Nature
Nature's battle for survival
T e latest State of the UK Climate report has been published, showing the increasing extent to which climate change is infl uencing the UK. T e report, compiled by the Met
Offi ce and published in the Royal Meteorological Society’s International Journal of Climatology, reveals that four UK high temperature records were broken in 2019 – adding to a trend for warming temperatures seen over the last few decades. ‘‘Nature is on the frontline of
climate change, continually having to readjust and survive extreme weather and shiſt ing seasons,” comments meteorologist, author and TV presenter Clare Nasir. “Changes in local ecosystems are a
fi rst key indicator of how nature is responding to our warming Earth, and this is why Nature’s Calendar plays such an important role in
highlighting responses, however
localised....they all contribute to learning more of the broader trends and impacts of climate change.’’ In response to the warm winter and
mild spring temperatures of 2019, the fi rst leaves appeared on trees nearly ten days early compared to the baseline period of 1999- 2018. Meanwhile, warmer October
temperatures meant the point at which trees lost all their leaves was slightly later than average. T e result was an extension of just over 12 days for the time in which trees had leaves through 2019 compared to the baseline period. T e fi ndings mirror existing
research in showing a trend towards spring events occurring earlier due to the warming climate. T e consequences of this have also been studied; it was found
www.jimmysfarm.com 46
that an early spring creates a ‘mismatch’ in timings along the food chain, where hungry chicks hatch too late to feast on abundant caterpillars. T is could put populations of blue tits, great tits and pied fl y catchers at risk. Nature’s biological events are
becoming out of sync and, ultimately, some species will be able to adapt better than others. “T is is a stark reminder of the
need to take immediate action on climate change,” says Dr Darren Moorcroſt , Woodland Trust CEO. “Trees are not only a measure of what’s happening; they’re a vital part of the solution. As natural carbon stores, they’re key agents in fi ghting climate change and mitigating against its impacts, for example in their role in lessening the devastating eff ects of fl ooding.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
