The EPA has today published a new research No. 159 “Ensemble of regional climate model projections for Ireland” on high resolution regional climate modelling projections for Ireland.
The report reveals how key features of Ireland’s climate, including the average temperature, rainfall and the types of storms, are projected to change over the coming decades. Key findings indicate that by the middle of this century:
- Annual average temperatures are projected to increase by 1–1.7°C
- Hot days are projected to be warmer by between 0.7 and 2.6°C
- Rainfall is projected to decrease during spring and summer
- Heavy rainfall events are projected to increase during winter and autumn
- The frequency of storms is projected to decrease but the intensity of storms that occur is projected to increase
- The energy content of the wind is projected to decrease during some seasons
The research was funded under the EPA research programme and was carried out at the Irish Centre for High End Computing (ICHEC) and University College Dublin, in conjunction with Met Éireann. The approach used was to downscale outputs from Global Climate Models, used by the IPCC for their 5th Assessment Report, to Ireland.
Commenting on the report Laura Burke, Director General of the EPA said, “It important that we recognise the strategic and long term nature of the challenges Ireland faces in the coming decades. We need to take effective and informed action. Changes to our climate are largely outside our control while others are for us to address and manage. Adapting to climate change and reducing the greenhouse gases emissions that are contributing to the problem of climate change are two such actions. The provision of information and analysis is a first step in meeting these challenges.”
Liam Campbell, Director of Met Éireann, welcomed the report and commented, “Ireland is facing into a scenario of a changing climate. We see the provision of local climate information as a key future requirement for planning and decision making. Met Éireann is working with national and international partners to make this information available as widely as possible.”
Source: Envirocentre – Strategic Planning is Needed to Address Ireland’s Climate Challenges
