Monthly mean surface temperature at Amundsen-Scott station

1. Dataset information

Station location: 90°00'S, 0°00', South Pole, East Antarctica.

WMO identification: 89009

Data in black are derived from the READER dataset and are calculated from 6-hourly synoptic data. Such data are currently missing for those months shown in red. These two values (June and December 1994) have been obtained from:

Jones, P.D. and P.A. Reid. 2001: A Data Bank of Antarctic Surface Temperature and Pressure Data. ORNL/CDIAC-27 NDP-032. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

This report can be accessed here.

However it is believed that these data do exist and Matthew Lazzara at the Antarctic Meteorological Research Center (AMRC) is currently looking for them. Post-2000 data have been obtained from the AMRC ftp site (see links below). All data are used in the derivation of statsitics.

Go straight to the data.

2. Derived climate information

(i) Annual, seasonal and monthly temperature statistics for Amundsen-Scott

These data are updated monthly. With regard to summer (DJF) the year refers to the December.

Annual/Season/Month Mean
(°C) σ
(°C) Min.
(°C) q_0.25
(°C) q_0.75
(°C) Max.
(°C) Period n

Calendar year −49.4 0.7 −51.0 −49.8 −48.9 −47.9 1958-2009 52

Autumn −56.4 1.3 −59.1 −57.4 −55.5 −52.8 1957-2009 53
Winter −59.4 1.7 −63.3 −60.7 −58.1 −56.1 1957-2009 53
Spring −49.6 1.6 −53.3 −50.8 −48.4 −46.8 1957-2009 53
Summer −32.3 1.4 −35.5 −33.2 −31.5 −28.5 1957-2008 52

January −28.1 1.7 −32.0 −29.3 −27.1 −24.7 1958-2010 53
February −40.8 1.9 −44.4 −41.9 −39.7 −35.3 1957-2009 53
March −54.0 1.9 −58.0 −54.9 −52.9 −48.6 1957-2009 53
April −57.3 2.8 −62.6 −59.2 −55.0 −50.4 1957-2009 53
May −57.9 2.2 −62.4 −59.3 −56.3 −51.4 1957-2009 53
June −58.4 3.1 −64.4 −61.0 −56.4 −51.7 1957-2009 53
July −60.0 3.0 −67.0 −61.5 −58.0 −53.3 1957-2009 53
August −59.7 2.8 −66.8 −61.4 −57.8 −53.5 1957-2009 53
September −59.1 2.9 −65.4 −61.6 −57.1 −52.6 1957-2009 53
October −51.3 2.3 −55.8 −52.8 −50.0 −46.2 1957-2009 53
November −38.4 2.1 −43.1 −39.4 −37.5 −32.3 1957-2009 53
December −27.9 1.9 −32.3 −29.4 −26.6 −24.0 1957-2009 53
Summary of annual, seasonal and monthly Amundsen-Scott surface temperature statistics

Summary of annual, seasonal and monthly Amundsen-Scott surface temperature statistics
Annual/Season/Month	Mean (°C)	σ (°C)	Min. (°C)	q_0.25 (°C)	q_0.75 (°C)	Max. (°C)	Period	n
Calendar year	−49.4	0.7	−51.0	−49.8	−48.9	−47.9	1958-2009	52
Autumn	−56.4	1.3	−59.1	−57.4	−55.5	−52.8	1957-2009	53
Winter	−59.4	1.7	−63.3	−60.7	−58.1	−56.1	1957-2009	53
Spring	−49.6	1.6	−53.3	−50.8	−48.4	−46.8	1957-2009	53
Summer	−32.3	1.4	−35.5	−33.2	−31.5	−28.5	1957-2008	52
January	−28.1	1.7	−32.0	−29.3	−27.1	−24.7	1958-2010	53
February	−40.8	1.9	−44.4	−41.9	−39.7	−35.3	1957-2009	53
March	−54.0	1.9	−58.0	−54.9	−52.9	−48.6	1957-2009	53
April	−57.3	2.8	−62.6	−59.2	−55.0	−50.4	1957-2009	53
May	−57.9	2.2	−62.4	−59.3	−56.3	−51.4	1957-2009	53
June	−58.4	3.1	−64.4	−61.0	−56.4	−51.7	1957-2009	53
July	−60.0	3.0	−67.0	−61.5	−58.0	−53.3	1957-2009	53
August	−59.7	2.8	−66.8	−61.4	−57.8	−53.5	1957-2009	53
September	−59.1	2.9	−65.4	−61.6	−57.1	−52.6	1957-2009	53
October	−51.3	2.3	−55.8	−52.8	−50.0	−46.2	1957-2009	53
November	−38.4	2.1	−43.1	−39.4	−37.5	−32.3	1957-2009	53
December	−27.9	1.9	−32.3	−29.4	−26.6	−24.0	1957-2009	53

The monthly data are summarised in a PDF plot: Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from here

Amundsen-Scott monthly temperature statistics: this plot shows the mean, quartiles and range for each month.

