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Extreme Temperatures in January (global map)
NASA Earth Observatory ^ | February 2, 2006 | NASA

Posted on 02/02/2006 9:52:02 AM PST by cogitator

A nice illustration of where it was hot and where it was not last month. Click on the image for the big picture (only 2 MB, so it shouldn't crash a browser).

From the linked article:

"The dramatic difference in January temperatures between the northern halves of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres is revealed in this image of land surface temperature data collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor on NASA’s Terra satellite. The image compares the temperatures between January 1-24, 2006, to the average temperatures for that period from 2001-2005. Regions where temperatures were up to 10 degrees Celsius colder (18 degrees Fahrenheit) this year are dark blue, while places where it was 10 degrees Celsius warmer are shown in dark red. Places where temperatures matched the 5-year average are white. Most of the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains are much warmer than the 5-year average, while Eastern Europe, much of Russia, and central Asia are decidedly chillier."

"According to climatologist David Rind of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the unusual January 2006 temperatures are linked to the position of the polar jet stream. The polar jet stream is a fast-flowing river of air that whips around the planet at high altitudes at speeds equal to or greater than 50 knots (92.6 kilometers/hour, 57.5 miles/hour). This current of air generally divides cold, polar air, and warmer, mid-latitude air. The jet stream doesn't always stay at the same latitude; it has peaks and valleys in it like a wave. In January 2006, an unusually persistent “peak” in the latitude of the jet stream across North America often kept polar air from creeping southward into Canada and the United States. In Eastern Europe and Russia meanwhile, a persistent “valley” kept the jet stream flowing at more southerly latitudes, allowing cold air to dip deeply in the region."

[This doesn't explain why southern Africa and western Australia were particularly cold during the Southern Hemisphere summer.]


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: australia; cold; europe; jet; stream; warm; weather
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To: cogitator
This is the warmest winter I have seen in my 27 years in North Dakota. I do not miss -35 temperatures (static air--not wind chill). Hopefully, I can finish the home insulation project before next winter...(8^D)

Thank You, God, for all blessings, great and small!

21 posted on 02/02/2006 10:22:59 AM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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To: cogitator

Looks like the Republicans took over the east coast to me.


22 posted on 02/02/2006 10:24:44 AM PST by mware (The keeper of the I's once again.)
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To: cogitator

"Australia has a very bipolar temperature distribution."

Just like my wife.


23 posted on 02/02/2006 10:33:21 AM PST by spintreebob
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To: Toby06

Imperative that everyone buy into dialetical logic.

Eg The existence of evil proves the existence of good. Without evil, it would be impossible for good to exist.

The ying proves the yang.


24 posted on 02/02/2006 10:36:53 AM PST by spintreebob
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To: spintreebob
Imperative that everyone buy into dialetical logic. junk science
25 posted on 02/02/2006 10:38:48 AM PST by Toby06 (Hindsight alone is not wisdom, and second-guessing is not a strategy)
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To: cogitator
I always suspected the earth was flat.
If it was round and rotated , the colors would be all mixed up.
Of course a planet should be judged by the content of it's character, and not the color of it's temperature
26 posted on 02/02/2006 10:59:47 AM PST by Waverunner
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To: Sacajaweau
I think we have to consider all the spewing of volcanoes and the great Tsunamis of this year when we look at the atmosphere. Stuff was spewing like crazy. When all that stuff dissipates....we'll be back to freez'n our butts off here in Upstate New York. We look at it as a blessing. It's really helped with our heating bills.

I'm sure you are glad. You know, I was just thinking about that yesterday. I remember the frantic talk shortly after Katrina and Rita took out so much production about how terrible heating costs would be in the NE this winter. Who'da thunk it back then that the winter would have been so mild (so far). I heard the weather channel say it was in the 40's in Minnesota yesterday. And that was + not -. What's up with that?

Up until three weeks ago we were in a severe drought condition down here in the south, but lately we've gotten several all day nice soaking rains to cut the wildfire threat. We're getting more rain today. It's been a real blessing here as well. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

27 posted on 02/02/2006 11:01:19 AM PST by OB1kNOb (Aiding, abetting, or harboring illegal aliens is itself illegal and punishable by law.)
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To: SuziQ

You have to wonder how they get anything done, being upside down all the time and all. :P


28 posted on 02/02/2006 11:09:59 AM PST by Constantine XIII
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To: cogitator
New York Times headline:

Some Places Hot; Others Cold
Clear Evidence Of Global Warming
Experts Blame Bush

29 posted on 02/02/2006 11:17:29 AM PST by Lazamataz (I have a Chinese family renting an apartment from me. They are lo mein tenants.)
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To: aquila48
So is this supposed to prove something?

It's proof that licking your finger and sticking it in the air is not a very good measure of determining the global weather state. (I wasn't accusing you of doing that, but it seems that a lot of people think that THEIR weather pretty much summarizes what's happening around the world at any given time.)

30 posted on 02/02/2006 11:37:55 AM PST by cogitator
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To: Sacajaweau
I think we have to consider all the spewing of volcanoes

This wasn't a particularly notable year for volcanoes. Decent activity in various places, but nothing major.

31 posted on 02/02/2006 11:39:12 AM PST by cogitator
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To: Lazamataz

Well, I sure hope that one month's weirdness is not a clear hallmark of global warming. Several years of weirdness might be.


32 posted on 02/02/2006 11:40:56 AM PST by cogitator
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To: jpl

Lets hope there's not another dry summer for the Midwest. We'll have no hay for the cattle and no fishing for the rest of us! Not to mention the grass fires that are still ongoing.


33 posted on 02/02/2006 11:54:59 AM PST by swmobuffalo (the only good terrorist is a dead one)
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To: Constantine XIII
You have to wonder how they get anything done, being upside down all the time and all. :P

You reckon that's why they talk so funny? ;o)

34 posted on 02/02/2006 12:19:25 PM PST by SuziQ
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