July 16, 2015

Globally, carbon emissions from fires were near the long-term average in 2014, but North America's emissions were 70% higher than average.

Overall, average global river outflow in 2014 slightly exceeded the climate normal. 

In 2014, precipitation over land was generally below average, while precipitation over the oceans was above average.

Depending on the data set, 2014 was either the warmest or tied-for-warmest year since records began in the mid-to-late 1800s.

In 2014, the upper ocean held more heat than average throughout most of the major ocean basins.

In 2014, global average sea level was 2.6 inches (67 mm) above the 1993-2010 average, which is the highest yearly average in the satellite record.

The annual State of the Climate reports involve more than 400 international authors from more than 50 countries. Two chapter authors reflect on what it means to play a part in such an ambitious report.

Cool conditions prevailed across large parts of the North America in 2014. Everywhere else, the frequency of warm days was higher than average, and the frequency of cold nights was below average.

While slightly wetter than 2013, the global average soil moisture in 2014 was near-normal.

Worldwide in 2014, three dozen reference glaciers experienced an average mass loss equivalent to of 853 millimeters of water equivalent in 2014.