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Its most ardent advocates say that global warming is gradually ruining our parts of our planet.

But the effects of the phenomenon might be felt more positively a little closer to home, after scientists claimed that it will make flowers smell sweeter.

Some flowers could give out a smell that is nine times more fragrant than they currently produce, according to a report.

It says that a temperature increase of between 1C (34F) – 5C (41F) will vastly increase the ability of flowers to produce their sweet smells.

Some flowers could give out a smell that is nine times more fragrant than they currently produce thanks to global warming, according to a report

The study, published in the journal Global Change Biology, suggests that plants are able to produce more terpenes – the chemicals that give them their smell - in hotter conditions.

Despite the environmental risk linked to climate change, the effect on flowers could also help bee populations as the stronger smells make flowers easier to find and pollinate.

It also found that the effect could be more significant in cooler countries such as the UK and would have a stong impact on fruit trees.

The finding comes as the unseasonably warm autumn weather this year has led to reports that plants are being 'tricked' into blooming early.

Guy Barter, chief horticultural adviser at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), described the findings as interesting and said it could have a significant effect on lightly scented flowers.

'We think about climate change in terms of rising temperatures and sea levels but there are more subtle potential effects which we have not thought about,' he told the Sunday Times.

Despite the environmental risk linked to climate change, the effect on flowers could also help bee populations as the stronger smells make flowers easier to find and pollinate

Last year, experts from the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change warned the average global temperature had risen by 0.5C in 50 years.

They predicted temperatures will increase by 3C over the next century, causing a rise in sea levels, flooding, disease outbreaks and mass migration of refugees.

The researchers from the global ecology unit at the Autonomous University of Barcelona looked at a variety of plants, including holm oak, yellow fleabane, heather and Spanish broom.

In the paper the researchers said: 'The species with the highest increases in emissions were those with the lowest [fragrance] rates.'

'The increases calculated for floral terpene emissions indicate that very significant increases in the amount of floral scents will likely occur in a warmer world.

'The rates of floral terpene emission by the end of the century could increase 0.34-9.1-fold for a 5C increase in mean maximum temperature during the flowering peak of the season.'