JUST   HOW   WET -  IS   WET?

  There's been a lot of talk recently about the wettest autumn since weather records began in 1700 and something. Certainly the flooding in various parts of the country has been dramatic and traumatic.  In Dorset these problems have been less but nonetheless it has rained an awful lot.  It often seems that the heaviest rain is saved especially for a DCV task day so that a muddy worksite becomes a quagmire and that a slightly dodgy waterproof decides to leak like a sieve.  Cold rainwater trickles down one's neck long before the kettle can be persuaded to boil for that first 'cuppa' round a warming and cheering bonfire. 

At this point the wisdom of belonging to DCV eludes all but the serious stalwarts. However, if the Ryewater day is anything to go by - soggy and sorry for oneself by 11 a.m. but sunshine, a 'cuppa' and a fine bonfire by lunchtime and all was well with the world.   A lovely work site, roaring bonfire, tea at appropriate intervals and a fantastic sunset made it a glorious DCV day!

So - just how wet has it been this autumn? I haven't got the official Met. Office figures to hand but our back garden records began in 1999 and . . . September, October, November and December 1999 total rainfall was 542mm  September, October, November and December 2000 total rainfall was 710 mm . . . it's been wet! The total rainfall for 2000 as recorded in our Martinstown back garden is 1356.5mm. There's some consolation though . . .! Martinstown holds the UK record for the heaviest rainfall in 24 hours. On 18th July 1955 11 inches (275mm) of rain fell on the village in one day. It hasn't been that wet . . . yet!

Helen

 (Dorchester official records for 2000 record 1248.5mm of rainfall with their wettest year on record being 1960 with 1517.5mm.)

Why recent floods are not all caused by global warming - Don't blame the climate

Dr John Boardman head of the Environmental Change Institute, Oxford.  Guardian, Nov 8 2000

 Between 1976 and 1993, 60 incidents of flooding of properties occurred in the Brighton area. A substantial number will have been added in 2000. There is a pattern to the flooding:  almost all incidents occur in the months of October and November; all involve run-off from fields prepared for, or sown with winter wheat. The fields are bare and even moderate amounts of rainfall result in muddy flows leaving the fields by way of gullies.

Central to the case, and others like it, is the assertion that it is how, when and where the land is cultivated, not the fact that it rains hard, that is the main cause of flood damage. Farmers thus have a responsibility to manage land wisely which includes being aware of downvalley risk of flooding.  This is not only a South Downs problem, in other parts of the country where houses are adjacent to farmland the incidence of flooding has increased since the adoption of winter cereals in the 70s.

Particularly at risk are the Isle of Wight, Devon, Somerset, Kent and parts of the east and west Midlands.  Recent media reports of flooding in south-east Englandd have linked it to climate change. While there may be an element of exceptional rainfall, new developments on floodplains have clearly contributed to the catalogue of damage.  Floodplains are meant to store water not to be cluttered with houses. (extracts only, the full article is available to read)