Britain Braced for Coldest Winter since 62/63

[Solly]

Apparently some clever so-and-so has pieced together the synoptic charts from October 1963 and October 2007, and they are as similar as those charts can get.

"Britain is again in the grip of ice and snow following the briefest of thaws last week. Over the weekend a north-easterly gale blowing directly from the Russian Arctic brought heavy snowfalls to eastern and central England, and yesterday the temperature remained below freezing over the entire British mainland for the first time in 20 years. Coldest spots were Aviemore and Braemar in the Scottish Highlands, where the mercury sank to minus 16c ealy on Sunday morning.

"A spokesman for the Met Office explained that this is already the coldest winter since 1978/79 and if the Arctic winds continue for another 2-3 weeks it may yet rival the historic winter of 1962/63. The big freeze set in during the weekend before Christmas and tightened its grip during the New Year as a succession of heavy snowfalls swept southern England and the midlands. The frost loosened its hold briefly around January 23rd and again on February 5-6 but many parts of the country have been continuously snow covered since Boxing Day.

"Climate experts are busy trying to reconcile this exceptional winter (and also last year's poor summer) with global warming"

Anyone fancy stockpiling a few bags of gas?

[DaShi]

Doddler forum!

[Provost Harrison]

Seems fairly mild if you ask me

[Darius871]

There's your proof of global warming right there.

*runs*

[Provost Harrison]

*uses sniper rifle*

[Zkribbler]

"Global warming" is slang for the more accurate "climate change."

For example, if climate change his big time, the fresh water entering into the Atlantic from the melting ice caps will close down the so-called Atlantic Conveyer, which brings warm water up into the North Atlantic. Thus, the winds that blow across the Atlantic and into Europe will become much colder, giving Europe a mini-Ice Age.

[Darius871]

But obviously if the world was getting generally warmer, that would counteract the effect of this silly conveyor contraption you're blathering about. Stop trying to confuse me with the facts.

[Berzerker]

Anyone fancy stockpiling a few bags of gas?

Algore may be able to help in that department.

A spokesman for the Met Office explained that this is already the coldest winter since 1978/79

it aint winter

"Global warming" is slang for the more accurate "climate change."

Yeah, once global warming became fashionable the science started casting some doubt on it, so we have a new name. But climate changes all the time, not sure the new name will scare people sufficiently.

For example, if climate change his big time, the fresh water entering into the Atlantic from the melting ice caps will close down the so-called Atlantic Conveyer, which brings warm water up into the North Atlantic. Thus, the winds that blow across the Atlantic and into Europe will become much colder, giving Europe a mini-Ice Age.

Sounded like a reasonable theory, one I bought into, but even thats questionable. A few decades ago some researcher pointed out NW Europe was relatively warm because of the winds blowing off North America, not the ocean current. Notice how that warm water aint helping now that the winds are blowing in from the Russian Arctic? And there's more evidence that solar activity influences climate. These would help explain why we see "big" swings in temps even in the midst of past ice ages (or warming periods).

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
"Global warming" is slang for the more accurate "climate change."

For example, if climate change his big time, the fresh water entering into the Atlantic from the melting ice caps will close down the so-called Atlantic Conveyer, which brings warm water up into the North Atlantic. Thus, the winds that blow across the Atlantic and into Europe will become much colder, giving Europe a mini-Ice Age.

Good. Maybe they'll learn to play hockey.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Berzerker
it aint winter

Doddler gave no source, but I presume what was written is historical or fictional. Britain is not covered in snow at the moment.

Sounded like a reasonable theory, one I bought into, but even thats questionable. A few decades ago some researcher pointed out NW Europe was relatively warm because of the winds blowing off North America, not the ocean current. Notice how that warm water aint helping now that the winds are blowing in from the Russian Arctic? And there's more evidence that solar activity influences climate. These would help explain why we see "big" swings in temps even in the midst of past ice ages (or warming periods).

Water can carry a lot more energy than air. Any theory that says that it's the winds and not the oceans that effect the climate more has some serious physics to get past.

And the warm water is making a difference, the point to remember is that the water heating is a permanent presence that effects underlying conditions that seldom change, whereas cold or warm air is a highly variable weather phenomenon that is easily noticed. Britain has a highly temperate climate all year round because it is surrounded by sea. And what happens in areas surrounded by land? - they have huge variations in temperature throughout the year.

[Cort Haus]

Solly is Doddler? I wish he wouldn't keep changing his name everytime the wind changes direction. I can't keep up.

[Sandman]

Oh goody. More '2cm of snow causing chaos' news stories and Poly threads to look forward to.

[Lancer]

It's cold here too! Usually its around 85, but now its 80. Brrr.

[MikeH]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
Solly is Doddler? I wish he wouldn't keep changing his name everytime the wind changes direction. I can't keep up.

Just call him Spink

[Barley]

Thats funny, 6 months ago they were saying we were braced for a scortching summer. Shows how much they know or this kind of stuff is pure chance and guess work.