Global temperature variations and trends above the surface

The most recent global temperature observations which will appear in the 2001 IPCC from a variety of platforms will be presented. The disparity between the globally averaged surface and low-mid tropospheric temperatures has continued to increase through April 2000 so that since 1979, the surface has become 0.3 C warmer than the troposphere. The largest disparity appears in the tropical atmosphere, implying a steepening of the lapse rate. Stratospheric trends since 1979 are decidedly negative as determined from satellite (microwave and IR), rocketsondes, balloons and lidar. Issues regarding upper air temperatures appearing since IPCC 1996 and the AMS 2000 Annual Meeting will be addressed.