Global Temperatures; Meltdown for Climate Change Denialists

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released data today (15 July 2010) showing that global temperatures in June -- and for the first six months of the year -- were the highest on record. As climate records continue to fall, attacks on climate science and scientists have been rebuffed by multiple investigations; and the National Academies of Sciences have solidified the scientific basis for action on climate change.

The highlights cited by NOAA include:

• "The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for June 2010 was the warmest on record at 16.2°C (61.1°F), which is 0.68°C (1.22°F) above the 20^th century average of 15.5°C (59.9°F). The previous record for June was set in 2005.
• June 2010 was the fourth consecutive warmest month on record (March, April, and May 2010 were also the warmest on record). This was the 304^th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20^th century average. The last month with below-average temperature was February 1985.
• The June worldwide averaged land surface temperature was 1.07°C (1.93°F) above the 20^th century average of 13.3°C (55.9°F)—the warmest on record.
• It was the warmest April–June (three-month period) on record for the global land and ocean temperature and the land-only temperature. The three-month period was the second warmest for the world's oceans, behind 1998.
• It was the warmest June and April–June on record for the Northern Hemisphere as a whole and all land areas of the Northern Hemisphere.
• It was the warmest January–June on record for the global land and ocean temperature. The worldwide land on average had its second warmest January–June, behind 2007. The worldwide averaged ocean temperature was the second warmest January–June, behind 1998.
• Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean continued to decrease during June 2010. According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, La Niña conditions are likely to develop during the Northern Hemisphere summer 2010."

NOAA's findings are broadly consistent with those of NASA, which released its data through June last week (see our posting, The Planet Feels the Heat as First Half of 2010 Sets Global Temperature Record, 9 July 2010) .  There are occasional differences in their rankings.  For example, NASA ranked June 2010 as the third warmest June on record globally, tied with 2005 at 0.59oC above the mean for 1951-1980.  But like NOAA, it ranks the first six months of 2010 as the warmest January-June period on record.  Both also show a rapid long term increase in global temperatures (see trend based on NOAA data above).

Our posting Long term Warming Trend Continues as U.S. Sees Much Above Normal Temperatures in June (8 July 2010) discusses NOAA's climate data for the U.S. through June, released last week. For at least some areas of the country, July thus far has not offered much respite from high temperatures. 

In Oklahoma, represented in the Senate by Republican James Inhofe, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported yesterday that “A Dangerous Heat Wave is Underway”.  An excessive heat warning was issued this morning for heat indices around 110oF.  The NWS says the conditions are unusual  because of “the exceptionally high humidity observed throughout Oklahoma and western north Texas in the wake of recent heavy rains.” Just days after Senator  Inhofe said he could not find one conclusion of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that "has now not been refuted," Oklahoma City on 14 June experienced its heaviest rain in history (see our blog post, Record Rains Pummel Oklahoma City as State's Senator Inhofe Continues to Deny Climate Change Science ).

As Records Fall and Science is Strengthened: Meltdown for Climate Change Denialists 

As the earth's climate was busy breaking records, attacks on climate science and scientists have been rebuffed by multiple investigations; and the National Academies of Sciences have solidified the scientific basis for action on climate change, concluding that there is an urgent need for the U.S. to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to prepare for the impacts of climate change.  

The heat on denialists will be cranked up several notches more tomorrow (16 July) when the National Research Council (NRC) releases its report Climate Stabilization Targets: Emissions, Concentrations, and Impacts Over Decades to Millennia. According to the NRC:  "Using the most current science available, this study will evaluate the implications of different atmospheric concentration target levels and explain the uncertainties inherent in the analyses to assist policy makers as they make decisions about stabilization target levels for atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations."  

To symbolize these circumstances and their impacts on climate change deniers, the youth coalition Consequence staged an event at the U.S. Capitol that featured a giant "Climate Deniers" ice sculpture that rapidly melted in the Washington, DC, heat and humidity (see photos below; and don't miss this great CNN Video).  Here are a few of the remarks from the speakers:

• Ethan Nuss of Energy Action Coalition: “Time after time, the manufactured claims of the climate deniers have been proven false.  It’s high time for our elected officials to get serious and take bold action to reduce carbon pollution, create clean energy jobs, and secure our climate for future generations."
• Dan Lashof, Director of the Climate Center, Natural Resources Defense Council:  "Just like the melting ice sculpture, time is melting way for action on clean energy and climate protection. We know from science and from what we observe all around us that climate change is here and will only get worse, unless we take urgent steps to cut carbon emissions. It is time for the Senate to get moving on comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation.”
• Brenda Ekwurzel of the Union of Concerned Scientists:  “Multiple inquiries have shown that we can trust the work these scientists have done. The attacks on scientists were always intended to distract us from the need to rapidly reduce emissions. The Senate needs to recognize the urgent need to adopt policies that will effectively limit heat-trapping emissions and prevent the worst consequences of climate change.”

Above: The Climate Deniers ice sculpture at noon on 15 July.  Below: The sculpture later in the afternoon.  Like the Arctic sea ice, it was no match for summer heat and humidity in a warming climate.  Photo by Abbey Franke.

