Mercury scaled second highest peak in 2005

THE WORLD’S average temperature rose in 2005 to its second highest level in more than 100 years in a sign of global warming caused by greenhouse gases, according to a warning from the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The temperature worldwide last year was 0.32ºC higher than the average calculated figures between 1971 and 2000, the agency said in a statement.

The 2005 figure was the second highest since 1891 when the agency began keeping the measurement. The record high was in 1998 when the gap from the average year stood at 0.66ºC.

“Especially since the mid1980s average temperatures have risen more frequently,” the Japan Meteorological Agency said on Thursday.

THE WORLD’S average tempera- ture rose in 2005 to its second highest level in more than 100 years in a sign of global warm- ing caused by greenhouse gases, according to a warning from the Japan Meteorological Agency. The temperature worldwide last year was 0.32ºC higher than the average calculated figures between 1971 and 2000, the agency said in a statement. The 2005 figure was the second highest since 1891 when the agency began keeping the meas- urement. The record high was in 1998 when the gap from the aver- age year stood at 0.66ºC. “Especially since the mid- 1980s average temperatures have risen more frequently,” the Japan Meteorological Agency said on Thursday.

  *Source:Hindustan Times,dated Friday,February 3,2006.*