Global Temperature Report: April 2005 June 10, 2005 Vol. 15, No. 1 For Additional Information: Dr. John Christy, UAH, (256) 961-7763 christy@nsstc.uah.edu Dr. Roy Spencer, UAH, (256) 961-7960 roy.spencer@msfc.nasa.gov   Global Temperature Report: May 2005 Global temperature trend since Nov. 16, 1978: +0.12 C per decade May temperatures (preliminary) Global composite temp.: +0.23 C (about 0.41 degrees Fahrenheit) above 20-year average for May. Northern Hemisphere: +0.23 C (about 0.41 degrees Fahrenheit) above 20-year average for May. Southern Hemisphere: +0.23 C (about 0.41 degrees Fahrenheit) above 20-year average for May. April temperatures (revised): Global Composite: +0.41 C above 20-year average Northern Hemisphere: +0.61 C above 20-year average Southern Hemisphere: +0.22 C above 20-year average (All temperature variations are based on a 20-year average (1979-1998) for the month reported.) Notes on data released June 10, 2005: UAH is reprocessing the complete global temperature dataset to include a new correction, according to Dr. John Christy, director of the Earth System Science Center (ESSC) at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. "The April and May 2005 results include that new correction," Christy said. "We expect to have the complete dataset available in time for the June Global Temperature Report." Color maps of local temperature anomalies may soon be available on-line at: http://climate.uah.edu/ The processed temperature data is available on-line at: http://vortex.nsstc.uah.edu/data/msu/t2lt/uahncdc.lt As part of an ongoing joint project between UAH and NOAA, Christy and Dr. Roy Spencer, a principal research scientist in the ESSC, use data gathered by microwave sounding units on NOAA satellites to get accurate temperature readings for almost all regions of the Earth. This includes remote desert, ocean and rain forest areas for which reliable climate data are not otherwise available. The satellite-based instruments measure the temperature of the atmosphere from the surface up to an altitude of about eight kilometers above sea level. Once the monthly temperature data is collected and processed, it is placed in a "public" computer file for immediate access by atmospheric scientists in the U.S. and abroad. Neither Spencer nor Christy receives any research support or funding from oil, coal or industrial companies or organizations, or from any private or special interest groups. All of their climate research funding comes from state and federal grants or contracts. -- 30 - For more information, Dr. John Christy, UAH, (256) 961-7763 christy@nsstc.uah.edu Dr. Roy Spencer, UAH, (256) 961-7960 roy.spencer@msfc.nasa.gov Back to News Index

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