Please give to The Capital Times Kids Fund.
July was fifth warmest on record globally
While Madison never hit 90 degrees in July, the month was tied for the fifth warmest July on record globally, according to an analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.
The combined average global land and ocean surface temperature for July tied with 2001 and 2003 as the fifth warmest July since worldwide records began in 1880, NOAA reported.
In addition, the seven months from January to July ranked as the ninth warmest for combined average global land and ocean surface temperature.
The July 2008 combined global land and ocean surface temperature was 0.88 degrees above the 20th century mean of 60.4 degrees.
The global land surface temperature for July was 1.22 degrees above the 20th century mean of 57.8 degrees, while the global ocean surface temperature was 0.76 degrees above the 20th century mean of 61.5 degrees.
In Madison, July averaged 71.8 degrees, just above the 71.6 average.
For January through July, the combined global land and ocean surface temperature was 0.81 degrees above the 20th century mean of 56.9 degrees.
The global land surface temperature for January through July was 1.35 degrees above the 20th century mean of 46.8 degrees, while the global ocean surface temperature was 0.61 degrees above the 20th century mean of 61.0 degrees.
NOAA also reported that the northern hemisphere sea ice extent ranked fourth lowest on record for July. Since 1979, Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent in July has decreased by 6.1 percent per decade. In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent was slightly above the 1979-2000 average and ranked 10th largest for July out of the last 30 years.
is at , while the NCDC July 2008 analysis is at www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2008/jul/jul08.html.
jrichgels@madison.com
Associated Press file photo
Mekayla McGlaston (left) and Faith Cooper cool off at the Splashpad in Norman, Okla., in July.
