Global temperature anomalies. Illustration showing five-year average global temperature anomalies from 2006 to 2010. The scale runs from dark red, indicating areas warmer than average, to dark blue, indicating areas colder than average. Asia, the Arctic and parts of Africa are much warmer than average. 2010 tied with 2005 as the warmest years since records began. These global rises in temperature could melt the polar ice caps and cause severe drought in some areas.