Graham

Going on my records since 1989, there seems to be relatively little change
in the annual rainfall totals, it just seems to be shifting in when it
actually falls throughout the year, i.e., drier spring & summers; wetter
autumn and winters.

Yes, slightly drier spring & summer here as well. The rainfall here has
always been very seasonal, but is even more so now.

I believe this fits in with earlier models showing the effects of a
warming climate on the UK. If the climate continues to warm then this
shifting of rainfall pattern is predicted to get more extreme.

I agree. Also what I find interesting is the warming over the last couple of
decades here has been slightly greater in summer than winter. This counters
the argument that warmer winters are just down to the lack of blocking
conditions. Apparently CO2 emisions are apparently increasing at a record
3.5% per annum. Partly because the politicians in the developed countries
are attempting to meet emission targets by exporting energy hungry
industries to the 3rd world. Looks like bye bye polar bears.

Graham
________________
Nick G
Exe Valley, Devon
50 m amsl

"Graham Easterling" wrote in
message ...

"Nick G" wrote in message
...
I'm not a meteorologist either but this winter dry spell is probably
down to natural variability and next year we could be inundated with
rainfall, overall though there is a pattern of ever increasingly drier
summers, and this applies to much of England but is more enhanced in the
south-east.
________________
Nick G
Exe Valley, Devon
50 m amsl

It certainly seems to be down to natural variability here in Penzance,
although admittedly I'm not in the SE.
Winter rainfall totals as a % of the 1971-2000 norm being:-

Winter % of Norm
92/93 76
93/94 152
94/95 112
95/96 107
96/97 66
97/98 84
98/99 108
99/00 128
00/01 133
01/02 97
02/03 110
03/04 99
04/05 57
Av of the 13 years 102%
7 Winters wetter than average, 6 drier.

Overall it's beem getting slightly wetter in recent decades
1971-1980 Average - 1140.9mm
1981-1990 Average - 1165.9mm
1991-2000 Average - 1261.2mm
& warmer
1961-1990 Mean Temp - 11.1
1971-2000 Mean Temp - 11.3
1991-2000 Mean Temp - 11.6

Graham