Last year proved to be the world’s hottest year on record, according to climate experts.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that 2014 was the hottest around the world since records began in 1880.
Global temperatures were 0.69C (1.24F) above 20th century averages, with record temperatures in much of the world, including most of Europe, northern Africa, parts of Australia and the western US.
The Met Office has already announced that 2014 was the hottest year for the UK in records dating back to 1910 as well as the warmest in the Central England Temperature series, the world’s longest-running temperature record dating back to 1659.
The previous record warm years were also very recently, namely 2005 and 2010. Nine of the 10 warmest since 1880 have all been in the 21st century.
Scientists believe that record high global sea surface temperatures contributed, running at 0.57C (1.03F) above the 20th century average. Land surface temperatures were the fourth highest recorded, at 1C above average.
During 2014, record temperatures were recorded in May, June, August, September, October and December.
