Mean Temperature Anomalies
The temperature maps display the temperature anomalies in oC as compared to the average for the reference period 1981-2010. An anomaly is simply the departure from a baseline or long-term average – either warmer or colder than average. The deeper the red, the warmer than average are the conditions; the deeper the blue, the cooler than average are the conditions.
Temperature data is gathered from 1) land based meteorological stations, most under the responsibility of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) in the region, and 2) NCEP/NCAR[1] re-analysis. The monthly average is calculated by adding the daily averages and divide by the number of days in each month while the averages for the 3, 6 and 12 month periods are done by adding the monthly averages for each month and dividing by the number of months in each period. Using a combination of the two data sources, anomalies are calculated and interpolated across the Caribbean basin for the four time periods or intervals – 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.
Categories of temperature anomalies for below and above average temperatures
[1] NCEP – National Centre for Environmental Prediction; NCAR _ National Centre for Atmospheric Research