The last 12 months have been the warmest one year period in the NASA database since records began in 1880. According to the just released NASA GISS Global Temperature Data, March, 2015 is estimated to have been the fifth warmest month on record. Here are the top 20 months in rank order:
2007 JAN 93
2002 MAR 88
2010 MAR 87
1998 FEB 86
2015 MAR 84
2010 APR 82
2014 SEP 81
2015 FEB 78
2014 MAY 78
2014 OCT 77
2005 OCT 76
2015 JAN 75
2013 NOV 75
2010 NOV 75
1998 JUN 75
1995 FEB 75
2010 FEB 74
2006 DEC 74
2014 DEC 73
2014 AUG 73
Here is the monthly data covering the entire period of the instrumental record (1880 – present)
And, most importantly, here is the 12 month running mean (showing only since 1940 to make it easier to read):
And a couple more graphics showing the last few months up close:
And this is just looking at January through March for each year in the database:
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How much was the last 12 months warmer than the last record? How much is the uncertainty?
In the list, what do the numbers following the months signify?
This file (http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/tabledata_v3/GLB.Ts.txt) says, “GLOBAL Temperature Anomalies in 0.01 degrees Celsius base period: 1951-1980”
@1,
It’s the temperature anomaly in hundredths of a degree, if I recall correctly.
Yes, those are the anomaly values in 1/100ths of a degree C over the 20th century baseline.
Earths climate is changing very drastically and this finding by NASA shows how serious it is ,it helps us see that all the numerous talks and adverts about being environmentally friendly are actually very note worthy as we all live and thrive on this planet.
This climate change is now not only theoretical, we all can now feel it. Especially we, Africans, the children of the sun. It’s either it is too cold or rather too hot. My friend is from the equotorial places, when he came over to South African,he had the not-so-priviledge of experiencing our winter-he thought he was dying.Its beyond bad.Pregnant ladies struggle in the coast-it is too humid-they can’t breath.The montreal and Koyto protocols are too slow.America must sign!It is the largest polluting country.
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The last two graphs are somewhat cryptic. For the final one, there are four points, and I think points 2, 3, and 4 are the monthly temperature anomalies for Jan, Feb, Mar. Is the first point Dec 2014, or the 2014 average, or …? It is positioned at “2015” on the X axis. As for the penultimate graph, I’m not sure what that one is. It looks like it’s supposed to be the monthly temperature anomalies for Jan, Feb, Mar but the Y axis values seem wrong. Is it some kind of running average? or … ?
Sorry if I’m missing the obvious.
Ned you are missing what would have been obvious had I made it more clear! Just experimenting. I’m working right now on a somewhat more useful graph.
But yes, that is just monthly values year to date.
I never realized that global warming was so serious. Does global warming increase yearly? If so, why have there been much warmer months in years so long ago as in 1998? What causes these times to be so exceptional?
Does global warming increase yearly? If so, why have there been much warmer months in years so long ago as in 1998? What causes these times to be so exceptional?
I understand that the climate is ever changing. The atmosphere is warming up and increasing the temperatures everywhere. I’m curious about why this particular month is one of the warmest?
I understand that the climate is ever changing. The atmosphere is warming up and increasing the temperatures everywhere. I’m curious about why this particular month is one of the warmest?
Tom, that would not be a valid statistical way to look at the data, and I’m pretty sure you are aware of that.
Mr.Laden, thank you for sharing your findings. May you please elaborate what these numbers mean? Does this mean global warming is real? Would the temperature ever go down?
Thank you
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Indeed, and yet: I would not bet against the notion that if the magnitude of the change, and the uncertainty, were the same but for a decrease, Tom would be trumpeting that as support of something.
Since there is such increase in global warming what effect does this have on the ice in the poles?Thank you
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The data is quite convincing.
I wonder why 1998 recorded such high temperatures; it seems unusual in a list dominated by the twenty-first century.
The data is quite convincing.
I wonder why 1998 had such high temperatures recorded; it seems unusual in a list dominated by the twenty-first century.
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It is shocking to see how the temperatures are increasing. I feel that we do not realise how serious global warming really is and that people are looking past the subject. I feel people think that this will not affect them, but what about our future generations? We should all try and work towards a solution, and really make an effort to change otherwise there will be consequences.
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Shorter Tom: “Michael Phelps may have set a new world record in the 100m butterfly, but by how much and can we rely on the accuracy of the timing system.”
With such factual evidence, global warming is an undeniable phenomenon.
The irregularity in the dates however is fascinating. But the graphs indicate clear gradual average increases in global temperatures.
Since the global temperatures are rising why is it that in some places the temperatures are much lower than usual?
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This change in temperature is getting worse and we may end up having global warming so i suggest we must decrease the burning of fossil fuels
Does global warming include more extreme weather generally? Because I’ve hear somewhere that global warming also causes winters to be extra cold.
The alarming increase of the global temperature data released by NASA should be a reflection to the majority of the people around the world that still do not understand and accept global warming. The reality of the problem of human caused climate change is happening here and now and unless the most polluting countries sign the Montreal and Kyoto protocol who knows how many warm months we will have during the year and how high the temperature will increase.
