Climate change: what's in store where you live?
West Midlands:
New flood defences in Worcester, Ironbridge, Bewdley and Shrewsbury prevented about £20 million of damage and disruption to home and business owners during flooding in 2004.
The West Midlands is another important agricultural area, with 70% of the land used for farming. Many farmers rely on irrigation to water their crops, but the hotter, drier summers of recent years could herald shortages in future water supplies, with potentially adverse effects on the region’s environment.
Like the rest of Central England, the West Midlands are expected to become wetter in the winter and drier during the summer. Extreme weather events such as storms, floods and droughts will occur more frequently.
By 2050, if greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked, annual mean temperatures in the region could rise by up to 2.5°C. The greatest temperature hikes will be felt in Warwickshire and the south east of the region, rather than in Shropshire and the north.
Sea levels on the west coast could rise by as much as 83cm, but soil moisture is expected to fall by up to 35%. By 2080, annual temperatures may increase by up to 4.5°C and summer rainfall could decrease by as much as 50%, all of which will have a profound impact on the nature of farming.
Areas such as the Vale of Evesham will be at greater risk of drought and soil damage. Subsidence is also expected to cause problems. Rivers and their ecosystems will be affected: some endangered species, such as butterbur and sundew, will face even greater threat as their habitat slowly disappears.
Flooding will cause a range of problems, not least of which is urban drainage. Severe storms are expected to prove too much for Birmingham, which won’t be able to cope with the excess water.
The changing temperatures and rainfall could alter agriculture in the region, which currently comprises a mix of arable, horticulture and livestock. Yields of fruit, vegetables and cereals are expected to drop because there won’t be enough water available during the growing period. Other crops, however, could actually flourish thanks to higher temperatures and increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. On the down side, higher temperatures could increase the risk of pests and diseases in arable and horticultural crops.
Find out what's in store elsewhere in the UK:
