Climate change: what's in store where you live?
East of England:
In August 2000, a tornado rained a cloudburst of fish on the beach in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
The East of England has 480km of coastline and 565 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), all of which will be vulnerable to the impacts of rising temperatures, with an increase of 3°C to 5°C predicted by 2080.
Winters will be wetter, with rainfall increasing by as much as 30%. Summer rainfall is expected to drop by 45-60% compared with current patterns, prompting more acute and enduring water shortages. Storms will become a more regular occurrence, as will flooding. Sea levels on the Essex coast are expected to rise by 22cm to 82cm by 2080, putting vulnerable coastal communities and natural habitats at even greater risk.
The East of England is an important region for agriculture (it accounts for 76% of land use), and practices will have to change significantly in order to cope with the longer growing season and the reduced soil moisture in summer, which could alter crops considerably. Providing sufficient water resources, and ensuring they’re of the necessary quality, is likely to cause farmers an ongoing headache.
The region faces considerable challenges in flood risk management, with the Environment Agency already investing around £53 million in improving flood defences in the area. The coast is extremely vulnerable to rises in sea level, storm surges and saline intrusion. Another issue is coastal squeeze, which occurs when coastal habitats are “squeezed” against hard sea defences.
The intensely agricultural Fens area lies below sea level and is already artificially drained. The rise in sea levels is likely to result in coastal and fluvial flooding, as well as saline intrusion, which will have a detrimental effect on agriculture as the soil’s salinity and moisture levels change.
The southern part of the region has been earmarked for extensive development, providing housing to the north of London and the area surrounding Stansted airport. The resulting increased demand for water resources will put even greater pressure on what is already a dry area. Landscapes and habitats are also likely to be affected by water shortages and temperature rises. Clay soils, which are prevalent in the area, will become more prone to subsidence.
As a sub-region, the Thames Gateway is especially vulnerable to changes along the coastline, as well as being affected by business and housing developments. The greatest concerns are water shortages, rising sea levels, fluvial flooding and subsidence.
According to the East of England Regional Assembly report, Living with Climate Change: “The impacts of climate change in the East of England are likely to have significant economic and operational implications for local authority services and on infrastructure provision in the region.”
Find out what's in store elsewhere in the UK:
