Global temperatures in the first half of the year were the hottest since records began more than a century ago, according to two of the world's leading climate research centres.Scientists have also released what they described as the "best evidence yet" of rising long-term temperatures. The report is the first to collate 11 different indicators - from air and sea temperatures to melting ice - each one based on between three and seven data sets, dating back to between 1850 and the 1970s.The newly released data follows months of scrutiny of climate science after sceptics claimed leaked emails from the University of East Anglia (UEA) suggested temperature records had been manipulated - a charge rejected by three inquiries.
Global temperatures in the first half of the year were the hottest since records began more than a century ago, according to two of the world's leading climate research centres.
Scientists have also released what they described as the "best evidence yet" of rising long-term temperatures. The report is the first to collate 11 different indicators - from air and sea temperatures to melting ice - each one based on between three and seven data sets, dating back to between 1850 and the 1970s.
The newly released data follows months of scrutiny of climate science after sceptics claimed leaked emails from the University of East Anglia (UEA) suggested temperature records had been manipulated - a charge rejected by three inquiries.
Scientists in 48 countries have concluded the past 10 years were the warmest on record, as a Met Office climate expert tells Science Correspondent Tom Clarke the decade on decade trend is "stonkingly obvious".
Current changes to the climate are "undeniable" and show clear signs of "human fingerprints", researchers have claimed in the first major new piece of scientific research since the "climategate" scandals. Peter Stott, head of climate monitoring at the UK's Met Office, said the research based on a total of 11 indicators painted a clear picture of all of the earth's important climate systems: "The fingerprints are clear... The glaringly obvious explanation for this is warming from greenhouse gases."The research, headed by the US National Oceans and Atmospheric Administration, is the first to gather together the relevant data in this way and takes scientists much further than the IPCC report of more than three years ago, by adding in new data not available then.
Peter Stott, head of climate monitoring at the UK's Met Office, said the research based on a total of 11 indicators painted a clear picture of all of the earth's important climate systems: "The fingerprints are clear... The glaringly obvious explanation for this is warming from greenhouse gases."
The research, headed by the US National Oceans and Atmospheric Administration, is the first to gather together the relevant data in this way and takes scientists much further than the IPCC report of more than three years ago, by adding in new data not available then.
