"Steve Jackson" wrote in message
...
What do you think of this article that appeared in tonight's "Coventry
Evening Telegraph"?

Whatever the merits of the study, where does it actually say that we are
due a "white Christmas"?

Still, that's journalists for you!


White Christmas likely, says study Oct 26 2004

It's enough to make the bookies freeze with fear - Britain has more chance
than ever of a thick cover of snow this Christmas, scientists are
predicting.

A study of 140 years of winter weather has found that while short showers
are declining, heavy and prolonged blizzards are increasing decade on
decade.

Richard Wild, director of the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation
(TORRO), said his study rubbished theories that Britain no longer suffers
from bitter cold snaps.

He said his work had examined snowfall trends since records began in 1861
and uncovered a steadily growing pattern of downfalls lasting over 24
hours.

"Between 1890 and 1899 the UK witnessed about 27 heavy snowfalls," said Mr
Wild, one of the country's leading snow experts.

"This has steadily risen decade on decade and between 1990 and 1999 it had
reached just under 60,"

"The perception is that we are not getting the snow we used to. In
reality, snow is falling - but it is falling in unpopulated areas of the
country."

Mr Wild, a meteorologist for Bournemouth-based WeatherNet ltd, said the
increase in heavy snow showers is partly down to climate change.

He added: "We are a warmer world - which means there is more moisture in
the atmosphere. This also means there is more potential for snow to occur
when temperatures drop."

His research also revealed that heavy snow is more likely to fall in
Scotland than in England or Wales.

I was just going to post the self-same piece (courtesy of the news wires).
Richard, who has been known to post here and is possibly lurking,
will find, like so many before him, that feeding the press earns him
nothing but badly burnt fingers. You can tease out from the article what
he says and what the journalist says, but that's not the point. The point
is the way the news release has been used by the journalist. I've just
come off the phone to the D***y T***g**ph desperately trying to
explain what I think the research means (not that I know because I
haven't seen the original work) and I hope the result is that their
coverage is less hyped than the last time. But I wouldn't bet on it.
Perhaps a DT reader will let us know tomorrow morning (I don't
read it).

Philip Eden