Summer 2009 - Scottish Natural Heritage

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Learning from the past Scotland has a remarkable geological history which reveals important pointers to our future 52 The Nature of Scotland
1 Scotland’s geological history stretches back over three billion years of the Earth’s existence. It includes the rocks, fossils, minerals, soils, landforms and natural processes that make up Scotland’s varied landscapes and structure. Collectively, these features represent Scotland’s ‘geodiversity’. And the way in which they’ve responded and adapted to climate change in the past can provide a useful early warning for the future. Looking at what’s happened to the Earth in former times is similar to the research we do on other planets in our solar system. For example, the information we now have about the past and present environment of Mars has been worked out largely by studying its geodiversity. So, if we can discover what’s been going on in other parts of the universe then it should be a lot easier to understand what’s been happening closer to home! In fact, Scotland’s geodiversity reveals that climate change is nothing new – our landscapes and natural heritage have always been dynamic. Even within the geologically recent past (the last three million years), Scotland’s climate has changed radically, switching repeatedly from glacial to warm conditions. Even since the last dramatic global warming 11,500 years ago, our climate has rarely stood still. The last cooling, during the so-called ‘Little Ice Age’, reached its peak in Scotland in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Since then, our climate has been warming, coinciding with the increased release of greenhouse gases from the Industrial Revolution onwards. Climate change and sea-level rise have been happening for some time. Signifi cantly, they will extend well beyond the AD 2100 timescale of current climate projections. That sort of timescale is outwith the normal timeframe of most policy makers, planners and lay people. But understanding geodiversity – and particularly how to work with natural processes – can play an important part in planning how to adapt our management of the natural heritage. In fact, geodiversity is a bit like using a barometer – it gives us an insight into what could happen next. 1 Coastal change is nothing new. The Culbin Sands bar on the Moray coast is extending west at over 20 metres a year. This coastline has been moving for over 6,500 years. www.snh.org.uk 53
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Scottish Natural Heritage Summer 20
Page 4 and 5: Credits The Nature of Scotland The
Page 6 and 7: Wild calendar Long days and bright
Page 8 and 9: Brown-eyed twirl Warm summer days,
Page 10 and 11: Unearthing nature’s wonders What
Page 12 and 13: Just what the doctor ordered Scotla
Page 14 and 15: 2 Nature is good for you - that’s
Page 16 and 17: 4 Outdoor activity offers everyone
Page 18 and 19: 1 16 The Nature of Scotland
Page 20 and 21: Dragonfl ies are sensitive to tempe
Page 22 and 23: Dualchas coitcheann Common heritage
Page 24 and 25: City sights The most popular visito
Page 26 and 27: Inspiring children During the week,
Page 28 and 29: NEWS Searching beneath the surface
Page 30 and 31: NEWS Wildcat stronghold project A n
Page 32 and 33: Join the club! Ewen Cameron and Pet
Page 34 and 35: The featured naturalists include th
Page 36 and 37: Events diary 2009 July Saturday 4 O
Page 38 and 39: Island of the cowled women Loch Lom
Page 40 and 41: 2 Walk on for about 10 minutes and
Page 42 and 43: 6 From Port Bawn take the low path
Page 44 and 45: SNH Area News East Highland Corresp
Page 46 and 47: SNH Area News Strathclyde and Ayrsh
Page 48 and 49: 46 The Nature of Scotland
Page 50 and 51: You’ll come across national parks
Page 52 and 53: For instance, Loch Lomond & The Tro
Page 56 and 57: Living with change Over the last hu
Page 58 and 59: National Trust for Scotland ranger
Page 60 and 61: Kids only! You will need: 4 pipe cl
Page 62 and 63: 1 “It was the bestest day in scho
Page 64 and 65: 3 Experience the wild The fi rst pr
Page 66: Join our mailing list The Nature of
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