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A scientific consensus agrees our planet is warming and human activity is the primary cause. This global warming is already having profound effects on our lives, from rising sea levels,

growing wildfires, deadly heat waves and increasingly extreme storm events. However, a team of scientists have just revealed 2018’s average temperature was actually down on data collected

from the three previous years. Berkeley Earth researchers have calculated last year's average temperature was 14.96 Celsius (58.93 Fahrenheit). “Global mean temperature in 2018 was

colder than 2015, 2016, and 2017,” the scientists said. However, long-term data trends paint a different picture. Temperatures last year were 0.77 Celsius (1.39 Fahrenheit) warmer than the

average from 1951 to 1980. And the extent of global warming is made even more stark when compared with pre-industrial times – 1.16 Celsius (2.09 Fahrenheit) warmer. READ MORE: THE BREXIT

EFFECT: WHAT NO DEAL BREXIT WILL REALLY MEAN FOR BRITAIN Researchers added: “2018’s global mean temperature was warmer than every previously observed year prior to 2015. “Consequently, 2016

remains the warmest year in the period of historical observations. “The slight decline in 2018 is likely to reflect short-term natural variability, but the overall pattern remains consistent

with a long-term trend towards global warming.” And it is inevitable other independent measurements will back up this data, believes Berkeley Earth climate scientist Zeke Hausfather. READ

MORE: WAS EINSTEIN WRONG? SCIENTISTS PROBE SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE TO DISPROVE THEORY OF GRAVITY The Japanese Meteorological Agency has already calculated 2018's ranking as the fourth

hottest through November. Hausfather described it as irresponsible to call 2018’s slight temperature dip as a cooling trend, saying: “The long term is stunningly clear.” Only 2016, 2017 and

2015 were warmer than last year, with only small differences among them. The Berkeley Earth researchers added: “Though 2018 only ranks fourth overall, 2015 through 2018 still stand out as a

period of significant warmth well above all previous years since 1850. “This reflects the long-term trend towards global warming. READ MORE: BLACK HOLE BREAKTHROUGH: SCIENTISTS ‘REWRITE

ASTRONOMY TEXTBOOKS’ WITH SPACE DISCOVERY “Though 2018 is slightly cooler than the immediately preceding years, its temperature remains consistent with the long-term warming trend.” And

backing-up this research, an independent Pennsylvania State University climate scientist, said the fact that nearly every year recently is in the top five or 10 hottest years is “clear

evidence of human-caused warming on this planet.” Last year, 29 countries, including much of Central Europe, and Antarctica had record hot years, Hausfather said. Every month in 2018 was at

least 0.67 Celsius warmer than the 1951 to 1980 average, but no month in 2018 set a new monthly record for the globe, the new figures show. READ MORE: HUNT FOR ALIENS ‘ONLY JUST BEGINNING’

SAYS TOP SCIENTIST