Rainy

4WD "You can imagine them huddled together in long winter evenings, taking turns to warm fingers around an inch long stump of candle." Done that decades ago -- and survived. Do some shale gas research 4WD. There's websites worldwide. Try this UK sites for starters -- http://frack-off.org.uk/ These websites below relate to those areas (in Lancs and Sussex) licensed to Cuadrilla, the only shale gas company drilling in the UK so far. http://stopfyldefracking.org.uk/ http://www.reaf.org.uk/news.php http://gasdrillinginbalcombe.wordpress.com/ Very recently the Lancashire borehole being drilled by Cuadrilla, has had to be abandoned. The cement was poor quality and also some of the equipment got stuck down the well pipe at 2000ft, even though the casing was exploded hoping to release it. So there now remains a leaking well for ever, with a good conduit for methane to migrate uncontrollably into the neighbouring permeable and fissured rocks, then up to the atmosphere. This company (funded by American and Chinese money) plans to come back in January and drill a fresh well just a few feet away. They have hopes of having hundreds of wells in Lancashire. So how many of those will fail? Other parts of the UK are under threat by other companies seeking planning permission.. Of course Australia and the US are further along with shale gas developments. There's loads of videos on line showing methane escaping near drilling areas, but really the world has hardly had a pinprick yet from this impossible-to-regulate industry. Seems to me the greenhouse gas accumulations will develop horrendously.

Light rain just started here after a dry afternoon. Feeling chilly. Only 4.9C..

Yes. Most digesting / decaying organic substances release methane.But importantly we've been opening up a Pandora's box in the hundreds of million years worth of fossilised and trapped methane stores in the Carboniferous and other geological periods. By hydraulic fracturing (fracking), eg in shale, the rocks are left shattered for ever. This allows more and more fugitive methane to move randomly within the strata and ultimately escape into the atmosphere. The new style unconventional long lateral fracking methods are particularly aggressive. Perhaps not just Pandora. Maybe Sorcerer's Apprentice comes to mind also. If only we knew what we are doing and what will be outcome (we = oil and gas industry and politicians and consumers etc)

The Minister for Climate Change at DECC is Gregory Barker. On his website, he has a video of his interview with Senator John McCain (about 4 mins). Purpose of the interview, Climate Change, is dealt with towards the end. McCain expresses his concerns that it may be too late to get greenhouse gas emissions under control. http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Barker_Gregory.aspx

Me too. Heard sudden rumbling that sounded like thunder -- out west somewhere. About an hour ago? Didn't think to check any charts as I dismissed it as TV forecasts haven't mentioned it. .Doesn't seem to be any sign on radar. Perhaps something's "gone up" !

Very serious problems looming as this shale gas extraction industry expands in many parts of the world. Recent report by Australian researchers. http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/11/21/Fracking-blamed-for-methane-releases/UPI-34731353537030/#axzz2CuGwnc1x

Nice sun halo develoing. Ooops. Developing ... sun dazzled eyes despite thick cloud

November rain here so far 90.5 mm. Average 154.9 mm. We came off lightly here yesterday -- only 9.6 mm. Relative near Windermere had 37.5mm.

Where on Netweather will the Energy Bill be discussed? In this thread? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20451189 Seems like serious emissions control is being ignored.. Much politicking about, as revealed by the Greenpeace "sting".. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20328297 I just wish I could take some of those politicians a walk around year-long sodden useless farmland and flooded roads in this area.

From European Environment Agency Nov 21 Climate change evident across Europe, confirming urgent need for adaptation http://www.eea.europa.eu/pressroom/newsreleases/climate-change-evident-across-europe Also from same website.-- Multimedia centre -- has selection of videos, including excellent and thought provoking 90 min film "Planet Earth".

A good day for wind turbines --- http://gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

So how do you reply to a youngster who asks why the Arctic sea ice has melted so much this year and does it matter? There's been lots of coverage in front of them in the press and videos on TV etc. A good thing I would suggest to encourage youngsters to have an enquiring mind and seek information.

