2014 was a year of many records, according to a new report of the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the American Meteorological Society. Ocean surface temperatures were the warmest in 135 years of records; the concentration of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere was highest; and for Europe, 2014 was by far the hottest year on record – more than 20 countries broke their national temperature records.

NESSC colleague professor Han Dolman (VU University) was one of the editors of the State of the Climate report, to which more than 400 scientists from 58 countries contributed.

The record-high greenhouse gas concentrations in 2014 were accompanied by the highest annual global surface temperature, according to four independent observational analyses.

The yearly report also concludes that the northern North Sea was 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than usual. Mainly due to the hotter ocean surface temperatures, the sea level globally rose 3 millimeters.

Read more:

State of the Climate report
Volkskrant (in Dutch)