No. 27

Winter 2012
Contents

Page

Global Average Surface Temperature for 20111

Highlights of the Global Climate in 20112

Summary of Japan's Climatic Characteristics for 2011

4

Intercomparison and Calibration of Ozone Observation Instruments – a JM A RDCC activity for Asia

5

TCC Activity Report for 20116

Issuance of a TCC Report on the Cold Wave over the Eurasian Continent

8

Global Average Surface Temperature for 2011
The annual anomaly of the global average surface temperature for 2011 was the 12th highest on record at +0.07°C
above the 1981 – 2010 baseline.
Monitoring changes in temperature records on a decadal
to centennial scale worldwide is of primary importance inensuring scientifically sound diagnostics and understanding
the state of the climate. In its role as one of the world’s
leading climate centers, the Japan Meteorological Agency(JMA) calculates monthly, seasonal and annual global
mean surface temperatures (i.e., combined averages ofnear-surface air temperatures over land and sea surface

temperatures), thereby helping to raise public awareness ofglobal warming development.
The annual global average surface temperature anomaly
for 2011 was +0.07°C, with the 1981 – 2010 average as abaseline. This ranks as the 12th highest figure since 1891 –the earliest year of JMA’s global temperature anomaly records (Figure 1, Table 1). Warm temperature anomalies
were noticeable, especially around the high latitudes of theNorthern Hemisphere, while cool sea surface temperature
anomalies were seen in central to eastern parts of the equatorial Pacific Ocean (Figure 2). The average temperature
over land areas alone was the ninth highest on record.

Figure 1 Long-term change in surface temperature anomalies averaged worldwide
The black line with dots indicates yearly anomalies of
surface temperature. The blue line indicates the
five-year running mean, and the red line shows thelong-term linear trend. Anomalies are represented
as deviations from the 1981 – 2010 average.

Figure 2 Annual mean temperature anomalies in
2011
The red and blue dots indicate temperature anomalies
from the baseline period (1981 – 2010) averaged in
5° x 5° grid boxes.

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No. 27 | Winter 2012

On a longer time scale, the annual global average surface temperature has
been rising at a rate of about 0.68°C per century.
As shown in Table 1, the 13 warmest years on record have all been in thepast 15 years. The recent high annual temperatures are considered to be a
result of positive radiative forcing due to an increase in anthropogenic
greenhouse gas concentrations since the Industrial Revolution in conjunction
with decadal natural fluctuations inherent in the earth’s climate system. On
a shorter year-to-year time scale, the La Niña conditions prevalent in theequatorial Pacific very likely contributed to the lowering of the 2011 global
temperature as compared to that of the previous year.
Global average temperatures are monitored on an operational basis bymultiple climate centers (the Met Office Hadley Centre (UK), the National
Climate Data Center (USA), the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (USA),and JMA). On a monthly basis, these centers calculate the global temperature independently of each other in terms of quality control policies, analytical approaches and other computational procedures. Despite thismethodological divergence, the results they produce indicate similar levelsof month-to-month and year-to-year variability, and more importantly, analmost-identical long-term warming trend (Figure 3). The four sets of records all show that the planet has become almost 0.8°C warmer than it was at
the beginning of the 20th century.
Monthly and annual temperature anomaly datasets for 5° x 5° grid boxes
are available for download at
http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/tcc/tcc/products/gwp/temp/map/download.html.

Table 1 Top 15 annual global averagetemperatures since 1891
(Relative to the 1981 – 2010 baseline
period)Rank

Year

Temperature
Anomaly

1
2
3
4

1998
2010
2005
2009
2006
2003
2002
2007
2004
2001
1997
2011
2008
1990
1995

+0.22
+0.19
+0.17
+0.16
+0.16
+0.16
+0.16
+0.13
+0.12
+0.12
+0.09
+0.07
+0.05
+0.04
+0.01

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

(Yoshinori Oikawa, Climate Prediction Division)

Figure 3 Global surface temperature records
from four independent climate centers
Despite slight differences in the ranges of annual
fluctuation, the four sets of records from JMA, Hadley
Centre, NCDC and GISS show remarkably similar
long-term rising trends. Annual anomalies are all
adjusted to the 1981 – 2010 baseline period for convenience of comparison.

