Afternoon:
15°c
Children to track climate change in the capital
Mark Prigg29 Apr 2009
Pupils are helping to undertake the most comprehensive analysis of the capital's weather patterns.
Monitors being installed in schools aim to help provide more accurate forecasts and a better understanding of how global warming will affect London.
It will also be the first detailed study into the phenomenon of "urban heat islands", which cause the capital to have its own microclimate. Temperatures in London are generally higher because large buildings soak up the sun during the day and give off heat at night like giant storage heaters.
The urban heat island effect was first described more than 200 years ago, but details are non-existent because so few weather stations exist in the capital.
The study is part of the Natural History Museum's Open Air Laboratories project, which aims to involve pupils in large-scale experiments. Each weather station includes instruments to measure temperature, wind speed, air pressure and rain. The data will be placed online.
Reader views (7)
In an era when supportable scientific evidence is available to anybody at the touch of a button, it's sad to see that the flat-earthers / conspiracy theorists who produce noithing more substantial than oft-repeated soundbites are still out in force.
If they were to read and digest the scientific evidence with an open mind, very few 'deniers' would remain in any doubt about the cause and potential effects of climate change. They would also empathise with those in large (and poorer) areas of the world who will initially suffer the greatest consequences - water shortages, failed harvests, etc, and the subsequent 'enironmental migrations'. Ultimately, of course, we will all pay a price.
In their defence, one can only assume that the deniers' sceptism and disbelief is a consequence of poor political leadership.
Politicians lie and exaggerate (WMD et al), so when they forecast anything unsavoury - particularly when it requires personal sacrifices in terms of consuming less - it becomes convenient to equate with more lies and exaggeration.
If anything, the problem is often understated, because political interfence has repeatedly watered down the scientific case presented in IPCC climate change reports.
- John, Dorset, UK, 30/04/2009 09:51
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And I read today that a fair percentage of children think penguins live in the UK.They may not know their natural history but they sure as hell know about a bit of ice melting.
- Steve, London, 30/04/2009 09:34
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Global warming is established scientific fact, not myth: Delve into the research for longer than a moment, & this can be the only reasonable, rational conclusion. Human activities have been emitting greenhouse gases at a rate which is unprecedented in the history of life on Earth: The effect of these gases is the atmospheric equivalent of a glass house, trapping the sun's heat. Global warming has been gathering pace gradually; consistent with a growing human population, & their growing & unsustainable consumption of Earth's resources. So far, its effects haven't been catastrophic enough, to register as a warning in the minds of most people; but this status quo is bound to change: By now, the momentum of global warming has grown to a point where it's inevitable that, for humans to survive into the next century, they'll have to learn to live with serious climate change by the end of this one...
- Dr I N Dyson, Oxford, UK, 29/04/2009 22:41
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What a load of tosh.
- Rosie, watford, 29/04/2009 16:25
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I have always believed it is important to teach children about fairy tales, so educating them about "climate change" is appropriate.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 29/04/2009 15:51
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I hope they dont get burnt. Our weather is derived from sun emmissions hitting the planet, nothing else.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 29/04/2009 14:51
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It's the weather it is meant to change. Hopefully after years and years of studying they will find that the weather is unpredictable and there is nothing we can do to change it.
- Mr S.Port, London, 29/04/2009 11:52
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