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The Capture and Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide | | |
Climate Change within the UK
The climate change effects for the UK
could be an increase in average
annual temperature of 2 to 3.5°C by
about 2080, the spread of the change
in temperature will be that the south
and east of the country will become
warmer than the north and west. These
changes in temperature will mean that
the UK will experience higher summer
temperature but we will experience
less very cold winters. The very hot
August of 1995 will happen more often
by 2080. However, although this might
be seen but some as a good thing,
there will also be a down side to the
climate changes.
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Rainfall in the UK will be affected, with
changes in the amount and frequency.
Alsthough our winters may become
milder they will also become wetter
while our summers may become drier.
As can be seen in the figure the south
and east could experience by 2080 a
decline of rainfall of about 50%.
However, the rainfall over the whole of
the UK will increase. This will led to
extreme rainfalls which will led to a
serious threat of floods being four
times more likely. The UK will
therefore be more prone to times of
drought, followed by extreme rain
storm that cause soil erosion.
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Other Effects of climate change in the UK could be:
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A deline in some types of fish, such as Salmon, while others, such as barbel, will increase.
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Much of the UK native flora and fuana will be under threat and some may even disappear altogether.
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The types and distribustion of our traditional arable crops will change, with most drifting north. At
the
same time the south could be able to grow some crops more often grown in the South of Europe.
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The UK could attract pests and diseases, such as mosquitoes and malaria, more assoiated with warmer
climates.
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The could be an increase in asthma, heat stroke, skin cancer and an even greater risk of food poisoning.
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Existing Coatal and other flood defeces will not be able to cope with in increase in the mean sea levels,
spring tides and storm surges. Many of our town and cities will be under threat, but so will many of
the
UK's industrial plants, such as our petroleum refineries and nuclear power stations.
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