These are the first of a series of graphs showing regional trends in average temperature. Among the lessons to be gained: regional climate trends are not well represented by reported global average temperatures; and despite claims that the last 10-20 years are uniquely warm in human history, records from regions with more uniform/consistent temperature records show other comparably warm years or periods in the recent past.

This shows relative average surface temperature for the contiguous 48 states based on a series compiled by NASA GISS. Average is shown as a deviation from the 1951-1980 average and includes corrections to the series in August 2007. Annual averages are in grey; 11-year smoothed average in black; and the ten highest annual averages are red dots.

Data source: James Hansen and Makiko Sato, 7 Aug. 2007, "Annual mean temperature change in the United States," on line at NASA GISS [http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/graphs/Fig.D.txt].

This shows average surface temperature based on a series from 14 locations along the southern and western coasts of Greenland. Annual averages are in grey; 11-year smoothed average in black; and the ten highest annual averages are red dots.

Data source: B. M. Vinther, K. K. Andersen, P. D. Jones, K. R. Briffa, and J. Cappelen, 2006, "Extending Greenland temperature records into the late eighteenth century," Journal of Geophysical Research, 111:D11105.

This shows average surface temperature based on a series from 19 locations in Alaska. Annual averages are in grey; 11-year smoothed average in black; and the ten highest annual averages are red dots. Note that the annual average prior to 1953 is my extrapolation based on the partial subset of reporting stations available; consequently, the temperature series prior to 1953 is less reliable.

Primary data source: Alaska Climate Research Center, 2007, "Climatological data--monthly time series," on line, Alaska Climate Research Center [http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Climate/Location/TimeSeries/index.html].

This shows average surface temperature based on a series from New South Wales, Australia. Specifically, this is based on the grid-averaged annual means for the region from 30-35° S and 145-155° E, and represents an area in Australia with a relatively long-term comprehensive temperature record. Annual averages are in grey; 11-year smoothed average in black; and the ten highest annual averages are red dots.

Data source: KNMI, 2007, "Climate Explorer," on line, KNMI [http://climexp.knmi.nl/start.cgi?someone@somewhere]; W. S. Hughes, 2007, personal communication.

(For related analysis of temperature trends in Australia, see Balling, R. C. Jr., S. B. Idso, and W. S. Hughes, 1992, "Long-term and recent anomalous temperature changes in Australia," Geophysical Research Letters, 19(23):2317-2320, and reviews by Warwick Hughes.)

Last modified 16 September 2007.
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