Extreme weather

Fieldwork and practical investigations

A-level students may want to undertake a personal investigation examining possible meteorological signs of climate change, as experienced in the UK or elsewhere - especially those who will be following the new (2008) Edexcel Specification that includes "Extreme Weather" as an optional AS Investigations (Paper 2) study topic.

Fieldwork opportunities include a weather log, flood impacts survey, flood/drought risk assessments or flood management assessments. Practical work/GIS could scrutinize weather records, satellite images, hurricane data, and statistics for flood/drought events; or might consist of an evaluation of various management strategies.

Two engaging themes for study might be:

• Assessing evidence that flood impacts are apparently becoming more frequent or severe - and whether this is due to climate change or to changing demographics (population growth along rivers and coastlines) and better media coverage (global information links make it appear the situation is worsening).
• Assessing ways to manage drought through physical, social, economic and political responses in contrasting areas like SE England or the Sahel (e.g. water management schemes such as hosepipe bans or adapting farming techniques to drier conditions).