Noticias en ‘climate change’
April 22nd, 2008
Spanish scientists from the Pyrenean Ecological Institute have predicted that temperatures in the mountain range in eastern Spain and south-west France could rise by between 2.8C and 4C by the start of the 22nd century. At the same time, snowfall levels could decline by between 30% and 50%. The study also claims that the slopes above 2,000 metres may see snow for only four to five months, whereas today they are covered for up to six months. The report, published in the International Journal of Climatology, also claimed rainfall levels could go down by between 10.7% and 14.8% a year by the end of this century. Researchers said the predictions, which cover the period between 2070 and 2100, were based on possible rises in greenhouse gases. They used six climate models which accurately estimated conditions in the Pyrenees between 1960 and 1990.
Juan Ignacio López-Moreno, a geographer, who led the Spanish High Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) team, said that in the best-case scenario, if emissions were low, by 2100 average temperatures could rise by 2.8C. However, if emissions rose, temperatures would increase by 4C. This would clearly have major implications for the Pyrenees. The Guardian or CSIC report here in Spanish
On Spain, Pyrenees, climate change | Tags: Pyrenean Ecological Institute, Pyrenean snowfall|
Useful summary on climate change issues in Spain here from Celius. “As far as European countries go, Spain is on the front lines of climate change….Spring is now coming two weeks earlier in Spain, causing 23 more hot days than 30 years ago. This has a tremendous impact on the agricultural cycle in the country, as well as the wildlife. Bears in the northern mountain regions have stopped hibernating and Dung beetles in northern Spain have shifted habitat as temperatures have increased..” Iberianature archive on climate change.
On Spain, climate change | Tags: Dung beetles|
But great news for the Cantabrian mountains and their wildlife;
The Castilla and León law courts have vetoed the project put forward by Tres Provincias S.A. for a ski resort in the San Glorio region of the Cantabrian mountains in the north of Spain, citing climate change as the main reason for its very doubtful economic viability. This makes it the first plan to have been denied on the grounds of climate change. The judgement points out that when, in 2006, the regional government of Castilla and León modified the laws protecting the Natural Park of Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina (land included in much of the project) to enable the building of a ski resort, no scientific study was included to take into account the effects of climate change.
The threats to the environment and the future of the Cantabrian brown bear made by the project have led to huge opposition from conservationists, who have provided many environmental impact reports. The court also recognises that this project would be incompatible with the survival of many species of flora and fauna of the area, including the bears whose Eastern population would be severely affected.
News from El País
Read all about the subject on Iberianature forum
Cantabrian mountains, Castilla y León, Conservation, Iberianature news, bears, climate change | Tags: Cantabrian brown bear, Fuentes Carrionas, rejected, San Glorio, ski resort|
Worst drought since 1912
According to director general of water of the Ministry of the Environment, Jaime Palop, Mediterranean Spain is suffering the worst drought since 1912. (El Mundo)
Extreme weather Spain, On Spain, climate change, desertification | |
Spain is suffering its worst drought in the October-March semester for 60 years, with a national average of just 177 mm compared to the normal value of 316 mm. Only the unlikely event of very heavy rains over the next two weeks would save the period from beating the record. The prolonged drought over the last three years is the worst since reliable records began.
El Mundo
Extreme weather Spain, On Spain, climate change, desertification | |
According to the Centro de Investigacións Mariñas of Galicia barnacle captures are likely to be favoured by alterations due to climate change, though clam and cockle farming will be hit.
Clams and cockles will be negatively affected by torrential rains as their principal beds lie at the mouth of rivers. Heavy rains will bring a large influx of fresh water harmful to shellfish. High water temperatures will lead to proliferation of pathogenic agents which attack clams and cockles.
On the plus side, the production of barnacles has increased in recent years coinciding with a fall in algal blooms, though the article does not explain why. More soon when I understand this.
El cambio climático favorecerá la captura del percebe en Galicia (El Pais)
More on barnacles from Iberianature
Galicia, Spanish seas, climate change, fish, seafood | Tags: barnacles, clams, shellfish|
A new report (A Climatic Atlas of European Breeding Birds) has just been released by Birdlife on the effects of climate change on bird populations. As would be expected, the results are of serious concern. By the end of the century, the potential future distribution of the average European bird species will shift by nearly 550 km north-east. Specifically for Spain (SEO) the following species are likely to become extinct (13):
- Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus)
- Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
- Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
- Common Guillemot (Uria aalge)
- Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
- Tengmalm’s Owl (Aegolius funereus)
- White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos)
- Dupont’s lark (Chersophilus duponti)
- Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
- Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia)
- Balearic Warbler (Sylvia balearica)
- Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
- Rook (Corvus frugilegus) Leer
birds, climate change | |
Sea level in the Mediterranean could rise by as much as half a metre in the next 50 years according to the Instituto Español de Oceanografía. Sea level in the Mediterranean rose 8cm between 1948 and 2005. The study analyzed how sea levels, temperatures and salinity have evolved in the Spanish Mediterranean since 1948, when the first scientific measurements were taken. According to the researchers the observations “coincide with the worst results” of studies on global climate change. .(El Pais).
