This image shows temperature anomalies relative to the 1951-1980 mean.

The year 2005 was the hottest year in more than a century. According to a study by the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)

Areas of white indicate no deviation from the mean. Colors ranging from yellow to red indicate warmer-than-average anomalies, and colors ranging from green to purple indicate cooler-than-average anomalies.

Most of the map shows warm colors, and temperatures are particularly warm in the Arctic and in south-central Africa. In 1998, the strongest El Nio in a century occurred. El Nios result in unusually warm temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and this warmth is significant enough to elevate overall global temperatures. No El Nio occurred in 2005, however, which means that 2005 reached the same record-high temperature as 1998 without the aid of an El Nio.




source-- http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17166


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Edited by Noisette (03/08/09 07:04 AM)
Edit Reason: Replaced broken image link
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Danescombe, whose real life name was Dave, joined the Google Earth Community Forum in November 2005 and quickly became a regular in the Fun & Games Forum. In August 2007, he became a moderator. Sadly, on March 4, 2009, he passed away following complications from surgery. He was 44 years old. Our entire Community mourns his loss.