This page's content is no longer actively maintained, but the material has been kept on-line for historical purposes.
The page may contain broken links or outdated information, and parts may not function in current web browsers.

Notice: This page contains GISTEMP v3 data, which concludes with the July 2019 data update.

As of June 2019, the current GISTEMP version is v4 and may be accessed at data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp.

The map tool below will draw plots for months after July 2019, but only including ocean data.

GISS Surface Temperature Analysis

Global Maps

Select parameters on the following form to create a surface temperature anomaly or trend map. An explanation of the input elements appears at the bottom of this page. Note that generating figures takes 5 or 6 seconds; please be patient .

Data Sources: :
:
:
Time Interval: —
Base Period: —
:
:

Notes Concerning the Maps:

  • The number at the top right-hand corner of the map plot is an estimate for the global mean of the calculated field; it may be slightly different from the announced GISTEMP index because an alternative method is used to deal with missing data. See the FAQ for further explanation. Note that if the map only shows ocean data (Land: none), the mean is computed only over the area with data.
  • The end points of the scale colorbar have defaults (-4.1°, 4.1°). Either or both is replaced if the min and/or max value of the data is outside that range.

Input Elements:

  • Data Sources: Land
  • Data Sources: Ocean
    • None: NO ocean temperature data are used
    • Hadl/Reyn_v2: SST 1880-present -- 1880-11/1981: Hadley HadISST1, ship and buoy data (Rayner 2000); 12/1981-present: OISST v. 2, satellite data (Reynolds-Rayner-Smith 2001)
    • ERSST_v3b: NOAA/NCEI's Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) v. 3b
    • ERSST_v4: NOAA/NCEI's Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) v. 4
    • ERSST_v5: NOAA/NCEI's Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) v. 5
  • Map type:
    • Anomalies: Mean temperature (°C) averaged over a specified mean period and time interval relative to a given base period.
    • Trends: Temperature change (°C) of a specified mean period over a specified time interval based on local linear trends.
  • Mean period: Any monthly, seasonal (3 month or 6 month) or annual mean.
    Period is declared missing, unless >50% of data are available.
  • Time interval: Years over which temperatures are averaged or trends are found.
    Note: If the mean period straddles 2 years, fill in the LATER year for both Begin AND End.
    Periods may not start before Jan 1880.
    'Means' are not reported unless >50% of the needed records are available,
    'Trends' are not reported unless >66% of the needed records are available.
  • Base period: Time interval to which anomalies are relative. This input is not used for trend maps.
  • Smoothing radius: Distance over which a station influences regional temperature, either 250 km or 1200 km (standard case = 1200 km).

References:

Please see the GISTEMP references page for citations to publications related to this research.

• Return to GISTEMP v3 homepage

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