UN Report Blames Extreme Weather Conditions on Man-Induced Climate Change

Monday, an annual assessment was released by the UN weather agency, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), stating that the majority of last year's extreme weather conditions in Asia, Europe and Pacific regions are from human-induced climate change.

Certain weather extremes included the Philippines' Typhoon Haiyan, drought in Australia as well as snow in the Middle East.

Even more shocking is that 13 out of the 14 warmest years have occurred in the 21^st century.  

In fact, the report notes that 2013 is tied with 2007 as the sixth-warmest year on record.

The organization further believes that much of Australia's record heat last year would have been "virtually impossible" without heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions due to human activity.

Michel Jarraud, the agency's Secretary-General, notes that a rise in sea levels may lead to increasing damage from storm surges and even coastal flooding.

During his time in Geneva, Jarraud discussed the importance of researchers examining climate modeling and the recent heat waves-particularly in Australia.

He also cautioned against rising ocean temperatures, which can disrupt the natural cycle of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and phosphorous.

The average global land and ocean surface temperatures this year was 14.5 degrees Celsius, which is 0.5 C above the 1961 to 1990 average. It's also 0.03 C higher than the average for 2001 to 2010.

"If you take a system like the earth's climate and give it as big a kick as we're giving it, we're going to have to be incredibly lucky to not see severe climate changes," said Brian Hoskins, of Imperial College London, via Britain's Science Media Centre.

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