August 2012 4th Warmest Globally: NOAA, NCDC

Global Highlights

• The average combined global land and ocean surface temperature for August 2012 was 0.62°C (1.12°F) above the 20^th century average of 15.6°C (60.1°F). This is the fourth warmest August since records began in 1880.

• The globally-averaged land surface temperature for August 2012 was the second warmest August on record, at 0.90°C (1.62°F) above average, while the globally-averaged ocean surface temperature was the fifth warmest on record, at 0.52°C (0.94°F) above average.

• ENSO-neutral conditions continued in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean during August 2012. El Niño conditions are likely to emerge in September.

• The average combined global land and ocean surface temperature for June–August 2012 was 0.64°C (1.15°F) above the 20^th century average of 15.6°C (60.1°F), marking the third warmest June–August on record.

• The globally-averaged land surface temperature for June–August 2012 was the all-time warmest June–August on record, at 1.03°C (1.85°F) above average.

• The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for January–August 2012 was the ninth warmest such period on record, at 0.56°C (1.01°F) above the 20^thcentury average.

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