On Sunday, February 9, 2014 10:48:35 AM UTC, Adam Lea wrote:
On 09/02/2014 09:35, Graham Easterling wrote:



Most people will know my views on AGW, but blaming a few gales and a very wet winter on it are ludicrous. A few months ago the long run of quiet winter's was blamed on AGW (reduction of N-S temperature gradient etc.)





This I agree with, after all, winter storminess over N Europe has been

in decline over the last 20 years, and there is no trend since about 1970.



One thing to note is that I think it is more the increased tendency of

the jet stream to get locked in place giving prolonged periods of one

weather type which has possibly been attributed to declining Arctic sea

ice. This can give both scenario's, constant mild and wet, or constant

cold, depending on where the jet stream is locked relative to the UK.

Will as said on UKWW that he thinks there has been a change in the UK

climate since about 2006, that the UK climate is losing its variability,

and prolonged weather regimes are now more likely. It will be

interesting to see if any research papers come out in the near future

which addresses what causes the jet stream to lock in place like is has

done this winter (and the 2012 summer).

Well said. However, Will's opinion is just that; an opinion. There is very little (no?) science to back it - yet.