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RAPID climate change
Could global warming gradually turn Britain into a country with a southern European climate?
Or could we suddenly be plunged into a mini-ice age? Are both these scenarios valid? Why is everyone so hot under the collar about climate change? Surely it won't happen tomorrow?
In fact, climate can and does change rapidly.
Over as little as 10-20 years we could see major changes. But what causes rapid switches in climate?
Through the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Rapid Climate Change (RAPID) programme scientists are investigating whether western Europe could be shivering in the freezer or sweltering in the sauna.