On Spain, climate change | |
A new report (PDF) for the Spanish government paints a grim picture for the country for the late 21st century with extreme temperatures in the summer, the wholescale desertification of the south, a collapse in biodiversity (with for example 97% of reptiles and amphibians affected), a big reduction of water resources, particularly in the south, a rise in sea level of 15cm leading from 15-70m lost in beaches. (El Pais) More soon.
On Spain, climate change | |
Greenpeace have just published a book (Photoclima: Imágenes de un futuro afectado por el cambio climático) which attempts to predict the future of the Spanish landscape using photo manipulation. The photos are accompanied by texts by writers including José Saramago, Manuel Rivas, Iñaki Gabilondo, Miguel Delibes and Jane Goodall. Below the River Ebro as it passes through Zaragoza and the disappearance of La Manga del Mar Menor. El Pais
climate change, photography | |
What remains of the glacier of Monte Perdido, the second largest in the Pyrenees and covering in 2001, 44 ha down from 556 in 1894, has just been declared a National Monument by the Aragonese government. This will presumably save it from climate change. (El Mundo)
Aragon, Aragonese Pyrenees, Spanish landcape, climate change | |
SEO/Birdlife has launched a new webpage ( http://www.avesyclima.org) on the phenology of birds in Spain. People are invited to register and send in their data on bird sightings this year and records from previous years. The basis of the site are the 44,000 records taken since 1944 of 87 key species. This will allow migratory maps to be produced for each species and show changes due to climate change. Phenological reacords on some fruit trees (eg almond blossom) and insects are also included. Early conclusions includeÂ
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Less and less cranes arrive every yearÂ
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Storks are leaving later or staying all year round. 20 years not a single stork wintered in Spain. Now an estimated 30,000 winter here.Â
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An increase in migration of Sub-Saharan birdsÂ
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The increase in tempeartures in Spain of one and a half degrees since the early 1960s has pushed forward the arrival of at least cuckoos, storks, swifts. nightingales and swallows. However, a word of caution. With the notable exception of the storks, these early arrivals are with respect to the “unusually lateâ€1960sâ€. Arrival times are now it seems the same as the 1940s. We shall see
And here’s a map the arrival of swallows
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birds, climate change | |
11/02/2007 Temperatures set to rise 4-7ºc in summer Spain by 2070, one of the worst hit places in the world. The country’s geographical position makes it particularly vunerable to climate change.
More soon (El Pais)
climate change | |
 Future effects of climate change in Asturias.
09/02/2007 More heat, less but more torrential rain Semi-tropical climate within several decades. Rise 1-2 in winter and 2-4 in summer. Less rain in all seasons apart from Autumn.
Agriculture not excessively affected though heat will allow warmer crops to thrive. The famous “huerta murciana” would move north to Asturias. Irrigation would be needed.
Livestock farming, an essential element of Asturian landscape, threatened by less grass growth.
Flooding along Asturian coast, especially in points such as RÃa de Villaviciosa and Ribadesella. Disappearence of some dune systems
17 new marine specieshave been detected in recent years in Asturian Cantabrian Sea. Sardines are moving north to British Isles
Lusher forests and benefits for bears. Bad news for much of the planet, but bear expert Roberto Hartasánchez of Fapas, often quoted by iberianature, is less catastrophic seeing acid rain as more urgent problem for forests in region. Bears, at least in Asturias, could benefit from milder climate. More here from
La Voz de Asturias See also
Climate change in Spain
Asturias, climate change | |
21/07/2007 Effects of climate change in Catalonia this winter
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Jellyfish normally leave the coast in winter, but they’ve stayed this year because of the high temperatures of 15ºC (rather than 12-13). Winter rains which reduces the coastal sea’s salt level and pushes jellyfish out to deeper waters, have been sparse and so jellyfish have stayed. Banks of Pelagia noctiluca seen off Costa Brava. See also Spanish jellyfish
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More and more hoopoes and storks are wintering in Catalonia instead of flying south. Previously rare Catalan species ( black-shouldered kite, thekla lark & orphean warbler) are increasingly turning up. More here (El Periodico) . See also Climate change in Spain
- Update (23/01/06). Effects of climate change in Galicia: many butterflies, dragonflies and amphibians active. Oak tress keeping their leaves along coast (Voz de Galicia)
Catalonia, climate change | |
