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• ClimateCenter: State of the Climate: 2009
• Science Behind the Story

Telling the story with moving pictures

State of the Climate: 2009 - Enhanced Transcript

• Published: July 28th, 2010 in Global, Trends, United States, Climate, Extremes, Heat, Wildfires, Oceans & Coasts
• Originally broadcast on: on

State of the Climate

1. 0:00

   Dr. Heidi Cullen: NOAA’s new State of the Climate report is out. It’s a summary of climate and weather data for 2009. The big story is the Earth’s temperature continues its rise as the effects of global warming become increasingly visible.

   • Annual Climate Report Shows We Live in a Warming World

2. 0:17

   Heidi Cullen: Satellites, weather balloons, and buoys are just some of the instruments that confirm 2009 tied for the 5th warmest year since the 1850’s, when temperature records first began.

   • Arctic Changes: The Big Picture

3. 0:28

   Heidi Cullen: The past 10 years came in as the warmest decade. And the past three decades, well, they were substantially warmer than any previous decade.

   • Record Global Warm Streak Extended Through June

Sea Surface Temperature

1. 0:38

   Heidi Cullen: Global sea surface temperatures also continued to climb. During that past 50 years more than 90 percent of the extra heat being added to the climate system from the build-up of heat trapping gasses has gone into the oceans. In fact, since 1993, the heat added to the upper oceans alone could power 500 100-watt light bulbs for each person on Earth.

2. 1:01

   Heidi Cullen: But not all trends are increasing. Arctic sea ice, glaciers and snow cover continued their long-term decline. 2009 saw a slight boost in sea ice, however, due in part to a natural cycle of climate variability.

Weather

1. 1:15

   Heidi Cullen: As for the top weather stories, Los Angeles County saw its largest wildfire in history burn from August to October. Global warming increases the risk of wildfires.

   • Much more wildfire burns in the West during years with early snowmelt
   • Scientists project sharply increasing wildfires in the American West
   • Western wildfires are increasing

Overall Trend

1. 1:26

   Heidi Cullen: Overall, the long-term trend of warming continues even as natural climate variability plays a big role from year to year. In fact, 2009 marked the re-emergence of El Nino. Thanks to this periodic ocean warming, the Central Pacific saw its most active hurricane season since 1997.

   • Hurricane Season 2010

2. 1:44

   Heidi Cullen: As for 2010, well, so far the warming persists. January to June just came in as the warmest on record.

   • Record Global Warm Streak Extended Through June
   • Record-Breaking Heat

3. 1:53

   Heidi Cullen: I’m Dr. Heidi Cullen, check back soon for another climate update.