It's all so confusing: In an article claiming that the continental U.S. was 3 degrees *cooler* than the world in 2012, we're told that "This year it was America's turn to feel the brunt of global warming's growing fury"

World not as hot as US in 2012; squeaks in top 10

The Lower 48 states in the U.S. recorded its hottest year last year with an average of 55.3 F. (12.9 C)

"In global warming, you expect warming to manifest itself in different locations in any given year," said Andrew Weaver, a climate scientist at the University of Victoria in Canada. "This year it was America's turn to feel the brunt of global warming's growing fury."

NASA, which measures temperatures differently, ranks 2012 as ninth warmest. It put the temperature at 58.3 F (14.6 C). Both agencies announced the data Tuesday.