Last year was the second warmest on record in Britain, according to figures released by the Met Office Thursday.
The average mean temperature across the country was 9.6 centigrade, slightly cooler than in 2006, but continuing the recent trend towards warmer temperatures, the figures showed.
Since Britain-wide records began in 1914, nine of the 10 warmest years happened since 1989. Britain's top 10 warmest years on record (in order) were 2006, 2007, 2003, 2004, 2002, 2005, 1990,1997, 1949 and 1999, according to the Met Office's figures.
Last year was one degree above what would be normally expected for the 30-year period from 1971 to 2000 despite a natural weather event known as La Nina, which usually reduces global temperatures, according to the Met Office.
2007 was a year of weather extremes for the country with enormous amounts of rain in May, June and July causing devastating floods but in other months it was drier than usual.
The year was also characterized by relatively warm conditions at night, bringing fewer frosts, 18 days fewer than normal for the country overall, and warmer sea temperatures.
The Met Office originally predicted that 2007 could be the warmest on record globally. The year began with a weak El Nino, a Pacific Ocean phenomenon that normally raises temperatures. But since the end of April 2007, its cooler relation, the La Nina, has prevailed, taking some of the heat out of what could have been an even warmer year.
2008 is expected to be another warm year with global temperatures forecast to be 0.37 Centigrade above the long-term average.
Source: Xinhua
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