| Mild winter a result of global warming
AN EXCEPTIONALLY mild winter is proof that global warming is already
affecting the weather in Ireland Met Éireann has reported.
Figures for December, January and February reveal that temperatures were
up to 1.6 degrees above normal making it the warmest winter this decade.
Some inland weather stations had only half the average number of frost
days. And there was a total of 16 and 21 air frosts at inland stations
compared to a range of between 25 and 30 air frosts in these areas during
an average winter.
Forecaster Gerry Murphy believes global warming is to blame. He said:
“The overall trend has been since 1990 that the winters have got
milder and there is nothing we can put it down to other than global warming.
“There is no evidence to suggest any other reason for it. Since
around 1990 there has been an overall trend of milder winters.
“The significant aspect of warming that has occurred in Ireland
has not been really massively warmer summers although the summers have
been quite warm it’s been the minimum temperatures during the winter
have not been as low as previous winters.
“If you look back to when you were younger you would see ice in
puddles. You very rarely if ever see that now.”
The winter also saw exceptional rainfall with Dublin experiencing the
wettest winter since 1995.
The World Meterological Organisation estimates that the global temperatures
has increased by almost half-a-degree since 1990.
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