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Key Points
- Global temperatures have risen by around 0.6C over the past 300 years
- The decade of 1998-2007 is the warmest on record, according to data sources obtained by the World Meteorological Organization
- The global mean temperature for 2008 was 14.3C, making it the tenth warmest year on a record that dates back to 1850
- The UK’s top 10 warmest years on record (in order) are 2006, 2007, 2003, 2004, 2002, 2005, 1990, 1997, 1949 and 1999
- Global average sea level rose at an average rate of 1.8mm per year over 1961 to 2003. The rate was faster over 1993 to 2003, about 3.1mm per year
- Mountain glaciers in non polar regions have retreated significantly during the 20th Century
- There is evidence of more precipitation in many parts of the world – an increase of 0.5-1% per decade in many mid and high level areas of the northern hemisphere
- In the same area, there has been a 2-4% increase in the frequency of heavy rainfall events
- In Asia and Africa there has been an increased frequency and intensity of droughts in the last few decades
- Drying has been observed in the Sahel (region south of the Sahara), the Mediterranean, southern Africa and parts of southern Asia
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