This post provides a brief comparison update of two different reanalysis daily global mean surface air temperature anomaly (GMSATA) time series for 2014 through 2023 January 31. The graph in Figure 1 shows the daily GMSATA time series for the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) output based on the Global Forecast System (GFS) initialization output four times each day. The temperature output is for the atmosphere at 10 meters above ground level. The CFSR model uses a 0.5 degree latitude by 0.5 degree longitude grid.
The graph in Figure 2 shows the daily GMSATA time series for the Sigma 0.995 level output from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and National Center for Atmospheric Research Reanalysis 1 (NCAR R1) cooperative effort. The Sigma 0.995 level corresponds to the pressure altitude at 99.5 % of the surface air pressure, which is roughly about 50 meters above ground level. The actual height above ground level varies somewhat depending on atmospheric conditions. The NCAR R1 model uses a 2.5 degree latitude by 2.5 degree longitude grid.
Figure 3 provides the NCAR R1 daily GMSATA time series for the current century beginning in 2001.
For a broader perspective, Figure 4 provides the NCAR R1 daily GMSATA time series for its entire period of record, beginning in 1948.
