May global temperatures third warmest on record: US

NOAA said the northern hemisphere snow cover for May was the third smallest on record at 6.21 million square miles 16.1 million square kilometres. 8220;Below-average snow cover was present for both Eurasia and North America. Eurasia had its smallest May snow cover

extent on record,while North America had its 20th smallest,8221; it said. The average May Arctic sea ice extent was 5.06 million square miles,2.17 per cent below the 1981-2010 average,resulting in the 10th smallest monthly May extent on record.

The Antarctic sea ice extent,however,was 4.43 million square miles 8212; the fifth largest May Antarctic sea ice extent on record at 6.33 per cent above the 1981-2010 average. The world8217;s nations are negotiating an agreement that would,by 2020,bind all countries to measurable targets for curbing Earth-warming greenhouse-gas emissions. The aim is to avoid the most calamitous warming-induced climate effects 8212; worsening droughts,floods,storms and sea-level rise 8212; by meeting a UN goal to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels.