BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | 2007 to be 'warmest on record':

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | 2007 to be 'warmest on record':

The world is likely to experience the warmest year on record in 2007, the UK's Met Office has forecast.

An extended warming period, resulting from an El Nino weather event in the Pacific Ocean, is likely to push up global temperatures, experts predict.

They say there is a 60% chance that the average surface temperature will match or exceed the current record from 1998.

The forecasters also revealed that 2006 saw the highest average temperature in the UK since records began in 1914.

The global surface temperature is projected to be 0.54C (0.97F) above the long-term average of 14C (57C), beating the current record of 0.52C (0.94F), which was set in 1998.

The annual projection was compiled by the UK Met Office's Hadley Centre, in conjunction with the University of East Anglia. (more)