2010 tops 1998 temps; question now is whether 12 months will break 2005 record for warmest year.
Global land and ocean surface temperatures in the first half of 2010 were the warmest January-June on record... according to the [US] National Climatic Data Center. Its records go back to 1880... 2010 has also surpassed 1998 for the most 'warmest months' in any calendar year. 'Each of the 10 warmest average global temperatures recorded since 1880 have occurred in the last fifteen years,' it added. 'The warmest year-to-date on record, through June, was 1998, and 2010 is warmer so far.' The warmest year on record is 2005, but that record could fall as well...
Arctic sea ice covered... '10.6 percent below the 1979-2000 average extent and the lowest June extent since records began in 1979. This was also the 19th consecutive June with below-average Arctic sea ice extent.'
