Global temperatures are on course to rise to the highest level since the industrial revolution this year as humans drive the climate into “uncharted territory”, UK scientists warned on Monday. Average temperatures between January and September were 1.02C above pre-industrial levels and, with just three months left in the year, 2015 is shaping up to be a record-breaker. “These are the highest temperatures we have seen in our record, which goes back to 1850,” said Dr Peter Stott, head of climate monitoring at the Met Office’s Hadley Centre climate change research office. “It’s the first time I’ve seen such a big jump between one year and the next.” A strong warming El Niño weather pattern this year explained part of the temperature rise but by no means all of it, researchers said. “We’ve had similar natural events in the past,” said Stephen Belcher, the Hadley Centre’s director. “Yet this is the first time we’re set to reach the 1C marker and it’s clear that it is human influence driving our modern climate into uncharted territory.”