date: Wed Aug 16 16:51:17 2006
from: Keith Briffa <k.briffa@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: FW: request from the Evening News
to: "Mantell, Rowan" <Rowan.Mantell@archant.co.uk>

   At 12:18 16/08/2006, you wrote:


       ___________________________________________________________________________________

     Dear Keith,

     I am a feature writer with the Norwich Evening News working on a piece on the science
     festival.

     I am writing about some of the climate change events happening during the festival and
     would like to include info from the local experts taking part.

     I am asking some of the climate change scientists the same three questions and wondered
     whether you would be kind enough to answer them. I realise you must be very busy right
     now and brief, single sentence, answers would be absolutely fine.


   Dear Rowan
   hope the following suffice - best wishes
   Keith

     My questions are:

     What is the future for Norwich and Norfolk? (in terms of our climate, our coastline,
     what we might be growing in our gardens, the pests and diseases we might have to contend
     with...)


   I am confident that we will continue to experience a steady increase in the warmth of
   winters and summers over the decades to come. There will be the odd hiccup now and then ,
   as the year to year variability of our climate can mask the underlying trend, or some
   explosive volcanic eruption in the tropics causes a cold wet summer. As the years pass
   though, the warmth of this summer will become the expectation  rather than being seen as
   the unusual event that it was. It is hard to say what will happen to our rainfall, but I
   expect dry summers , and protracted dry spells to increase in frequency and our
   appreciation of the true value of water , ecologically and economically,  will change the
   way we use it.
   The rise in sea level that we have seen over the last decade and more will continue
   relentlessly and the erosion of our coasts may even accelerate. There are all sorts of
   unknowns associated with future warming - for example, a major enhancement in the appeal of
   this region for tourists is likely, but it might be tempered by an increase in the
   incidence of malaria! The biggest unknown to my mind, however,  is the way people will
   react to the ups and downs of temperature in the coming years. Norfolk  folk are generally
   very independent and somewhat cynical . This might slow the adoption of the sort of
   lifestyle changes we could all reasonably make in response to the threat of the unknown.

     What three things should we be doing to avert climate disaster? (anything from low
     energy light bulbs or not flying to not having children or panicking and moving
     elsewhere)

   We should be truly conscientious about not wasting energy. This might seem patently obvious
   but I suspect that there is virtually no one who does not leave the television or stereo on
   standby for hours, or leaves lights blazing in corridors or rooms when they are empty. Even
   replacing light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs really adds up in energy (and cost )
   savings over the year. In other words, actually trying to do the obvious things can make a
   difference . Just like preserving water and recycling rubbish, this is just good common
   sense regardless of the threat of climate change. Making your opinions known to decision
   makers and service providers is really worth while - supermarkets use the excuse that
   "people demand choice all year round" for sourcing goods from around the world. Telling
   them clearly that we prefer local produce helps local farmers and reduces the emission of
   greenhouse gases at the same time.


     What, if anything are you doing? (both in terms of researching and publicising the
     problem and making your own lifestyle choices.)


   In terms of research, I am focusing on trying to understand the causes of climate
   variability - both natural and man-made. We need to understand how much and why our climate
   can change naturally , before we can improve our predictions of how it might change in the
   future. I work at reconstructing the past, and studying those things that can make it
   change,  and using this information to test climate models that provide our view of the
   future.I try not to get involved publicly in the debate about what we should do and how we
   should adapt to the possibility of future changes. These are complex issues for
   sociologists and politicians. I prefer to work on reducing the uncertainty in the knowledge
   they need to debate and react to the threat of change. As far as lifestyle goes, I try to
   be sparing with my use of resources - but I live with the frustration of having to drive 30
   miles and more a day because of the lack of any practical public transport from my home in
   Deopham, and I spend far too much of my life flying around the world to discuss and
   research the problem of climate change.

     I would be really grateful if you are able to find time to reply - either by email, or
     by phone on Norwich 772421. I will be in work until around 6pm today (Wednesday August
     16) and then next week Monday to Wednesday 7.30am to around 3pm.

     Thank you so much for your time,

     Rowan Mantell
     Norwich Evening News feature writer.

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   --
   Professor Keith Briffa,
   Climatic Research Unit
   University of East Anglia
   Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K.

   Phone: +44-1603-593909
   Fax: +44-1603-507784
   [1]http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/people/briffa/

