It’s too early to say exactly how much climate change has to do with the rainfall hitting north-east Scotland.
The causes of storms are complex and are affected by many
natural processes in the atmosphere. Stormy weather is, of course, relatively
common in the UK.
But there are ways in which rising temperatures can affect
storms.
Warmer oceans mean storms can pick up more energy, leading
to higher wind speeds, while a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture,
leading to more intense rainfall. Rising sea levels also increase the risk of
coastal flooding.
The UK has become wetter in recent decades, with greatest
increases in rainfall in Scotland, the Met
Office says. This trend is projected to continue as the world warms.
There has been no clear trend in maximum wind
speeds of UK storms, although these may increase in future, according to the Met
Office.
There is some evidence that climate change is affecting the position
of the jet stream, a band of strong winds high in the atmosphere that is one of
the main influences on UK weather.
Changes in the jet stream’s position would mean some regions
become wetter and others drier, but exactly how this will play out is uncertain.
It’s also important to note that flooding is not just determined
by the amount of rainfall – human factors like how land is used and the
adequacy of flood defences also play a role.
·Four ways
climate change affects extreme weather
·What
will climate change look like near me?