Overview
Each month, we will provide information regarding the previous month’s climate. Overall, preliminary data analysis suggests that global temperatures for April 2014 (land and ocean surfaces combined) tied with 2010 as the warmest April since records began in 1880. Northern Africa, northern Asia and most of Europe experienced temperatures significantly above-average. In fact, in the Northern Hemisphere, only central and eastern North America were cooler than average for the month.
Highlights Dataset
Dataset: 20140525 EarthNow: April 2014 Highlights
Dataset: 20140525 EarthNow: AUDIO April 2014 Highlights
This dataset shows some of the major April weather and climate highlights from the National Climatic Data Center’s (NCDC) monthly global climate analysis, and serves as an overview of what can be discussed in the datasets that follow. Highlights are noted below.
- Northern Asia: Temperatures well above average.
- North America: Below normal temperatures across Canada and the U.S. Great Lakes Region.
- Queensland Australia: 2nd warmest April on record.
- Europe: Temperatures continued well above average, Spain had second warmest April ever.
- Southern Argentina: Wetter than normal, some locations recorded twice their normal monthly precipitation.
- United States: Above-average precipitation in the Upper Midwest and Southeast, drought in the West.
Global Temperature Anomalies Dataset
Dataset: 20140525 EarthNow: April 2014 Temperature Anomaly
Dataset: 20140525 EarthNow: AUDIO April 2014 Temperature Anomaly
- Using the real-time Monthly Temperature Anomalies dataset is a great way to convey where some of the warmer and cooler than average areas were in April, including those mentioned above in the highlights.
- The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for April 2014 tied with April 2010 as the warmest April since record began in 1880.
Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies Dataset
Dataset: 20140525 EarthNow: April 2014 SST Anomaly
Dataset: 20140525 EarthNow: AUDIO April 2014 SST Anomaly
- The real-time sea surface temperature anomaly dataset is a great way to visualize the El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
- Global water temperatures were the third warmest for April on record.
- Remember blues indicate cooler than average temperatures and reds indicate warmer than average temperatures (white: average).
Snow and Ice Cover Dataset
Dataset: 20140525 EarthNow: April 2014 Snow and Ice Cover
Dataset: 20140525 EarthNow: AUDIO April 2014 Snow and Ice Cover
- Aside from helping to illustrate seasonal changes, the real-time Snow and Ice Cover dataset is a great way to convey sea ice change through time, including discussing how the current sea ice extent compares to other noteworthy years.
- The Arctic sea ice extent for April 2014 was the fifth smallest since satellite records began in 1979.
- In Antarctica, the sea ice extent was the largest on record.
Seasonal Outlooks
- Also be sure to check out the newest 3-month seasonal outlooks for June-August 2014.
- Global Temperature Outlook
- Global Precipitation Outlook
- U.S. Drought Outlook
Where do I find the datasets?
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First, check your SOS system to make sure it’s not already in the EarthNow category.
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If not, you can download the datasets and playlist files from this FTP Site.
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Then download and use playlist files at the top of the page (or create your own) and make sure they are in /home/sos/sosrc or /home/sosdemo/sosrc.
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More detailed information here
Helpful Resources for More Information
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http://go.wisc.edu/3nd6pg National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)
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http://go.wisc.edu/9y2618 About ENSO (El Niño/La Niña)
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http://go.wisc.edu/1nx2n3 NCDC’s Global Climate Report
Credits:
EarthNow Team
NOAA
References:
NOAA National Climatic Data Center, State of the Climate: Global Analysis for April 2014, published online May 2014, retrieved on May 21, 2014 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/.
