Climate scientists have confirmed a high-level hazard, a cloud tipping point, that could send global warming into a dramatic upwards spiral. If carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere become high enough, the clouds that shade and cool some of the tropical and subtropical oceans could become unstable and disperse. More radiation would slam into the ocean and the coasts, and surface temperatures could soar as high as 8°C above the levels for most of human history.
Climate News Network 27th Feb 2019 read more »
Wildfires have broken out across the country as February breaks all previous records for winter temperatures. Firefighters have had to tackle a number of blazes from Cornwall to Scotland as the warm, dry spell continued in the UK. Temperatures reached a winter record of 21.2C in Kew Gardens, London on Tuesday. In Scotland, dozens of firefighters spent Tuesday night tackling a large gorse fire on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. Around 800 square metres of gorse was ablaze on the Salisbury Crags, with the flames visible across the city.
The i Newspaper 27th Feb 2019 read more »
The Environment Agency has published a new economic assessment to aid planning for flooding and coastal risk management over the next 50 years. The study uses new climate change, population and mapping data to set out potential future scenarios, assessing how funding could be best allocated to meet these challenges. The long-term investment scenarios report states that without sustained investment, future flood damage to properties and infrastructure in England will significantly increase. It estimates that an average annual investment of £1 billion will be necessary up to 2065.
Environment Agency 28th Feb 2019 read more »
