WIREDGOV

A special climate survey which we launched at the start of spring has received tens of thousands of results.

The Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) climate survey, launched in March, was completed by more than 16,000 people. The survey looks at ways in which we affect the climate and how the climate may affect us.

Since the start of the survey the country has experienced a record-breaking dry spring which was also the joint warmest on record, with weather varying from March frosts to April heat.

One area of the survey investigates perceptions of warmth, cold and clothing by participants. Almost 1,800 results have been recorded so far, providing valuable information on how our own response to weather changes throughout a season.

The initial results suggest that:

• At temperatures above 13 ºC, a minority (less than 50%) of people will feel cool or cold.
• Less than 20% of respondents were wearing coats when the temperature was above 13 ºC.
• 23% wore summer clothing as the weather became warmer.

Further analysis is taking place to discover whether these results change around the country. This will help us better understand how sensitive we are to small variations in climate.

You can still take part in the survey; it will be running until summer 2012.

OPAL is through to the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards 2011. It is one of only 10 projects to make it through to the semi-finals in the Best Environment Project category of The National Lottery Awards.

The awards are an annual search to find the UK's favourite lottery-funded projects, and they recognise and celebrate the difference that lottery-funded projects make to communities across the UK.

Voting for the finals ends at midday on Monday 20 June. Register your  vote for OPAL.