WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- As the world's average surface temperature has been rising for decades, 2016 was set to be the hottest year since record keeping began in 1880, according to scientists on climate change.

Preliminary data released by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in late December show that 2016 was 0.94 degrees Celsius warmer than average, breaking the record set in 2015.

Data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) show that in the first 11 months of 2016,temperatures spiked in the early months due to a very strong El Nino event and remained well above the long-term average for the latter part of the year.

The WMO will issue consolidated figures on 2016 global temperatures in early 2017.

"With 2016 set to be the warmest year on record, it is urgent that all the world intensify efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouses gases," said Richard Seager, a leading climate scientist at Columbia University.

Scientific studies are increasingly proving the link between extreme weather -- especially heat -- and human-induced climate change from greenhouse gases.