Global ocean surface temperatures last month were the warmest since records began in 1880, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last Friday. July’s update hasn’t received much coverage (perhaps because an identical temperature high was seen in June), but the New York Times noted the trend.

In both June and July ocean surface temperatures were measured at 16.99°C, 0.59°C above the 20th century average. The combined global land and ocean surface temperature for July 2009 was the fifth warmest on record, said officials at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina.

Not all regions felt the heat. Across the eastern US, central Canada and southern South America, conditions were 2-4°C cooler than average, while parts of Asia also dipped below par. (See map).

If El Niño conditions continue to mature, as now projected, global temperatures are likely to exceed previous record highs, NOAA added.

Image: NCDC/NOAA/NESDIS