So, if global warming is going to affect weather patterns, should we be planting solar panels in Europe?

Modelling is probablistic - noone can say exactly what if any new stable pattern will be formed - if one is it couodltake generations or longer before it settles down to what we are use to at the moment.

We have the science and the technology and the economic muscle to address this issue now - to answer the above yes and yes, yes, yes and yes. Regards wind patterns the atmosphere is an energy driven system - the more energy in it the windier it will get - as heat is energy, global warming will result in stormier more severe weather. The UK needs 30,000 wind generators to meet current deman - that's £50-100Bn - we could do that with a small tax increase, be energy independent and carbon neutral in 5 years and be in a position to sell all our carbon quotas and export our oil and gas reserves too - that would pay back the investment in about 2 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why doesn't every nation to the same?? Wind, solar, tidal, nuclear, biomass, hydro-electric - all carbon neutral, together they form a robust and continuous supply source that would meet and infact exceed our energy requirements - whay not do this?????

Do you have any idea of the area needed to harness enough energy from solar panels just for it to travel that distance? And there ugly as hell.

Spain more desert like??? have you been to Spain lately???

Wind power is not efficient enough an ugly scar on the landscape not to mention the damage to wildlife, esp. birds. Though winds are set to increase. Its still not the best solution though.

The majority of Germany's energy is nuclear.

We have far more cloud cover here as well an the other down side is that that will increase with climate change.

Wave energy is inefficient as well, huge area needed again ugly and all the plastics used in production suck.

We should be looking at clean coal or hydrogen energy sources.

Nuclear energy just adds to the problem by the waste product, an if anyone else starts suggesting its a good idea to sink the waste carbon into the sea where at depth it will solidify I will grab a gun an shoot something.

Global warming is at the fore front because politicians found how to use a new platform to get re-elected. The world leaders use it because they found ways to make money at it. This is a made up problem just like Global Cooling in the 1970's. Wake up people. I agree we need to be more efficient with our resources, and we should fine and jail companies who are dumping into our rivers maliciously. I want to stop the raiforest destruction, but to say that global warming is a serious man made issue and we need to destroy the American economy and bow down to the rest of the world certainly does not float my boat. Follow the money on this one and you will see that it is all for political gain and grant money for those scientists who profit off of the government if global warming stays at the front of the issues. Look deep into the Keoto (sp?) Treaty, first of all they took jets to a non-central resort location. Not very environmentally concious. THen in the parameters of the treaty they have a clause that makes it so you can buy or sell polution credits. This is all about shifting wealth and breaking down the United States. This is painfully obvious, just look at peoples agenda. The earth's mean temperature has risen .6 degrees C in the past 125 years. Greenland's icecaps have gotten colder in the past 10 years. The Scientists who do not gain anything on their posisition will tell you that the earth has a natural progression and this is what we are seeing. The UN report is made up of POLITICIANS not a good spread of scientists. THere are as many or more scientists who believe that man in NOT the reason and it is over hyped, but their voice is not heard in the LIberal Mainstream Media. This issue is 99% political, and an attempt to make the USA a socialist nation, and eventually communisim. WAKE UP AMERICA, IT IS TIME TO BE AMERICANS. FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE. STOP THE LIES

Solar panel technology is not a reliable enough source to power anything large for a sustained period of time. Weather patterns will change, but for the most part will become more exaggerated. Take the hurricane season in the U.S. last year. You'll see many weather "firsts" as well as a lot of dramatic weather (floods, horrific storms, unprecedented snowfalls, etc.) but as far as temperate areas turning to desert, doubtful.

I think many coastlines and windward mountain areas should have areas dedicated to harnessing wind power. Nuclear power is really the most efficient and better eco-friendly method of mass power production to replace coal.

and when the money is spent, and the climate doesn't change to make those solar panels beneficial, then what???

yes climates are going to change, but there is no telling how much or to what direction they will in a given area.

it would be like being told to take a coat with you just in case it gets cold at night, and your coat cost you several billion $$

what they need to do, is build some solar panels on that ice at the poles, to gather energy for nearby counties, and hoep that it will slow the process a little while we have a chance to change our habits to reverse the current trend.

all this is possible, it just needs some one with the money & know how to start it of , good ideas though.