CASE STUDIES The impact of global warming on the British isles

So what is happening and what do people think? More and more people are believing that global warming is turning the British isles into more of a Mediterranean climate. This could have a big effect on the way of life in the British isles, with radical differences happening. The 3 main differences would be Changes to crop belts Changes to wildlife and vegetation Rising sea level These all would have a big effect because they are a big way of life in the British isles.

Changes to crop belts There would be substantial changes to agriculture Soil erosion may increase in the heat There will be less constant rain, and more frequent heavy storms Different crops will have to be grown to suit that environment.

Changes to wildlife and vegetation The change in vegetation has a big effect on wildlife. The main organisations including MAFF, forestry Commission, are sponsoring an environmental change network, consisting of 8 research centres to monitor changes in vegetation. There may be more outbreaks of insect pests. Other traditional English species may die out A spread of malaria may become more imminent as mosquitoes from the Mediterranean thrive in the British isles.

Rising sea levels This is the biggest threat to the British isles There is an estimation of a sea level rise by as much as 38cm by Britain is still responding to loss of ice from last ice age, meaning the north is slightly rising and the south is sinking. The Institution of Terrestrial Ecology has estimated a £5 billion budget to be spent on building sea defences to prevent flooding, this also could result in a rebuild of the Thames barrier, which was first completed 1984.