All posts tagged: wet

Are cold and wet UK summers here to stay? – podcast | Science

Are cold and wet UK summers here to stay? – podcast | Science

Published by skeptic

Here in the UK talking about the weather is already a national pastime, but this month the water-cooler weather chat has ramped up a notch as rain, grey skies and biting temperatures have put summer firmly on hold. Ian Sample talks to Matt Patterson, a postdoctoral research scientist in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, to find out what’s causing the chilly weather, whether it’s really as unusual as it seems, and whether any sun is on the horizon for the UK How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

UK farmers consider quitting after extreme wet weather and low profits | Farming

UK farmers consider quitting after extreme wet weather and low profits | Farming

Published by skeptic

British farmers are considering walking away from their farms as the recent record run of wet weather has left the sector “on the brink”, rural bodies have warned. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the Soil Association raised concerns over the perilous situations facing many in their industry, with profits being squeezed and extreme weather driven by the climate crisis putting financial and mental strain on farm owners. Helen Browning, the chief executive of the Soil Association, said: “A lot of farmers are really considering their options, and thinking about walking away from their farms, as they could make far more money doing something else.” Browning, who runs a livestock and arable farm in Wiltshire, added: “If you were economically rational, you wouldn’t farm.” The trade bodies’ comments came during a briefing on Thursday run by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) thinktank ahead of the second annual Farm to Fork summit being hosted by Rishi Sunak at No 10 next week. The summit is expected to discuss the UK’s future food …

California aquifers boosted by a wet year, recharge efforts

California aquifers boosted by a wet year, recharge efforts

Published by skeptic

After years of pervasive declines, groundwater levels rose significantly in much of California last year, boosted by historic wet weather and the state’s expanding efforts to replenish depleted aquifers. The state’s aquifers gained an estimated 8.7 million acre-feet of groundwater — nearly double the total storage capacity of Shasta Lake — during the 2023 water year that ended Sept. 30, according to newly compiled data from the California Department of Water Resources. A large portion of the gains, an estimated 4.1 million acre-feet, came through efforts that involved capturing water from rivers swollen by rains and snowmelt, and sending it to areas where the water percolated into the ground to recharge aquifers. The state said the amount of managed groundwater recharge that occurred was unprecedented, and nearly double the amount of water replenished during 2019, the prior wet year. Still, the increase in underground supplies follows much larger long-term declines, driven largely by chronic overpumping in agricultural areas. The gains only partially recouped the estimated losses of 14.3 million acre-feet of groundwater during the previous …

May off to a wet start in SoCal with cold temperatures and rain over the weekend

May off to a wet start in SoCal with cold temperatures and rain over the weekend

Published by skeptic

Los Angeles is expected to see colder temperatures and some light rain over the weekend, kicking off a wet start to May. L.A. County has about a 30% chance of rain Saturday into Sunday morning, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld. Rainfall totals are expected to range between 0.1 inch and 0.25 inches in lower elevations, with more potentially in mountain regions. Temperatures are expected to drop over the weekend, as an increase in air flowing in from the Pacific Ocean will bump up the marine layer clouds and the influence of the sea breeze, Schoenfeld said. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, wrote in an April 23 blog post that a “slightly unsettled pattern of weak but possibly colder low pressure systems” will move across the West Coast over the next few weeks, keeping temperatures at below-normal values. For the Los Angeles region, Tuesday temperatures are expected to be in the upper 60s near the coast and the low 80s for warmer areas, including the Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando Valley …

UK wet weather could push up price of bread, beer and biscuits | UK News

UK wet weather could push up price of bread, beer and biscuits | UK News

Published by skeptic

The cost of bread, biscuits and beer could increase this year due to the impact of the unusually wet autumn and winter on UK harvests. Research suggests that production of wheat, oats, barley and oilseed rape could drop by four million tonnes (17.5%) compared with 2023. The wet weather has resulted in lower levels of planting, while flooding and storms over winter caused farmers more losses. The predictions come just as the rate of price increases on many food items begins to slow as inflation falls. Money latest: ‘Fundamental change to UK food supply’ as new Brexit rules begin The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) analysed forecasts from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHBD) and government yield data. It found a “real risk” of beer, biscuits and bread becoming more expensive if the poor harvest increases costs for producers, according to its lead analyst Tom Lancaster. Beer prices could be affected because the wet weather is still disrupting the planting of spring crops such as barley, the ECIU said. And potatoes might also …

