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SOS Playlists
SOS Playlist
SOS AutoRun/Audio Playlist
Overview
Each month, we will provide information regarding the previous month’s climate. Overall, preliminary data analysis suggests that October 2013 was the 7th warmest October on record (since 1880). Major stories include Cyclone Phailin, another warm month for Australia, and Alaska’s warmest October on record.
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Highlights Dataset
Dataset: 20131120 EarthNow: October 2013 Highlights
Dataset: 20131120 EarthNow: AUDIO October 2013 Highlights
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- This dataset shows some of the major October 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 with more information.
- North-Central U.S.: An early-season blizzard dropped up to 3 feet of snow across parts of Wyoming and South Dakota.
- Alaska: Experienced its warmest October on record (since 1918).
- Australia: Not only did Australia have its warmest October on record, but the January – October period was also the warmest on record.
- Japan: Some areas received nearly twice the normal monthly average precipitation.
- Cyclone Phailin: October 4-14; Max. Winds: 260 km/hr; Strongest cyclone to impact India since October 1999.
- Spain: Sixth warmest October on record.
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Global Temperature Anomalies Dataset
Dataset: 20131120 EarthNow: October 2013 Temperature Anomaly
Dataset: 20131120 EarthNow: AUDIO October 2013 Temperature Anomaly
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- 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 October, including those mentioned above in the highlights.
- The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for September 7th warmest on record (since 1880).
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Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies Dataset
Dataset: 20131120 EarthNow: October 2013 SST Anomaly
Dataset: 20131120 EarthNow: AUDIO October 2013 SST Anomaly
- The real-time sea surface temperature anomaly dataset is a great way to visualize the El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle in the eastern tropical Pacific ocean. For October 2013, these waters hovered near average, indicating an ENSO Neutral period. The Climate Prediction Center anticipates a continued neutral period into the northern hemisphere Spring.
- Remember that the blues indicate cooler than average temperatures and reds indicate warmer than average temperatures (white: average).
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Snow and Ice Cover Dataset
Dataset: 20131120 EarthNow: October 2013 Snow and Ice Cover
Dataset: 20131120 EarthNow: AUDIO October 2013 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 October 2013 was the sixth lowest on since satellite records began in 1979.
- In Antarctica, the sea ice extent was the largest on record.
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