I am not surprised that the temperature is escalating. What is concerning about the data in this research is will the temperature increase indefinitely or will it reach a climax, decrease and we return to the Ice Ages? People think global warming and climate change is merely a concept. Perhaps when governmenta have realised how real it is, we will have seasons the way they are supposed to instead of sweating during winter.
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Wow! The graphs seem to fluctuate and yet increasing, what causes the fluctuation of the temperatures?
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Does the angle of the Earth’s axis change according to the seasons?
@31. Sigciniwe :
I could be mistaken, but I think that those fluctuations are the from the northern hemisphere seasons with plants taking up carbon dioxide in summer and spring and then releasing it or at least not taking it up so much in winter and autumn.
This is asymmetrical with the northern hemisphere overwhelming the southern hemisphere due to the amount of land area and forests in the northern hemisphere far exceeding the amount n the southern hemisphere. pretty sure that’s what I’ve heard / read somewhere before but cannot recall exactly where. Hope that helps.
BTW. There’s an excellent site (& facebook page) called Co2 now :
http://co2now.org/
Which has extra info and enables you to keep track of exactly what the carbon dioxide level is each month. Its updated fairly regularly although you do need to wait into a little way into the current month before the past month’s results are added.
@Bulela asked : Does the angle of the Earth’s axis change according to the seasons?
No – its always about 23 .5 degrees but the hemispheres are tilted towards and away from the Sun respectively.
Basic clear explainer on youtube here :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgq0LThW7QA
I’m assuming that this sudden influx of new commenters from South Africa, all with mysterious 8-digit codes in the name or in the text, represents some form of spam.
Is this due to global warming or only a natural cycle because the first four occurred before the year 2000.
Thanks Greg, the world needs to become aware of this crisis and your blog is helping to do this. Global warming receives far too little attention and hopefully this will change before its too late…
@36.Suhail Solim : “Is this due to global warming or only a natural cycle because the first four occurred before the year 2000.”
Er, which four exactly?
Also no. see :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq8_l6s89uY
How is the ozone hole effected with this increase of temperature for March?
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The results are quite convincing because practically that is what i also observed or rather experienced towards the end of the summer season on the southern hemisphere.However for future thoughts the data derived gives us an idea of how the future of our climate stands,and that is not a very good site. (14165865)
The trend in GISTEMP since 1999 is getting very close to statistically significant: 0.11±0.12?/decade. http://www.skepticalscience.com/trend.php
I expect it will probably be before the end of this year that the trend since 1999 in GISTEMP becomes statistically significant by the conventional definition.
Of course, the trend in HADCRUT4 krig v2 and HADCRUT4 hybrid since 1999 has been statistically significant for some time now.
But as we all know, nothing is likely to stop global warming denialists from always being global warming denialists.
And Berkeley too.
Latest news article via Aussie ABC online news :
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-19/climate-change-us-agency-says-march-hottest-globally-on-record/6403600
Except here :
Just off the presses here. Seems this March was hotter than just very warm.
It is very confusing how the month of march is very hot though it should be less warm as by this month we are approaching winter.But as one said maybe it is because of the climate change which humans contribute to the change of it. So it is time to take care of how we humans contribute and control it.
It is very interesting how the month of march is very hot though it should be less warm as by this month we are approaching winter.But as one said maybe it is because of the climate change which humans contribute to the change of it. So it is time to take care of how we humans contribute and control it.
From the look of these results it seems all efforts to go green are in vain. The whole point seems ironic. The world should come up with more effective ways to convey this people, as it seems it`s falling on deaf ears.
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This article shows true stats of how extreme global warming has actually become. The summers are getting hotter and the winters are getting colder. The world’s population should be more aware of their fossil fuel usage and become more environmentally friendly.
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These above results are a clear indication of the extent of global warming. The summer are getting hotter and the winters are getting cloder. The world population must realize this problem and find a way to fix it very soon before it is too late.
Global warming is at rose and the above stats are just proof thereof. Summers are getting hotter and winters are getting colder.
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Global warming is at a rise. The above states are prof thereof. The summer is starting earlier in the northern hemisphere.
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Every year the Earth is getting warmer, with each year there is a warmer month. Consequence of climate change, I wonder if we could work towards a month of a year where temperature of a specific month could not increase. What’s interesting is that there is a different ‘warmer’ month each year.
What’s interesting is that there is a different ‘warmer’ month each year. No consistency between the months. Nonetheless, this is a great indication of climate change.
Not true.
2011 for example had no monthly warmer anomaly than February, March, April or November 2010.
The NASA GISS global temperature monthly;does show that the is a drastically change in an increase of the climatic weather.as we see from the exponential growth of temperature since 1875 – 2015 march of your results,the is an increase in temperature. #14065925
It is interesting to note the impact and effect humans have on climate change. It is also very interesting how many people are in denial about the fact that we are the cause of it.