Experts predict 2010 will rank among the three hottest years on record, along with 1998 and 2005.

World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General, Michel Jarraud, said this year's temperatures during the first ten months were at near-record levels, which cannot be explained by simple natural variation.

The scorching summer in Russia and mild winters in the Arctic are among extreme weather events.

Vietnam's floods and southwest China's drought earlier this year were also partly attributed to the warming trend. Jarraud added the decade from 2001 to 2010 will undoubtedly be the hottest on record.