2001-2010: Warmest decade on record

Climate change is happening now and is not some distant future event: World Meteorological Organization general secretary. The rate of climate change accelerated in the period 2001-2010—the warmest decade ever recorded worldwide, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in its preliminary findings for its report titled Decadal Global Climate Summary. Dramatic and continuing sea ice decline in the Arctic was one of the most prominent features of the changing state of the climate during the decade. Also, the year gone by, 2011, was the 11th warmest year since 1850, WMO said in its recently-released Status on the Global Climate report. Globally-averaged temperatures in 2011 were estimated to be 0.4°C above the 1961-1990 annual average of 14°C. This was despite La Nina, a weather event where the sea surface temperature is lower than usual in the tropical Pacific Ocean and has a cooling influence. It was not just temperatures though; significant flooding occurred in many places throughout the world, while major droughts affected parts of east Africa and North America.

For full text: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/2001-2010-warmest-decade-record