The world has a record hot January

January 2012 was ranked 19th in the list of the hottest Januarys since 1880, according to research papers from the US National and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The average temperature measured on land and ocean in January is 12 degrees Celsius, exceeding the average temperature of the 20th century, the agency added.

In January, the northern hemisphere's weather was very harsh. The regions of northern Europe and Asia have warmer temperatures than average. Meanwhile Alaska, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, North Africa, the Middle East, southern Russia and northern India have unusually cool weather.

In 2011, many countries around the world suffered a series of natural disasters. In particular, many serious disasters unprecedented in US history occur in relation to weather such as droughts, forest fires and floods.

According to the Munich Re Group Reinsurance Group (Germany), natural disasters all over the world have consumed hundreds of billions of dollars, making 2011 a "burning year" in recent decades.