6 June 2007James Randerson
The UK has just experienced the warmest spring on record, with temperatures 0.2C higher than the previous record in 1945, according to new Met Office figures. Analysts also predict a hot summer, with July and August possible record breakers.
The UK's hotter than usual spring follows a series of record-breaking seasons and years, according to Met Office data.
"Three of the last four seasons have been record breakers," said a Met Office spokesman. "That's quite a statistic." The previous record for spring temperatures was set in 1945 at 8.8C. "We've always had warming trends, but it is the marked increase ... Nothing like this has been recorded before." Winter was the second warmest on record, autumn the hottest, as was summer. Last year was the hottest ever recorded across the UK and the five warmest years on record have all occurred in the past five years.
Although no one weather event can be attributed to global warming for certain, the strong warming trend fits well with Met Office predictions that UK temperatures will rise steadily in line with carbon dioxide levels. Researchers have detected an unexpectedly large hike in CO2 levels in four of the last five years. We know it is down to extra carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere through human activities, the spokesman said.
"The signal that we are seeing in the UK with this warming trend is one that is being echoed across the world."
The Met Office has also predicted there is a 60% chance that 2007 will be the warmest on record globally.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/weather/Story/0,,2096418,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=11
