Global September Temperature Fourth Warmest On Record

[Richard Tafoya]

NOAA:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2720.htm

September 2006 was cooler than average for the continental U.S., providing relief from the second-warmest summer on record, according to scientists at the NOAA National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. September was the first cooler-than-average month for the continental U.S. since May 2005. Drought conditions also improved in some areas of the nation, with nationally averaged precipitation above average during September. The global temperature remained well above average.

...

Globally, it was the fourth warmest September and fifth warmest year-to-date period since records began in 1880 for global land- and ocean-surface temperatures (1.01 degrees F/0.56 degrees C, 092 degrees F/0.51 degrees C above the 20th century mean). September land surface temperatures were second warmest, while ocean surface temperatures were third warmest in the 127-year record. An El Niño episode began in September as ocean temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific continued a recent warming trend.

[tiger_rascal]

That is what I dont understand about the global warming argument.

In my area I watch the local news every night. This past summer on our hottest day I thought for sure we would break the record, but we did not, that record was set back in the early 1900s and it still stands. Why is it that more and more records are not being shattered? Rather, we either stop short of the record or are barely above it. In fact, when you look at my areas averages, it seems not much has changed for over 100 years! Global warming? Im not saying its not possible, but we do live on the planet Earth, an ever changing planet. We have been through extremes before and scientists believe it is a fact that the Earth will continue to go through changes in weather. Are humans hurting the environment? Of course! Can we make the weather what we want it? Well, unless you are God, I dont think so.

[Richard Tafoya]

Single days don't make or change a long-term trend. Global warming tracking is established as a measurement of the average temperature over a season or over a year.

If the land and ocean have a higher average temperature across a season or month or year, and that average temp is consistently higher for that same period of time over several consecutive years, you've got a definite trend.

[tiger_rascal]

And there was a trend leading up to the ice age too.

[Regis Philbin]

What caused the other three?

Records started in 1880? How do you know there weren't warmer Septembers 5,000 years ago?

And no Republicans (and limosine liberals) in SUVs at that time...

[Richard Tafoya]

This is a trend.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f4/Instrumental_Temperature_Record.png

[*Katy*]

Its definately hotter than normal here...my god, usually by now we at least have had a decent cold front move in, but the last "cold front" we got brought down the temperatures about 10 degrees but also made it so humid that it was almost better to just have the heat! Its still been in the 90's here and its october, thats NOT normal!

[tiger_rascal]

I just remembered something. Back in the mid-90s, cant remember exact year, there was a couple of days in December that were so mild that we actually got up to like 60 degrees! Now that was crazy, and I cant remember another December like it, yet.

Im hoping we get some snow though this winter. So far, things are about average for my area. Autumn is a tricky season it seems. We go from cold snaps, back to mild temps., mix in some rain and wind, yup, thats autumn.

[Regis Philbin]

I can remember my parents telling me they had to water the lawn in January once because it was so hot and dry---that was the early to mid-1960's, I believe.

Give it up you global warming chicken littles. There's no man-made global warming. Weather goes in cycles and humans (not even scientific "experts" ) just don't understand how it all works.

[SparkleHugs]

then how do you understand how it works reg? what makes you so sure, what makes you an expert?

im going to take the word of someone who has spent their life studying it over someone who does nothing but read the drudge report

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Richie believes his intelligence and scientific knowledge is superior to the best scientific minds in the field. In fact, he believes he's superior to just about everyone.

[pinky]

Individual days in specific geographic areas have absolutely NOTHING to do with global warming. Anyone who thinks they do is either uninformed or an idiot.

In Richie's case, maybe both.

[tiger_rascal]

Individual days in specific geographic areas have absolutely NOTHING to do with global warming. Anyone who thinks they do is either uninformed or an idiot.

Yes, but if this global warming process is spiraling out of control at an alarming rate, most people are going to expect to see some major changes in weather patterns in their area. And if people from many different geographic locations notice no change in the normal average weather for the month or year, the selling point is going to be that much harder.

Fact is, Earth is a living planet, it had changed, it will change again and continue to change. Has humans hurt the Earth to an extent that could bring about a change? I think so. Would the Earth not have went through any more changes if not for humans? I doubt it.

[Richard Tafoya]

No, this is a matter of increases of a few degrees globally on average across decades. Averaging 78 degress in September one year, 78.2 degrees five years later, 78.5 five years after that, 78.7 five years later.

Global increases of a fraction of a degree induce changes in everything from polar icecap melt to seasonal growing patterns to animal migration dates to weather system extremes.

There's not a selling point, there's temperature data.

Here's a quick roundup from National Geographic: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html

[tiger_rascal]

But there is a selling point. For those people such as Regis. For politicians and their policies. You cant just say, here is global warming and some data, lets do something, and expect everyone to agree and believe you. The case has to be made that this is a very, very important issue effecting everyone on this earth and something must be done. Sad thing is, some people wont believe until their life is directly effected, and then, it could be too late. For some, seeing is believing, and you need a lot more than some data and a pretty chart.

[pinky]

And so the rest of us should have to suffer catastrophic events just because some people refuse to accept the data?

Not in my opinion.