2014 Declared Officially as Hottest Year on Record

Human-influenced global warming has been set on upward march of the world's average temperature since 1891, with 2014 being the latest stop on the climb. Ten of the hottest years have come since 1998, Discovery news reported. Japan Meteorological Agency has revealed that 2014 is officially the hottest year on record. The researchers found that the average temperature was 1.1 degree Fahrenheit above the 20th century, wedges 1998, the previous warmest year, by about 0.1 degree Fahrenheit.

One big difference between 2014 and 1998 is that the latter was on the tail end of a super El Nino, which has the tendency to spike temperatures. In comparison, 2014 was the year of the almost El Nino.

Instead, record warmth in other parts of the Pacific as well as the hottest year on record in Europe were some of the main drivers in fueling the heat, while seasonal temperatures also paint a picture of a planet that didn't get a break. Spring, summer and fall were all record-setting hot. Last winter was the only season not to set a record, and even that was still the sixth-warmest winter.

Source-ANI