RECORD high pressure around the UK could lead to cups of tea being a little hotter than usual.
Measurements taken at the University of Reading’s Atmospheric Observatory are showing that atmospheric pressure is unusually high; this slightly raises water’s boiling point.
Prof Giles Harrison from the Department of Meteorology said: “Water boils when the pressure from the liquid equals the external pressure, so if that external pressure is increased, the boiling point increases too.
“During a similar period of high pressure in January 2020 the boiling point was increased by about one degree celsius.
“The opposite effect occurs at high altitudes where the atmospheric pressure is lower, so the boiling point of water is also lower. For example, pure water boils at 68 degrees celsius at the top of Mount Everest.
“In the UK this week, the extra national energy consumption seems likely to be very small, especially when compared with the energy demand from the associated cold weather.
“But, and this depends on where people are, it may mean our tea is just slightly hotter than usual.”
Areas of high and low pressure are caused by ascending and descending air.
Warm air rises and leads to lower pressure at the surface, while cool air falls and results in high pressure at the surface.
On Sunday, February 5, the second highest February pressure reading was recorded by Dr Stephen Burt at 1047.3 hectopascals (hPa).
The highest was recorded at 1049 hPa on February 15, 1934.
Sunday’s reading was also the fourth highest reading in the university’s entire record, which dates back to 1908.
