(01-12) 08:29 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) -- It's a tie: Government climate experts say last year equaled 2005 as the warmest year on record.
According to the National Climatic Data Center, the average worldwide temperature was 1.12 degrees Fahrenheit (0.62 degree Celsius) above normal last year. That's the same as six years ago.
Climate experts have become increasingly concerned about rising global temperatures over the last century. Most atmospheric scientists attribute the change to gases released into the air by industrial processes and gasoline-burning engines.
In addition, the Global Historical Climatology Network said Wednesday that last year was the wettest on record. Rain and snowfall patterns vary greatly around the world.
