Climate Change in Charts

Take a look at four graphs that build a broad picture of the challenges and opportunities faced by the Forth. These Met Office slides were shared at the launch of Climate Ready South East Scotland in April 2024. The full presentation can be seen at climatereadyses.org.uk. All of these slides are ©Crown Copyright 2023.

This first chart demonstrates the extraordinary increase in global average temperatures, particularly over the past 45 years.

Climate change in Scotland has been characterised so far by increasing temperatures, increasing intense rainfall, decreasing summer rainfall, rising sea level and changes to storminess – and this chart shows some of the key impacts across the UK.

Windstorms are projected by the Met Office to “increase slightly in frequency and intensity over the UK”. However, the impact this winter has felt more dramatic than that. This chart shows the 10 named storms we have experienced in the UK since September – an 11th, Kathleen, arrived in April.

Aside from storms, and rainfall, another big impact is of course the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, which then translates to risks relating to health, wild fires, rail disruption and agricultural droughts.

Other stories from Issue Three of ForthRight:

How can we adapt to climate change?
The launch of Climate Ready South East Scotland

“I’m a climate model geek”
Discover what drives Cat Payne of Sniffer

“This is a wake-up call”
In-depth Q&A with Alistair Rennie of Dynamic Coast

What can we learn from the Clyde?
Lessons from climate adaptability work in Glasgow

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