May 15, 2012
In April 2012, the average temperature of Earth's Northern Hemisphere was the warmest of any April in the past 133 years.
Globally, April 2012 marks the fifth warmest April since temperature records began in 1880. It was the 326th straight month with a global temperature above the average for the 20th century.
Global Temperature Rankings
Rank |
Measure |
Month |
Temperature
(above 20th Century average) |
|
5th |
Warmest (in 133 years) |
April 2012 |
+0.65°C |
|
1st |
Warmest (in 133 years) |
April 2010 |
+0.75°C |
|
1st |
Coolest (in 133 years) |
April 1909 |
-0.52°C |
Data and information was first posted May 15, 2012 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its National Climate Data Center (NCDC) in the USA.
Annually, 2011 is the 11th warmest year on record. The year 2010 tied with 2005 as the warmest year.
More details about global temperature are available in the State of the Climate reports (Global Analysis) at the NOAA-NCDC website. These reports present preliminary, global data that has been gathered from monitoring stations and leading institutions around the world. The reports include a Global Hazardssection that gives a global update on drought & wildfires, flooding, storms, severe winter weather, and ecosystems impacts. A Snow and Ice section reports on snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere and sea ice extent in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
NOTE: Global temperatures set out in the CO2Now graphic (above) are computed from preliminary NOAA estimates of global average temperature for the 20th century and adding the current 20th-century anomaly.
More Info from NOAA-NCDC:
NOAA NDCC | State of the Climate Global Analysis | REPORT
NOAA NDCC | Global land and ocean surface temperature anomalies since 1880 | DATA
NOAA NCDC | Q&As about global surface temperature anomalies | QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
NOAA NCDC | 2011 Annual State of the Climate Global Analysis | PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS
NOAA NCDC | 2010 Annual State of the Climate Highlights | 8 Page PDF
Related:
GISS | Global Temperature in 2011, Trends, and Prospects
Climate Interactive | UNEP Emissions Gap Report & Temperature-Related Tools
The Royal Society | Four degrees and beyond
