Truly global woes

as a result of climate change, uk may have to bear the brunt of as many as twelve floods a year. This would be four times the annual average a century ago, and double the present annual average of six, declared the National Flood Warning Centre of the of the uk Environment Agency.

Jim Haywood, head of the centre that is based in Frimley, Surrey, estimated that within 50-100 years the number of floods will have doubled to 12 serious floods a year. Brian Lee professor at Portsmouth University in uk , in a December 14, 2000, report in The Times of London, says the probability of a serious flood happening in any year could double. Lee warned at a gathering that these changes will occur in the lifetime of children born this year.

The news from across the Atlantic is not any better. A report published in the us says climate change during this century could seriously affect water resources in the country . It estimates substantial thawing of the Alaskan permafrost and unprecedented melting of glaciers.

The report,