When Storm Ciaran swept across southern Britain last autumn, a significant portion of tea drinkers were left with an unexpected and weird taste in their mouths.
A new study by meteorologists at the University of Reading has found the reason behind this unexpected twist: the storm’s record-breaking low pressure.
The team found that during the storm on November 2, intense atmospheric conditions lowered the boiling point of water below 100 degrees Celsius. In Reading, water was boiling at just 98°C.
Caleb Miller, a PhD student at the University of Reading and co-author of the study, seized the opportunity to investigate this incident. “As an experimentalist, I saw the chance to measure the properties of boiling water during low atmospheric pressure,” Miller explained.
As the storm raged outside, Miller quickly set up equipment in the Meteorology Department’s laboratories to accurately measure the water’s boiling point.
“The effect of pressure on boiling temperature is well-known to mountaineers, but Ciaran brought this effect to a wide region,” noted Dr Alec Bennett, co-author of the study.
A storm-induced tea crisis
The research team found that Storm Ciaran may have inadvertently affected the tea-drinking experience for millions of Britons.
They combined data from multiple sources, including the Reading University Atmospheric Observatory and roadside weather stations across southern England, to track the storm’s movement during breakfast hours.
Their analysis revealed that the pressure minimum moved northeast across the region during the early morning when many Britons prepare their first cup of tea for the day. At the storm’s peak, the boiling point of water in some areas dropped to just over 98°C, about 2°C lower than usual.
While this temperature difference may seem insignificant to the casual observer, it makes a world of difference in brewing tea.
Experts consider the ideal brewing temperature to be between 98°C and 100°C. Water below this range fails to extract the full flavor from tea leaves, resulting in a less satisfying cuppa.
“Like many Britons, I need my morning cup of tea,” reflected Professor Giles Harrison, lead author of the study, in a statement . “Although I know that the boiling point of water varies with atmospheric pressure, I wasn’t expecting a storm to take the boiling water temperature outside the recommended range for brewing decent tea.”
“Weather can have subtle effects.”
Bigger implications
The study estimates that approximately 20 million people in London and southeast England were potentially affected by this phenomenon.
While the immediate effects of the storm on tea quality were temporary, the study highlights how our daily life is connected to weather patterns, reminding us even subtle changes in atmospheric conditions can impact cultural practices that many take for granted.
The research also emphasizes the importance of comprehending the broader implications of extreme weather events. As climate change continues to influence weather patterns, our daily lives could potentially be affected in various unexpected ways.
Additionally, the study encourages scientists to consider the wider effects of weather events beyond immediate physical impacts, opening up new avenues for interdisciplinary research.
Details of the team’s research were published in the journal Weather .
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