Summer 2009 - Scottish Natural Heritage

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Living with change Over the last hundred years, the average air temperature has risen by about 0.7°C. But by the end of the present century, the world could be as much as 4°C warmer than it is today. This could start irreversible melting of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets over a period of a few thousand years. The geological record reveals how past environments responded to broadly similar climate changes. The early to middle Pliocene period (between three and fi ve million years ago) gives perhaps the best idea of what a future, warmer world might be like. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere then were around the same as they’ve reached today, and global temperatures were about 3°C higher, with sea levels up to 25 metres higher. Some of the more far-reaching effects of climate change are likely to be at the coast. The latest projections from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show a sea-level rise of 7 mm each year in Scotland in the next few decades, outstripping rates seen in the last few thousand years. The effects will probably be made worse because natural coastal defences, such as beaches and saltmarshes, won’t be topped up with new material, and there are likely to be more frequent storms and fl ooding. If we look at what’s happened to our weather over the last 40 years, the future might hold the following: – More frequent storms, especially in the west, leading to: - more dynamic coasts and rivers that are challenging to live near, especially in low-lying areas; - fl ooding more often along rivers and at the coast; and - greater disruption of transport routes, through landslides and fl ooding. – Carbon-rich soils become destabilised, leading to the release of more greenhouse gases. – Soil being eroded quicker, especially during windy or very wet conditions. – Changes in the depth and length of time that snow lies, as well as more periods of high wind speed. These changes will affect not only Scotland’s geodiversity but also its plants and animals. For example, more fl ooding and erosion will affect the quality of freshwater habitats that are important for endangered species, such as the freshwater pearl mussel and lamprey. Overall, species and habitats may have less time to recover from extreme events, such as fl ood damage to fi sh-spawning areas in rivers. Some landform changes may simply be too fast for the species and habitats they support to adapt or relocate. 2 54 The Nature of Scotland
3 <strong>Natural</strong> processes Understanding the links between geological and biological diversity will help our efforts to manage how the natural heritage adapts to climate change. For rivers, coasts and steep hillsides, this involves giving them suffi cient space for natural processes to work, rather than seeking to control them. It may mean creating room for natural fl ood management, restoring fl oodplains and providing space at the coast to allow movement of landforms and habitats. <strong>Natural</strong> fl ood management, which means interfering as little as possible, will support nature conservation at the same time as reducing fl ooding risk. We need to draw together existing knowledge of natural processes to understand how the landscape may respond to climate change. Just because we’re unsure about the outcome shouldn’t stop us from acting now. Climate change is with us, and the effects it will have on the natural heritage mean that we have to start now to develop policies and plan the way ahead, based on what geodiversity tells us about natural processes and changes. 2 Climate change will bring more flooding, such as this example on the River Tay at Stanley. 3 We're already seeing regular disruption to transport routes through landslides. Rescue helicopters had to winch stranded people from their vehicles after a landslide engulfed the A85 in 2004 at Glen Ogle near Lochearnhead. www.snh.org.uk 55
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Scottish Natural Heritage Summer 20
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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 54 and 55: Learning from the past Scotland has
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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