Global warming
G'moring my friends. I find it very curious in that no-one has brought up the accepted fact of the Earth's axis shifting. By doing so it has exposed the polar latitudes to a much higher and longer amount of Solar heating which makes man's puny addition almost laughable.
May I suggest that modifying, or actually eliminating the Gulf stream flow,by the continuing oil spill is bound to have a serious effect, which could be cooling, etc.
hmm it seems that we do have a can full of wriggling worms going every which way to point the finger of guilt to, besides man, who happens to be more convenient..
Oh well, he is a very conveniet and profitable target.
Don Jose de L Mancha
Also, as it was correctly brought up, one must look at the entire planet at the same period, not just North America.