The world in 2008 has been the cooler than any time since the turn of the century, scientists say.
The World Meteorological Department notes that temperature remained about 0.3c above the 1961-1990 average temperature. Computer models suggest that natural cycles may cool the Earth’s surface in the very next few years, masking the warming impact of rising the greenhouse gas levels. One recent analysis suggested that there might be no warming for the next decade, though other scientists dispute the conclusion and what is beyond dispute is that 2008 saw temperatures a shade below preceding years.
Using data from two major monitoring networks, one co-ordinated from the UK’s Hardley Centre and University of East Anglia and the other by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the WMO reports that the despite the cooling, 2008 still ranks among the 10 warmest years on record. At 14.3c, the average temperature for the year was significantly above the 14.0c average.