Global Temperature Trend Update: July 2012

Every month University of Alabama in Huntsville climatologists John Christy and Roy Spencer report the latest global temperature trends from satellite data. Below are the newest data updated through July, 2012.

Global climate trend since Nov. 16, 1978: +0.14 C per decade

July temperatures (preliminary)

Global composite temp.: +0.28 C (about 0.50 degrees Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for July.

Northern Hemisphere: +0.44 C (about 0.79 degrees Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for July.

Southern Hemisphere: +0.11 C (about 0.20 degrees Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for July.

Tropics: +0.33 C (about 0.59 degrees Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for July.

Notes on data released Aug. 6, 2012:

Compared to global seasonal norms, July 2012 was the coolest July since 2008, according to Dr. John Christy, a professor of atmospheric science and director of the Earth System Science Center at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Compared to seasonal norms, the coldest spot on the globe in July was the South Pole, where winter temperatures averaged 4.5 C (8.1 degrees F) colder than normal. If it isn't usually the coldest place on Earth in July, seeing temperatures during the deepest part of the Antarctic winter that much colder than normal might move the South Pole into that spot. By comparison, the "warmest" place on Earth in July was in northeastern Alberta, Canada. Temperatures there averaged 3.43 C (about 6.2 degrees F) warmer than normal for the month.

Go here to see the processed satellite temperatue data.