September 2009, second warmest on record

[Akrasia]

According to the NOAA

The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the second warmest September on record, according to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Based on records going back to 1880, the monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.

NCDC scientists also reported that the average land surface temperature for September was the second warmest on record, behind 2005. Additionally, the global ocean surface temperature was tied for the fifth warmest on record for September.
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA: Global Surface Temperature Was Second Warmest for September

This follows on from August which was reported by NOAA as the Warmest august on record.

Of course to the average denialist, this indicates a staggering 1 month 'cooling trend' and is 100% proof that not only has global warming stopped, but we are entering a new ice age.

[Gimpanzee]

Hey buddy, it was colder last night that it was yesterday afternoon. This Global Warming Climate Change or whatever you taxationists call it nowadays is nothing but a the biggest fraud of all time!

[Heorditas]

30 years of data. Is that all?

[Akrasia]

their records start from 1880, but some of the collection methods have changed as technology has progressed. (these new data sets are under constant scrutiny to ensure as much as possible that they are equivilent to the older sources (mainly land based weather stations, and the records from ships at sea)

[Heorditas]

their records start from 1880

Sorry - for some reason I read it as 1980!

[brigg]

Second warmest? Of course, this implies "global warming" peaked in 2005, and the earth has been cooling since!

Little response to this thead so far. Give it another few hours, then our American-based friends will turn up to share their wisdom.

[sharper]

October has been freakishly warm in Ireland at least (it's kind of amusing to see Irish posters talking about "turning up the heating" because of global cooling), I'll be interested to see the global figure.

[Tombo]

Hey, you're right. This is the University of Alabamah Hunstville satellite based series of global temperture anomolies. It is much more homogenous over time that the NCDC data, but only has 31 years.

But where were you last year when September was only 11th (10th at the time) out of 30?

Year    Month    Anomoly
1998	9	0.432
[COLOR="red"]2009	9	0.424[/COLOR]
2005	9	0.355
1988	9	0.286
2002	9	0.284
2006	9	0.274
2003	9	0.232
1995	9	0.23
2007	9	0.201
1980	9	0.194
2008	9	0.161
2004	9	0.157
1996	9	0.153
2001	9	0.134
1997	9	0.095
1999	9	0.094
2000	9	0.085
1983	9	0.081
1991	9	0.072
1989	9	0.064
1994	9	0.064
1987	9	0.052
1979	9	0.027
1981	9	0.026
1990	9	0.001
1982	9	-0.146
1985	9	-0.198
1986	9	-0.258
1993	9	-0.288
1992	9	-0.343
1984	9	-0.486

And where were you in June, when it was only the 16th highest?

Year   Month      Anomoly
1998	6	0.562
2002	6	0.345
1991	6	0.331
2005	6	0.248
2007	6	0.203
2006	6	0.154
1987	6	0.144
1995	6	0.121
1980	6	0.097
1988	6	0.09
1990	6	0.09
2003	6	0.057
1994	6	0.05
2004	6	0.046
2000	6	0.038
2001	6	0.029
[COLOR="Red"]2009	6	0.003[/COLOR]
1997	6	-0.006
1981	6	-0.031
1993	6	-0.064
1983	6	-0.082
1982	6	-0.113
2008	6	-0.114
1996	6	-0.129
1999	6	-0.137
1979	6	-0.151
1986	6	-0.152
1992	6	-0.196
1989	6	-0.217
1984	6	-0.231
1985	6	-0.247

I think it is you doing the short term cherry picking here.

Don't misrepesent the position of most skeptics.

• It is warmer relative to recent modern history, but likely not relative to millenial timescales.
• It is not certain that CO2 has been the most important cause
• It is not certain what will occur in the future.
• It is not certain that there will be net negative effects from a marginally warmer planet (2-3 degrees on top of current approximamtely 280 degrees Kelvin - life on this planet has adapted quite easily to fluctuations of up to 10 times that over shorter, seasonal time scales).

[sharper]

I think it is you doing the short term cherry picking here.

Unless someone is posting the temperature record every month I would reasonable expect only to see the ones that set a new record or are close to doing so. This is cherry-picking "interesting" data not data which erroneously forms conclusions.

Don't misrepesent the position of most skeptics.

Is there a position held by more than two skeptics? Did they elect you to speak for them? A number of skeptics have posted here that we're actually in a cooling trend and that we're heading towards an ice age, which directly contradicts your points.

[beanie]

I saw 2 wasps this morning, didn't notice any around during the "summer".