Japan report says 2007 warmest for world land areas
Pastor Dale Morgan
Japan report says 2007 warmest for world land areas*
13 Dec 2007 06:50:37 GMT
Source: Reuters
TOKYO, Dec 13 (Reuters) - The average global land surface temperature
this year will be the highest since records began in 1880, partly due to
greenhouse gas emissions, Japan's weather agency said on Thursday.
Natural climate fluctuations contributed to the temperature rises, said
the report by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The report coincided with the Dec. 3-14 international talks on the
Indonesian island of Bali to discuss a new climate treaty to succeed the
Kyoto Protocol after 2012, but it was not presented there.
The average land surface temperature from January to November this year
was higher than in the past in all regions except for southern South
America, the report said.
It said the ocean surface temperature was higher in most areas except
for the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator.
The global average land surface temperature in 2007 was forecast to
reach 0.67 degrees Celsius above the mean average temperature of the
30-year period from 1971 to 2000.
In 2005 and 2006, the global average land surface temperature was 0.58
degrees Celsius above the mean from 1971 to 2000.
Scientists say global average temperatures will rise by between 1.8
degrees to 4.0 degrees Celsius due to carbon emissions, likely
increasing risks of melted ice caps, floods and famines. (Reporting by
Yoko Kubota; Editing by Grant McCool)