In Derbyshire and the UK

In Derbyshire no detailed climate impact studies have been undertaken yet, but some of the changes already observed in the UK will apply to Derbyshire.

We do know that any warming of the climate is likely to be more pronounced in the south east of the county, leaving the north west, at a higher altitude, with a smaller degree of temperature change.

The UK Climate Impacts Programme, which is funded by the Government has used climate models to try to predict the effects warming will have in the UK.

The severity of impacts in the future will depend on the amounts of greenhouse gases which have been emitted in the last 30 – 40 years and on the amounts we are emitting now.

There is some analysis of a number of ‘climate scenarios’ for future decades – 2020s, 2050s and 2080s which are dependent on the amounts of greenhouse gases emitted. See the UK Climate Impacts Programme (opens in a new window) for further detail on scenarios.

Some of the measured effects in the UK

The growing season for plants in central England is now a month longer than it was in 1900.
Summer heatwaves are occurring more frequently, and in winter there are fewer frosts.
Compared with 50 years ago, we now get more rain and snow, and on fewer days – so the falls are even heavier.
Average sea level around the UK is now about 10cm higher than it was in 1900.

It is likely that droughts will be more common and flash flooding episodes could increase. And because of an expected higher precipitation level in winter, river flooding could become more common than in the past. The county council’s Emergency Planning Section details some of these potential effects, such as severe weather and flooding in its Risks Register (opens in a new window)

Information on climate impacts is also available for the East Midland region (opens in a new window) of the UK, which covers Derbyshire.