This year is shaping up to be the hottest ever recorded in the 130 years since record keeping began, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

With two calendar months remaining for 2014, data collected by the NOAA shows average global temperatures across the globe have been 0.68 degrees Celsius higher than the 20th Century’s average of 14.1 degrees C.

The data collected encompasses land and ocean temperatures, finding the former has risen by almost 2 degrees more than the 20th Century average — an important scientific benchmark.

Climate scientists have long posited that a rise in average global temperature rise of 2-3 degrees would prove disastrous for the planet, leading catastrophic weather and storm systems, glacial and polar icecap melts, a higher sea level, increased flooding and storm surges and prolonged droughts.

Average land and ocean temperatures, October 2014. (NOAA)

“Record warmth for the year-to-date was particularly notable across much of northern and western Europe, parts of Far East Russia, and large areas of the northeastern and western equatorial Pacific Ocean,” the NOAA said.

“It is also notable that record warmth was observed in at least some areas of every continent and major ocean basin around the world,” the agency added.

Several countries already recorded the hottest October on record this year with temperatures 2 degrees higher than the last century’s average including Australia, Germany, France, Switzerland and Sweden.

The data is backed-up by climate scientists at the UK’s Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia.

“2014 is more likely than not to be the warmest year,” said Professor Tim Osborn.

However, the central US has recorded a below-average temperature due to the fierce winter storm and colder weather.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology confirmed in January that 2013 was the country’s hottest year since 1910, setting new records for the hottest day and the hottest month among many others.

Source: CNN,
Author: Nicholas McCallum, Approving editor: Simon Black

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