Heavy downpour of rain on a road

Rising sun catching the summit of towering orange sand dunes with reflections in the flooded pan of Sossusvlei caused by rare heavy rainfall, Namib Desert near Sesriem, Namib Naukluft Park, Namibia, Africa

Dunes reflecting in the flooded pan of Sossusvlei caused by rare heavy rainfall, with dried mud in the foreground as the water evaporates, Namib Desert near Sesriem, Namib Naukluft Park, Namibia, Africa

The waters of Launchy Gill in the Lake District in full flow after heavy autumn rainfall, Lake District, Cumbria, Englanbd, United Kingdom, Europe

Flooded church and graveyard, United Kingdom

The waters of Dob Gill in the Lake District in full flow after heavy autumn rainfall, Lake District, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A collapsed coastal road at between Skipsea and Ulrome on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This sectiion of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all palying their part.

A collapsed coastal road at between Skipsea and Ulrome on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This sectiion of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all palying their part.

Concrete sea defences at Beach Bank Caravan Park in Ulrome near Skipsea on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A collapsed coastal road at Barmston on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This sectiion of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all palying their part.

The Remains of the Godwin battery on the beach at Kilnsea at the head of Spurn point on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. Initially constructed during the First World War, the Godwin Battery was added to during the Second World War. It comprised of gun emplacements, search light, barracks, officers’ mess, and a hospital. This section of coastline is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. The soft boulder clay cliffs are easily eroded and have been eroding since Roman Times, but recently the climate change impacts of increased stormy weather, increased heavy rainfall events and sea level rise have accelerated the rate of erosion. The average rate of attrition is 1.5metres per year, last year it was 5 metres.

The Remains of the Godwin battery on the beach at Kilnsea at the head of Spurn point on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. Initially constructed during the First World War, the Godwin Battery was added to during the Second World War. It comprised of gun emplacements, search light, barracks, officers’ mess, and a hospital. This section of coastline is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. The soft boulder clay cliffs are easily eroded and have been eroding since Roman Times, but recently the climate change impacts of increased stormy weather, increased heavy rainfall events and sea level rise have accelerated the rate of erosion. The average rate of attrition is 1.5metres per year, last year it was 5 metres.

A Second world War lookout post leaning alarmingly and about to tumble over the edge of the cliff near Aldbrough on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A collapsed coastal road at Easingotn on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This sectiion of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all palying their part.

A collapsed coastal road at near Aldbrough on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This sectiion of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all palying their part.

A collapsed coastal road near Skipsea on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This sectiion of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A collapsed coastal road at between Skipsea and Ulrome on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This sectiion of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all palying their part.

The waterlogged street in Varanasi after heavy rain. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh India

Waterlogged street after heavy rain, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Two Boat Planes moored on an Alsakan Lake, surrounded by a forrest. The sky is heavy with cloud, good chance of rain. Located in the Interior region of Alaska. The Interior, Alaska, USA

Two Boat Planes moored on an Alsakan Lake, surrounded by a forrest. The sky is heavy with cloud, good chance of rain. Located in the Interior region of Alaska. The Interior, Alaska, USA

Smashed concrete sea defenses at Ulrome near Skipsea on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. The sea has eroded past the barriers and left them stranded further down the beach. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A collapsed coastal road at Barmston on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A collapsed coastal road at between Skipsea and Ulrome on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A collapsed coastal road at between Skipsea and Ulrome on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A collapsed coastal road at between Skipsea and Ulrome on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A collapsed coastal road at between Skipsea and Ulrome on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A collapsed coastal road at between Skipsea and Ulrome on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A collapsed coastal road at near Aldbrough on Yorkshires East Coast, near Skipsea, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

On Saturday 5th December 2015, Storm Desmond crashed into the UK, producing the UK''s highest ever 24 hour rainfall total at 341.4mm. It flooded the Lyth Valley, drowning many farms and houses. Several periods of subsequent heavy rain have kept the Lyth Valley inundated, with no sign of respite. Photo taken on Thursday 10th December 2015.'

A rainbow emerges between rugged mountain peaks during a heavy rain storm, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Storm clouds