CLIMATE IN 2005

Abstract

The 2005 global temperature was statistically indistinguishable from the standing record set in 1998. One data set, in use at NCDC since the late 1990, produced an annual temperature for 2005 that was slightly below that of 1998. An improved data set results in 2005 being slightly warmer than 1998. Over the last century, global surface temperature has increased at a rate of nearly 0.6 °C/century, but this trend has increased to a rate of 1.8 °C/century during the past 25–30 years. The middle troposphere temperature has increased and the lower stratosphere temperature has decreased in relation to the longterm average. Notable temperature extremes in 2005 include a severe heat wave in southwestern USA. Dead Valley had 7 consecutive days with a temperature high of 51.7 °C or above. In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, the temperature in May and June reached 45–50 °C, and there were more than 400 deaths. In February, extremely cold temperatures affected much of the Balkan region, in Bulgaria a 50–year temperature record was broken when the temperature reached as low as –34 °C. Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Pakistan caused more than 500 deaths. During the summer, heavy rainfall affected areas of central and eastern Europe, with flooding reported in sections of Rumania, Hungary and Macedonia. Flooding also affected areas of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The worst flooding in 200 years was experienced in southern China. Nine million people were affected, 400,000 evacuated and 165 people died. Regional drier than average conditions were widespread across the western US, where the drought has persisted since 2002. The multiyear drought affected the southern Africa region, parts of Mozambique, southern Malawi and Zimbabwe. Rainfall was much below average in the Amazon Basin, producing the worst drought in 60 years in some parts of Brazil. People were also affected by drought in western and southern Europe and in north Africa.