Highlights of the Global Climate in 2011
Annual mean temperatures were above
normal from Siberia to western Europe
and from eastern North America to northern Central America, while they were below normal from Mongolia to Central
Asia, around the Indochina Peninsula, inwestern North America, and in northern
Australia (Figure 4). Extremely hightemperatures were frequently observed
around the southern USA, while extremely
low temperatures were frequently observed in northern Australia.
Figure 4 Annual mean temperature anomalies for 2011
Categories are defined by the annual mean temperature anomaly against thenormal divided by its standard deviation and averaged in 5° × 5° grid boxes.
The thresholds for each category are -1.28, -0.44, 0, +0.44 and +1.28. The
normal values and standard deviations are calculated from 1981 – 2010 statistics. Land areas without graphics represent regions for which the sample
size of observation data is insufficient or normal data are unavailable.

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Annual precipitation amounts wereabove normal from the Philippines to the
Indochina Peninsula, around southern Pakistan, around the northeastern USA, in
northern South America, and in Australia,
while they were below normal in southern
China, in Saudi Arabia, in Europe, from thesouthern USA to northern Mexico, and incentral Polynesia (Figure 5). Extremely
heavy precipitation amounts were frequently observed around the northeastern
USA, while extremely light precipitation
amounts were often seen in Europe, fromthe southern USA to northern Mexico, andin central Polynesia. The major extreme
climatic events and weather-related disasters of 2011 are listed below (also see Figure 6).

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)

Figure 5 Annual total precipitation ratios for 2011
Categories are defined by the ratio of annual precipitation to the normal
averaged in 5° × 5° grid boxes. The thresholds for each category are 70%,
100% and 120%. Land areas without graphics represent regions for which
the sample size of observation data is insufficient or normal data are unavailable.

Light precipitation in southeastern China(January – May)
Flooding on the Indochina Peninsula(July – December)
Tropical storm in the Philippines (December)
Heavy precipitation in southern Pakistan(August – September)Light precipitation in Europe(March – May, September – November)Drought in eastern Africa (January – September)High temperatures from the Seychelles to Mauritius(April – December)
Heavy precipitation around the northeastern USA(February – May, August – September)(9)

Tornados in southeastern and central parts of the
USA (April – May)
(10) High temperatures around the southern USA(March – September)(11) Light precipitation from the southern USA to northern Mexico (January – November)(12) Torrential rains in southeastern Brazil (January)(13) Light precipitation in central Polynesia(March – October)(14) Low temperatures in northern Australia(January – June)(Takafumi Umeda, Climate Prediction Division)

Figure 6 Major extreme climate events and weather-related disasters across the world in 2011
Schematic indication of major extreme climate events and weather-related disasters seen during the year

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Summary of Japan's Climatic Characteristics for 2011
- Above-normal annual precipitation in western Japan andon the Sea of Japan side of northern and eastern Japan- Below-normal annual sunshine durations in western Japan and Okinawa/Amami- Below-normal temperatures nationwide in spring, andabove-normal temperatures nationwide in summer andautumn- Significantly earlier onset and end of the rainy season in
many regions- Record-breaking heavy rainfall in the prefectures of Niigata and Fukushima at the end of July
- Record-breaking heavy rainfall due to typhoons Talas andRoke in September(1) Average surface temperature, precipitation
amounts and sunshine durations (Figure 7)
Temperatures tended to be below normal nationwide until May due to the effects of cold surges, and above normal
from June through November. Annual mean temperatures were near normal except in Okinawa/Amami.
Annual precipitation amounts were above normal except
in Okinawa/Amami and on the Pacific side of northern andeastern Japan. In particular, values were significantly
above normal on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan,
which is subject to the effects of low-pressure areas andfronts.
Annual sunshine durations were above normal on the
Pacific side of eastern Japan, below normal in westernJapan and significantly below normal in Okinawa/Amami.

Figure 7
2011(c) Summer (June – August 2011)
Although seasonal mean temperatures were above normal, intraseasonal temperature variations were very large
nationwide. The onset and end of the rainy season weresignificantly earlier than normal in many regions. At theend of July, record-breaking heavy rainfall caused disasterconditions in the prefectures of Niigata and Fukushima.

