CLIMATE UPDATE – August 2013

SCOTTISH CLIMATE UPDATE – one of a series of Climate Updates from Friends of the Earth Scotland based on data from the Met Office
 

TOP LINES: August was dry with temperatures nearly a degree warmer than average. Summer 2013 was the 7th warmest summer and the warmest since 2006.

Average Temperature: 13.6°C which is 0.7°C above the long-term average (1971-2000). Average Rainfall: 88.7mm, which is 17% drier than the long-term average.Average Sunshine: 120.2hrs, which is 86% of the long-term average.

Dr Richard Dixon, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

“A warm August rounded off the warmest summer since the record-breaking 2006. On the other side of the world New Zealand has had its warmest winter on record and Australia its warmest 12-month period on record. In the US wildfires continue to burn in the Yosemite national park and in India 5 million people have been affected by heavy flooding.

“It is ironic that Scotland has set itself tough climate targets but is right now hosting a global oil conference. We must wean ourselves off our oil addiction if we are to protect people, wildlife and the planet from disastrous climate change.

“The world’s nations have promised new global targets on climate emissions will be set in 2015. Scotland has a number of good stories to tell and we urge the Environment Minister to go to the next climate conference, in Warsaw in November, and make sure people hear about them.”

The year so far

January was slightly warmer and drier than average but not very sunny. February was the 4th sunniest February on record and was cool and dry. March was exceptionally cold and dry, being the 5th coldest and 6th driest March on record. April was cooler and wetter than average but also very sunny, being the 10th sunniest April on record. May was close to average in temperature and sunshine but 50% wetter than average. June was slightly warmer than average. July was the 2nd warmest and 3rd sunniest July ever recorded in Scotland.

Notes to Editors

1. Data from the Met Office http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/datasets/index.html with further analysis by Friends of the Earth Scotland.

2. The five warmest years in Scotland since records began in 1910 are 2006, 2003, 2007, 2004, 2005 (warmest first).

3. FoE Scotland is part of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, an alliance of development, environment and civil society groups aiming for tougher action to reduce emissions
http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/scotland