GISS August global down by 0.05°C from July.

The GISS V4 land/ocean temperature anomaly was 0.85°C in August 2020, down from 0.90°C in July. That compares with a 0.049deg;C fall in the TempLS V4 mesh index. Jim Hansen's report is here, discussing how 2020 is becoming less lokely to catch 2016 as hottest year. 2020 had the fourth warmest August in the record, behind 2016, 2017 and 2019.

As usual here, I will compare the GISS and earlier TempLS plots below the jump.

August global surface TempLS down 0.049°C from July.

The TempLS mesh anomaly (1961-90 base) was 0.725deg;C in August vs 0.774°C in July. This drop was less than the fall in the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis base index, which was 0.067°C. The UAH satellite data for the lower troposphere showed a smaller fall of 0.01°C.

There was a warm spot in N Central Siberia, and general warmth in the Americas, except for a region in the Mississippi area. Europe and N Africa were warm. Antarctica was mixed.

Here is the temperature map, using the LOESS-based map of anomalies.


As always, the 3D globe map gives better detail.

NCEP/NCAR reanalysis August 2020 surface temperature down 0.067°C from July.

The Moyhu NCEP/NCAR index came in at 0.147°C in August, following 0.214°C in July, on a 1994-2013 anomaly base. July was well down on earlier months, so that continues a fairly cool period.

Central Siberia and the Arctic were warm, as was the Western USA. Antarctica was mixed, and there was a general band of cool across Asian mid-latitudes.