(2) Seasonal characteristics (Figure 8)(a) Winter (December 2010 – February 2011)
Intraseasonal temperature variations were very large nationwide. From the end of December 2010 to the end ofJanuary 2011, temperatures were below normal nationwide, and snowfall amounts were above normal in all areas
on the Sea of Japan side due to intermittent cold surges.
Conversely, in the first half of December and the last halfof February, temperatures were above normal nationwide
due to the weak winter monsoon.

(d) Autumn (September – November 2011)
As the westerly jet was shifted northward of its normal
position, seasonal mean temperatures were above normal
nationwide and significantly above normal in eastern andwestern Japan and Okinawa/Amami. Some typhoons andcyclones caused above-normal precipitation amounts nationwide. In September, record-breaking heavy rainfall
brought by typhoons Talas and Roke caused disaster conditions in many areas.

(b) Spring (March – May 2011)
Temperatures were below normal nationwide. In thefirst half of the season, values were significantly below
normal in western Japan, while precipitation amounts were
below normal and sunshine durations were above normal
on the Pacific side due to the strong winter monsoon andanti-cyclones bringing cold air. In the second half of theseason, temperatures were below normal in northern Japandue to the presence of cold vortexes.

TCC News

Annual climate anomalies/ratios for Japan in(Koji Ishihara, Climate Prediction Division)4

No. 27 | Winter 2012

Figure 8 Time series of five-day running mean temperature anomalies for subdivisions (January – December 2011)
The normal is the 1981 – 2010 average.

Intercomparison and Calibration of Ozone Observation Instruments– a JMA RDCC activity for Asia
As ozone in the stratosphere absorbs much of the sun’s
biologically harmful ultraviolet radiation, it helps to protect
life on earth and represents a major stratospheric heatsource. In this context, ozone observation is important not
only for assessing the status of stratospheric ozone depletion caused by ozone-depleting substances but also formonitoring the climate.
WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) programme
has established a system for the calibration of Dobson
ozone spectrophotometers at individual monitoring stations(Figure 9) to support homogenous and accurate ozone observation. In its role as the Regional Dobson Calibration
Centre (RDCC) for WMO Regional Association II (Asia),
JMA maintains the Regional Standard Dobson spectrophotometer (RSD) through calibration against the World
Standard Dobson spectrophotometer, calibrates Dobson
spectrophotometers used in Asia and provides related

Figure 9

training.
In September 2011, the two Dobson spectrophotometers
used at Xianghe and Kunming in China were calibrated
against the RSD instrument at JMA’s Aerological Observatory in Tsukuba as part of RDCC activities. Errors ofjust over 1% in both instruments before calibration werereduced to less than 1% as a result of the intercomparisonand calibration. Training in ozone observation and quality
control of data collected was also provided to the participants.
A report on the results will be made available on the
RDCC website at
http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/wcc/dobson/rdcc.html. (Thislink will be available from March 2012.)(Masaki Adachi, Atmospheric Environment Division)

Scene of the intercomparison

Calibration system of Dobson spectrophotometers

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No. 27 | Winter 2012

TCC Activity Report for 2011
In 2011, the Tokyo Climate Center (TCC) continued tosupport the climate services of NMHSs in Asia-Pacific countries by providing and enhancing data and products, holding
training seminars and dispatching experts.

1.4 New climatological normals for 1981 – 2010
JMA has developed new climatological normals using
data for the period from 1981 to 2010, and started operationally using them on 18 May 2011. As these data areused in various products available on the TCC website, anumber of products have been updated. (TCC News Nos.
24 and 25)

1. Highlights in 2011
1.1 Assistance to NMHSs affected by heavy rainfall
over the Indochina Peninsula
NMHSs are expected to actively contribute to climate
risk management, and must issue appropriate information
in a timely manner when extreme events occur. Against
this background, TCC is committed to assisting NMHSs infulfilling their roles.
In 2011, heavy monsoon rains caused widespreadflooding in Thailand and other areas of the Indochina Peninsula from late July to the end of the year. On 31 October 2011, TCC issued a report entitled “Heavy rainfall overthe Indochina Peninsula for June – September 2011” togive a brief summary of the situation. The report wasalso made available on the WMO website. The Center
additionally provided NMHSs in the affected areas withextra commentary on the situation as well as information
on how to prepare related figures using web-based tools
available on the TCC website. (TCC News No. 26)

