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The temporal variation of ambient SO and the chemical composition of particulate matters (PM and PM) were studied at National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi (28°38′N, 77°10′E). Spatial variation of SO at seven air quality monitoring stations over Delhi was also studied simultaneously. Wide range of ambient SO was recorded during winter (2.55 to 17.43 ppb) compare to other seasons. SO mixing ratio was recorded significantly high at industrial sites during winter and summer; however, no significant spatial difference in SO mixing ratio was recorded during monsoon. SO/(SO+SO) ratio was recorded high (0.74) during winter and low (0.69) during summer. Monthly variation of PSCF was analyzed using HYSPLIT seven days backward trajectories and daily average SO data. PSCF analysis suggests that, during winter (December, January, February) ambient SO at the study site might have contributed from long distance sources, located towards west and southwest directions; during monsoon (July, August, September) marine contribution was noticed; whereas, during summer (April, May and June) it was from regional sources (located within few 100 km of study site). During winter there was significant contribution from the long distance sources located in western Asia, northwestern Pakistan, Rajasthan and Punjab provinces of India. Coal used in thermal power plants at Panipat (in the northwestern side) and Faridabad (in the southeastern side), local industries, soil erosion and biomass burning may be major contributing factors for SO during summer. The study establishes that the transport sector may not be the major source of ambient SO in Delhi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrological impacts of climate change upon the Elmley Marshes, southeast England, are simulated using a coupled hydrological/hydraulic model developed using MIKE SHE/MIKE 11 and calibrated to contemporary conditions. Predicted changes in precipitation, temperature, radiation and wind speed from the UK Climate Impacts Programme associated with four emissions scenarios for the 2050s are used to modify precipitation and potential evapotranspiration data. For each emissions scenario two sets of potential evapotranspiration data are derived, one using changes in temperature (PETtemp), the other incorporating changes in temperature, radiation and wind speed (PETtrws). Results indicate drier conditions through the progressively higher emissions scenarios when compared to contemporary conditions. Changes are particularly pronounced when using PETtrws. Summer water tables are lower (PETtemp 0.01–0.08 m; PETtrws 0.07–0.27 m) and the duration of high winter water tables is reduced. Although water tables still intercept the surface in winter when using PETtemp, this ceases when PETtrws is employed. Summer ditch water levels for the PETtemp scenarios are lower (0.01–0.21 m) and in dry winters they do not reach mean field level. Under the PETtrws scenarios summer and winter ditch water levels are lower by on average 0.21 and 0.30 m, respectively. Levels never reach the elevation of the marsh surface. Lower groundwater and ditch water levels result in declines in the magnitude and duration of surface inundation which is virtually eliminated with the PETtrws scenarios. The changes in hydrological conditions simulated by the model are of sufficiently fine resolution to infer ecological impacts which are likely to include the loss of some grassland species adapted to high water tables. Reductions in the extent of surface water in spring, especially for the PETtrws scenarios, are likely to reduce suitability for wading birds including lapwing ( Vanellus vanellus) and redshank ( Tringa totanus) for which the marshes are internationally renowned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risks to human populations in coastal areas are changing due to climate and socio-economic changes, and these trends are predicted to accelerate during the twenty-first century. To understand these changing risks, and the resulting choices and pathways to successful management and adaptation, broad-scale integrated assessment is essential. Due to their complexity the two risks of flooding and erosion are usually managed independently, yet frequently they are interconnected by longshore exchange of sediments and the resulting broad scale morphological system behaviour. In order to generate new insights into the effects of climate change and coastal management practises on coastal erosion and flood risk, we present an integrated assessment of 72 km of shoreline over the twenty-first century on the East Anglian coast of England which is a site of significant controversy about how to manage coastal flood and erosion risks over the twenty-first century. A coupled system of hydrodynamic, morphological, reliability and socio-economic models has been developed for the analysis, implemented under scenarios of coastal management, climate and socio-economic change. The study is unique in coastal management terms because of the large spatial scale and extended temporal scale over which the analysis is quantified. This study for the first time quantifies what has for some years been argued qualitatively: the role of sediments released from cliff erosion in protecting neighbouring low-lying land from flooding. The losses and benefits are expressed using the common currency of economic risk. The analysis demonstrates that over the twenty-first century, flood risk in the study area is expected to be an order of magnitude greater than erosion risk. Climate and socio-economic change and coastal management policy have a significant influence on flood risk. This study demonstrates that the choices concerning coastal management are profound, and there are clear tradeoffs between erosion and flood impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I have used the Lempel–Ziv measure to assess the complexity in riverflow activity over England and Wales for the period 1867–2002. In particular, I have examined the reconstructed monthly riverflow time series from fifteen representative catchments in these regions and calculated the Lempel–Ziv Complexity (LZC) value for each time series. The results indicate that the LZC values in some catchments are close to each other while in others they differ significantly. In addition, I have divided the period 1867–2002 into four equal subintervals: (a) 1867–1900, (b) 1901–1934, (c) 1935–1968, (d) 1969–2002, and calculated the LZC values for the various time series in these subintervals. It is found that during the period 1969–2002, there is a decrease in complexity in most of the catchments in comparison to the subinterval 1935–1968. This complexity loss may be attributed to increased human intervention involving land and crop use, urbanization, commercial navigation and climatic changes due to human activity. Determining the complexity in the riverflow time series is important because an understanding of the extent of complexity may be useful in developing appropriate models of riverflow activity. The extent of complexity may also influence the predictability of the variability in riverflow dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on the "Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change" and the critics on discounting and climate change. They state that the Stern Review has had a substantial impact on public debate over policy responses to climate change. Sir Nicholas Stern undertook the Stern Review at the request of the Treasury of Great Britain. They argue that the effects of global warming correspond to large losses in economic welfare.