(ii) Annual, seasonal and monthly trends in the Amundsen-Scott surface temperature data

The trends listed below include 95% confidence intervals. The methodology is based upon:

Santer B.D., T.M.L. Wigley, J.S. Boyle, D. J. Gaffen, J.J. Hnilo, D. Nychka, D.E. Parker and K.E. Taylor. 2000: Statistical significance of trends and trend differences in layer-average temperature time series. Journal of Geophysical Research, 105, 7337-7356.

Briefly, an effective sample size is calculated based on the lag-1 autocorrelation coefficient of the regression residuals, This effective sample size is used for the computation of the standard error and in indexing the critical values of the Student''s t distribution.

The significance level of the trend is given if it is less than 10%, 5% or 1%. With regard to summer (DJF) the year refers to the December.

Annual/Season/Month Annual trend
(°C a⁻¹) Significance
(%) Period n

Calendar year −0.0014 ± 0.0117 - 1958-2009 52

Autumn +0.0073 ± 0.0289 - 1957-2009 53
Winter −0.0199 ± 0.0313 - 1957-2009 53
Spring +0.0073 ± 0.0254 - 1957-2009 53
Summer −0.0046 ± 0.0276 - 1957-2008 52

January +0.0047 ± 0.0328 - 1958-2010 53
February −0.0240 ± 0.0324 - 1957-2009 53
March +0.0163 ± 0.0429 - 1957-2009 53
April +0.0152 ± 0.0589 - 1957-2009 53
May −0.0095 ± 0.0413 - 1957-2009 53
June −0.0265 ± 0.0544 - 1957-2009 53
July −0.0189 ± 0.0499 - 1957-2009 53
August −0.0144 ± 0.0394 - 1957-2009 53
September +0.0179 ± 0.0579 - 1957-2009 53
October −0.0171 ± 0.0364 - 1957-2009 53
November +0.0212 ± 0.0263 - 1957-2009 53
December +0.0076 ± 0.0347 - 1957-2009 53
Summary of trends in annual, seasonal and monthly Amundsen-Scott surface temperature

Summary of trends in annual, seasonal and monthly Amundsen-Scott surface temperature
Annual/Season/Month	Annual trend (°C a⁻¹)	Significance (%)	Period	n
Calendar year	−0.0014 ± 0.0117	-	1958-2009	52
Autumn	+0.0073 ± 0.0289	-	1957-2009	53
Winter	−0.0199 ± 0.0313	-	1957-2009	53
Spring	+0.0073 ± 0.0254	-	1957-2009	53
Summer	−0.0046 ± 0.0276	-	1957-2008	52
January	+0.0047 ± 0.0328	-	1958-2010	53
February	−0.0240 ± 0.0324	-	1957-2009	53
March	+0.0163 ± 0.0429	-	1957-2009	53
April	+0.0152 ± 0.0589	-	1957-2009	53
May	−0.0095 ± 0.0413	-	1957-2009	53
June	−0.0265 ± 0.0544	-	1957-2009	53
July	−0.0189 ± 0.0499	-	1957-2009	53
August	−0.0144 ± 0.0394	-	1957-2009	53
September	+0.0179 ± 0.0579	-	1957-2009	53
October	−0.0171 ± 0.0364	-	1957-2009	53
November	+0.0212 ± 0.0263	-	1957-2009	53
December	+0.0076 ± 0.0347	-	1957-2009	53

PDF plots of the annual and seasonal data: Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from here

Calendar year Autumn (MAM) Winter (JJA) Spring (SON) Summer (DJF)

