R Gates
Please stop trying to attribute modern weather events to the ‘anthropocene’ (last time I intend to use this ridiculous politically loaded term until it becomes official).when they are not exceptional or unpecedented. Once again you are trotting out the Russian Heat wave and saying it can easily be related to CHG’s. Why not attribute it to natural variabilty as we have many examples of similar heat waves in the past?
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/11/01/a-short-anthology-of-changing-climate/
Halfway down this article I mention the Russian Heat waves of the Mid 1800′s and have also written about other events elsewhere. (There were similar events in the 1760′s)
As regards Blocking highs I made mention of this in my article ‘The long slow thaw’ after examining tens of thousands of contemporary weather observations from 1538 onwards.
http://curryja.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/long-slow-thaw-supplementary-information.pdf
“Due to its geographical location British weather is often quite mobile and periods of hot, cold, dry or wet weather tend to be relatively short lived. If such events are longer lasting than normal, or interrupted and resumed, that can easily shape the character of a month or a season. Reading the numerous references there is clear evidence of ‘blocking patterns,’ perhaps as the jet stream shifts, or a high pressure takes up residence, feeding in winds from a certain direction which generally shape British weather.”
There is very little new under the sun including our weather patterns.
tonyb