Cold snap breaks 50-year-old records
Weather statistics released by SCRI have underlined the severity of the cold snap currently affecting the UK.
The cold weather has broken records kept at SCRI going back more than 50 years. Marion Grassie, SCRI s head meteorological observer, said the average minimum air temperature during December 2009 was -3.4°C against a long-term average (LTA) of 1.2°C, which was the lowest since records began in 1954.
There were 25 days during the month when the air temperature was below zero compared to the LTA figure of 10 days. Once again this broke all SCRI records for the weather station maintained at the Invergowrie headquarters in Perth and Kinross.
The average maximum air temperature was 4.7°C compared to a long-term average of 6.7°C. It was the lowest since 1995.
Marion and her meteorological team also recorded the fact that every single day during December, the grass minimum temperature - the temperature recorded in open-air ground on short turf - was below zero. The LTA figure is 21 days below zero. It’s the first time every single day has been below zero.
The lowest air temperature for the month was -9.5°C against the LTA average of -5.3°C. The average daily air temperature was 0.7°C against the LTA figure of 4°C.
Marion said; "It is important however, not to place too much significance on these statistics in isolation. For these air temperatures, the low of -9.5°C recorded in December was beaten by -12.7°C in 1995. And while the average maximum air temperature was 4.7°C, there have been five days with lower temperatures recorded.
"Soil temperatures at 10, 20 and 30cm, while at the lower end of the scale, were not the coldest recorded at SCRI," she added.
More information from:
Phil Taylor, Head of Communications, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 560044 (direct line), Mobile: 07810 860 701 or
Lorraine Wakefield, Information and Online Service Officer, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 560047 (direct line) or 562731 (switchboard).
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climate change and sunspots
I want to share with you some of my observations on climate change. I have found a correlation between the micro-climate of northern Italy, where I live, and the eleven-year cycle of sunspots. During recent years, during which solar activity was relatively low, I have found a decrease in temperature and increased snowfall. In contrast, during the years of increased solar activity, in northern Italy have witnessed a rise in average temperatures, we have a drier climate during the winter and we are seeing more intense weather events during the summer.
Alessandro Ginotta
Torino - Italy
It is worrying
Although I spend most of the time in South East Asia, it's hot and humid here all day long, I am start worrying about these global warming issue...
My worries
The weather change really worry me. In my country, Indonesia, the period of rainy and drought seasons are uncertain. The rain volume, however, is far more than few years back. The temperature seems a bit hotter than before. Could anyone tell us what to do to save our world? Will the sea level raise? As I am living nearby a beach.
Global Warming
So much for global warming then? Surely the average temp for 2009 or 2010 will be lower?
Still not convinced that climate change is due to mankind. Throughout Geological time there have been weather cycles - so the underlying pattern may be to warmer climates. Man may not be helping but if this is part of a cycle perhaps we should concentrate on dealing with the consequences of climate change?
Francophile
Enough snow
I can't remember a year like this.
A day or two of snow and freezing weather is ok, but two weeks....
I heard about Mongolia
I heard about Mongolia weather situations, one of their weather broadcaster announced that currently the weather condition is not stable as the current reading is -15C and will remain the same for the next three four days. I wonder how people survive there.