IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SCOTLAND IS

Meteorologists say that the increased temperatures around Europe are down to a combination of the position of the jet stream, lower pressure systems in the Atlantic and the effects of the climate crisis.

Mike Kendon, from the Met Office National Climate Information Centre, said: “For Scotland, five of the 10 warmest Octobers on record, back to 1884, have occurred this century. Although climate change is no guarantee of a warm October on a given year, what we can see in observed data is the increased likelihood of mild conditions in long-term trends.”

He said human-induced climate change was

already having an observable impact on the UK and Scottish climate. He added: “Using meteorological averaging periods, 30-year periods since 1961, you can see gradual increases in mean temperatures across the UK, as well as Scotland itself.

“For Scotland, the 1961 to 1990 average mean temperature for autumn was 7.6°C. The latest averaging period, 1991-2020, is 8.2°C.

“While some may view an average mean temperature increase of 0.6°C as a modest increase, it can have many knock-on effects, not least for wildlife and the environment.”