Scientists have launched a major new study in a bid to understand why natural soils can develop a ‘fear of water’ after periods of dryness and drought.
Researchers at Plymouth and Swansea Universities will investigate the causes of ‘hydrophobicity’, a condition whereby microbes in the soil produce proteins that prevent it from absorbing water.
After a brief respite from the severe rain and wind earlier in the week, the Met Office is forecasting more heavy showers for Friday across Devon and Cornwall.
The Met Office have issued a yellow warning of rain and says that conditions "could lead to localised flooding and standing water on roads", though it also says "some locations are likely to miss the showers completely"....
