The world’s ocean surface temperature was the warmest yet for June, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center. Previously, the highest mark was set in 2005. In fact, each hemisphere broke the record for highest June ocean surface temperature, according to the NCDC.
The global ocean surface temperature was up 1.06 degrees F (0.59 degrees C) above the 20th century average. The NCDC also reports that the combined average global land and ocean surface temperature for June was the second highest on record since such recording began in 1880. Global land surface temperature for June 2009 was 1.26 degrees F (0.70. C) above last century’s average.
The NCDC further reports exceptional land warmth occurred in Africa, Siberia and lands surrounding the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea. Lower-than-average temperatures were noticed in the U.S. Northern Plains, Canadian Prairie Provinces and central Asia, it says. Central Europe suffered from heavy rains that caused severe mudslides and floods.
With respect to oceans, NCDC says El Niño is back following six straight months of increased ocean-surface temperature anomalies. NCDC also reported that the surface of arctic sea ice in June was 5.6 percent below the 1979-2000 average calculation while Antarctic sea ice was 3.9 percent above the 1979-2000 average.
