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Climate of 2003 - July in Historical Perspective National Climatic Data Center 14 August 2003

Global Analysis / Global Hazards / United States / U.S. Drought / Extremes
Use these links to access detailed analyses of Global and U.S. data.

Global Highlights: Global average combined land and sea surface temperature was the second warmest for July 2003 Temperatures were much above average across Europe and Southeast Asia with below average temperatures across the Korean peninsula, Japan and New Zealand Precipitation during July 2003 was above average in the southeastern U.S. and most of India, with drier than average conditions over most of Australia and Brazil Sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific were near-normal in July 2003, indicative of near-neutral ENSO conditions

Contents of this Section: Introduction Global Temperatures Global Precipitation ENSO SST Analysis Microwave Sounding Unit Data

The data presented in this report are preliminary. Ranks and anomalies may change as more complete data are received and processed. The most current data may be accessed via the Global Surface Temperature Anomalies page.

Introduction

The July 2003 mean temperature was above the 1988-2002 average across the western half of the U.S., Europe, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean region as shown in the adjacent map of blended satellite and in situ data. Cooler than average temperatures occurred over parts of the Sahel, much of northern Alaska and the eastern U.S. The mean position of upper level ridges of high pressure and troughs of low pressure (depicted by positive and negative 500 millibar height anomalies) are generally reflected by areas of positive and negative temperature anomalies at the surface, respectively.

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July temperature anomalies calculated from the Global Historical Climatology Network data set of land surface stations (using a 1961-1990 base period) also show above average temperatures throughout Europe, southern Argentina and Algeria. Monthly temperatures were 3-5°C (5.4-9°F) above the mean. Cooler than average temperatures were present throughout east Asia, Mali, Paraguay and Uruguay where monthly temperatures were as much as 3-5°C (5.4-9°F) below average.

Temperature

July For July 2003, the global average land and ocean surface temperature was 0.53°C (0.95°F) above the 1880-2002 average, ranking as the second warmest July in the period of record The warmest July occurred in 1998, when the global anomaly was +0.66°C (+1.19°F) Globally averaged land temperatures were third warmest on record, 0.74°C (1.33°F) above the long-term mean Globally averaged ocean surface temperatures were 0.43°C (0.77°F) above the 1880-2002 mean, second warmest for July 2003.

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July 2003 temperatures averaged across the Northern Hemisphere were second warmest on record, 0.59°C (1.10°F) above the long term mean Temperatures averaged throughout the Southern Hemisphere were second warmest, 0.46°C (0.83°F) above average

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January-July For January-July 2003, the global average land and ocean surface temperature was 0.54°C (0.97°F) above the long term mean, third warmest Globally averaged land temperatures were third warmest on record, 0.87°C (1.57°F) above the long-term mean Globally averaged ocean surface temperatures were 0.40°C (0.72°F) above the 1880-2002 mean, third warmest for January-July 2003. January-July 2003 temperatures averaged across the Northern Hemisphere were third warmest on record, 0.58°C (1.04°F) above the long term mean Temperatures averaged throughout the Southern Hemisphere were third warmest, 0.48°C (0.86°F) above average

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Serial monthly global surface temperature departures with respect to a 1971-2000 mean are shown in the figure to the left Globally averaged surface temperatures (land and ocean) have been warmer than the 1971-2000 average for the last 87 consecutive months

Precipitation

During July 2003, much above average precipitation fell across the southeastern U.S., Venezuela, India and Mozambique Below average precipitation was observed in Taiwan, southeastern China, Bolivia and Nepal Additional regional analysis can be found on the Global Hazards page

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ENSO SST Analysis

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Sea surface temperatures were slightly above normal across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (as shown in the adjacent animation of weekly sea surface temperature anomalies), indicative of neutral ENSO conditions. A comprehensive summary of July 2003 ENSO conditions can be found on the El Niño monitoring page. For the latest advisory on ENSO conditions go to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) and the CPC ENSO Diagnostic Discussion Images of sea surface temperature conditions are available for all months to date during 2003 at the weekly sst page

Microwave Sounding Unit Data

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Global temperatures in the lowest 8km (5 miles) of the troposphere were 0.08°C (0.14°F) above the 1979-1998 average during July 2003 Temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were 0.15°C (0.27°F) above the mean for July 2003 Temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere were 0.01°C (0.02°F) above the mean for July 2003

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Global temperatures in the lower 17km - 22km (10 - 14 miles) of the stratosphere were below the 1984-1990 average, 0.43°C (0.77°F) cooler than the mean Temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were 0.34°C (0.61°F) below the mean for July 2003 Temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere were 0.51°C (0.92°F) below the mean for July 2003

  For additional details on precipitation and temperatures in July, see the Global Hazards page .

References:

Peterson, T.C. and R.S. Vose, 1997: An Overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network Database. Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 78, 2837-2849.

For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division:

Climate Services Division
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue, Room 120
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4876
phone: 828-271-4800
email: ncdc.orders@noaa.gov

For questions about this report, please contact:

David Easterling
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: David.Easterling@noaa.gov

Jay Lawrimore
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: Jay.Lawrimore@noaa.gov

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