Why Colorectal Doctors Would Never Use Wet Wipes

Why Colorectal Doctors Would Never Use Wet Wipes

Published by skeptic

We’ve all been told to wipe from front to back and use a squatty potty at some point in our lives. We’ve heard this advice for a good reason ― because it works. On the other hand, when it comes to what not to do in the bathroom, some colorectal and gastrointestinal doctors have one product they don’t always recommend: wet wipes. This is not to say that every doctor is totally against using them. However, there are some potential drawbacks (aside from future plumbing issues) you’ll want to consider before reaching for one on your next trip to the bathroom. Here’s what to know: Wet wipes can cause some irritation and other issues post-toilet Although wet wipes are marketed to provide a better clean down there, especially after going No. 2, you’re generally not supposed to wipe with wet wipes as they can actually be more harmful than helpful. “The use of wet wipes is a common cause of perianal dermatitis (a rash around your butthole),” said Dr. Alex Elias, a board-certified female colorectal …

‘It was wet. It was filthy. It was aggressive. I said, I’ll take the racoon. But keeping exotic pets is cruel’ | Animals

‘It was wet. It was filthy. It was aggressive. I said, I’ll take the racoon. But keeping exotic pets is cruel’ | Animals

Published by skeptic

When Lindsay McKenna went out to buy a piece of furniture from a seller, the last thing she expected was to return with a wild animal. “Something moved in the garage when I was in there helping the guy lift [the furniture],” she said. “It was a racoon in an incredibly small cage, it could hardly turn around. It was wet. It was filthy. It was skinny, aggressive.” When the man kicked the cage, McKenna asked what was going on. “He said: ‘Oh, my stupid wife got it when it was eight weeks old for the kids – it is aggressive, we don’t know what to do with it’. So I said: ‘Right. I’ll take that with the furniture’.” The incident, in late 2009, marked the beginning of Wildside Exotic Rescue – a centre near Ross-on-Wye that now houses animals from meerkats to mountain lions, mostly from UK homes. Keeping such animals is not illegal – the Dangerous Wild Animals (DWA) Act 1976 permits private ownership with a licence from the council. But now experts, …

California increases water allocation after wet winter

California increases water allocation after wet winter

Published by skeptic

With runoff from this year’s snow and rain boosting the levels of California’s reservoirs, state water managers on Tuesday announced plans to increase deliveries of supplies from the State Water Project to 40% of full allotments, up from 30% last month. The increased allocation, which had been widely expected, means that suppliers serving 27 million Californians, as well as some farming areas, will have substantially more water available to use and store this year. But the Department of Water Resources also said officials have had to limit pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta this year because of environmental protections for native fish. Although this year has brought average wet conditions, the agency said its ability to move water south through the system of aqueducts and reservoirs has been “impacted by the presence of threatened and endangered fish species” near the state’s pumping facilities in the south delta. “The presence of these fish species has triggered state and federal regulations that significantly reduce the pumping from the Delta into the California Aqueduct,” John Yarbrough, acting …

UK announces ban on sale of wet wipes containing plastic to tackle pollution | Politics | News

UK announces ban on sale of wet wipes containing plastic to tackle pollution | Politics | News

Published by skeptic

The UK is set to ban the sale of wet wipes containing plastic to help protect the environment. Legislation will be introduced later this year to help prevent damaging plastic pollution and clean up waterways. Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Wet wipes containing plastic are polluting our waterways and causing microplastics to enter the environment. “Defra will introduce legislation before the summer recess to crack down on this unnecessary source of pollution, following our successful single-use carrier bag charge and ban on microbeads in personal care products. “I have been clear that a step change is needed to protect our waterways from pollution. “The ban builds on a raft of actions already taken to protect our waterways and hold water companies accountable – including accelerating investment, putting water company fines back into the environment and quadrupling the number of inspections of water company sites.” Defra plans to bring forward the legislation for English before the summer, with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales following by the autumn. Wet wipes containing plastic break down into microplastics over …

Wet wipes containing plastic to be banned from sale in UK | UK News

Wet wipes containing plastic to be banned from sale in UK | UK News

Published by skeptic

Wet wipes containing plastic will be banned from being sold in the UK, with legislation expected to be announced by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay today. The government is planning to introduce the legislation before parliament’s summer recess begins in July. The new law will make it illegal to sell wet wipes containing plastic in England, before being rolled out to cover the rest of the UK in autumn. Discarded wet wipes frequently litter Britain’s beaches and eventually break down into microplastics, which contribute to water pollution and damage ecosystems. Numerous retailers – including Boots, Aldi and Tesco – have already moved to ban them from their shelves. Mr Barclay has said the ban “builds on a raft of actions already taken to protect our waterways and hold water companies accountable”. The other actions include “accelerating investment, putting water company fines back into the environment and quadrupling the number of inspections of water company sites”, he said. However, Labour has said the legislation does not go far enough and is calling for “a full ban on …