This years weather cycle

[Oberon]

Is it just me or is one half of the planet on fire:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18758667

And the other half underwater:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18751198

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18845931

I also heard reports the other night from the World Service that suggested that we could be facing a potential food crisis due to the US heatwave affecting the Mid-West crops.

It's quite a vicious cycle this year, and no-one is quite sure what has caused the jet-stream kink, although it is similar to one that in 2010 brought a heatwave to Russia, and floods to Pakistan.

I ponder if it is linked to the peak of solar activity that takes place this year and next, or just another part of the climate cycle that we're going through, there's so many possibilities, but it's certainly been an 'interesting' year for weather events, and if one looks back over the past decade, it's been very interesting for meteorologists and climatologists alike.

[Garion]

It's Aliens wot is responsible Guv.. Aliens I tellls yooz:yeah:

But all joking apart, we do seem to me living in 'Interesting Times':o

Cheers

Gary

[Skybird]

With head in the oven and feet in the refrigerator, by mean temperature you are well off . ;)

[STEED]

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/23426732.jpg

[BossMark]

Is it just me or is one half of the planet on fire

Well thanfully living in the UK theres not much chance of that catching fire as its always pissing down :yep:

[Jimbuna]

Has someone been on the old country ale then? :)

[STEED]

It's been very warm & sunny here today. :sunny:

Monday. :/\\!!
Tuesday. :sunny:
Wednesday-Friday. :/\\!! :) :hmm2:

[BossMark]

Has someone been on the old country ale then? :)
Just had 6 pints of John Smiths before I had me dinner but that was fours hours ago :yep:

[STEED]

Just had 6 pints of John Smiths before I me dinner but that was fours hours ago :yep:

A. That's how we speak up North
B. I'm half drunk
C. A and B

[STEED]

I'm not complaining as so far this year I've had no need to water the garden with my watering can lugging a full can of water around trying not to spill the water going down stairs. :)

[BossMark]

I'm not complaining as so far this year I've had no need to water the garden with my watering can lugging a full can of water around trying not to spill the water going down stairs. :)
I must admit I prefere it when snows, then at least my garden looks like everyone elses :haha::har:

[AVGWarhawk]

Beside the sweltering heat for two weeks, we received a cooler week past, the cumulus clouds like this:

http://www.bigbranch.net/110.jpg

...and are present everyday. I do not recall in years past these types of clouds on a day to day bases. In the evening these clouds are quite beautiful with orange and purple hues. Last year and previous year we have experienced the 100 plus degree dry spell. Grass is brown. Flowers wilted or dead. The hot spell would last a few weeks. I was on the eastern shore of Maryland the last few days. The crops are growing well. The drought in the lower west and mid-west is wrecking havoc.

[Jimbuna]

Just had 6 pints of John Smiths before I had me dinner but that was fours hours ago :yep:

Drink something with a bit more flavour...it's now brewed in your area.

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/2884/drunkcob.gif

[Tribesman]

Look at it this way Oberon.
you are getting the Irish summer and we is getting a relatively mild one

[Oberon]

Touché Tribesman, Touché

Here's some info from a reliable source (http://www.frostedearth.co.uk/):

With just half the month now over the amount or rain this July is proving almost record breaking. For instance at Coulsdon only 2007 and 1956 have been wetter since 1918. Rainfall so far this month amounts to 108mm. July recorded 119mm and 1956 132mm. With more rain expected this week July 2012 will edge nearer to the wettest of all, 1918, at 145mm.

June was the wettest at 134mm since 1971 when 135mm was measured and if we combine both June and July so far the total of 242mm has occurred only half way through the summer and is 52 per cent above the entire average summer rainfall.

Sunshine is so far at a record low for 6 weeks of summer with June having 60 hours less sun than March this year even though the latter has on average 6 hours less daylight per day than June.
June was the coldest since 1991 so all in all a very inauspicious summer but some very warm weather is possible next week.
So, fingers crossed for next week then. :yep:

[JU_88]

I also heard reports the other night from the World Service that suggested that we could be facing a potential food crisis due to the US heatwave affecting the Mid-West crops.

Food Crisis? I doubt it, A slight rise in the cost of some food stuffs is far more likley.
Weve had an amazing amount of rain in the UK (even by our standards) me thinks that swimming will soon be the ONLY sporting event showcased at the London Olympics.

[Oberon]

Food Crisis? I doubt it, A slight rise in the cost of some food stuffs is far more likley.
Weve had an amazing amount of rain in the UK (even by our standards) me thinks that swimming will soon be the ONLY sporting event showcased at the London Olympics.

True, but a slight rise in its own could trigger a wave of problems across struggling economies. In the UK, for example, the price of a rump steak has risen by 22.8% over the past four years, well above the rate of inflation, and above the rate of pay increase.
If we don't face one this year, then at some point in the decade or two ahead, there's going to be a tipping point where food stocks are going to have to be invested in at a national level. Not just because of the climate, but because of the rising price of fuel and the rise of population at a rate which is not sustainable.
In a way, it would be better for a minor crisis to hit this year and wake countries up to what is to come at the current rate of advance, than for us to wake up one day and find that the only thing we can afford to eat is rice or noodles.