New study focuses on climate change in the UK
June 4, 2014
Study highlights the environmental impacts of a changing climate
The Met Office Hadley Center and the Newcastle University have released a new study concerning the implications of climate change in the United Kingdom. The study focuses on the environmental impacts the phenomenon will have, suggesting that powerful summer storms and heavy rainfall leading to unprecedented flash floods will become common in the relatively near future. The United Kingdom has become concerned about climate change, but because the issue is so politicized and controversial, the country has been slow to take action on the matter.
Summers may become hotter and drier in the UK
The study highlights the oddity of summer weather in Britain. Over the past several years, the summer season has been something of a nuisance and a fascination for those living in the United Kingdom. Temperature shifts, unusually strong and unexpected storms, and other issues are becoming quite common in that part of the world, and these phenomenon are likely to become more pronounced as time goes on. The study estimates that summers in the United Kingdom will become hotter and drier through 2100.
Intense rainfall could spark devastating flash floods
The impact that climate change may have on the country could result in less frequent rainfall. When it does rain, however, such events are expected to be short-lived but somewhat intense, sparking a wide range of flooding disasters throughout many parts of the country. A drier and warmer climate could also spark drought in the United Kingdom, leading to several problems regarding food supply and the availability of water resources.
Climate change is difficult to predict
While the new study aims to provide a model for what the United Kingdom may face regarding climate change, this phenomenon is very difficult to predict. Most climate models do not take into account any serious action that is being taken to mitigate climate change, such as the adoption of renewable energy and the aggressive restriction of emissions production. In many cases, these models take into account the modest actions being taken against climatic phenomenon or focusing on a future where mitigatory actions were never taken at all.
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“Most climate models do not take into account any serious action that is being taken to mitigate climate change, such as the adoption of renewable energy and the aggressive restriction of emissions production. In many cases, these models take into account the modest actions being taken against climatic phenomenon or focusing on a future where mitigatory actions were never taken at all.”
It is impossible to mind-read what every individual or even every country will do about curbing climate change. That is why the IPCC uses “Representative Concentration Pathways” or RCPs, to assess possible futures.
These are greenhouse gas concentration paths the world may take – how we get to the concentrations doesn’t matter. So, for example, if do we all take mitigation seriously, we may travel down the RCP2.6, if we do nothing whatsoever, we may take the RCP8.5 path.
The RCP number is amount of heat in watts per square metre received at the surface, hence RCP2.6 = 2.6 watts per square metre, that could raise global temperature by about 2C, RCP8.5 may lead to a 6C rise in global temperature by 2100.