Regional climate models (RCMs) are now commonly used to downscale climate change projections provided by global coupled models to resolutions that can be utilised at national and finer scales. Although this extra tier of complexity adds significant value, it inevitably contributes a further source of uncertainty, due to the regional modelling uncertainties involved. Here, an initial attempt is made to estimate the uncertainty that arises from typical variations in RCM formulation, focusing on changes in UK surface air temperature (SAT) and precipitation projected for the late twenty-first century. Data are provided by a relatively large suite of RCM and global model integrations with widely varying formulations. It is found that uncertainty in the formulation of the RCM has a relatively small, but non-negligible, impact on the range of possible outcomes of future UK seasonal mean climate. This uncertainty is largest in the summer season. It is also similar in magnitude to that of large-scale internal variations of the coupled climate system, and for SAT, it is less than the uncertainty due to the emissions scenario, whereas for precipitation it is probably larger. The largest source of uncertainty, for both variables and in all seasons, is the formulation of the global coupled model. The scale-dependency of uncertainty due to RCM formulation is also explored by considering its impact on projections of the difference in climate change between the north and south of the UK. Finally, the implications for the reliability of UK seasonal mean climate change projections are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the amenity value of climate to British households. By using the hedonic price approach, the marginal willingness to pay for small changes in climate variables is derived. Various indices of temperature and precipitation are used including means, ranges, extremes and January and July averages. We specify one hedonic regression including information on house prices and wage data for 755 Posttowns and found the model containing January and July averages of temperature and precipitation most appropriate. The estimates suggest that British people would typically prefer higher temperatures in January. Increased precipitation in January is likely to reduce welfare. Changes in temperature and precipitation in July are not significant. Limited global warming, with a more pronounced effect of temperature increases compared to higher precipitation levels during winter months, might thus benefit British households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rothamsted Insect Survey has operated a Great Britain-wide network of light-traps since 1968. From these data we estimated the first ever national abundance indices and 35-year population trends for 338 species of common macro-moths. Although the number of trap sites which run each year is not constant, there is a representative, well-distributed core of traps that have run for = 15 years. The proportion of operating sites catching a species and the annual geometric mean catch of successful traps were used to provide estimates of species range and absolute abundance.T, an index of long-term population trends, was used to compare trends among species.Twas not biased by trap site turnover. The percentage of species displaying significant decreases (54%) was more than double that displaying increases (22%). Species found throughout Great Britain are decreasing most rapidly in the south and especially the southeast but species with a southerly distribution are increasing. Results of a preliminary overview suggest habitat and climate change may both play a role in changing species dynamics. The existence of estimates of abundances and trends for such a large species pool opens the way for much further research, linking trends with land-use changes, climate change and inter-specific dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which estimated the effects of climate-induced change in soil moisture at the landscape scale in five areas of ecological interest in the United Kingdom. Methodology; Results and discussion.

