The underlying trend of higher and higher temperatures indicates that global warming is likely here to stay not until humanity do something about it to lessen its effect.

The global surface temperature in 2008 will increase by 0.37 degrees Celsius (0.67 degrees Fahrenheit) above what climate scientists call the long term average of 14 degrees Celsius (57.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

The average is derived by calculating the mean surface temperatures registered globally between 1961 and 1990.

That would be enough to have it rank among the hottest years on record, although it would be unlikely to beat the current warmest year of 1998 which was 0.52 degrees Celsius (0.94 degrees Fahrenheit) above the long term average.

La Niña, the name given to the upwelling of large areas of cold water in the tropical Pacific Ocean, would probably keep 2008′s temperature from breaking the global record.

Phenomena like El Niño and La Niña will act to limit temperatures in 2008 according to a climate scientist. Sharply renewed warming is likely to be experienced once La Niña declines.

World’s hottest years on record were 1995, 1997, 1998 and every year thereafter since 2000. Its global temperatures’ records dated back since 1850.