"So far, 2010 is tied for the warmest year on record, and Arctic sea ice reached its third-lowest level, prompting thousands of walruses to haul themselves out of ice-starved waters, U.S. scientists said on Wednesday.
The first eight months of the year match the record set for the same period in 1998 for the highest combined land and ocean surface temperatures worldwide, at 58.5 degrees F (14.7 C), 1.21 degrees F (0.67 degrees C) above the 20th century average, the U.S. National Climatic Data Center said in a statement.
Temperatures for the northern hemisphere summer -- June through August -- were the second-warmest globally, after 1998, the center said.
Most parts of the globe were hotter than average, with the most prominent warmth in eastern Europe, eastern Canada and parts of eastern Asia. Australia, central Russia and southern South America were cooler than average."
Deborah Zabarenko reports for Reuters September 16, 2010.