Children to track climate change in the capital

Pupils are helping to undertake the most comprehensive analysis of the capital's weather patterns.

Monitors being installed in schools aim to help provide more accurate forecasts and a better understanding of how global warming will affect London.

It will also be the first detailed study into the phenomenon of "urban heat islands", which cause the capital to have its own microclimate. Temperatures in London are generally higher because large buildings soak up the sun during the day and give off heat at night like giant storage heaters.

The urban heat island effect was first described more than 200 years ago, but details are non-existent because so few weather stations exist in the capital.

The study is part of the Natural History Museum's Open Air Laboratories project, which aims to involve pupils in large-scale experiments. Each weather station includes instruments to measure temperature, wind speed, air pressure and rain. The data will be placed online.