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The first half of 2009 and the year 2004 are tied for the fifth warmest year on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Global ocean surface temperatures in June set a new record, at 33 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the 20th century average. Overall, June 2009 ranked as the second warmest June ever in the Southern Hemisphere. The United States fared better, with temperatures only slightly above what they averaged in the 20th century and cooler than normal averages in the Southwestern U.S. Global temperature records have been taken since 1880.