{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\cocoartf1038\cocoasubrtf360 {\fonttbl\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Helvetica;} {\colortbl;\red255\green255\blue255;} \paperw11900\paperh16840\margl1440\margr1440\vieww9000\viewh8400\viewkind0 \pard\tx566\tx1133\tx1700\tx2267\tx2834\tx3401\tx3968\tx4535\tx5102\tx5669\tx6236\tx6803\ql\qnatural\pardirnatural \f0\fs24 \cf0 2014 warmest year on record, say NASA, NOAA\ \ The year 2014 was the warmest year across global land and ocean surfaces since records began in 1880, with the annually-averaged temperature 0.69\'b0C above the 20th century average of 13.9\'b0C. This also marks the 38th consecutive year that the yearly global temperature was above average\ ------------------------------------------------\ SELECTED SIGNIFICANT CLIMATE ANOMALIES AND EVENTS IN 2014\ \ Temperature extreme\ \ Drought\ \ Heavy rain/flooding\ \ Severe storm\ \ Sea ice extreme\ \ Mexico - Mexico Much of the year was warmer than average. Several months ranked among their top 10 warmest\ \ Alaska\ \ United States Contiguous United States Numerous Arctic air outbreaks in early 2014 set the stage for a cool year across the Midwest and Mississippi River Valley. Seven states had a top 10 cool year. Meanwhile much of the West was warmer than average, with eight states having a top 10 warm year. Arizona, California and Nevada had their warmest year on record\ \ Canada - Canada had its coldest year since 1996. Winter 2013-14 was characterised by crippling cold temperatures and record snowfalls, resulting in the coldest winter in 18 years and third coldest in 35 years\ \ Morocco - Morocco Heavy rain in late November triggered severe floods in southern Morocco. Some locations recorded more than the yearly average rainfall in only a few days\ \ Europe - Europe Europe as a whole experienced its warmest year on record. Germany, Austria, France, Sweden, Belgium and the United Kingdom each experienced their warmest year on record\ \ Arctic - Arctic sea ice extent During its growth season, the Arctic had its fifth smallest annual maximum extent. During its melt season, Arctic ice reached its sixth smallest minimum extent on record\ \ Russia - Russia had its warmest March-May since national records began in 1936\ \ India and Pakistan - India and Pakistan Torrential downpours caused severe floods in September. Over 100,000 people were displaced and 250 fatalities were reported\ \ Japan - apan Western Japan had its wettest August since 1946, receiving nearly triple its monthly average. Typhoons Halong and Nakri contributed to the extreme wetness\ \ Hurricane Iselle - Hurricane Iselle (July 31 \'96 August 11, 2014) Maximum winds of 220km/h. The strongest tropical cyclone on record to impact Hawaii\'92s Big Island and the first tropical cyclone to make landfall anywhere in Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992\ \ Hurricane Odile - Hurricane Odile (September 10-19, 2014) Maximum winds of 215km/h. Tied with Hurricane Olivia of 1967 as the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the state of Baja California in the satellite era\ \ Argentina - Argentina Second warmest year, behind 2012, since national records began in 1961\ \ South America - South America Wetter than normal conditions were observed across parts of Paraguay, southern Bolivia and southeastern Brazil during May and June. Precipitation totals were over 250% of the long term average\ \ South Africa - South Africa Drought conditions persisted throughout the beginning of 2014 in the north-west province of South Africa. This was considered to be the worst drought since 1933\ \ Antarctic - Antarctic sea ice extent During its growth season, the Antarctic had its largest annual maximum extent. During its melt season Antarctic sea ice reached its fourth largest minimum extent on record\ \ Cyclone Hudhud - Cyclone Hudhud (October 7-14, 2014) Maximum winds reached 215km/h and brought heavy rain to southeast India. One localised area in the state of Andhra Pradesh reported a 24-hour rainfall total of 380mm\ \ Australia - Australia Persistent warmth affected Australia throughout the year, contributing to the warmest spring on record, the third warmest autumn and the third warmest year on record\ \ New Zealand - New Zealand Several stations across New Zealand experienced one of their three driest months of March on record\ \ Alaska Experienced its warmest year since statewide records began in 1916\ ---------------------------------------------\ LAND AND OCEAN TEMPERATURE PERCENTILES Jan-Dec 2014 \ \ Record warmest\ \ Much warmer than average\ \ Warmer than average\ \ Near average\ \ Cooler than average \ \ Much cooler than average\ \ Record coldest\ ------------------------------------------------\ Sources: NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)\ \ words 679}