Climate

     The Isle of Jura enjoys the typical renowned Western Scottish climate of warm winters and generally pleasant summers.  The effects of global climate change are of some concern as most of the islands population is resident close to the island's shorelines.  Still, recent years have seen remarkably good weather with extended dry spells to the extent of near drought conditions (2003 as an example).  The metereological web sites that we have found to be the most reliable for our local area are noted below:

Metcheck

Southern Hebrides Islands (including the Isle of Jura)

Paps of Jura (Mountains of Jura forecast specifically, highly recommended!)


BBC

Marine forecast (for the Isle of Jura area)


Met Office

The current marine forecast for the Hebrides


Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory

Tidal predictions based on Port Ellen, Isle of Islay


Links for the serious amateurs and professionals who need world-class weather and climate data:

http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/ - The TOPEX-POSEIDON satellite page with global sea surface wave height mapping.

http://buoyweather.com/wxnav.jsp?region=UK&program=Maps  -  Want to know what the weather is from the nearest ocean buoy?  An ocean of information!

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/hurricane/  - Hurricanes? Well, a hurricane in North America tends to ride the Gulf Stream north over the Atlantic, where sometimes it becomes...a gale for us!  Here's the ultimate "early warning site"!

http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html  -  The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration of the USA and their global wave forecasting site, a fount of information, particularly for fisherman and sailors.


Climate change papers - academic and government

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/cru/kd01/ccsi-01.htm  -  What's the mighty government of Scotland got to say about climate change, well here you go...

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/gec/pubs/reps/scotrep.htm - A bit dated...

http://www.mluri.sari.ac.uk/explorescotland/cc1.html  - Words from the famous Macaulay Institute, the all-knowing arbitors of all things involving soil in Scotland...except they have virtually no data on Jura...hmmmm.

http://www.mtnforum.org/resources/library/harrx01a.htm  -  Snow? Where's it all gone...some hints here...

http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/climatechange  -  So, if the climate changes, what happens to the trees?  What the tree guys think..

http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/events/past_events/omae.pdf  - What happens if the waves are too high?  See what science says about CalMac and ferry operations to the Isles.