NOAA UPDATE On Record Breaking High Ocean Temperatures

Global Ocean Temperature Analysis – August 2013. Image via NOAA

According to a new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this summer most of the world’s oceans witnessed record warm temperatures.

NOAA says that the average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces during August 2013 was 0.62°C (1.12°F) above the 20th century average, tying with 2005 as the fourth highest for August since records began in 1880. This marks the fourth consecutive month (since May 2013) that the monthly global temperature has ranked among the top six warmest for its respective month. During August, warmer-than-average temperatures across most of the world’s ocean surfaces contributed to the anomalous warmth.

But the summer months were not the only ones affected by global warming. NOAA’s October 2012 report states that month “was the 332nd consecutive month with an above-average temperature.” As in, the last time we had a cooler-than-average month before that was February 1985.

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