May 2012
global temperatures were second-warmest on record
Month sets
new mark for globally-averaged warmth over land surfaces
The
globally-averaged temperature for May 2012 marked the second warmest May since
record keeping began in 1880. May 2012 also marks the 36th consecutive May and
327th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century
average.
Most areas
of the world experienced much warmer-than-average monthly temperatures,
including nearly all of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, most of North America
and southern Greenland. Only Australia, Alaska and parts of the western
U.S.-Canadian border region were notably cooler than average.
With the
dissipation of La Niña in April, ocean conditions in May were "ENSO
neutral". According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, there is a 50
percent chance that El Niño conditions will emerge during the second half of
2012.
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