Apparently it's the fault of the Jet Stream
In the UK we are obsessed with the weather. We love weather statistics and the effect that the weather has on our daily lives. Our economy is affected by the weather and so is the amount of Pimms consumed and the number of ice cream vans in our nations parks and residential streets.
As a population we have always been interested in weather records, the coldest June on record, the wettest May since records began, the hottest February 21st in Stoke since 1876 etc.
http://www.crystalinks.com/jetstream2.jpg
But now a new phenomena is starting to enter our weather vocabulary. It started with the odd progressive BBC weather forecaster trying to impress the audience with their knowledge. Now the term jetstream has spread so fast that grannies on their way to the supermarket are discussing it with their fellow bus passengers.
The jet stream exists as a fast flowing current of air that forms between the troposphere and the stratosphere. On Earth this is caused by a combination of the rotation of the planet and atmospheric heating. Jet streams occur at the boundary of air masses with different temperatures e.g. the polar air mass and warmer equatorial air. Ok that's the science over.
According to the BBC website this summer the jetstream has been much nearer the equator than normal. Usually it sits north of the UK pushing the wet and cold weather to the north of the country. This year it is located over the south of England resulting in the wet, colder weather that is setting new unseasonable records. So for the past two months it has rained whereas a few hundred miles south in Paris the Sun is shining.
The exciting thing... It looks set to move north, the sun might be on its way to the country after all. The Olympics will be saved!!!
The next question, "Is this global warming?"
It doesn't feel like it!
Pass me my jumper...
As a population we have always been interested in weather records, the coldest June on record, the wettest May since records began, the hottest February 21st in Stoke since 1876 etc.
But now a new phenomena is starting to enter our weather vocabulary. It started with the odd progressive BBC weather forecaster trying to impress the audience with their knowledge. Now the term jetstream has spread so fast that grannies on their way to the supermarket are discussing it with their fellow bus passengers.
In preparation for todays blog entry I wanted to find out a bit more so I consulted google, I often consult google, I think it is fab.http://www.weatherquestions.com/jet_stream.jpg
The jet stream exists as a fast flowing current of air that forms between the troposphere and the stratosphere. On Earth this is caused by a combination of the rotation of the planet and atmospheric heating. Jet streams occur at the boundary of air masses with different temperatures e.g. the polar air mass and warmer equatorial air. Ok that's the science over.
According to the BBC website this summer the jetstream has been much nearer the equator than normal. Usually it sits north of the UK pushing the wet and cold weather to the north of the country. This year it is located over the south of England resulting in the wet, colder weather that is setting new unseasonable records. So for the past two months it has rained whereas a few hundred miles south in Paris the Sun is shining.
The exciting thing... It looks set to move north, the sun might be on its way to the country after all. The Olympics will be saved!!!
The next question, "Is this global warming?"
It doesn't feel like it!
Pass me my jumper...
Posted with Blogsy
Great read! Now for a decaf tea and biscuit! :)
ReplyDeletewait Ed. Which jet stream are we talking about? on your graphics there appear to be two jet streams, the polar and the subtropical (and the polar is wrapped around the British Isles...is this a representation of the situation at the moment or the situation in general? either way, happy days). So I take it that it is the polar jet stream that is closer to the equator this year? And if so, isn't that to do with global warming?? Is it because the ice caps are melting, so instead of the ice remaining solidly stuck at the north pole and keeping the cold air firmly oop north, it melts into the sea, making more of the sea colder...which obviously has a knock-on effect on the air associated with that sea...hence the movement of the jet stream? Or is that, as they call it, 'hack science'?
ReplyDeleteAnd if so, basically it means that we'll see more crap wet chilly summers, and more crap wet freezing winters. Oh god. We're going to have to move....
Dear Anna, thank you for your comment. I believe that it is the polar jet stream that is further South than usual. Your scientific assessment sounds interesting. I hypothesise that the cold wet weather will cause the British households to turn their heating on. As a large percentage of that heat is released into the atmosphere this should heat the air mass and push the jet stream back into its normal position. So get the heating on if you want sunny weather next week.
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