Scottish Climate Update
10 October 2009
One of a series of Climate Updates from WWF Scotland based on data from the Met Office.
SEPTEMBER 2009
TOP LINE: September was more than a degree warmer than the long-term average.
September saw major flooding in Elgin but ended up drier than usual on average.
Measure Sept 2009 Comparison* Rating Records start
Temperature 11.8°C 1.2°C ++ 1914
Rainfall 121.2mm -13% - 1914
Sunshine 106.0hrs +1% ~ 1929
*compared to 1971-2000 averages, +++ exceptionally above average; ++ well above average; + above average; ~ close to average; - below average; -- well below average
COMMENT:
2009 is a crucial year for climate change with world leaders meeting in Copenhagen in December to agree a new international climate deal that will come into force when the first phase of the Kyoto treaty expires in 2012. The new Scottish Climate Change Act has set a strong international example of what is possible.
Dr Sam Gardner, Climate Change Policy Officer at WWF Scotland, said:
“After August’s washout, September was on average drier than usual but for some, especially in Elgin, days of heavy rain led to major floods. September was also more than a degree warmer than the average. Every month in 2009 has been warmer than the long-term average and, if the rest of the year follows the pattern so far, 2009 would end up as the 8th warmest year on record, as well as the 3rd sunniest.
“As climate negotiations continue in the run up to the Copenhagen conference in December, the Scottish Climate Act is setting a good example with its tough 2020 target of 42 percent. Only this week, during talks in Bangkok, Norway followed Scotland's lead and pledged to cut its carbon emissions by 40 per cent. With poorer nations feeling the full force of climate change it is vital other rich countries step up and also set the targets needed to help avoid the devastating effects of climate change.
“We are helping organise Scotland’s biggest ever demonstration on climate change on the 5th December in Glasgow. This march and rally will be one of many events around the world which will demonstrate to world leaders that we want them to get a good result in Copenhagen.”
THE YEAR SO FAR
September was more than a degree warmer than the average. The month had lower than average rainfall but this conceals very heavy rain early in the month which caused floods in Elgin, Aberdeenshire and the Borders. 123.6mm (5 inches) of rain over 24 hours was recorded at Fochabers. August was the 3rd wettest August ever recorded and the joint wettest ever (with August 1985) in the west of Scotland. The average temperature was more than 0.5°C above the long-term average. The summer of 2009 was the 4th wettest summer ever, following 1985, 1948 and 1956. July was the 5th wettest July in the east of Scotland. June 2009 was the 6th sunniest June ever recorded and finished with a very warm spell. May 2009 was the 6th wettest and 4th sunniest May ever recorded, and it was also the 9th sunniest month ever recorded, as well as being 0.6°C warmer than average. April was the 3rd warmest April in the records which go back to 1914 and it was also sunnier than average. March was the 5th sunniest ever recorded and a full degree warmer than the long-term average. The east of Scotland was 1.6° warmer than the average. The start of February was cold but temperatures picked up to allow the month to finish with an average temperature above the long-term average. January was the 3rd sunniest January in Scotland according to the records which began in 1929. Although it was cooler than in recent years it was still 0.1°C warmer than the long-term average.
Editor's notes
[1] Data from the Met Office http://www.metoffice.com/climate/uk/2009/september.html
and http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/datasets/index.html with further analysis by WWF Scotland.
[2] The five warmest years since records began are 2006, 2003, 2007, 2004, 2005 (warmest first).
[3] WWF 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
SCCS is organising The Wave, Scotland’s biggest ever demonstration on climate change on the 5th December in Glasgow.
