2008 among 10 warmest years on record, UN experts say
19 Dec 2008
The year 2008 is likely to rank as the 10th warmest year on record since the beginning of the instrumental climate records in 1850, although the global average temperature was slightly lower than previous years of the 21st century, according to United Nations weather experts.
The combined sea-surface and land-surface air temperature for 2008 is estimated at 0.31C, above the 1961-1990 annual average of 14C, while the Arctic Sea ice volume during the melt season was its lowest since satellite measurements began in 1979, the UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said.
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