Summer Floods

[Greenish]

Hello!
You know the Summer floods that came last year, Do you think that they'll come round again this summer?
And, also, what do you think caused all that rain?
I, myself, have no clue, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks!
Bethany

[naturelover]

Hi bethany i think we are going to get lots and lots of rain winter and summer now,its all to do with the greenhouse effect i am afraid,its nature taking over and there is not a lot any of us can do but mop it up.

[Greenish]

Maybe... just maybe one day we might be able to control the weather!
(It would make life a lot easier!)
Bethany

[naturelover]

you are right there girl if only.

[Greenish]

Yes, If only!

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by naturelover

Hi bethany i think we are going to get lots and lots of rain winter and summer now,its all to do with the greenhouse effect i am afraid,its nature taking over and there is not a lot any of us can do but mop it up.

Hi naturelover,
I think you're getting the greenhouse effect and global warming confused.

The greenhouse effect is a natural part of the earth's atmosphere, without it temperatures would be a hell of a lot lower than they are (brrr). It isn't the cause of more rainfall.

Global warming is a likely cause of more rainfall . One reason is more water from the surface condenses in warmer temperatures ultimately causing more water in the atmosphere which falls to earth as rain. It's not that there's more rainwater, it's a change in where the water is stored in the earth and it's atmosphere.

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

I'm a bit hazy on details for this. But during the summer one of the weather systems that normally sits either to the South or North of the UK decided it would set up home over the UK. This weather system happens every year but usually misses us. I'll try and find out whats its called. Thinking about it I guess it normally sits to the North of the UK.

BWD

[Greenish]

Hi, Claire!
My Dad says that there will be another Ice-Age before global warming comes!
Bethany

[Greenish]

Hello BWD!
Thanks for the information! But, does that mean that the floods won't necesarily come round this summer?
Bethany

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Greenish

Hi, Claire!
My Dad says that there will be another Ice-Age before global warming comes!
Bethany

Historically, we're already in an ice age!

[Greenish]

Huh?
Do you mean... Erm... It's hard to explain!
Arctic & Antarctica used to be tropical, and now they're covered in ice?
Is that what you mean, because I'm confused!
Bethany

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Greenish

Huh?
Do you mean... Erm... It's hard to explain!
Arctic & Antarctica used to be tropical, and now they're covered in ice?
Is that what you mean, because I'm confused!
Bethany

I don't know a huge amount about it myself, just what I've been learning on my OU course.

I think basically the earth's climate and global temperature goes in cycles, huge cycles which last millions and millions of years.
Part of these cycles are ice ages which include glacial periods (when we would be covered in ice) and interglacial periods (when we're not)
At the moment we're several thousands of years into an interglacial period, so yes, theoretically your Dad's right saying we're going to have another ice age but the timescales are huge!

That's about as far as I can explain on here really, although it is a fascinating subject!

[Greenish]

That explains it better for me to understand!
So, in hundreds of thousands of years, there will be a glacier ice-age, and this is just like a run-up to it?
This is weird... from floods to Ice-age in less than 24 hours!
Bethany

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Greenish

That explains it better for me to understand!
So, in hundreds of thousands of years, there will be a glacier ice-age, and this is just like a run-up to it?
This is weird... from floods to Ice-age in less than 24 hours!
Bethany

Pretty much! Fascinating thing ain't it!

[Greenish]

Yes, very fascinating!
I think that's the first thing I've got accurately right since I joined here!
Bethany

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Greenish

Yes, very fascinating!
I think that's the first thing I've got accurately right since I joined here!
Bethany

The only bit that throws the scales a bit is that human activity is affecting global warming so cycle timescales will change but the ins and outs of that bit is a bit past me at the mo!

[Greenish]

Yeah...
I think I get what you mean!
(I'm only a kid, though!)
Bethany

[Greenish]

Anyone else got any ideas/opinions??
Bethany

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Originally Posted by Greenish

Hello BWD!
Thanks for the information! But, does that mean that the floods won't necesarily come round this summer?
Bethany

Who knows what will happen this summer. It was the jet stream that was over the UK last summer and gave us a good soaking. Hopefully it will be back to its normal position this summer and it will be dry and warm. Here's hoping.
The whole weather system is really complicated, but most of the worlds weather and I guess climate revolves around the jet streams. They carry warm and cold air around the world and the gulf streams which carry warm and cold water around the oceans. That’s why there are palm trees on the west coast of Scotland.
The BBC showed a good series before Christmas called EARTH: The Power of the Planet. It's worth a watch.

BWD

[Greenish]

Yes, I hope, too!
Bethany