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["Keaney Michael" <Michael.Keaney@xxxxxx>]

First three months of the year were warmest ever recorded
By Paul Peachey
The Independent, 26 April 2002

The first three months of this year were probably the world's warmest
for 1,000 years, British scientists said yesterday.

Geoff Jenkins, of the Meteorological Office's Hadley Centre, said the
period was about 0.71C above the average from 1961 to 1990, the
previously warmest time since records began.

A government-backed report said the faster than expected climate change
will see flooding and rising sea levels affecting Britain badly by the
end of the century. The report said temperatures in the UK could rise by
up to 3.5C by 2080 with peak temperatures at about 40C (104F). Summers
would be much drier and winters much milder but marked by extreme
rainfall.

The report warned that rising waters could threaten unprotected coastal
areas with flooding currently seen only once every 100 years coming
every two or three unless sea defences were improved.

The south-east of England is likely to be the worst affected since the
land is sinking, while waters are expected to rise by 86cm (33in) by
2080. John Turnpenny, of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
which was involved in compiling the report, said that some coastal areas
were in for a torrid time.

"Rising sea levels will obviously pose a threat where sea defences are
inadequate, but we will also see future changes in extreme sea levels
from major storms."

The report, called Climate Change Scenarios for the United Kingdom, is a
collaboration between the Government and climate change researchers.

At yesterday's launch, the Environment Secretary, Margaret Beckett,
warned that the problem was more urgent than first thought. She added:
"It is right to think about our children and grandchildren but I fear we
have to start worrying about ourselves."

Full article at:
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=289060

Michael Keaney
Mercuria Business School
Martinlaaksontie 36
01620 Vantaa
Finland

michael.keaney@xxxxxx