WASHINGTON. Oct 9: This century has been the warmest in 500 years, according to a study to be published today in the weekly magazine Science by researchers who took the Earth's temperature, at various depths around the world, reports AFP.

The Earth's surface temperature has risen 0.5 degrees Centigrade (one degree Fahrenheit) during this century and one degree Centigrade (two de-Kees Fahrenheit) over the past ■e. they found.

Working on the theory that changes in the planet's surface temperature will be transmitted to different subterranean levels by rocks, the researchers bored 358 holes in eastern North America. Central Europe. Southern Africa and Australia for the ii lests.