Climate Change This Year

Warmest May: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that the "combined global land and ocean surface temperature for May was the warmest on record, at 1.24°F (0.69°C) above the 20th century average of 58.6°F (14.8°C)."

Warmest January-May: NOAA also reports that the combined land and ocean surface temperature for first five months of 2010 was the highest ever recorded, putting this year on pace to set a new annual record.

Record Flooding: From New England to Nebraska and from China to Brazil, record flooding this spring is wrecking havoc on communities around the world. Yes, we can expect to see more 1000-year floods like the one we saw in Tennessee earlier this year. Unfortunately, they are more likely in a warming world.

Record Arctic Sea Ice Melt: Arctic Sea ice melted faster than in any other May on record, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. This is bad news for polar bears and bad news for people. Ice reflects heat, open water absorbs heat: less Arctic ice = more global warming.


What can you do? Donate to the Environmental Defense Fund

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