Discusses the effects of climate change scenarios in the increase in frequency and magnitude of flooding events in rivers in Britain. Rainfall-runoff model; Climate change; Effect of changes in rainfall patterns; Land use change.

Presents a study which examined the relationship between long-term changes in North Atlantic atmospheric circulation, sea surface temperatures and soil water tables in Great Britain. Analysis of temperature changes in northwestern Europe; Methodology used; Results and discussion.

Presents information on a study which assessed the impacts on tertiary activities of the anomalously hot summer of 1995 and warm period from November 1994 through October 1995 in Great Britain. Methodology of the study; Results and discussion on the study.

The pedagogy of atmospheric issues is identified in the context of environmental education in this paper. The UK Atmospheric Research andInformation Centre (ARIC) has developed an education programme whichhas responded to the dynamic issues relating to the atmosphere sincethe establishment of the ARIC in 1984. The main route for the teaching of atmospheric issues is identified as being through the UK's National Curriculum although public awareness of issues has increased through the media and more recently through government publicity campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores the potential implications of climate change for the use and management of water resources in Great Britain. Water management in Great Britain; Changes in the resource base; Changes in streamflow and groundwater recharge; Changes in water quality; Changes in the demand for water; Management of water resources in the face of climate change.

Investigates two climate scenarios and eight climate sensitivity tests in three British catchments using two conceptual rainfall-runoff models. Effects of climate change on three flow indices representing mean runoff; Effect of rainfall-runoff model on the statistic of modelled flows; Effect of climate change on three flow indices representing mean runoff.

Develops an ecosystem scale model to assess five British sites for possible impacts of climate change. Four sub-models of the ecosystem scale model; Consequences of decreased grassland productivity on water resource planning.

The article discusses the importance of designing new water governance frameworks to become more resilient and be able to address climate change. It talks about the priority of water companies in Great Britain to improve water services to its domestic customers and businesses and its sustainable management plan to ensure delivery of its objectives. Also discussed is the need to increase end-users' awareness of their role in the water cycle.

The quality of available station data over western Himalayan region (WHR) of India is poor due to missing values, and hence quantifying climate change information at the station level is more challenging. The present study investigated the extent to which the available two different resolutions gridded rainfall data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) namely, IMD- 0.25 ∘ × 0.25 ∘ (IMD.25) and IMD- 1 ∘ × 1 ∘ (IMD1) and global observational gridded data from the Climate Research Unit (CRU- 0.5 ∘ × 0.5 ∘ ) of UK can be used as a substitute to replace the missing values in IMD station data. Long-term time series produced at each station location showed that IMD.25 data was much closer to observation both in magnitude and patterns compared to CRU and IMD1. The seasonal and annual scale performance of these gridded data has been evaluated through different agreement and error indices. The agreement indices showed higher values in case of IMD.25 data while IMD1 and CRU indicated poor results. Similarly, the estimated errors are minimum in IMD.25 and maximum in CRU data. Finally, an overall agreement index (OAI) was developed by the combined influence of all the agreement indices. The results of OAI for each station revealed that in more than 77% of cases, the performance of IMD.25 gridded data to reproduce station level rainfall is superior as compared to IMD1 (<63%) and CRU (<46%) data. Therefore, it is concluded that the IMD.25 gridded data may be reliably used as a substitute data source in place of missing rain-gauge data over the WHR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]