2011: Tenth-hottest Year Ever

The World Meteorological Organization is reporting that 2011 is looking to be the 10th warmest year on record, and the warmest-ever La Nina year. (La Nina years are typically cooler than the years before and after them.) The decade from 2002-2011 is tied with 2001-10 for having the highest average temperatures on record. 13 of the hottest 15 years on record have occurred within the last 15 years. Arctic sea ice extent was at its second smallest level ever, the smallest having been recorded in 2007; and sea-ice volume hit a record low.