In reply to orionjim's comment:
Quote:
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I would suggest using the Land data only and calculate significance limits to compare to.
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The following is the calculation you suggested using land + ocean. Does the planet appears to be cooling? Is the ocean temperature anomaly now negative?
January, 2008 Land + Ocean Temperature Anomaly is 0.12C compared to 0.56C Average 2003 to Jan. 2008. Standard deviation for that period is 0.118. 0.12C is 3.6 sigma.
Monthly Mean Surface Temperature Anomaly (C)
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Year+Month Station Land+Ocean
2006.04 .56 .44
2006.12 .76 .57
2006.21 .65 .55
2006.29 .62 .47
2006.38 .40 .43
2006.46 .64 .53
2006.54 .57 .43
2006.62 .70 .58
2006.71 .66 .55
2006.79 .76 .60
2006.88 .74 .62
2006.96 .81 .69
2007.04 1.09 .87
2007.12 .82 .63
2007.21 .72 .59
2007.29 .78 .66
2007.38 .72 .55
2007.46 .53 .53
2007.54 .62 .51
2007.62 .78 .56
2007.71 .72 .50
2007.79 .77 .55
2007.88 .66 .49
2007.96 .60 .40
2008.04 .31 .12
Land + Ocean (Above Normal)
Average (2003 to Jan, 2008) = 0.55
Standard Deviation Same Period = 0.118
2008 Jan, 2008 = 0.12 (3.6 Sigma)
Data:
http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/graphs/Fig.C.txt