The study comes within days of announcements from climatologists that the world is entering a new el nino warm spell.

这项研究发布的几天前，气象学家就已宣布，全球正进入一个新的厄尔尼诺暖流期。

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Meteorologists say the warm spell is due to a combination of factors.

气象学家认为多种因素综合引起了如此温暖的冬天。

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It used to be that the first heatwaves of summer produced disproportionate mortality, and then, as people got used to the heat, a similar warm spell killed fewer.

FORBES: When Mr. Heat Comes To Washington

Marine biologists say the most likely cause of the unusual occurance is red algae and the recent warm spell - although mass suicide has not been ruled as a cause.

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The consortium also pointed to a spell of warm weather in the middle of the month which "dampened demand" for autumn and winter clothes which had just arrived in the shops.

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