Finland’s future – Even darker winters with temperatures like Hungary?
Average temperatures in Finland are rising nearly twice as fast as in the rest of the world, says the Finnish Meteorological Institute FMI.
New projections suggest the warming trend is most pronounced during winter.
Hot summers, warm winters and plenty of rain, this is the future Finland may face if unbridled climate change continues, says a study by the Finnish Meteorological Institute FMI. If the emissions of greenhouse gases continue unchecked, by the end of the century the climate of central Finland could be as warm as it is today in Hungary.
10C warmer in 2100?
The study indicates that by 2100 winter temperatures in Finland could rise by between 4 and 10 degrees Celsius over what was recorded in the late 1900s.
Summer temperatures in turn would rise by between 2 and 7 degrees.
Sunlight may diminish 20%
Under this scenario, Finland would also receive significantly more rainfall. Projections show annual rainfall rising by a fifth, meaning that some parts of the country would see as much rain as the wettest parts of the British Isles.
Winters could get cloudier and darker. The study suggests that in the worse case, the amount of sunlight could be cut by 20%.
Warmer temperatures and a longer growing season would benefit the agriculture sector, but in general the assumption is that the damage caused by climate change will outweigh any potential benefits. As the climate gets warmer, it is likely to further destruction of biodiversity and create devastating extreme weather events.
The research by the Finnish Meteorological Institute FMI received funding from projects supported by the Finnish Academy and the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Is climate change making the muskoxen sick on Victoria Island?, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Finland bets on electric cars, more renewables in new energy and climate strategy, Yle News
Russia: Russian fisheries say they will safeguard Arctic stocks, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Sweden’s climate minister worried about Trump’s stance on global warming, Radio Sweden
United States: Appeals court supports climate-based listing of seal as threatened in Alaska, Alaska Dispatch News
