This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Climate change research
18/01/2006
Initial findings from research into the changes in climate over the last forty years in Scotland were released today.
The research shows that temperatures have increased in every season and in all parts of Scotland since 1961, and that in the North and West, rainfall has increased by almost sixty percent in winter months.
The research will be used to produce a handbook of regional changes in Scotland's climate to be published in spring 2006.
Speaking in advance of Scottish Environment Week, Environment Minister Ross Finnie said that the research will help inform organisations on how they can adapt to climate change in Scotland.
The 6 month study was commissioned by SNIFFER (Scotland & Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research) on behalf of the Scottish Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Forestry Commission.
Mr Finnie said:
"The Scottish Executive is committed to tackling the causes and effects of climate change.
"Arming Scotland with the information required to adapt to the effects of climate change is absolutely crucial.
"This is part of the work we are doing as part of our review of the Scottish Climate Change Programme which will be published shortly."
Some initial key findings from the study include:
- Temperatures have increased in every season and in all parts of Scotland since 1961. This has been the fastest period of warming identified in the analysed record (1914 to 2004).
- Since 1961 daily maximum temperatures have been increasing at a faster rate than minimum temperatures. This is contrary to the trends seen since 1914 in Scotland (and globally) when minimum, or night time, temperatures increased at the faster rate.
- Since 1961 Scotland has become wetter with an average increase of almost sixty percent in winter months in northern and western Scotland. For the majority of the country there has not been a large scale significant change in rainfall in summer months although some parts of north west Scotland have become up to forty five percent drier. Contrary to the national trend, Aberdeenshire has seen little change in precipitation in winter months although this is compensated in this region by significant increase in precipitation in autumn (September-November).
The "Handbook of Climate Change Patterns across Scotland to aid Adaptive Strategies" will be published in spring 2006.
Handbook will be written in "user-friendly" language and will be accessible to a wide audience, including land managers, local authority department's planners and government policy makers.
Together with Defra and the other devolved administrations, the Executive is consulting on a National Adaptation Policy Framework that will develop a strategic approach to climate change adaptation, identifying key risks and opportunities. The current consultation, available on the Executive's climate change website at www.scotland.gov.uk/climatechange, closes on 31 January 2006.