IN THE NEWS / U.S. Says October Nearly Broke Monthly Heat Record
WASHINGTON, Nov 13- U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data released on Friday showed the Earth's land and ocean temperatures in October barely missed breaking an all-time heat record for the month.
October global surface temperatures measured 58.14 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to the 58.15 degrees Fahrenheit level for October 1997.
"October 1998 falls slightly below the global record set in October 1997 for the warmest (October) global surface temperature on record," said the agency.
Just this past August the Earth's temperatures set an all-time record for any month at 61.4 degrees.
The period from January through October 1998 continued to be the warmest such period on record, and also the wettest. In the United States, the year-to-date temperatures were the second-hottest stretch ever, said NOAA, a Commerce Department agency.
U.S. Vice President Al Gore has trumpeted NOAA data on the warming global temperatures to bolster administration efforts to force congressional action on the issue and gather support for the Kyoto climate treaty.
Talks in Buenos Aires this week have sought to develop a plan to implement the climate change agreement negotiated in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan.
The United States signed the treaty on Thursday at the United Nations. Senate ratification was not expected for some time, until countries reach agreement on the treaty's rules.
Kyoto calls for industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels in 2008-2012.
Pact supporters blame global warming for causing devastating floods, drought, storms and ruined ecosystems, while U.S. opponents say enacting the deal would unnecessarily harm the national economy, forcing millions of job losses.
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