2010 is the hottest year

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced in 2010 that it was the hottest year since the United Nations monitored the average annual temperature.

The record heat wave triggered several hundred forest fires in Russia in the summer of 2010.

The AP quoted WMO as saying that last year's average temperature was higher than 0.5 degrees Celsius compared to the period 1961-1990. WMO used data from the British Meteorological Bureau and the US Aerospace Agency (NASA).

' 2010 temperature data shows that the earth is going through a long-term warming period. The hottest 10 years since the WMO annual temperature statistics have appeared since 1998 , "said Michel Jarraud, WMO director.

1998 and 2005 are two years with average temperature equivalent to last year.

According to WMO, extreme weather events like last year - record heat in Russia and widespread flooding in Pakistan - will continue this year. Major floods in Sri Lanka, Philippines, Brazil and Australia are typical examples.

The Global Climate History Network announced that 2010 is also the year with the largest humidity. Because the amount of rain and snow around the world is not the same, scientists say they need to research to find out why 2010 is the hottest and the wettest year.

WMO also found that the warming trend is showing strongest in Africa, part of Asia, some areas in Canada and Greenland. Temperatures tend to decrease markedly in the end of the year, especially in northern Europe, parts of Russia and the eastern US.