Post by earl on Jun 10, 2008 14:08:24 GMT
GET used to basking in the warm, balmy air because there's a lot more of it to come. And while winter rain is expected to increase, with more extreme downpours, summer showers are expected to become less frequent.
These and other predictions for our weather for decades to come will be unveiled by Environment Minister John Gormley when he releases a scientific report later today.
The minister will reveal that the Irish climate will continue to warm over the coming decades, with temperatures rising by between 1.25C and 1.5C by 2040.
The report -- 'Ireland in a Warmer World: Scientific Predictions of the Irish Climate in the Twenty-First Century -- is based on extensive climate modelling work carried out by Met Eireann and University College Dublin.
It summarises the latest knowledge regarding future climate change for Ireland and was compiled by the C4I Project (Community Climate Change Consortium for Ireland).
The report predicts that Ireland's climate will continue to warm, particularly in summer and autumn, with possible increases of three to four degrees Celsius towards the end of the century.
The greatest warming will occur in the south and east of the country.
Meanwhile, rainfall is expected to increase in winter by about 15pc and summer projections range from no change to a 20pc decrease.
Extreme
Rainfall is expected to increase in autumn, with up to a 20pc increase in some places, particularly in the north of the country.
Taking the projected rainfall changes into account, a hydrological study of the Suir catchment area showed a significant increase in the number of extreme discharge events and a slight increase in their intensity.
This is expected to lead an increased probability of flooding in the future. Another C4I study focuses on the impact of the rise in global temperature on the intensity and frequency of storms in the North Atlantic.
These and other predictions for our weather for decades to come will be unveiled by Environment Minister John Gormley when he releases a scientific report later today.
The minister will reveal that the Irish climate will continue to warm over the coming decades, with temperatures rising by between 1.25C and 1.5C by 2040.
The report -- 'Ireland in a Warmer World: Scientific Predictions of the Irish Climate in the Twenty-First Century -- is based on extensive climate modelling work carried out by Met Eireann and University College Dublin.
It summarises the latest knowledge regarding future climate change for Ireland and was compiled by the C4I Project (Community Climate Change Consortium for Ireland).
The report predicts that Ireland's climate will continue to warm, particularly in summer and autumn, with possible increases of three to four degrees Celsius towards the end of the century.
The greatest warming will occur in the south and east of the country.
Meanwhile, rainfall is expected to increase in winter by about 15pc and summer projections range from no change to a 20pc decrease.
Extreme
Rainfall is expected to increase in autumn, with up to a 20pc increase in some places, particularly in the north of the country.
Taking the projected rainfall changes into account, a hydrological study of the Suir catchment area showed a significant increase in the number of extreme discharge events and a slight increase in their intensity.
This is expected to lead an increased probability of flooding in the future. Another C4I study focuses on the impact of the rise in global temperature on the intensity and frequency of storms in the North Atlantic.
