No more ‘horror winters’ for Europe – not for several years ahead – and indeed also not this year

Extremely cold winters for Europe persisting for several months are very rare. The last one to fit the definition occurred in 1963, almost half a century ago. Still many weather forecasters and media seem inclined (as again happened this year) … Continue reading

No White Christmas over the European plains – we are sorry we were right

In the last two or three years high pressure blockades dominated the West European December months and many countries including the UK, the Netherlands and Germany could enjoy White Christmases. Christmas Day 2010: some lovely sunshine over a frozen and … Continue reading

No reason to assume cold European winter ahead – too many sunspots

The cold winter of 2011-2012 that some meteorologists have predicted for Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark is in fact to be called unlikely.

World population 7 billion – where will the next billion come from?

Just one more day till the world population reaches 7 billion. Just 14 more years till the world population reaches 8 billion. We’ve seen how the latest one billion extra people are spread over the different continents. Now we’re wondering … Continue reading

Floods & La Niña: direct, indirect and other causes to heavy rains around the world

Extreme rainfalls and floods across different continents dominate the global news. A connection to La Niña has been suggested. But to what extent can the floods in Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, the Philippines and north-western Europe be … Continue reading