This is so depressing. What awful problems we've left our children and grandchildren. Youngsters are concerned and ask questions. But what do we say to them as life gets more difficult? .... Somebody is fixing the problem? It will only be tricky for a few years? Nature has a way of bouncing back?

Thanks folks. "Pretty much no correlation. Might try a few other combinations and seasons if I find the time " Thanks for trying BFTV. . Maybe adding in Aug and Sept might be interesting. Could even take out May, as it "tends" to be dry and cold. Summer doesn't wake up here till late June and goes on till well into Oct. It's our summer correlation with the warmed Arctic I was wondering about, particularly when at max melt. "Have you looked at the correlation with lower solar activity. I noticed Kevin's list of record rainfall summers had some from past minimum periods.". Will do Gael Force. I wonder what station(s) the data is based on? In this region there have been very difficult wet spells in mid 1950s, the 1980s and since 2000. Was wondering about solar influence. These NW uplands get a real drenching nowadays. And such little heat, sunshine and evaporation the last 2 "summers". "Red months". Gray Wolf. Bring em on! Fondly remembering 1995 and 1996. I wish I shared your optimism. Can't see how to progress in this endlessly sodden situation. Next week looks grim.

A nippy winter on the way according to the Express http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/358717/Coldest-winter-in-100-years-on-way

Sorry to be dim --- but what is mslp?

Fret not. We can always unbolt them and take them away if there's a better idea for some power gen. At least they are not belching out filthy smoke or leaving a noxious residue for a few thousand years. Donald Trump is lurking with his spanners -- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2106736/Donald-Trump-funds-10m-anti-wind-farm-war-chest-preserve-nature.html

It was "nice" in the 70s Loafer. Thanks BFTV. Will this do? Rain 1968 - 2011, months, Chipping, Lancs.xls

Maybe I've attached it properly now.? See previous post. Chipping Rainfall.pdf

North East Lancs rain. Let's not get too bogged down in hurricanes. Please remember the sodden western upslopes and uplands in the UK. Attached here -- Monthly tables based on daily records here on the Met Off site on our farm, same kit, same site since Sept 1968. A relative has kindly processed the figures Left side shows the entire run from the start of 1969. Months are coloured -- darkest blue the wettest, darkest pink the driest. Months about average are left white. Gradation of paler shades in between. The table on the right side is produced by "Conditional formatting and Conditional shading from Microsoft Office Excel 2010 program". The idea was to make a visual aid based on the data to give an impression of the variation in the rain. Same colouring system. Various groupings of months are shown. No matter what grouping, for sure the increasingly difficult situation in recent years for farmers and growers due to excessive rain stands out. Now the thing is --- what correlation is there, if any, with the Arctic sea ice melt. Comparing the runs of Arctic sea ice extent and area graphs is interesting. I'd be pleased to have anyone's comments. Are we looking at sharing the same problem with the Arctic -- the heating up of seawater? Those of us living next to the huge hot angry Atlantic for sure seem to suffer most in the UK. We all hope for a better growing season next year. But I fear we are in a deteriorating climate. Hope this pdf works! Oops no. How do I attach a pdf?

Oct total 194.7 mm (av 158.9 mm) Year so far to end of Oct comes to 1565.8 mm. We are already wetter than 32 of the last 43 yrs of daily recording here. Wettest year was 2000 with 1947.4 mm.

I think we should be grateful for all and any coverage. I mostly watched the Weather Channel, but I thought the BBC coverage was good. In particular I thought David Shukman's presentations have been clear and excellent. He gave a good summary of the situation as Sandy was approaching the US shore yesterday - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20128931 Perfectly suited to the general audience. On BBC lunchtime news today he has updated his Sandy watch with another excellent new piece. Not yet on line.

Brooklyn Bridge being battered. http://aws1.earthcam.com/?c=bb

There's this -- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49577692/ns/weather/#.UI1srGeVoTs

Has anyone posted this? http://gridwatch.templar.co.uk/