A recent study produced by Newcastle University has discovered a significant increase in rainfall relative to global warming levels. For every degree of global warming, winter rainfall increases by 7 percent.
While it is known that climate change increases rainfall, it is currently occurring at a much greater speed than previously expected.
The results of the study by Newcastle University reveal that the UK's environment is capable of holding more moisture due its warmer atmosphere, which is being caused by human carbon emissions.
The study also found that most climate models considerably underestimate increases in winter rainfall, with most only predicting an increase of 4 percent per degree.
Also demonstrated by this study is the varying effects of climate change depending on the region and pre-existing climate. It is believed by many that a universal effect of climate change is hotter weather, despite one of the principle risks of climate change in Europe being the collapse of the Gulf Stream, which, if it occurs, could see a 10 to 15 degree drop in temperature in Western Europe.
In the Mediterranean, winters are becoming much drier, worsening existing droughts and harming the environment and agriculture.
The implications of this study are significant, especially for the UK. The country is already very rainy (as anyone who lives here knows), and semi-regularly experiences flooding without proper infrastructure to support it.
More frequent rainfall means the ground is more saturated in general, which increases flood risk and their potential severity. This winter saw more than 100 flood warnings across the UK, with more likely to follow.
If global warming continues to be left unchecked, the country can expect more frequent floods, of greater severity, with more damage to people, buildings and the environment.
Rainfall will increase year-on-year, much faster than we can build infrastructure to counter it, until carbon emissions are reduced to a sustainable level.