datoid

February 1998 shows global temperature anomaly at 0.88°C, dramatically exceeding the 60-month average of 0.36°C by 3.6 standard deviations. This represents the highest reading in the recent data series. The spike coincides with strong El Niño conditions during 1997-98, visible in the gradual warming trend from 0.52°C in September 1997 to this peak. Cross-series data shows atmospheric CO₂ at record 431 ppm, suggesting both short-term climate variability and longer-term forcing at play. Statistical outliers of this magnitude in temperature data typically signal major climate events rather than measurement error.