May 2010 was warmest on record – US govt data

Last month was the warmest May on record, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Tuesday.

It was also the 303rd consecutive month that was hotter than the 20th century global average for that month, according to Deke Arndt, chief of the climate monitoring at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center.

The long-term warming trend, along with reports that Arctic sea ice covered less of the ocean and snow covered less ground around the world in May, is consistent with the science of climate change, Arndt said.

Many climate scientists believe that Earth’s surface is warming, due in part to the emission of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide.

Source: May 2010 was warmest on record – US govt data – Reuters

Date: 16 June, 2010