A new global analysis presented by the National Climatic Data Center shows significant climate anomalies and events that happened this summer.
Here are some highlights of the data processed
- Alaska had its second warmest summer since records began in 1918.
- In Russia, 12 inches of rain fell between August 1-12, leading to the worst flooding in more than a century in the Far East of the country.
- During the 2013 Asian Southwest Monsoon season to-date, India as a whole received 110% from the 1951-2000 average rainfall.
- South Korea reported its warmest August and summer since records began in 1973.
- The average maximum temperature for Australia was the second highest on record for both August and winter since records began in 1910.
- New Zealand observed its warmest August and winter season since records began in 1909.
- It was the sixth warmest August for Austria in the country’s 247-year period of record.
- The Arctic Sea ice extent was 15.7% below the 1981-2010 average, the sixth smallest August sea ice extent in the 35-year period of record.
- Germany observed its driest summer since 2003, with just 79% of the 1981-2010 average rainfall.
- August 2012 average land and ocean temperature tied with 2005 as the fourth highest for August since record began in 1880.
- The Antarctic Sea ice extent was 4.5% above the 1981-2010 average, the largest August sea ice extent in the 35-year period of record.
Source: NOAA National Climatic Data Center, State of the Climate: Global Analysis for August 2013, published online September 2013, retrieved on September 18, 2013 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2013/8.