Humans are contributing to extreme global weather

The first seven months of 2010 saw the highest global temperatures since weather records began in 1880.

That's according to the Washington-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) who say extreme weather events affecting parts of Asia and Europe are linked to the higher temperatures.

The intense flooding deluge in Pakistan began two weeks ago, and has washed away roads, bridges and many communications lines, hampering rescue efforts staged by aid organisations and the government.

Flooding in China has killed about 1,800 people this year and caused tens of billions of US dollars in damage across 28 provinces and regions. In Russia, meanwhile, the damage from wildfires was expected to hit $15 billion, or about one percent of Russia's gross domestic product, according to a business newspaper.

Tom Karl, the temporary director of Climate Services at NOAA, said the events and the high temperatures are connected.

"Russia and central Asia this year happen to be the epicentres of very warm conditions this summer. To accompany those warm conditions, we're seeing very heavy precipitation in the monsoon areas in Pakistan. These events are not disconnected. The climate system is connected."

Karl said that temperatures worldwide throughout all seasons are on the rise. "In fact, in the high latitudes, the winter season is actually warming more than the summer season." He said that the vast majority of evidence shows that humans are, in part, impacting global warming and rising temperatures.