Global temperatures make March the warmest on record

The world’s combined land and ocean surface temperature made last month the warmest March on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Indian capital New Delhi also had its second warmest March since records began in 1901, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Taken separately, average ocean temperatures were the warmest for any March and the global land surface was the fourth warmest for any March on record. Additionally, the planet has seen the fourth warmest January-March period on record.

The monthly National Climatic Data Centre analysis, which is based on records going back to 1880, is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides government, business and community leaders so they can make informed decisions.

The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for March 2010 was the warmest on record at 13.5 degrees Celsius, which is 0.77 degrees above the 20th century average of 12.7 degrees Celsius.

The worldwide ocean surface temperature was the highest for any March on record — 0.56 degrees Celsius above the 20th century average of 15.9 degrees.

Separately, the global land surface temperature was 1.36 degrees Celsius above the 20th century average of 5 degrees — the fourth warmest on record.

Warmer-than-normal conditions dominated the globe, especially in northern Africa, South Asia and Canada. Cooler-than-normal regions included Mongolia and eastern Russia, northern and western Europe, Mexico, northern Australia, western Alaska and the southeastern US, said an NOAA release.