Last year was the planet's hottest year on record, NASA researchers said Wednesday, warning that temperatures will continue to rise if greenhouse gases are not curtailed, dpa reported.
2010 finished in a statistical tie with 2005 for the warmest year on record, and was 0.74 degrees Celsius higher than a period from 1951-80, NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies said.
"If the warming trend continues, as is expected, if greenhouse gases continue to increase, the 2010 record will not stand for long," said James Hansen, director of GISS.
The data for the study was compiled from more than 1,000 meteorological stations worldwide, satellite observations of sea surface temperature and Antarctic research station measurements, GISS said.
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