Bitterly cold winters to become the norm for Ireland

Scientists predict harsh weather as sun goes quiet

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Friday, June 17, 2011, 7:38 AM

Updated Friday, June 17, 2011, 11:44 AM

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Ireland can brace itself for even more bitterly cold winters – according to American scientists

Lockwood has already claimed that low solar activity causes high altitude jet stream winds to twist back on themselves during winter months. This channels bitterly cold Arctic air and frigid winds from the Russian Steppes across northern Europe and on to Ireland.

“Our evidence shows that low solar activity makes it easier for something called ‘jet stream blocking’ to occur,” said Lockwood.

“I predicted a year ago there was a 10 per cent chance we would be in Maunder Minimum conditions by 2040.”

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jamthecat | Jun 19, 2011, 12:00 AM EDT

I love the idiot comments mocking global warming. Every word reveals how ignorant they are of what it's all about. But this is what happens when you deal with ideologues -- truth and science and reality mean nothing if they disagree with what those fools prefer to believe. For example...global warming is not just about the planet getting hotter; it's about the weather becoming more extreme. Meaning colder winters. Nastier droughts. Massive flooding brought on by massive snowfalls melting and massive rain storms blowing in. Scorching summers. Tornadoes bigger and badder. Hurricanes more intense. ALL of which we've been seeing. But then again, people made fun of Noah as he built his ark, and look what happened to them.

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Springfield9 | Jun 18, 2011, 04:44 PM EDT

Well, we can't help the weather. However, we can help our attitude towards it. Since Iceland is about to blow .... take in the Icelanders (80% of the females are Celt). They are good people and would see a cooler Ireland as a trip to the Canary Islands!

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seagreen | Jun 18, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT

The sun may be doing its thing, but the real threat to Ireland,Scotland, Iceland, and the Norwegian coast is the fragmentation of the Gulf Stream. Fresh water flowing down from the Arctic at 300 meters depth is possibly altering the salinity of the Gulf Stream. This in turn will fracture the curreents full flow in specific direction lessening the warming effect. When you realize that Boston is at 42 degrees north, and becomes icebound, you can imagine Ireland at 54 degrees north without the full brunt of the Gulf Stream.

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peterson | Jun 17, 2011, 03:52 PM EDT

Brrrr !!

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cillowen | Jun 17, 2011, 02:07 PM EDT

being in league with the devil it shudda been the other way around.

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Dompedro | Jun 17, 2011, 01:33 PM EDT

Re: johhnyb - no, not exactly, but you can bet that the Solar "coolers" will be frozen out (deliberate play on words) from further climate meetings and publications. Global warming and solar cooling. Wow. Maunder Minimum. Middle of the Little Ice Age. Which are words that some do not speak.

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Springfield9 | Jun 17, 2011, 11:33 AM EDT

Scientists - MAKE UP YOUR MINDS! Am I supposed to buy sun-screen and Speedos or knit caps???????

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johhnyb | Jun 17, 2011, 10:02 AM EDT

Would these be the same scientists who were predicting global warming?

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Sarge524 | Jun 17, 2011, 09:29 AM EDT

So much for global warming, any body looking for carbon credits?

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