2014 Breaks Record for hottest Year, NOAA and NASA Experts Say

Last year was globally the hottest on record, climate experts have confirmed.

Two separate analyses by US government agencies, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA, both showed 2014 was the hottest in records dating back to 1880.

Global land and sea surface temperatures were 0.69C (1.24F) above 20th century averages, “easily breaking” the previous record years of 2005 and 2010.

Last year was also the 38th year in a row when annual global temperatures were above the long-term average, while nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have all occurred in the 21st century.

Areas around the world experienced record temperatures, including most of Europe stretching into northern Africa, parts of eastern and western coastal Australia, and the western United States, the experts said.

Two of the three key international climate monitoring schemes have now concluded 2014 was a record warm year.