Warm winter breaks records

This winter in the northern hemisphere was the warmest on record, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Records began 125 years ago and the warmest ten years have all occurred since 1995. Experts noted the effect of El Nino on the warmth and the long-term pattern of warmer weather.

Jay Lawrimore, from the Noaa's National Climatic Data Centre, was quoted by the BBC as saying: "Contributing factors were the long-term trend toward warmer temperatures as well as a moderate El Nino in the Pacific.

"We don't say this winter is evidence of the influence of greenhouse gases."

But as this research formed part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Mr Lawrimore said: "As a part of that, the conclusions have been reached and the warming trend is due in part to rises in greenhouse gas emissions."

Weather experts are predicting that 2007 could be the hottest year on record.