Charlotte Smith, Simon King, and Smith Mordak discuss the recent heavy rainfall in England, its effects on farming and infrastructure, and how to adapt to the changing climate. They highlight challenges in agriculture, building resilience, and the impact on animals and wildlife.
UK experienced record rainfall due to jet stream's southern positioning affecting agriculture.
Developing green infrastructure is crucial to mitigate flooding risks and adapt to changing climate.
Deep dives
Record Rainfall in the UK
The podcast episode discusses the unprecedented rainfall in the UK, with 1,695.9 millimeters from October 2022 to March 2024, setting a record since data collection began in 1836. The guests explain that the rainfall varies across the UK, with the South experiencing the heaviest rainfall, attributing this pattern to the positioning of the jet stream. The implications of this consistent rainfall on agriculture, particularly in flooding and crop planting, are highlighted, showcasing the challenges faced by farmers due to the saturated conditions.
Impact of the Jet Stream on Weather Patterns
The jet stream's influence on weather patterns is explored, with its southern positioning directing intense rainfall towards the UK from the southwest. This deviation from the typical weather distribution leads to wetter conditions in southern regions compared to the north. The podcast predicts a northward movement of the jet stream in spring, affecting rainfall in different UK areas. The significance of the jet stream's trajectory in determining weather patterns and the challenges it poses for forecasting are emphasized.
Resilience in the Built Environment
The episode delves into the implications of increased rainfall on the built environment, emphasizing the importance of developing resilience strategies. The discussion centers on nature-based solutions to manage excess water, highlighting the role of green infrastructure in mitigating flooding risks. The need for adaptive approaches in urban planning and infrastructure development to address the changing climate and reduce the impact of heavy rainfall on buildings and infrastructure is underscored.
Today, we look at why it has been raining in England and Wales so much recently - and how UK infrastructure copes during unusually wet periods.
Why is this happening? What effect does heavy rainfall have on our industries and environment? And how can we adapt buildings and transport to better suit the UK’s changing climate?
Adam is joined by Countryfile and Farming Today presenter, Charlotte Smith, BBC weather presenter, Simon King and Chief Executive at the UK Green Building Council, Smith Mordak.
And Chris Packham tells us how animals are getting on in this wet weather.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Gemma Roper and Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.
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