3. The dataset

        JAN    FEB    MAR    APR    MAY    JUN    JUL    AUG    SEP    OCT    NOV    DEC    ANN

1957         -38.2  -53.7  -56.5  -55.8  -56.4  -60.8  -58.2  -62.4  -52.8  -37.2  -25.1  
1958  -25.1  -35.3  -53.8  -62.1  -57.1  -61.0  -55.1  -61.6  -56.3  -49.3  -38.5  -31.1  -48.9
1959  -28.9  -39.7  -54.7  -55.2  -56.3  -59.9  -59.1  -59.2  -62.0  -51.4  -41.0  -29.0  -49.7
1960  -30.6  -39.9  -57.9  -56.6  -55.7  -58.4  -58.4  -62.4  -57.4  -52.1  -38.6  -27.4  -49.6
1961  -30.6  -41.5  -57.0  -60.1  -57.4  -53.0  -60.5  -56.6  -57.6  -49.1  -38.5  -29.1  -49.2
1962  -29.9  -41.8  -53.9  -58.0  -59.0  -53.0  -60.2  -60.7  -57.3  -50.7  -37.8  -30.2  -49.4
1963  -29.1  -41.5  -54.4  -60.9  -55.8  -55.1  -59.7  -54.4  -54.4  -51.0  -41.1  -27.3  -48.7
1964  -27.7  -41.5  -52.9  -61.3  -61.3  -53.9  -56.5  -57.9  -62.5  -53.3  -38.9  -28.3  -49.7
1965  -29.1  -40.1  -52.1  -57.5  -56.4  -52.6  -64.4  -57.0  -63.1  -52.7  -40.6  -27.8  -49.4
1966  -29.7  -41.0  -52.6  -56.7  -61.2  -61.5  -58.0  -61.4  -57.8  -51.3  -37.5  -26.6  -49.6
1967  -24.7  -40.2  -54.8  -57.6  -58.4  -61.4  -56.9  -61.2  -57.8  -53.9  -38.2  -27.7  -49.4
1968  -29.7  -40.1  -54.1  -54.2  -59.3  -58.7  -62.5  -62.1  -61.5  -47.2  -38.2  -29.4  -49.8
1969  -27.9  -42.2  -58.0  -55.0  -56.6  -55.6  -64.2  -57.7  -56.9  -48.1  -40.8  -28.9  -49.3
1970  -28.1  -40.7  -53.8  -59.6  -58.8  -60.0  -60.0  -59.9  -56.7  -49.1  -40.8  -27.6  -49.6
1971  -25.1  -38.6  -54.9  -53.6  -56.0  -61.8  -61.5  -60.6  -62.1  -50.3  -37.8  -26.0  -49.0
1972  -26.5  -39.3  -56.3  -57.9  -59.4  -58.6  -59.8  -54.7  -59.9  -47.2  -37.5  -28.9  -48.8
1973  -29.3  -44.1  -55.1  -57.6  -55.4  -60.0  -59.6  -60.2  -58.0  -50.5  -35.7  -29.7  -49.6
1974  -27.7  -41.7  -53.9  -57.7  -57.8  -58.0  -60.9  -55.8  -58.5  -50.8  -39.2  -24.0  -48.8
1975  -27.5  -39.4  -51.8  -58.1  -54.4  -62.2  -62.3  -61.0  -60.1  -49.5  -38.1  -27.2  -49.3
1976  -27.4  -40.8  -53.9  -59.9  -59.7  -59.1  -60.5  -65.1  -59.2  -51.2  -37.3  -25.5  -50.0
1977  -25.1  -42.2  -53.9  -57.9  -54.7  -56.4  -56.8  -59.6  -62.3  -55.5  -40.1  -29.4  -49.5
1978  -29.8  -40.9  -54.5  -50.4  -57.2  -60.2  -60.4  -62.6  -60.1  -50.1  -38.7  -28.6  -49.5
1979  -28.0  -40.9  -51.7  -53.4  -61.5  -56.7  -63.6  -61.1  -55.6  -53.0  -37.9  -27.7  -49.3
1980  -27.3  -40.1  -54.2  -56.7  -55.5  -57.9  -59.8  -62.7  -60.0  -51.2  -33.7  -25.2  -48.7
1981  -24.7  -38.8  -52.5  -58.5  -53.5  -58.0  -56.2  -55.3  -62.2  -55.8  -41.9  -28.3  -48.8
1982  -29.1  -41.0  -54.7  -54.9  -56.5  -60.6  -58.2  -61.4  -61.6  -49.1  -32.3  -27.1  -48.9
1983  -29.1  -42.9  -54.8  -56.1  -56.5  -62.1  -64.0  -59.6  -58.5  -55.4  -43.1  -30.2  -51.0
1984  -27.6  -41.0  -52.5  -60.7  -56.7  -63.9  -54.9  -59.8  -57.0  -52.3  -35.2  -25.7  -48.9
1985  -27.0  -43.1  -53.2  -56.2  -59.6  -53.2  -60.5  -57.8  -61.6  -51.3  -40.4  -30.8  -49.6
