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Year 2014 may be hottest on record — World Meteorological Organization

"This confirms the underlying long-term warming trend," the World Meteorological Organization said

© EPA/MICHAEL NELSON

GENEVA, December 3. /TASS/. The year 2014 is expected to be the hottest on record, mainly due to high global sea surface temperatures, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday.

According to WMO, the global average air temperature from January to October was about 0.57 degrees Centigrade above the average of 14.00 degrees Centrigrate for the 1961-1990 reference period, and 0.09 degrees Centigrade above the average for the past ten years (2004-2013).

"This confirms the underlying long-term warming trend," WMO said in a statement.

“What we saw in 2014 is consistent with what we expect from a changing climate. Record-breaking heat combined with torrential rainfall and floods destroyed livelihoods and ruined lives. What is particularly unusual and alarming this year are the high temperatures of vast areas of the ocean surface, including in the northern hemisphere,” the statement quoted WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud as saying.

“Record-high greenhouse gas emissions and associated atmospheric concentrations are committing the planet to a much more uncertain and inhospitable future," Jarraud added.

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