WWF: “The Senate is now at the proverbial fork in the road"

In response to NOAA's data on the extraordinary climate conditions thus far in 2010, and as the scientific basis for action on climate change has strengthened, Lou Leonard, Director of US Climate Policy for WWF said today in a press release:  

“Climate change is not some abstract phenomenon that will affect us sometime in the distant future.  It is happening now and its impacts are being felt across the country in the form of record-shattering heat waves, flooding rains, persistent droughts and other extreme weather events.  The changes we are already experiencing are not just causing uncomfortable living conditions for Americans.  They are threatening human health, destroying our natural heritage, jeopardizing our agriculture industry and putting our economy and national security at risk."

“The Senate is now at the proverbial fork in the road.  One path leads to a clean energy future marked by economic growth, new jobs and a stable climate.  The other leads to further strains on our economy as climate impacts worsen, our oil dependence deepens and America cedes millions of new clean energy jobs to China and Europe. This should be a no brainer for Senators.

“To effectively put America on a path toward a safer, healthier future, the Senate must pass a bill that includes a clear target to reduce the amount of oil America consumes and a quick timeline for limiting all fossil fuel pollution. Only by breaking our addiction to dirty, dangerous fossil fuels can we maximize job creation and minimize future climate-related impacts.”

How you can help:

The Senate is set to debate and vote on a climate & energy bill in the final weeks of July or early August (2010). Call your Senators and ask them to vote YES on a climate & energy bill that limits fossil fuel pollution.

Online Resources:

WWF Resources Regarding U.S. Climate & Energy Policy

• U.S. Federal Policy section, WWF blog
• Act For Our Future
• What does the Spill have to do with a Climate Bill?

On today's disappearing "Climate Deniers" ice sculpture:

• CNN Video on "Climate Deniers" Ice Sculpture at the Capitol (WWF Climate Change Blog).
• Meltdown.  Blog posting by Dan Lashof, Natural Resources Defense Council.
• Giant Ice Sculpture Unveiled on Capitol Hill: "Climate Deniers" Melt Away. False Claims by Climate Deniers Refuted; Time for Senate Action on Global Warming.  Press release (15 July 2010) from The Project on Climate Science.
• Video: Unveiling of Climate Deniers Ice Sculpture Outside U.S. Senate. 
• Images from the event are available at www.consequence2010.org and on a Flikr group.

NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Global Surface Temperature Anomalies:

• The Monthly Global Land Temperature Anomalies (degrees C)
• The Monthly Global Ocean Temperature Anomalies (degrees C)
• The Monthly Global (land and ocean combined into an anomaly) Index (degrees C)
• The Monthly Northern Hemisphere (land and ocean combined into an anomaly) Index (degrees C)
• The Monthly Southern Hemisphere (land and ocean combined into an anomaly) Index (degrees C)

NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Surface Temperature Analysis:

• Global-mean monthly, seasonal, and annual means, 1880-present, updated through most recent month
• Northern Hemisphere-mean monthly, seasonal, and annual means, 1880-present, updated through most recent month
• Southern Hemisphere-mean monthly, seasonal, and annual means, 1880-present, updated through most recent month
• Zonal annual means, 1880-present, updated through most recent completed year

State of the Cimate > Global Hazards > June 2010.  From NOAA. Describes many of the weather extremes seen around the planet during June.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRIMM), Extreme Events:

• Hurricane Alex, June-July 2010
• China Flooding, June 2010
• Tropical Cyclone Phet, May-June 2010

Jeff Masters' Wunderblog:

• Late Night Alex Update. Includes section on "East Asian heat wave continues." 28 June 2010.
• Tropical Storm Alex bears down on the Yucatan; extreme heat for Africa and Russia.  26 June 2010.
• 93L still disorganized; extreme heat wave hits the Middle East and Africa.  24 June 2010.

Driest Start for Decades.  Press release (7 July 2010) from the U.K. Met Office.

Global Surface Temperature Change [PDF].  June 1, 2010, draft paper by J. Hansen, R. Ruedy, M. Sato, and K. Lo (NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies).  See also summary discussion of the paper, and two PowerPoint posters of key figures.

WWF Climate Change Blog:

• Rising Greenhouse Gas Concentrations Driving Up Sea Surface Temperatures that Fuel More Intense Hurricanes .

• The Planet Feels the Heat as First Half of 2010 Sets Global Temperature Record (9 July 2010)
• Long term Warming Trend Continues as U.S. Sees Much Above Normal Temperatures in June.  8 July 2010.
• Average Arctic Sea Ice Extent Drops to Record Low for the Month in June.  7 July 2010.
• Asia Saw Hottest Temperatures in its Recorded History in May .  17 June 2010.
• Records Toppled as NOAA Releases Latest Surface Temperature Data .  15 June 2010.
• NASA Reports Highest Spring Temperatures on Record as U.S. Senate Debates Climate Change.  10 June 2010.
• Above Normal Spring Temperatures in U.S. Continue Long-Term Upward Trend; Record Warmth in Northeast.  8 June 2010.
• Northern Hemisphere Snow Cover Drops to Record Low for Month of May.  7 June 2010
• NOAA Sees Potential for "Hyperactive" Hurricane Season; Record High Sea Surface Temperatures Among Contributing Factors .  1 June 2010.