Over the last 150 years, 2003 was the hottest year with the average temperature being ___ \(^{\circ}\text{C}\) higher than normal.
Show Hint
A temperature anomaly of \(0.55^{\circ}\text{C}\) above the 1961--1990 baseline was a historically high deviation for 2003, causing severe heatwaves and droughts that disrupted Kharif cropping systems across India.
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
To study global warming and climate change, meteorologists analyze temperature anomalies, which are the deviations of annual average temperatures from a long-term base period (normal) temperature. Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us review the historical temperature trends recorded by global meteorological agencies (such as the World Meteorological Organization and NASA GISS):
- According to long-term global climate databases, the year 2003 was recorded as one of the warmest years since systematic instrumental temperature records began in the mid-19th century.
- The global average surface temperature in 2003 was approximately \(0.55^{\circ}\text{C}\) higher than the standard climatological normal base period (typically the 1961--1990 average, which serves as the reference baseline in agricultural and climatological assessments).
- This warming anomaly caused severe summer heatwaves across Europe and parts of Asia, significantly affecting crop yields, water availability, and human health.
- Although subsequent years (such as 2016, 2020, and later) have recorded even higher temperature anomalies due to accelerating global warming, 2003 remains a historically significant warm year in climate science textbooks.
Therefore, Option (B) is the correct value. Step 2: Final Answer:
The average temperature of 2003 was 0.55 $^{\circ}$C higher than normal.
