Weather watch to take local communities by storm
Posted on 29 March 2011
Scientists from the Met Office and the Royal Meteorological Society are asking everyone to take part in the Open Air Laboratories Network (OPAL) Climate Survey, which explores human effects on local climate and weather and how adaptable we might be to climate change.
By taking part in this survey, local people’s results can be compared to that of thousands of other people across the country to improve our understanding of weather and climate in urban and rural environments
Sarah West, OPAL Community Scientist
The Stockholm Environment Institute, part of the Environment Department at the University of York, runs OPAL projects with communities across Yorkshire and the Humber and is urging local people to get involved.
The survey includes spotting plane trails (contrails) which may be warming our climate, watching cloud movement to record wind direction in the sky, blowing bubbles to measure wind speed and direction near the ground, and looking at how weather and climate affect how hot or cold we feel.
Dr Geoff Jenkins of the Royal Meteorological Society said: "We’re asking people to get outside observing and measuring the weather. What they see and record will be important for checking the systems we use for forecasting weather and predicting climate.”
Sarah West, OPAL Community Scientist at the University of York, was involved in developing the national survey.
She said: “One part of the survey involves blowing bubbles to measure wind speed and direction near the ground, and comparing this to wind direction at cloud height. This is important for determining how buildings and trees interrupt wind movement and which way pollution is likely to be carried from roads and factories.
“By taking part in this survey, local people’s results can be compared to that of thousands of other people across the country to improve our understanding of weather and climate in urban and rural environments.”
Global climate change is predicted to result in milder winters and hotter summers across the UK, with more frequent heatwaves. Previous research has shown a strong link between thermal comfort levels and climate – people from colder climates may be comfortable at lower temperatures than those living in warmer areas. The OPAL Climate Survey will help confirm whether this is the case in England.
Dr Mark McCarthy, Climate Research Scientist at the Met Office, said: "Climate change poses many challenges for both the natural environment and human populations worldwide. These new insights will complement and build on our existing research looking at the potential impacts of climate change through the 21st Century."
Anyone can take part. For a free survey pack, contact Sarah West at the University of York, on 01904 324577 or email opalproject@york.ac.uk. The results of the findings will be published on the OPAL website at www.OPALexplorenature.org.
For more information about the OPAL Climate Survey, the science behind it, or to ask the experts climate questions, go to www.opalexplorenature.org/OPALClimateCentre.
Notes to editors:
- Open Air Laboratories (OPAL), led by Imperial College London, www.imperial.ac.uk, is a nationwide partnership initiative that inspires communities to discover, enjoy and protect their local environments. It aims to create a new generation of nature-lovers by stimulating interest through local and national projects which are accessible, fun and relevant to anyone who wants to take part. OPAL provides the skills and materials needed for the first national community-led study of the world around us. For more information, please visit www.OPALexplorenature.org.
- The Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme was launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments. The programme funds a range of activities from local food schemes and farmers markets, to education projects teaching people about the environment. Imperial College London (the leading OPAL partner) was awarded a £11,760,783 Changing Spaces grant in August 2007.
- The Met Office is the UK’s national weather service, providing 24x7 world-renowned scientific excellence in weather, climate and environmental forecasts and severe weather warnings for the protection of life and property. www.metoffice.gov.uk.
- The Royal Meteorological Society is the professional body for anyone whose profession or interests are connected with weather. Its mission is to ‘advance the understanding of Weather and Climate, the science and its applications, for the benefit of all’. For more information please see www.rmets.org. The Society has recently formed the Weather Club, aimed at anyone who has a general interest in the weather. Please see www.theweatherclub.org.uk.
- The Stockholm Environment Institute is part of the Environment Department, University of York. More information on the Stockholm Environment Institute at www.york.ac.uk/sei.
- More information on the University of York’s Environment Department at www.york.ac.uk/environment.
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