1.5 Update of JMA's One-month Ensemble Prediction System
JMA updated its Ensemble Prediction System (EPS) for
operational one-month forecasting on 4 March 2011. The
main changes included implementation of a new dynamical frame, an update to the climatological aerosol total
optical depth, and minor adaptations to land surface processes (TCC News No. 23). In addition to the change inoperational forecasts, hindcast experiments were also executed using the new system, and the target period will be
extended to 1979 – 2010. The updated gridded data obtained from these experiments were made available in
January 2011.
2. Enhancement of data/products/tool on the TCC
web site
TCC strives to continuously enhance its services in theprovision of data, products and tools. In 2011, the following data and products were newly made available on
the TCC website:
3 Mar.: Forecasting maps and circulation indices basedon hindcast experiments using the updated
One-month Ensemble Prediction System
25 Mar.: Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) index
25 Jul.: Warm/Cold Season Probability Forecast andVerification (for registered NMHS users)
2 Sep.: Daily gridded data of One-month Forecasting(for registered NMHS users)
31 Oct.: Animation of the JMA One-month EPS (7-day
running mean) as an experimental productUpgrades were also made to products/services as detailed below.
6 Jan.: Enhancement of hindcast gridded data in accordance with the replacement of the
One-month Forecasting Model in March 2011
(for registered NMHS users) (see Section 1.5)
3 Jun.: Verification of one-month probabilistic forecasts with a new hindcast
25 Jul.: Addition of a new element (Sea Surface Temperature) to the Three-month Probability Forecast
31 Oct.: Upgrade of the Interactive Tool for Analysis of
the Climate System (ITACS) to Version 4

1.2 Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS)Climate services are vital to manage climate risks andseize opportunities, but often do not reach communities
most vulnerable to climate change. Together with its
partners, WMO is currently working on the developmentof the Global Framework for Climate Services to better
serve society’s needs for accurate and timely climate information. Regional Climate Centres (RCCs) are expected to play a major role in the Climate Services Information System (CSIS) – one of five components of the
Framework. As one of only two existing RCCs, TCC
contributed to the effective and appropriate developmentof the system and the framework.
Staff from the Center gave a presentation on regional
aspects of CSIS at the GFCS side-event during the 16th
World Meteorological Congress in June 2011 (TCC NewsNo. 25). TCC also participated in the development of thedraft implementation plan for the GFCS as a contributor to
the sections of CSIS and Capacity Development in theimplementation plan.
1.3 Service as an operational DCPC within the WMO
Information System
TCC was designated as one of the first Data Collection
or Production Centres (DCPCs) of the WMO Information
System (WIS) at the 16th World Meteorological Congressin June 2011. Along with seven other DCPCs operated
by JMA, TCC started providing metadata catalogues fordata discovery, access and retrieval (DAR) services as a
new WIS service as of 1 August 2011. (TCC News No.
25)

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No. 27 | Winter 2012

tion on TCC activities was given at the forum to encourageenhanced collaboration between operational climate service providers and research communities.
A TCC expert is a member of the Expert Team on Regional Climate Centres (ET-RCC) under the Commission
for Climatology (CCl), and participated in its session heldin Offenbach, Germany, in October. The event’s discussion topics included the establishment and operation of
WMO RCCs, the standardization of RCC products andservices, and coordination with other climate-related entities.

3. Capacity Development
3.1 Training Seminars
TCC holds an annual training seminar as part of capacity-building activities related to its role as an RCC in the
WMO RA II area. As the seminar for fiscal 2010 took
place in January 2011 (TCC News No. 23), two training
sessions were held during the calendar year.
As the seminar for fiscal 2011, the Training Seminar on
One-month Forecast Products was held from 7 to 9 November at JMA Headquarters in Tokyo. The event was
attended by 13 experts from NMHSs in Bangladesh,
Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan,
the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Through lectures and exercises, the participants learned
how to produce one-month forecasts using guidance andgridded model outputs. The presentations given by thelecturers are available on the TCC website. (TCC NewsNo. 26)

5.

Publications
TCC has published its newsletter (TCC News) on aquarterly basis since 2005. The publication is intended toenhance communication and provide information to
NMHSs and related communities about recent TCC developments, events and activities as well as details of theCenter’s reports on the state of the climate, monitoring
results and outlooks. In 2011, TCC News Nos. 23 – 26
were issued and made available on the TCC website.
Other English-language publications related to the climate, such as Climate Change Monitoring Report 2010,
were also made available on the TCC website.

