Temperatures.jpg: Global January to February temperatures reached an all-time high in 2007 (Image: NOAA)
This has been the world's warmest December to February period on record, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NOAA scientists say the combined global land and ocean surface temperature from December 2006 to February 2007 was 0.72 °C above the 20th century mean, putting it at its highest since records began in 1880.
The warmest January on record was responsible for pushing up the overall temperature for the period, say the researchers, who add that a moderate El Niño in the Pacific also contributed.
Jay Lawrimore of NOAA's National Climatic Data Center says the previous record was in 2004, and the third warmest was in 1998.
During the past century, global surface temperatures have increased about 0.06 °C every decade, but that rate has tripled since 1976 and now stands at 0.18 °C per decade. Some of the largest temperature increases occur in the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere.
FULL STORY HERE:
http://environment.newscientist.com/...ince-1880.html
