Ice cover loss can influence winds and precipitation on other continents, possibly leading to less rain in the western United States and creating more in Europe.

CNN: Polar bears resort to cannibalism as Arctic ice shrinks

Then Mother Nature plugged the rain and the golfing stars shone in "one of the best days in Europe's history" as a "phenomenal" afternoon of golf washed away frustrations of moaning in the morning rain.

BBC: Europe reign after the storm

Europe were up in three out of the four Friday fourballs matches before the relentless rain, which was present when Johnson teed off at 0745 BST, had finally called halt to play at 0943 BST.

BBC: Ryder Cup 2010: US edge rain-affected first day

By 1986, the United Nations reported that 23% of all trees in Europe were moderately or severely damaged by acid rain.

ECONOMIST: Plenty of gloom