First page Back Continue Last page Overview Graphics

Global Average Temperature

Notes:

The asymmetry of the Earth explains why the global average temperature has more than 4˚C variability. If the Earth was perfectly symmetric, and seasonal variability canceled, there would be little to no yearly periodicity. Furthermore, any variability would have 2 peaks, as the Sun passes the equator twice per year. This dual peak effect is seen in the equatorial data, which happens to be more topographically symmetric.

The 10/01 anomaly is not fixed in this data since all we are interested in is the peak to peak seasonal variability.
You should notice that this is an anomaly that's been misinterpreted and misrepresented by some to show a rising temperature trend. The ISCCP indicates that there are no current plans to fix this, but it may get done when the newly released 10km recovered data is used as the source, instead of 30km, data aggregation, which at the earliest would be after 2010.