National Climatic Data Center
NCDC
"State of the climate" 2008
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/re
search/2008/ann/bams/
.pdf and .ppt
Fig. 1.1. Geographical distribution of notable climate anomalies and events occurring around the planet in 2008.
Fig. 7.7. (a) Annual mean temperature anomalies for Mexico
(°C, based on 1971–2000); (b) seasonal total precipitation
anomalies (May–Oct) (percent of 1971–2000). (Source: National
Meteorological Service of Mexico.)
Fig. 7.8. (a) Feb mean temperature anomalies for Cuba
(°C; based on 1971–2000); (b) annual total rainfall
expressed as deciles (based on 1971–2000; preliminary
analysis). (Source: Institute of Meteorology of Cuba.)
Fig. 7.11. (a) Annual mean temperature anomalies for South America for 2008
(°C); (b) annual total precipitation anomalies (% normal). The reference period
is 1971–2000. [Sources: National Meteorological Services of Argentina, Brazil,
Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela,
and CPTEC (Brazil). Data compilation and processing by CIIFEN 2008.]
Fig. 7.12. Accumulated precipitation (mm) in southern Brazil
during 20–25 Nov 2008. (Source: CPTEC/INPE.)
Fig. 7.13. Annual total rainfall deficit in central-east Argentina
and Uruguay during 2008. The reference period is 1961 to 1990.
(Source: CIIFEN 2008.)
Fig. 7.14. Accumulated rainfall at Salto (Uruguay)
during 2008 (brown) an accumulated normal (green).
(Source: CIIFEN 2008.)
Fig. 7.23. Total rainfall anomalies over southern Africa for Nov
2007 to Apr 2008 (mm). The black box denotes areas that are
climatologically wet during summer. (Source: NOAA.)
Fig. 7.24. Annual mean temperature anomalies in Europe and over
the North Atlantic, 2008 (°C, 1961–90 base period) based on
CLIMAT and ship observations. [Source: DWD.]
Fig. 7.32. Anomalies of mean annual air temperatures averaged over the Russian
Territory, 1939–2008 (against 1961–90 normals).
Fig. 7.33. Air temperature anomalies in Jan 2008. Insets show mean monthly and mean daily air temperatures in Jan 2008 at
meteorological stations Marresalya, Anadyr’, and Ust’-Koksa.
Fig. 7.35. Air temperature anomalies in Dec 2008. Insets show mean monthly and mean daily air temperatures in Dec 2008 at
meteorological stations Marresalya, Omolon, and Olekminsk.
Fig. 7.44. Winter mean temperature anomaly (°C) for Iran.
(Source: IRIMO.)
Fig. 7.45. Spring precipitation anomaly (percentage of normal)
for Iran. (Source: IRIMO.)
Fig. 7.50. Mean annual temperature anomalies (ºC)
over New Zealand, from 1853 to 2008 inclusive,
based on between 2 (from 1853) and 7 (from 1908)
long-term station records. The blue and red bars
show annual differences from the 1971–2000
average; the solid black line is a smoothed time
series.
Fig. 7.51. Outgoing longwave radiation anomalies
(W m−2) in the southwest Pacific for Apr 2008.
Solid line indicates the location of the SPCZ.
Dashed line indicates the normal location of the
SPCZ in Apr.
Fig. 7.48. Australian mean annual maximum temperature
anomalies (°C; 1961–80 base period) for 2008.
Fig. 7.49. Australian annual
rainfall deciles for 2008.
Fig. 2.1. Global surface temperature anomalies with
respect to the 1961 to 1990 average. (bottom) Mean
of GISS, HadCRUT3 and NCDC; upper panel:
difference between GISS, HadCRUT3, NCDC and
the mean.
Fig. 2.2. Year-by-year temperature rankings and
95% confidence limits for the HadCRUT3
temperature analysis. The main panel shows the 50
warmest years and the inset shows the full 159-yr
record.
Sulphates and aerosols complicate matters
Sulphate emissions and aerosols from the combustion of
fossil fuels, biomass burning, etc. have led to a cooling effect
which is masking 1/3 to 1/2 of the warming effect.
This cooling effect has regional variations and can lead to local
and regional changes in weather patterns.
Sulphates and aerosols last for only weeks to months in
the troposphere, while greenhouse gases last for decades to
centuries.
Thus the clean-up of air pollution could allow additional
global warming!
Ship tracks across the Pacific
Summary
Summary
Scientific Conclusions
• Climate is changing all the time
• The greenhouse effect is real
• Upward trend in greenhouse gases from fossil fuel
burning, agriculture, and deforestation
• Radiative properties of the atmosphere are being altered
• Surface temperatures are up 0.8o C since 1890
• Warming from both natural and human causes
• We are already committed to future warming
• Some of the warming is hidden by the effects of aerosols
• Rate of warming is unsustainable for humans and
ecosystems
• The climate system will readjust in complex ways
REMEMBER
Climate Change is real
it is always changing from natural causes.
The Greenhouse effect is real
it is a physical fact
it allows Earth to be habitable
Global Warming is real
The Earth is entering a super-interglacial
Humans must reduce their impact on climate
This is a hybrid scientific / social issue.