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Greenhouse warming may moderate British storminess

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Summary

An analysis of data pertaining to the period 1861–1986 reveals that (1) a 1 °C rise in the mean annual air temperature of the British Isles has historically been associated with a 35% drop in the percentage of days that the United Kingdom has experienced cyclonic flow, and (2) a 2 °C increase in the mean annual air temperature over the sea to the north has typically been matched by a 60% drop in the percentage of days that the isles have experienced cyclonic flow originating from that source region. These findings raise significant questions about the oft-reported claim that CO2-induced global warming will lead to an increase in world storminess.

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Balling, R.C., Cerveny, R.S., Miller, T.A. et al. Greenhouse warming may moderate British storminess. Meteorl. Atmos. Phys. 46, 181–184 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01027343

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01027343

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