In the US, 2012 is the warmest year-to-date on record

Thanks. Today was the first day this year we hit 100. Last year we were up to 8 already and set the record. The rivers are still low from last year. In the 50s there were 10 years of drought. So far we have a little more rain than normal, but ENSO predictions say it will be hotter than normal also.

Melts have not been much more than normal so far, which means they likely are not influencing warming. Many are predicting accelerated melts at much higher rates, that would slow warming.

The decrease in reflective ice is part of the positive feedbacks on warming that is theorized to lead to the increase. We still have not received much of the warming from the co2 in the atmosphere. Supposedly if there is a 3 degree sensitivity for a doubling of CO2, we have added enough CO2 since industrialization for 1.5 degrees, but only 0.8 degres has happened so far. That means there is likely 0.7 degrees of warming already in the system. Sensitivity may be higher or lower.