[Sally Le Page (OP)]

Trevor wrote to us to ask:

"Can you explain why we have had so many days of Northerly, North westerly or North Easterly winds this year?

It’s Midsummer's day and here on the Cambridgeshire Fens it’s yet another day with a Northerly wind blowing across from the North Sea right into our garden! When we moved here 22 years ago the prevailing wind was as we’d expect it to be from the South West and the trees we planted bear witness to that with their leaning as a result of those prevailing winds.  However, over the past few years, and this year in particular, it almost appears as though our prevailing wind has been from the North East.

Do you know why this is happening? Is it due to climate change and it’s effects on the Gulf Stream, or just a short term weather blip, or is it just because I’m getting older and notice the cold North Winds more..?"

Can you help?

[alancalverd]

You aren't alone in noticing the change. 5 years ago almost every departure I made from the Cambridge area was along runway 24 (SW) or thereabouts but for the last 12 months the majority have been on 06 (NE). Weather in England this year has been dominated by anticyclones, to the consternation of those who believe that wind energy will save us from all sorts of disasters.

[Petrochemicals]

I believe it is to do with the sudden drop in fossil fuel usage leading to global cooling. It has disrupted the normal jetstream meaning we spend more time with the jet stream lower than the country.

Think of last winter, global warming much pu licised, yet the uk having a long term harsh winter and Texas having a serious freeze.

[alancalverd]

I believe it is to do with the sudden drop in fossil fuel usage leading to global cooling.

That would be really annoying. Part of the carbon dioxide catechism is that it hangs around in the atmosphere for ages with a half life of between 5 and 30 years depending on where you worship. So a small decrease in road and air traffic for one year, partially compensated by an increase in domestic heating, isn't going to precipitate a significant change in the weather.

What has changed dramatically is the public perception of a harsh winter. You only need to roll back 60 years to see 6-foot snowdrifts in the Home Counties, or 40 years to see Oxfordshire villages receiving air drops of food parcels - and that was considered "a bit unusual". 30 years ago I taught my kids to ski in Hertfordshire - just fun, not harsh!   

[Petrochemicals]

I believe it is to do with the sudden drop in fossil fuel usage leading to global cooling.

That would be really annoying. Part of the carbon dioxide catechism is that it hangs around in the atmosphere for ages with a half life of between 5 and 30 years depending on where you worship.

Well Alan where is this carbon dioxide disappearing too? If its into trees unfortunately the bacteria has evolved so this carbon is not being transmuted back into coal and oil, but is released again when the tree bio degrades.

[Bored chemist]

If its into trees unfortunately the bacteria has evolved so this carbon is not being transmuted back into coal and oil, but is released again when the tree bio degrades.

Do you write this guy's scripts?