Posted on 03/25/2007 3:48:06 PM PDT by blam
Source of hot European summers determined
PALAISEAU, France, March 22 (UPI) -- French-led research suggests shortages of winter rainfall over southern Europe precede hot summers further north on the European continent.
Robert Vautard of the Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute in Palaiseau, France, and colleagues analyzed meteorological records of the past 58 years and determine dry conditions around the northern Mediterranean create a mass of anomalously warm, dry air that spreads northward during early summer.
The researchers detected the pattern while searching for previously undiscovered weather scenarios that explain heat waves, such as the one experienced by Europe in the summer of 2003.
Because dry soil inhibits convective cloud formation, the authors suggest soil water contents in Europe's Mediterranean regions play a critical role in the maintenance of climate across Europe. They also found winter and early spring rainfall frequency in the Mediterranean regions correlates with summer temperature in continental Europe.
The study appears in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
No reference to global warming? I'm shocked.

That's too easy - heck, we see that thing most days in the sky ... way too obvious....
Are they going to request a grant to help confirm that this is even possible??
Yea,and with less rain there's less evaporative cooling so the heat builds up.Who would have ever thought...
It's hot air from Gore and other politicians that does it.
So a lack or rain in the winter months causes warmer summers, but less rain is caused by global warming.....errrrr.....or does global warming cause more rain cause the warmer air holds more moisture.........errrrrrr.......but still causes drought.......errrrrrrr..........I'm getting confused...........Never Mind
So, does the rain in Spain still fall mainly on the plain?
by George, I think you've got it!
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