1986  -26.2  -36.2  -52.2  -54.2  -61.0  -62.8  -59.5  -58.3  -64.1  -53.2  -39.4  -29.2  -49.7
1987  -27.6  -41.5  -51.3  -59.0  -59.0  -57.0  -60.6  -66.8  -60.8  -52.4  -42.1  -29.1  -50.6
1988  -27.6  -43.0  -48.6  -57.3  -59.6  -56.4  -60.8  -56.1  -55.7  -46.2  -38.4  -29.4  -48.3
1989  -31.1  -41.4  -54.3  -60.5  -62.4  -62.5  -58.2  -55.8  -58.0  -53.5  -38.4  -25.4  -50.1
1990  -27.4  -41.2  -55.0  -59.2  -61.2  -56.1  -57.4  -61.3  -58.7  -49.8  -36.6  -24.9  -49.1
1991  -28.6  -38.2  -56.9  -58.5  -59.9  -58.7  -57.5  -59.3  -53.2  -52.0  -39.5  -26.5  -49.1
1992  -29.4  -43.0  -56.7  -53.4  -59.1  -55.7  -60.2  -60.7  -57.9  -47.1  -39.4  -30.2  -49.4
1993  -28.9  -42.5  -53.3  -58.8  -57.8  -61.6  -58.3  -64.9  -59.6  -50.9  -38.8  -29.4  -50.4
1994  -28.5  -44.4  -53.5  -57.6  -58.9  -55.8  -63.3  -59.1  -58.1  -51.9  -38.5  -29.7  -49.9
1995  -32.0  -40.9  -52.8  -58.5  -58.9  -58.7  -56.1  -62.5  -65.4  -49.7  -38.7  -27.8  -50.2
1996  -29.5  -37.7  -56.3  -55.0  -60.4  -59.2  -55.9  -53.5  -60.1  -53.7  -35.9  -26.3  -48.6
1997  -29.1  -43.7  -55.4  -56.6  -58.3  -57.7  -65.9  -60.2  -60.6  -55.3  -34.8  -28.4  -50.5
1998  -27.7  -38.7  -53.0  -62.6  -58.5  -55.7  -59.5  -63.2  -63.4  -54.8  -37.7  -29.1  -50.3
1999  -26.5  -41.5  -54.5  -61.1  -57.7  -58.6  -63.1  -57.2  -62.5  -51.6  -39.9  -32.3  -50.5
2000  -31.0  -43.1  -55.1  -61.8  -59.9  -59.8  -60.8  -59.5  -61.0  -50.8  -34.2  -28.2  -50.4
2001  -29.9  -38.9  -54.9  -60.0  -58.4  -57.7  -60.7  -63.8  -57.1  -53.5  -35.6  -27.2  -49.8
2002  -26.6  -40.6  -49.7  -52.6  -56.2  -61.9  -53.3  -57.5  -56.7  -50.0  -39.3  -31.0  -48.0
2003  -27.8  -40.4  -54.1  -52.7  -59.2  -64.4  -64.1  -55.8  -61.9  -51.4  -38.6  -25.1  -49.6 
2004  -27.3  -38.3  -54.4  -54.5  -57.9  -61.5  -67.0  -61.5  -54.3  -50.2  -39.6  -25.0  -49.3
2005  -26.4  -39.6  -51.7  -54.3  -58.6  -58.7  -63.1  -60.4  -52.6  -48.8  -39.2  -24.0  -48.1
2006  -27.9  -42.8  -56.2  -55.9  -56.1  -58.4  -65.2  -59.1  -60.5  -55.8  -37.5  -29.8  -50.4
2007  -27.0  -42.1  -57.0  -60.9  -55.0  -51.7  -57.9  -60.6  -60.5  -50.2  -38.7  -28.2  -49.2
2008  -29.9  -41.6  -53.4  -54.1  -59.0  -61.8  -56.9  -59.7  -53.9  -51.5  -38.6  -26.8  -48.9
2009  -27.1  -41.9  -51.1  -58.5  -51.4  -55.1  -58.2  -61.0  -56.2  -50.4  -37.0  -27.3  -47.9
2010  -25.5

4. Links

American Meteorological Research Center (AMRC).

AMRC ftp site for Amundsen-Scott data.

National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs.

Amundsen-Scott station and the south pole from the air.

South Pole dome virtual tour.

The latest synoptic report from Amundsen-Scott station.

This web page was written to look good in MS Explorer 5.0+ using character entity references from HTML 4.0. Apologies if it doesn't quite work for you — anyway the data should be OK. Comments should be addressed to Dr Gareth Marshall at gjma@pcmail.nbs.ac.uk.

Return to the top of the page.
Return to the main Antarctic monthly mean surface temperature page.