In article ,
Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On Thu, 3 May 2012 17:12:42 +0100, "Pete"
wrote:

I can't provide figures. I'm just quoting some drought expert I saw on
the TV. He was talking about reservoir catchments and I assume
evaporation over the same area.

Nick is correct in questioning your initial post and the evaporation
statement therein.
Rainfall loss due to evaporation is just small fraction as compared with
the amount lost
by outfall to the sea.

I was comparing the figures for reservoirs not the sea. Evaporation
over reservoir catchments areas is a significant loss.

Your original statement, which is the one I contradicted, was:

When it's not Winter most rainwater that falls evaporates before it
gets into reservoirs even when there isn't much Sun.

I should be fascinated to know how rainwater can evaporate from
reservoirs before it gets into them.

And, for the record, my figures came from a paper in a referreed
journal, either by the Meterological Office or using data provided
by them. When I wrote the Climate FAQ, every authoritative claim
was backed up by such research.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.