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Climate change effects and the UK's climate
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The UK is famous for changeable weather. Its climate comes from its position, and it has changed before.
Effects of climate change
Rising sea levels: water expands as it warms and melting ice sheets add water, threatening low coasts.
Retreating glaciers: mountain glaciers are shrinking, which affects water supplies.
Changing crop yields: some places may grow more, but others suffer from drought and heat.
More extreme weather such as heatwaves and heavy rain is expected.
Retreating glaciers: mountain glaciers are shrinking, which affects water supplies.
Changing crop yields: some places may grow more, but others suffer from drought and heat.
More extreme weather such as heatwaves and heavy rain is expected.
Today's UK climate
The UK has a temperate maritime climate: mild, wet winters and cool summers.
The North Atlantic Drift (an extension of the Gulf Stream) brings warm water, keeping winters mild, especially in the west.
The prevailing wind is from the south-west, bringing moist air off the Atlantic.
The west is wetter (relief rain over mountains); the east is drier. The south is warmer than the north.
The North Atlantic Drift (an extension of the Gulf Stream) brings warm water, keeping winters mild, especially in the west.
The prevailing wind is from the south-west, bringing moist air off the Atlantic.
The west is wetter (relief rain over mountains); the east is drier. The south is warmer than the north.
The last 1,000 years
Medieval Warm Period (roughly 950 to 1250): mild conditions; vineyards grew in southern England.
Little Ice Age (roughly 1300 to 1850): colder winters; the River Thames sometimes froze and 'frost fairs' were held on the ice, the last in 1814.
Since about 1900 temperatures have risen, and recent decades include the UK's warmest years on record.
Little Ice Age (roughly 1300 to 1850): colder winters; the River Thames sometimes froze and 'frost fairs' were held on the ice, the last in 1814.
Since about 1900 temperatures have risen, and recent decades include the UK's warmest years on record.
Explain why western Scotland is wetter than eastern England.
- Prevailing south-westerly winds bring moist air from the Atlantic.
- Air is forced to rise over the mountains of the west, cools and condenses: relief rain.
- By the time it reaches the east the air has lost much of its moisture: a rain shadow.
Answer: Relief rain in the west, rain shadow in the east.
UK climate: temperate maritime, warmed by the North Atlantic Drift, with prevailing south-westerly winds; west wetter, east drier, south warmer. Over 1,000 years: Medieval Warm Period, Little Ice Age, then warming. Climate change raises sea levels, shrinks glaciers and alters crop yields.
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