2014 is set to be the warmest calendar year in recorded human history, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center revealed in its latest monthly report.
This is already an era of climate firsts.
The "combined average temperature" of land and ocean surfaces for September was the highest in recorded history, the report states. Furthermore, October 2013 to September 2014 was the warmest 12-month period ever recorded.
"If 2014 maintains this temperature departure from average for the remainder of the year, it will be the warmest calendar year on record," concludes the report.
The NOAA's findings echo those of NASA, which revealed earlier this month that the last six months were the warmest such period of time ever recorded.
