How does it affect me?

Global Impact

Climate change threatens our very existence on the planet and so is the greatest challenge facing humanity. Significant reductions in GHG emissions are necessary if the full impact of climate change is to be avoided. If average temperatures rise too high, then the following effects will be seen:

• Vast areas of the planet will be flooded due to rising sea levels
• Productive land will be turned to desert
• Water supplies from glaciers and snow melt will disappear for billions of people
• Weather conditions will become increasingly extreme
• Habitats will be lost and endangered species will become extinct

Melting icebergs

There are many concerns about the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the Antartic Ice Sheet. As global temperatures increase, so too does the rate that these ice sheets are melting. Sea levels have risen by about 2.8mm per year over the past decade, and recent studies indicate that water flow from these ice sheets contribute to about 0.5mm of this rise. Studies also indicate that the Antartic Ice Sheet may be losing mass, as water losses along the coastal areas of the ice sheet have begun to exceed the accumulated snowfall at the centre, where mass would usually be gained.

Melting icebergs

Melting icebergs

There are many concerns about the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the Antartic Ice Sheet. As global temperatures increase, so too does the rate that these ice sheets are melting. Sea levels have risen by about 2.8mm per year over the past decade, and recent studies indicate that water flow from these ice sheets contribute to about 0.5mm of this rise. Studies also indicate that the Antartic Ice Sheet may be losing mass, as water losses along the coastal areas of the ice sheet have begun to exceed the accumulated snowfall at the centre, where mass would usually be gained.

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Globally, we are already witnessing a steady rise in average temperatures both on land and sea. We can also measure the retreat of glaciers and the incremental increases in sea levels. There are many other indicators of climate change:

• Rising sea levels due to loss of Arctic sea ice through thawing polar caps
• Changes to wildlife migratory patterns
• Incresingly intensive storms
• Acidification of the oceans
• Damage to coral reefs across the world.

The combined effect of all these factors will have a negative global impact. Poorer, developing nations will be greatly affected as they do not have the resources or funding to put proper procedures in place to protect against climate changes. Climbing global temperatures are likely to damage agriculture by lowering soil quality. Water sources will also be polluted and the already vulnerable infrastructures in these countries will be further weakened.

The future Irish climate

Predicted temperature changes in Ireland, information from Met Eireann. Graph EPA

Met Eireann

The future Irish climate
Met Eireann

The future Irish climate

Predicted temperature changes in Ireland, information from Met Eireann. Graph EPA

Met Eireann

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Irish Impact

The Irish weather conditions have undergone significant changes in recent years. Of the fifteen warmest years on record in Ireland, ten of these have occured since 1990. The average temperature has increased by 0.7 ºC during the period 1890-2004. It continues to rise.

There is also a general trend of significant increase of rainfall in Ireland along the north and west coasts, and only slight increases along the east and south coasts. In some cases, there has even been a decrease in rainfall. Increased rainfall may result in more seasonal flooding. Some areas have already been experiencing damage from flooding e.g. Clonmel, Co. Tipperary has suffered from periodical extreme flooding since 2000.

Rising sea levels are also of concern for Ireland, as waters have been rising by 2 - 4mm each year. If this trend continues, the sea level will have risen to 0.2 - 0.4m by the end of this century. The EPA reports that in 2006 approximately 60% of the population were living within 10km of the coast. These areas are under severe threat from erosion and flooding.

These changes, bringing the milder winters and warmer summers we have been experiencing in recent years, may be appreciated, but the impact in some parts of the world has been much more devastating. If climate change continues at such a high rate, Ireland is likely to be affected by the following:

• Air temperature will rise by 1.5-2 degrees by 2080
• Rainfall will increase in winter and decrease in summer
• Sea temperatures may rise by 2 degrees by the end of the century, causing intense, agressive storms
• Flooding and erosion from extreme weather conditions
• Altered agricultural practices, especially crop growing, to cope with weather changes

To improve our scientific understanding of climate change and its impacts, with particular emphasis on Ireland, the Irish Climate Analysis and Research Unit (ICARUS) was established. ICARUS provides key climate services, solutions, data and advice to the scientific community, policy makers and community at large, both nationally and internationally.