From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/969296.stm 12th October 2000

"The effects of climate change mean Britain is increasingly at risk from
flooding, says the Environment Agency. It estimates that changing climate
patterns in the UK will eventually mean a 10% increase in annual rainfall,
wetter winters and more summer thunderstorms."

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3033752.stm 30th June 2003

"Hotter and drier summers brought about by climate change will mean that the
availability of water supplies will come under even more pressure"
Quote from thre The Environment Agency annual state of the environment
report for the South East.

So which is it to be chaps?!

Victor

Both! They are not inconsistent but are often thought to be. Note that the top
quote does not promise higher summer rainfall (drier summers, with a higher
proportion of the rain in thunderstorms, odd heavy falls with long dry spells
inferred) so it is consistent with the second one; and this trend is expected
to be particularly well developed in the South East.

As a post-script to this, I now think October might be my tenth consecutive
drier than average month. Still only 270mm so far this year .When I get time I
will compare with other dry sequences of months on the 330 year Kew rainfall
series and report back. My back garden rain gauge should have the same annual
average (c 600mm) as the old Kew Observatory site, pity my house does not
provide the same gracious architectural backcloth as the Observatory did!

Julian
Julian Mayes, West Molesey, Surrey