[Vision2020] NCDC: Avg U.S. temp. increases by 0.5 F. New 1981-2010 'normals' released

[Ted Moffett]

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110629_newnormals.html

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/images/state_annualmax&min_720.jpg

Average U.S. temperature increases by 0.5 degrees F
New 1981-2010 'normals' to be released this week
June 29, 2011

According to the 1981-2010 normals to be released by NOAA’s National
Climatic Data Center (NCDC) on July 1, temperatures across the United
States were on average, approximately 0.5 degree F warmer than the
1971-2000 time period.

Normals serve as a 30 year baseline average of important climate
variables that are used to understand average climate conditions at
any location and serve as a consistent point of reference. The new
normals update the 30-year averages of climatological variables,
including average temperature and precipitation for more than 7,500
locations across the United States. This once-a-decade update will
replace the current 1971–2000 normals.

In the continental United States, every state’s annual maximum and
minimum temperature increased on average. “The climate of the 2000s is
about 1.5 degree F warmer than the 1970s, so we would expect the
updated 30-year normals to be warmer,” said Thomas R. Karl, L.H.D.,
NCDC director.

Using standards established by the World Meteorological Organization,
the 30-year normals are used to compare current climate conditions
with recent history. Local weathercasters traditionally use normals
for comparisons with the day’s weather conditions.

In addition to their application in the weather sector, normals are
used extensively by electric and gas companies for short- and
long-term energy use projections. NOAA’s normals are also used by some
states as the standard benchmark by which they determine the statewide
rate that utilities are allowed to charge their customers.

The agricultural sector also heavily depends on normals. Farmers rely
on normals to help make decisions on both crop selection and planting
times. Agribusinesses use normals to monitor “departures from normal
conditions” throughout the growing season and to assess past and
current crop yields.

NCDC made many improvements and additions to the scientific
methodology used to calculate the 1981-2010 normals. They include
improved scientific quality control and statistical techniques.
Comparisons to previous normals take these new techniques into
account. The 1981-2010 normals provide a more comprehensive suite of
precipitation and snowfall statistics. In addition, NCDC is providing
hourly normals for more than 250 stations at the request of users,
such as the energy industry.

Some of the key climate normals include: monthly and daily maximum
temperature; monthly and daily minimum temperature; daily and monthly
precipitation and snowfall statistics; and daily and monthly heating
and cooling degree days. The 1981-2010 climate normals is one of the
suite of climate services NOAA provides government, business and
community leaders so they can make informed decisions. NOAA and its
predecessor agencies have been providing updated 30-year normals once
every decade since the 1921-1950 normals were released in 1956.
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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett