Fifth warmest July on record. Climate forecast: Hot and then even hotter

[RedEarth]

I know we’re supposed to be going into a period of cooling, at least according to people who don’t believe in the scientific method, but for those who do, NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center reports in its “Climate of 2008 July in Historical Perspective“:

Based on preliminary data, the globally averaged combined land and sea surface temperature was the fifth warmest on record for July and the ninth warmest for the January-July year-to-date period.

It is worth noting that El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions remained in a neutral phase during July. And we’re still at a solar minimum.

And no, I don’t think the monthly data tell us much about the climate — but I know reporting it annoys the deniers, and I am trying to enjoy my vacation. As for what the peer-reviewed scientific literature forecasts for the next decade, temperaturewise:


The “coming decade” (2010 to 2020) is poised to be the warmest on record, globally.
The coming decade is poised to see faster temperature rise than any decade since the authors’ calculations began in 1960.
The fast warming would likely begin early in the next decade — similar to the 2007 prediction by the Hadley Center in Science (see “Climate Forecast: Hot — and then Very Hot“).

That is why they call it global warming.

http://climateprogress.org/2008/08/18/fifth-warmest-july-on-record-climate-forecast-hot-and-then-even-hotter/

[NV Whino]

1. Oddly enough

We, in the Napa Valley, have had the mildest summer in years. We've had exactly three days that were super hot. Otherwise, it's been delightful.

[kestrel91316]

4. We're having one of our rare reasonable summers here in the

San Fernando Valley, too. But we already paid our dues. The third week of June was absolutely hellish, hitting 117 two days in a row, and we spent 9 days over 105, I think. That was when the power failed and I had no AC at the clinic and had to shut down.

[phantom power]

2. The first ten years will be the worst.

The next ten will be the worst too. After that we will go into a bit of a decline.

[Uben]

3. North Texas, very hot July

July was very hot here in North Texas, but not record level. On the other hand, August has been very moderate and wet! It has rained every day for the last week, and for August, that is unusual! Low to mid eighties in Texas is fall weather.

Just goes to show, if you don't like the weather, just wait till tomorrow.

[Javaman]

5. Here in Austin we hit 100+ 40 days in a row.

it was much hotter than normal.