Japan's weather agency forecast Thursday that the world's average ground temperature will be 0.67 degrees Centigrade higher than usual this year, reaching the highest level since climate observations began in 1880.

According to the agency, this year's expected average ground temperature is higher than the previous record by 0.03 degrees Centigrade.

The organization attributed the expected temperature rise to global warming and earth's temperature cycle, which is now in high-temperature territory.

The weather agency said temperatures are expected to rise everywhere on earth except South Africa.

It added that the melting of Arctic ice will likely result in higher temperatures in medium- to high-altitude regions in the Eurasian continent.