Experts predict 2009 to be scorcher

Climate scientists have predicted that 2009 is set to be one of the five warmest years on record.

The average global temperature for 2009 is expected to be more than 0.4C above the long term average, the Met Office and University of East Anglia researchers said.

The Met Office also predicted a rapid return to long-term warming for global temperatures and an increased probability of record temperatures after 2009.