Data indicates a continuing trend of global warming

Preliminary findings of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show that 2010 was the warmest period on record, tied with 2005:

• Combined global land and ocean surface temperatures were 0.62°C above the 20th century average of 13.9°C.

 

January–December 2010 Blended Land and Sea temperatures

• The Northern Hemisphere's combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record, at 0.73°C above the 20th century average. In comparison the Southern Hemisphere was the sixth warmest year on record, at 0.51°C above the 20th century average.

 

• Global land surface temperature's were the second warmest on record (tied with 2005), at 0.96°C above the 20th century average. The warmest period on record occurred in 2007, at 0.99°C above the 20th century average.

 

January–December 2010 Land Surface Temperature

• Global ocean surface temperature's were the third warmest on record (tied with 2005), at 0.49°C above the 20th century average.

 

• 2010 also saw a dramatic shift in the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which influences temperature and precipitation patterns around the world. A moderate-to-strong El Niño at the beginning of the year transitioned to La Niña conditions by July. At the end of November, La Niña was moderate-to-strong.

 

This information is an extract from the NOAA National Climatic Data Center, State of the Climate: Global Analysis for December 2010, published online January 2011.