Premium
Changes in the Distribution of Annual Rainfall in the British Isles
Author(s) -
MAYES J. C.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1995.tb01492.x
Subject(s) - westerlies , climatology , dominance (genetics) , atmospheric circulation , general circulation model , latitude , spatial distribution , environmental science , climate change , physical geography , geography , geology , oceanography , biochemistry , chemistry , remote sensing , geodesy , gene
The spatial distribution of annual rainfall in the British Isles is analysed from 1881 to 1990 with reference to changes in the frequency of airflow types. The influence of more frequent westerly airflows earlier this century is evident in higher rainfall in western areas. Changes from 1941 to 1970 show no evidence of a reversal of this change despite a reduction in the dominance of westerlies. Evidence for an abrupt return to a more vigorous westerly circulation since the mid‐1970s, and associated wetness in north‐west Britain, is found to have parallels with scenarios of future climates produced by recent climate models caused by a strengthening of the temperature gradients which drive the mid‐latitude westerly circulation.