MIAMI (AFP) - Last month was the hottest October in modern history and the first 10 months of the year have also been record warm, US government scientists on Wednesday (Nov 18).

The latest data means that 2015 is firmly on pace for being the most scorching since 1880, as global warming concerns mount ahead of key climate talks in Paris later this month.

October marked the six month in a row that heat records were shattered worldwide, said the monthly report by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"The globally averaged temperature over land and ocean surfaces for October 2015 was the highest for October since record keeping began in 1880," said NOAA.

"The year-to-date (January-October) was also record warm."

So far this year, the average temperature across land and ocean surfaces has been 1.55 Fahrenheit (0.86 deg C) above the 20th century average.

"This was the highest for January-October in the 1880-2015 record, surpassing the previous record set last year by 0.22 F (0.12 deg C)," said NOAA.

"Eight of the first 10 months in 2015 have been record warm for their respective months."