Warmest August Ocean Surface Temperature on Record

I blogged already that the months of June and July were the warmest on record for ocean surface temperatures.  The NOAA has just reported that August is also the warmest on record for ocean surface temperatures.  As I wrote before, expect to see a new global temperature record 2009 or 2010.  Part of the NOAA’s statement is below.

Global Highlights – Summer

• The June-August worldwide ocean surface temperature was also the warmest on record at 62.5 degrees F, 1.04 degrees F above the 20th century average of 61.5 degrees F.
• The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for the June-August season was 61.2 degrees F, which is the third warmest on record and 1.06 degrees F above the 20th century average of 60.1 degrees F.

Global Highlights – August

• The worldwide ocean surface temperature of 62.4 degrees F was the warmest on record for any August, and 1.03 degrees F above the 20th century average of 61.4 degrees F.
• Separately, the global land surface temperature of 58.2 degrees F was 1.33 degrees F above the 20th century average of 56.9 degrees F, and ranked as the fourth warmest August on record.
• Large portions of the world’s land mass observed warmer-than-average temperatures in August. The warmest departures occurred across Australia, Europe, parts of the Middle East, northwestern Africa, and southern South America. Both Australia and New Zealand had their warmest August since their records began.
• The Southern Hemisphere average temperatures for land and ocean surface combined were the warmest on record for August.