It may well be hard to believe at the moment, as the country is gripped in an arctic freeze, but 2010 was globally one of the hottest on record.
Despite the coldest start to the year in Britain for 30 years, the world as a whole has been 0.94F (0.52C) warmer than the 57.2F (14C) average, from 1961 to 1990 according to the UK Met Office.
Only 1998 was this hot, followed by 2005. In 1998, the rise in world temperature was caused by a warming pattern in the Pacific. But this time the weather pattern has cooled the world, meaning the high temperatures are more likely to be as a result of man-made global warming. The cooling pattern will increase into next year, but because the level of global warming is so high, 2011 is still expected to be warmer than average.
As we hunker down to keep warm for the winter, the thought of the world warming is not a comforting thought.
