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ARCHIVE: Defra science notes

Written for non-technical audiences, Defra Science Notes present the latest developments in topical science areas concerning Defra.

Latest science note

UK Climate Projections 2009 - coverUK Climate Projections 2009 - published 18 June 2009 (PDF 470 KB)

The UK Climate Projections 2009 highlight the range of climate changes that the UK may experience in future and the extent to which these are supported by the latest evidence. They help to give us the evidence to make informed decisions to prepare for a changing climate. This note explains some of the key messages coming out of the projections and explores how they were produced.

Previous science notes

Carbon Capture and Storage - published 8 April 2008 (PDF 214Kb)

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has the potential to signficantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere. This Defra Sciecne Note looks at the science behind these new techniques.

Uncharted waters - published 13 December 2006 (PDF 161Kb)

The latest note in a series on Defra's science on climate change explains how our water resources will be affected by climate change and examines the factors that affect its availability and distribution globally and in the UK.

Avian Influenza - published 22 March 2006 (PDF 710Kb)

The fourth Defra Science Note answers some of the most common science questions about bird flu including what H5N1 means, why we are so worried about H5N1, whether we are experiencing a bird flu pandemic and what is the risk of a human flu pandemic.

Is the Gulf Stream weakening? - published 19 December 2005 (PDF 60KB)

Update that gives further details and implications of the research published in 'Nature' on 1 December with evidence that ocean currents related to the Gulf Stream may be weakening.

Sustainable Buildings - published 02 December 2005 (PDF 850KB)

Changing the way we work and do business is going to be essential if we're to do more with less and develop sustainably. The third science note in the series focuses on how science has been used to reduce Defra's impact on the environment, and the problems the building contractors faced in refurbishing a 1920's building with listed features.

How is Defra tackling climate change? - published 17 August 2005 (PDF 1.9 MB)

The second in a series presents a snapshot of the science and technology Defra fund in order to tackle climate change. Changes to our climate will affect almost every aspect of how we live, from the type of food we grow and eat, to the wildlife that surrounds us. It's an important area for the department - in 2004-05, we spent more than £15.6 million on research, from funding the Hadley Centre who analyse the trends in our climate system, to studying the effects of changing temperatures and rainfall on the tourism industry. 

Nanoscience and the Environment - published 15 March 2005 (PDF 400Kb)

Nanotechnology is a new and fast developing area of science, which will ultimately impact on all our lives and on our environment. But did you know that nanotechnology is already used in self-cleaning windows? Or that future research on nanoparticles will include converting pollutants to less harmful chemicals?

Page last modified: 2 July 2009
Page published: 8 April 2008