Hottest year on record: Facts and figures

Data released today has shown that 2014 was officially the hottest year since records began in 1880.

Here are some of the figures that contributed to making it a record breaking year:

• 2014 had an annual-average temperature which was 0.69°C above the 20th century average of 13.9°C
• Last year's record breaking temperatures mark the 38th consecutive year that the yearly global temperature was considered above average
• Global average ocean temperatures also reached a record high in 2014 and were recorded as being 0.57°C above the 20th century average of 16.1°C
• The other top ten hottest years on record, in order from top to bottom, were 2010, 2005, 1998, 2013, 2003, 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2007