Scientists predict colder European winters to come

thelocal.de ^ | : 15 Apr 10 11:53 CET

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Continental Europe and Britain are likely to see more unusually cold winters like last season due to low solar activity, according to a new study by British and German researchers published on Thursday.

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The study in “Environmental Research Letters” compared recent low sun spot activity to a solar period called the “Maunder minimum” in the second half of the 17th century, when even the Thames River froze over in London. The period of harsh winters is frequently called "The Little Ice Age."

In the last 11 years, sun spot activity has been at a 90-year low, providing the researchers from the University of Reading, the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, and the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Katlenburg-Lindau with a special opportunity to compare historic temperature records with sun activity and investigate how this connects to cold winters in the region.

Their work showed that periods of quieter sun activity influenced atmospheric conditions, creating a “blocking” effect against warm Atlantic air that would normally reach the region, resulting in colder winters.

The meteorological changes affect the jet stream above the region, rerouting the usual mild westerly winds and allowing cold and dry wind to gust over Europe – adding to an overall lower temperature.

The study said that conditions even suggest an eight percent chance that a chilly Maunder minimum-like era could occur once again.

But the scientists insisted that their findings did not disprove the theory of climate change.

“We stress that this is a regional and seasonal effect relating to European winters and not a global effect,” the study said, adding that “results presented here indicate that, despite hemispheric warming, the UK and Europe could experience more cold winters than during recent decades.”

To reach this conclusion, the UK researchers incorporated data from the Central England temperature (CET) record, which dates back 351 years, with sun activity data put together by the Max Planck specialists.

Director the Institute for Solar System Research there Sami K. Solanki said he used magnetic field measurements to measure sun activity, but because these records date back to just 1900, researchers reconstructed older levels with the help of computer simulations.

“The connection between sun activity and the cold winter in Europe was only recognisable after we calculated out the overlaying trend of global warming,” Solanki said in a statement.

External link: See the study here »

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

[Army Air Corps]

We’re gonna need a bigger bandwagon for the coming mini iceage europa event.. fur bikinis will be in at St. Tropez.

That, or women may stop shaving.

[Marine_Uncle]

"But the scientists insisted that their findings did not disprove the theory of climate change."
The whole lot of them continue to play clever little games.

[TrueKnightGalahad]

French women shave? Who’da thunk it?

[Jeff Chandler]

Bush's Fault™

[Grampa Dave]

It may be a good time to buy up on wool, fleece and Gore Tex clothing and make sure our homes are well insulated before the next ice age hits.

[TigersEye]

“Scientists” will say anything for money. What does the weatherman say?

[TrueKnightGalahad]

When I encounter PC People, I always think of one of my favorite Heinlein quotes:

Most people can't think, most of the remainder won't think, the small fraction who do think mostly can't do it very well. The extremely tiny fraction who think regularly, accurately, creatively, and without self-delusion -- in the long run, these are the only people who count.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Justification for my Tagline

http://www.fulbright.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=publications.detail&pub_id=4425&site_id=494&detail=yes

[RJL]

Continental Europe and Britain are likely to see more unusually cold winters like last season due to low solar activity

But the scientists insisted that their findings did not disprove the theory of climate change.

“We stress that this is a regional and seasonal effect relating to European winters and not a global effect,”...

Are all climate scientists crazy? Here, they rightly says that they're in for some cold winters because of solar conditions, but it's only regional? The Sun's activity is only going to effect Britain and Europe?

You can't make up crazy like this.

[Gay State Conservative]

Boy,that Karl rove is an amazing guy! Lower solar activity??? How did he pull *that* one off?

[Pollster1]

So, if European winters are colder over the next few years, that’s still consistent with global warming. Interesting.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well,...they wouldn’t want this finding to impact their Grants....

[hinckley buzzard]

Yes. Interesting how this type of little disclaimer has become politically mandatory. Future grant money is at stake. So if you want to fund your little gaggle of grad students next year, and travel to all those exotic locations for conferences and expense account fun in the sun, you better play ball.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

[Marine_Uncle]

Looks like you wrapped up the whole scam rather nicely.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest_at_the_Beach.

The study in "Environmental Research Letters" compared recent low sun spot activity to a solar period called the "Maunder minimum" in the second half of the 17th century, when even the Thames River froze over in London. The period of harsh winters is frequently called "The Little Ice Age."

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[rdl6989]

Al-Goracle will not be amused. He’s worked too hard on his scam to sit by quietly for this.

[Quix]

I wonder . . . could Al Bore be . . . uhhh . . .

persuaded . . .

to uhhhh . . . submit an appendage . . . to an experiment . . .

perhaps on Greenland . . . to see how long it would take global warming to free him from a huge block of ice.

Might keep him out of our hair.

We might not have to listen to him any more either.

I don’t think even he can scream THAT far.

[SunkenCiv]

He’s not allowed to move beyond the latitude of the 48 contiguous, his weight of his ego (or maybe just his ass) would throw off the Earth’s axis.

[Rocky]

But the scientists insisted that their findings did not disprove the theory of climate change.

Because we don't want to be called "deniers" and get excluded from all the best parties.