More amazing image galleries of the year:
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2012: The year in weather
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- Rare clouds
- Mother of pearl (nacreous) clouds grace the skies over Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in December. (Copyright: BBC)
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- Droplets
- This spiderweb is covered in dew in northern Germany, as the area enjoys mild temperatures at the beginning of September. (Copyright: AFP/Getty Images)
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- Sunken fleet
- Taxis in a flooded lot after "Superstorm Sandy" hit Hoboken, New Jersey, in October. The storm killed more than 120 people in the Caribbean and US. (Copyright: AFP/Getty Images)
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- Donner und blitzen
- This dazzling display of lightning was captured over the southern German city of Munich in September. (Copyright: Getty Images)
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- Flooded fields
- Farmland near Glastonbury in south-west England lies flooded in November as Britain is hit by heavy rain. (Copyright: Getty Images)
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- Drying up
- As much as half of the US was hit by severe drought. It may cause an increase in food prices in 2013 because of its effect on crops and cattle. (Copyright: Getty Images)
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- From sun to snow
- Late March saw part of Scotland sweltering in summery temperatures of up to 23C – before the mercury dropped more than 20C in only a few days and snow returned. (Copyright: PA)
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- Seaside shivering
- Palm trees on the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi are covered in snow in January, as severe winter weather hits Eastern Europe. (Copyright: AFP/Getty Images)
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- Devastation
- The damage caused by "Superstorm Sandy" is estimated to cost $82bn to repair. This rollercoaster at Seaside Heights, New Jersey was one victim. (Copyright: Getty Images)
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- Golden sunset
- Plumes of smoke from power stations drift across the sky as floodwaters from heavy rain recede near Selby, North Yorkshire, in November. (Copyright: PA)
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Some of the year's best weather pics, including shots from the long US drought, freezing winter in Russia and Hurricane Sandy.
