http://www.washtimes.com/world/20020815-80822361.htm

Although I do not normally follow world weather patterns on a regular basis, according to the above article, Europe is seeing heavier than usual rainfall. And some are blaming the United States due to its non-participation in the Kyoto Accord. Saying the green house gasses are affecting the weather.

So are we looking at global warming factors causing this flooding??? Or is it the more realistic possibility of this being naturally occurring weather patterns that we as humans have absolutely no control over???

Well, we can't ignore the fewer trees and pollutants that contribute to the seriousness of the flooding, but floods have been around since Noah and will continue to happen over different parts of the world at different times from now until thy Kingdom come. El Nino, which made it's appearance last Christmas off the coast of Peru, may be a cause of this. El Nino, the warming of the Pacific ocean waters which occurs every few years, causes changes in the jetstream pattern through oceanic-atmospheric interaction, which in turn brings weather extremes (droughts, floods, heavy snows, etc.) depending on what part of the world you're from. Whether el Nino is the direct cause of this is uncertain, but clearly it is the upper level wind pattern that determines overall weather in a given area. The US is stuck right now in a jetstream pattern that is bringing severe drought and heat over a good portion of the country.

Probably all that rain they are getting!!