With forecasters at the Met Office predicting another weekend of above-average
temperatures for most of the country, Met Office climate scientists
have released more figures revealing new temperature records.
The Central England Temperature (CET) is the world's longest
running temperature series and dates back to 1659. April 2007 and the
12-month rolling period ending in April 2007 are set to become the
warmest since the records began 348 years ago.
Latest mean CET records to fall
Provisional figure for May 2006 to April 2007:
11.6 °C - beating
the previous record of 11.1 °C for the 12-month period ending
October 1995
Provisional figure for April 2007: 11.1 °C
- beating the previous record of 10.6 °C set in 1865
The warming trend seen in the CET since the 1980s is consistent with
climate predictions from the Met Office Hadley Centre, which undertakes
research on the effect climate change could have in the UK and around
the world.
One recent global study, 'Defence and Security Implications
of Climate Change', looks at the environmental stresses brought
about by an increasingly warmer world. These include drought, flooding,
changes in crop yield and water resources.
Dr Debbie Hemming, climate scientist at the Met Office Hadley Centre
said: "The effects of temperature rise are being experienced
on a global scale. Many of the regions that are projected to experience
the largest climate changes are already vulnerable to environmental
stress from resource shortages, rapid urbanisation, population rise
and industrial development."
New records will also be set for the whole of the UK, which date
back to 1914.
The Met Office Hadley Centre is the UK's official centre
for climate change research. Partly funded by Defra (the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the Ministry of Defence,
we provide in-depth information to, and advise, the Government on
climate change issues.
Recent temperature rises are in line with recent
findings by Dr Peter Stott of the Met Office Hadley Centre and Professor
David Karoly of the University of Oklahoma. Their research showed
the recent rapid warming of the CET is almost certainly due to human
influence - the first time this has been rigorously identified
on such a small geographic scale.
The last 12 months have included the warmest month
ever - July, and record temperatures for the month of September and
the autumn.
Met
Office climate change consultancy provides data and risk-management
services that are used by other government departments and agencies,
the private sector and the public to mitigate and adapt to climate
change.
