Every month University of Alabama in Huntsville climatologists John Christy and Roy Spencer report the latest global temperature trends from satellite data. According to Christy, 2013 was the fourth warmest year since the satellite data era began in 1979, trailing only 1998, 2010 and 2005. Just in time for the launch of the annual United Nations' climate change conference in Warsaw in November, the World Meteorological Organization reported that 2013 was on track to be the seventh warmest year since 1850.
Below are the newest satellite data updated through December 2013:
Global climate trend since Nov. 16, 1978: +0.14 C per decade
December temperatures (preliminary)
Global composite temp.: +0.27 C (about 0.49 degrees Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for December.
Northern Hemisphere: +0.27 C (about 0.49 degrees Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for December.
Southern Hemisphere: +0.26 C (about 0.47 degrees Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for December.
Tropics: +0.06 C (about 0.11 degrees Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for December.
Roy Spencer
Go here to download monthly satellite temperature data since 1978.
