Across the world devastating meteorological impacts are being felt because our climate is warming.

No matter where people live on our fragile planet, climate change is making its presence felt. This includes hugely to sparsely populated regions and the end result is humans are suffering in many ways, whether it be disastrous floods, more intense hurricanes, or never experienced before temperature extremes.

But one implication of climate change that few people might not be familiar with, except for explorers or scientists, is the melting of the earth’s permanent ice regions.

This ice known as permafrost has been frozen for thousands and thousands of years, and it is now thawing at an alarming rate - and the effects of this have dire consequences for all.

Scientists estimate that permafrost holds almost double the amount of carbon that’s in the earth’s atmosphere.

Labelling it the ‘silent menace’ experts in this field say when permafrost warms and thaws, it releases methane and carbon dioxide, adding these greenhouse gases into the atmosphere - thus making global warming even worse.

Scientists have used satellite imagery and ground observations by those involved in the project to get a better picture of permafrost conditions.

Now, for a look at what weather we can expect during the week ahead across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

There are some indications that colder conditions will arrive later next week, but there’s still a good deal of uncertainty on whether this theme will happen or not.

However, I can say with confidence, that some unseasonably warm weather is on the meteorological cards for the next few days at least, as high pressure settles for a time near southwest England.

This will pull up warm air from Spain across the Central South England district which includes our neck of the woods, with daily maximum temperatures hitting double digits.

Not only that but generally dry weather too. Thereafter, more changeable weather is expected with rain in one form or another along with drier slots, through until mid-week. Possibly turning colder after that, but as already mentioned, it might not materialise, but if it does, the weather could turn wintry.

Looking at temperature profiles, maximum temperatures will vary from above average to start with, to around or below normal towards the end of the forecast period. Perhaps cold enough on some nights for a frost. Mist and fog patches are possible on some nights.

Readers can follow my regularly updated daily and weekly forecasts on X (formerly Twitter). My X site account handle is @HIOWweather.