91Èȱ¬

91Èȱ¬ invites viewers to predict the UK's future climate

The 91Èȱ¬ is to screen a major season of programmes on the science behind and issues surrounding the hottest topic of the day - climate change.

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To launch its Climate Chaos season the 91Èȱ¬ - in conjunction with Oxford University and the Open University - is inviting its audience to participate in the biggest online experiment ever undertaken to predict the future climate of the UK.

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By logging on to bbc.co.uk/climatechange (live from today) viewers will help scientists project possible climate scenarios for the UK up to the year 2080.

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Meltdown and a unique experiment

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The first stage of the Climate Chaos season kicks off on Monday 20 February when 91Èȱ¬ FOUR screens Meltdown, a film in which explorer and presenter Paul Rose shows the effects of global warming in Greenland and tells the story of climate changes in the UK.

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Paul meets Oxford scientist Myles Allen and learns about his work predicting how the UK's climate will change.

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At the end of the film Paul invites viewers to participate in the unique experiment by logging on to bbc.co.uk.

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Those logging on will be taken by Paul through steps to download a piece of software which connects to a server at Oxford University, and which downloads an individualised version of the Met Office's state-of-the art global climate model.

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The climate model will use the computer's spare processing time - when the user is not actively working on it but still has it switched on - to make calculations and produce a possible future climate scenario for the UK.

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Once the programme is downloaded the user does not have to do anything - the computer does all the work, and uploads data back to Oxford automatically.

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Those participating can keep track of what is going on by bringing up graphics that show them what year their individual model has reached, and what the temperature is.

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They can also set the graphics as a screensaver.

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Back in Oxford, scientists will collate the results which will be revealed in a follow-up programme in the summer.

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Participants can join the experiment at any point - even after the programme has transmitted - but the earlier the better.

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A standard off-the-shelf computer takes around three months to run the complete simulation to 2080, but project scientists can make use of runs as short as ten model years, taking only a week or so.

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The more people participate the more accurate a prediction the scientists will be able to make.

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Climate Chaos

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Meltdown will be followed in the same week by Climate Conspiracy or Global Catastrophe? which explores the truth behind global warming headlines.

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And Reports from the Front Line of Global Warming, a series of short eyewitness accounts of living with global warming, all on 91Èȱ¬ FOUR.

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Together with the 91Èȱ¬ FOUR results show, the Climate Chaos season returns in the summer with a whole week of programmes across 91Èȱ¬ Television channels.

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On 91Èȱ¬ ONE, Sir David Attenborough undertakes a personal investigation to discover how global warming is changing our world.

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In a two-part documentary he scrutinises the evidence and asks crucial questions about how and why global warming is affecting the planet.

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Panorama investigates the reasons behind President Bush's rejection of the scientific consensus around climate change.

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Is it 'Big Oil' talking or is he right to resist what one of his supporters has described as "the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people"?

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And viewers can gauge their individual knowledge of climate change matters with a special Test the Nation.

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On 91Èȱ¬ TWO, The Money Programme looks at the economics of going green.

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If... The Oil Runs Out asks what we can do about our 'addiction to oil'.

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And a special film shows how five cities across the globe are preparing for climate change.

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In addition to individual programming there will be contributions from 91Èȱ¬ News and Weather; from children's programmes and from 91Èȱ¬ interactive sites and pages.

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Jana Bennett, 91Èȱ¬ Director of Television, says: "We know from research that climate change is a subject many viewers are concerned about and regard as a major problem for themselves and the next generation - and yet they also feel that they don't know enough about it.

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"They look to television, in particular, to inform them and help them make sense of it.

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"The Climate Chaos season seeks to engage and inform viewers about climate change - with programmes across our networks in the biggest interactive season of science programmes ever."

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KC

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