Climate Change in Europe May Cause Scotland to be Drenched in Rain

As the climate changes, Europe is getting some different weather patterns. Scientists have found changes in the shape of rainfall across Europe, which may mean some big changes for places like Scotland.

In this latest study, the researchers looked at 63 years' worth of European rainfall data. This revealed location-specific changes in the character of rainfall that were sometimes big enough to be picked out directly from local observations.

"We have found that in many places in Scotland the rain on heavy rainfall days has increased by over 50 percent," said Sandra Chapman, one of the researchers, in a news release. "However, in some places in the Highlands this rain has shifted from light rain days so overall it's not much wetter but when it does rain it is more intense. In other Scottish locations the change reflects an increase in the total amount of rain and snow overall. For all these areas of Scotland the old adage 'It never rains but it pours,' has become truer than ever."

The researchers also found that in southwest France, it's drier with less rain on all types of rainy days. In Tuscany, though, it's drier with heavy rainfall in particular being reduced.

"This work demonstrates how the impacts of climate change are complicated and local," said David Stainforth, one of the researchers. "As a consequence it is likely that individuals will have different perspectives on anthropogenic climate change if their views are based mainly on personal experiences of weather rather than on the underlying fundamental science."

The findings are published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

Related Stories

Arctic Mosquito Swarms May Threaten Caribou as the Climate Changes

Marine Life Slashed by Half Since the 1970s, WWF Report Reveals

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).