approximately 800 mm of precipitation annually – the lowest of any Irish region. Most precipitation comes in the form of frontal rainfall. While precipitation falls throughout the year, the wettest months are December and January;
SKILLS ACTIVITY
Using graph paper, draw a suitable graph to illustrate the precipitation data from January to June in Table 18.1.
Jan
Mean temperature (°C) 5.3 93.1
Total rainfall (mm) zz
upland areas such as the Wicklow Mountains experience lower temperatures, while relief rainfall brings higher precipitation rates. Easterly winds in winter bring cold continental air across the Irish Sea, which can lead to snow;
zz zz
the average number of days with ground frost is much lower than that found in inland areas due to the moderating influence of the Irish Sea;
an average of four hours of daily sunshine, and a growing season of approximately 285 days.
Feb Mar Apr May Jun 3.4
4.3 36.9 100.0 8.1 68.9
11.4 19.1
14.5 4.8
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 16.1 40.0
15.3 48.0
Table 18.1 Climate data for Dublin Airport, 2018 (Met Éireann). 2016
Table 18.2 Total annual rainfall at Dublin Airport (Met Éireann).
266 713.6 mm
12.2 43.8
9.3 42.6 2017 660.7 mm 8.2 131.2 7.7 81.0 2018 709.4 mm
