Cold winters
Tuesday April 20, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

This winter has been one of the coldest in recent years. 

Apart from all the snow in the UK, and Scotland in particular, it has been cold in The Alps for large parts of the season.

It has also been highly changeable.

At the beginning of the season, before and after Christmas it was -20c at 2,000m and then just a few days later it was +7c.

The New Year week will be remembered for its rain. 

Wrap up warmOverall though it has been a cold winter and that has helped preserve the snow.

Now scientists says we could have more frequent cold winters as a result of low solar activity.

They claim a link between fewer sunspots and atmospheric conditions that block the warm westerly winds reaching Europe during the winter months.

The findings appear in the journal, Environmental Research Letters and are reported here.

It goes into some detail about the changes that may be taking place to the jet stream and is well worth a read if the subject interests you.

In essence it argues that less solar activity is moving the jet stream.

The jet stream blows above Europe at a height of  7- 12km and if it moves the way the scientists believe then Europe will get colder and snowier winters.

The scientists say that is does not mean global warming is not occurring, just that another weather phenomena is coming into play.

We have already reported on the winter temperatures here on PlanetSKI with the UK having its coldest winter for 30 years.

January in London

We also asked a few people how they kept warm in the mountains during one of the cold spells in The Alps.

The scientists who carried out the analysis will continue with their work and see what impact there may be on the summer temperatures from low solar activity.

It is a story we will keep an eye on here at PlanetSKI.

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