STUDY OF THE LOCAL

CLIMATE
BIRMINGHAM
WEST MIDLANDS UK
The UK is classified as having a temperate
maritime climate. Shifting air masses (mainly
from the west bringing rain and wind) gives the
UK a transient climate.
Birmingham is 52 o North and 15o west. The
growing season is said to be 7-8 months. The
Midlands (Gregory 1976) is comparable to North
Eastern coastal areas eg.Shropshire, Lincon and
Dublin.
The prevailing air mass essentially controls the
climatology
Of the midlands. Influencing this and leading to
mass air modification is the landlocked nature of
the Midlands, the topography and the urban
conditions.

Birmingham is at the top of the Midlands plateau

it is 140 metres above sea level and made
predominantly of sedimentary rocks (English
nature 2005) the midlands is 70% agricultural.
Urbanization is focused mainly upon the
Birmingham plateau. There is also 8,000 acres of
parkland and open spaces in Birmingham.
Annual precipitation in the midlands is between
600-850mm.The Welsh mountains act as a rain
shadow over much of the midlands resulting in
rainfall totals that are less than areas of
equivalent altitude to the north or south. The
Birmingham plateau itself (100-300m) acts to
increase rainfall totals compared with the
comparative surrounding dryness.
Heavy rain and flooding are the cause for most
problems for Birmingham followed by
thunderstorms then snow and ice.
Birmingham can be a snowy city due to its inland
location and comparatively high elevation. Frosts
can be possible in the months of October to May.
Snow and showers pass through the city via
Cheshire gap on North Westerly air streams but
can also come off the North Sea through North
Easterly air streams.
Over the period 1998-2008 81 significant
weather events were found in Birmingham

eg.floods/tornadoes. Heat waves for Birmingham

are defined as two consecutive days over 300
with night time temperatures not falling below
14oc.
Because it is inland, temperatures are more
continental governed by the prevailing air mass
and radiation balance.
The term urban heat island (UHI) is used to
describe the layer of atmosphere between the
Earths surface and the top of the buildings. It is
the area where most people live and work and
much like a mountainous environment it creates
a man-made it has its own micro climate. It
modifies precipitation run off and windflows.
USI causes:
Reduced sky view factor
-decrease in long wave radiation loss-radiation
trapping.
Slower wind speeds
-decrease in turbulent heat loss
Building material
-Thermal properties: increased heat capacities
and conducts radiative properties.
Anthropogenic heat flux

-energy consumption and resulting heat from

buildings, vehicles and people.
Air pollution
-absorption and re-emission of long-wave
radiation in the air.
Lack of vegetation
-decreased evapotranspiration: less cooling from
latent heat flux

SOURCES:
Wikipedia
Met office
Birmingham climate portfolio