High rates of tectonic uplift, weak rocks, steep slopes, frequent earthquakes and extreme rainfall, all translate into a place Petley calls the "landslide capital of the world".

BBC: Hiking in the landslide capital of the world

"We have always seen a great deal of variability in UK extreme rainfall because our weather patterns are constantly changing, but this analysis suggests we are seeing a shift in our rainfall behaviour, " she said.

BBC: Extreme rainfall in UK 'increasing'

But there is - the way to interpret this I think is that there is a discernible influence on all of these events, of global warming nowadays, and it's effecting drought, it's effecting extreme rainfall events in particular around the world.

NPR: Can Climate Change Explain Odd Weather?