Dartmoor Training Area
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Integrated Land Management Plan (ILMP)
Environmental
Management
System
(EMS)
Integrated Land Management Plan (ILMP)
Climate
In common with the south west peninsula generally, and Dartmoor in particular, the maritime influence results in mild winters, cool summers and relatively high rainfall. The land is generally very exposed to the prevailing south westerly winds resulting in high annual rainfall of 1525-1900mm (60-75 inches). Snowfalls are not usually large but often drift in windy conditions. They do not generally lie for long.
The altitude and high lapse rate result in low temperatures which reduce the growing season compared with much of West Devon. Solar radiation is often much reduced by the common occurrences of low cloud and mist.
Climate Change is now widely accepted as an issue for SW England with recent average annual temperatures in Exeter having risen by about 1°C. Nearly half of this has occurred since 1990. The rising temperature has produced milder, wetter winters and an unusual sequence of hot, dry summers with the heat wave of 1976 and the drought of 2003.
Climate change is a consideration across Ministry of Defence business planning from reducing carbon footprints to species and habitat management decisions. Peatlands as found across Dartmoor Training Area are important carbon sink habitats and the future Ministry of Defence carbon management considerations must take this factor into consideration.
Climate change has the potential to impact widely on how the military train across Dartmoor and Dartmoor Training Area staff will look to liaise closely with Ministry of Defence climate change teams and local stakeholders to manage the changes and impacts.