3.2 Expert visit
TCC dispatches experts to NMHSs to support exchangesof views on climate services and the effective transfer oftechnology. In March 2011, two TCC experts visited theMeteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency(BMKG) in Indonesia. They outlined the latest status of
JMA’s seasonal forecasts and ITACS, and discussed effective reporting of CLIMAT with BMKG experts toward theimprovement of climate services in Indonesia.

6.

Plans for 2012
With the development of the GFCS, improvement andexpansion of NMHS climate services are expected. In
this context, the importance of international cooperation
through RCCs is growing, and TCC plans to further
strengthen its activities in this area. As an RCC in the
Asian region, the Center will expand its customized services for NMHSs in the area in 2012. Considering theimportant role of NMHSs in climate risk management,
TCC will enhance regional climate watch by more actively
providing NMHSs with relevant information as necessary.
The following plans are also in place for the TCC website:- Development of new products for Asian monsoon
monitoring- Provision of useful animations relating to climate
system monitoring in Asia
TCC also plans to hold an annual training seminar in theautumn of 2012, and expert visits from TCC to NMHSs
will be organized as necessary.

4. International meetings
4.1 Regional Climate Outlook Forums
In November, TCC hosted the Twelfth Joint Meeting for
the Seasonal Prediction of the East Asian Winter Monsoon
in Tokyo (TCC News No. 26). In addition to experts
from the four regular participating countries (China, Japan,
Mongolia and the Republic of Korea), participants in the
TCC Training Seminar also attended, making the meetingeven more fruitful. As the purposes and organization of
the Joint Meeting are similar to those of Regional Climate
Outlook Forums (RCOFs), the event is expected to beformally recognized as an RCOF in the future.
TCC is also involved in RCOFs in Asia. In 2011, experts from the Center participated in FOCRAII (Beijing,
China, April) and SASCOF-2 (Pune, India, April), andgave presentations on TCC and JMA’s forecasts.

JMA is currently conducting the Japanese 55-year reanalysis project (JRA-55), which is scheduled for completion in fiscal 2013. The Agency plans to develop ahigh-resolution one-month forecast model, which will become operational in fiscal 2013. Data and products basedon JRA-55 and the high-resolution forecast system will bemade available to NMHSs through TCC in due course.

4.2 Other meetings
In January 2011, a Japan Society for the Promotion of
Science (JSPS) International Forum titled “Climatic
Changes in Monsoon Asia (CCMA)” was held in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of the Strategic Program for Building an Asian Science and Technology Community – aninitiative operated with funding support from the Special
Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology. The goals of the forum are to solve common challenges and build an exploratory research network encompassing Japan and Southeast Asian countries. A presenta-

TCC News(Teruko Manabe, Tokyo Climate Center)7

No. 27 | Winter 2012

Issuance of a TCC Report on the Cold Wave over the Eurasian Continent
A recent cold wave has affected Europe and a wide area
stretching from the northern part of East Asia to Central
Asia.
In response, TCC issued a report entitled “Cold WaveovertheEurasian
Continent”(http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/tcc/tcc/news/Cold_Wave_over_th
e_Eurasian_Continent.pdf) on 6 February 2012, to give a
brief summary of the situation. The Center also provided
NMHSs in the affected areas with supplementary com-mentary on the situation as well as information on how to
prepare related figures using web-based tools available on
the TCC website, such as ITACS(http://extreme.kishou.go.jp/tool/itacs-tcc2011/).
TCC remains committed to its efforts to assist NMHSs,
and plans to continue and expand its involvement in suchactivities in the future.

Any comments or inquiry on this newsletter and/or the TCC
website would be much appreciated. Please e-mail to
tcc@met.kishou.go.jp.
(Editors: Teruko Manabe, Ryuji Yamada and Kenji Yoshida)

Tokyo Climate Center (TCC), Climate Prediction Division, JMA
Address: 1-3-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8122, Japan
TCC Website: http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/tcc/tcc/index.html

TCC News(Ryuji Yamada, Tokyo Climate Center)8

No. 27 | Winter 2012