Latvia's climate is warming: experts explain how the changes are felt in daily life
Researchers from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre and the University of Latvia explain how climate change affects Latvia's weather, nature, agriculture and infrastructure. Average temperature has risen by 1.2 degrees and precipitation by 4%.
Climate change is already affecting weather, nature, farming and building safety in Latvia, according to two specialists: Agate Baumane-Puku, a climate data analyst at the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC), and Gunta Kalvāne, a leading researcher and doctor of geography at the University of Latvia. Their explanations were published in a Jauns.lv video feature produced as part of a climate awareness campaign.
What the data show
Baumane-Puku said that between the reference period of 1961–1990 and the current climate period of 1991–2020, average temperature in Latvia rose by 1.2 degrees and precipitation by 4%. Indicators of extreme rainfall have also increased, such as the maximum amount falling in one or five days. She stressed that climate has always changed, but never at such a fast pace and never with human activity as the main driver.
Historical climate norms and scenarios up to 2100 are available at klimats.meteo.lv, while global bulletins can be found on the European Union's Earth observation programme website, climate.copernicus.eu.
Changes in nature and climate type
Kalvāne noted that hazel and grey alder sometimes begin flowering as early as December, and autumns arrive later than in the middle of the 20th century. Continental features are levelling out: in a growing part of the country, the average temperature of the coldest month no longer drops below -3 degrees. The sharp swings between cool and hot periods make adaptation difficult.
Risks and preparedness
The researchers consider the flooding of Riga and Ogre to be a scientifically unfounded scenario. More realistic risks include heavy, wet snow, which overloaded roofs in Lithuania during the past two winters, drought during April sowing, and heat stress in livestock – a prolonged hot spell can worsen milk quality for up to 90 days. In Kolka, 125 litres of rain per square metre were recorded in a single storm episode.
The experts urge people to take cell broadcast alerts on mobile phones seriously, because extreme events can be very local and forecasts cannot yet be accurate to one kilometre.
Among the most important actions for residents, they name voting for parties that pursue climate policy, taking part in neighbourhood communities, home energy efficiency, everyday mobility choices and mindful consumption.
