2000's Warmest in Decades

The past decade was the warmest on record, according to a new analysis unveiled today at the international climate change summit in Copenhagen.

Findings:

- 2009 is likely to rank as the fifth warmest year worldwide since we started keeping records in 1850.
- Large parts of southern Asia and central Africa are likely to have the warmest year on record.
- Above-normal temperatures were recorded in most parts of the continents this year.
- Only North America (United States and Canada) experienced conditions that were cooler than average.
- This year, Arctic sea ice extent during the melt season ranked the third lowest, after the lowest and second-lowest records set in 2007 and 2008, respectively

Follow this link for more information: information: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/science/earth/09climate.html?_r=2&hp