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Annual PrecipitationR: 1914-2005
| 1910s 2 | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s |
|---|
Average annual precipitation (mm) | 1,388 | 1,449 | 1,375 | 1,402 | 1,397 |
|---|
Percentage of 1961-1990 baseline | 100.2 | 104.6 | 99.2 | 101.2 | 100.9 |
|---|
| 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s 2 |
|---|
Average annual precipitation (mm) | 1,323 | 1,315 | 1,462 | 1,524 | 1,504 |
|---|
Percentage of 1961-1990 baseline | 95.5 | 94.9 | 105.6 | 110.0 | 108.6 |
|---|
Global warming will have an effect on all weather patterns, and changes in the amount of rainfall are predicted. The UK Climate Impacts Programme climate scenarios 4 indicate that rainfall patterns in Scotland will change to wetter winters and drier summers. It is estimated that winters will be over 30% wetter in some places, while summers will be up to 40% drier. Precipitation changes have several implications for Scotland, affecting water resources, flood and drought risk, and habitat loss.
The average annual precipitation in the 1980s, 1990s and the period between 2000 and 2005 was higher than in previous decades, particularly the 1970s, which contained several years with below average rainfall.
SOURCE: MET OFFICE
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