hmmm, i can't imagine any byproduct of distillation that would cause any black residue, (beyond soot from a wood or coal fire), especially a fungus. If it were even remotely normal for this, it would be noticed from other distilleries as well. ??

I could imagine a large store of grain, i suppose, rampant with fungi, releasing spores into a neighborhood.....and that would be my best guess

Is it actually scientifically confirmed as a fungus ?

Because it looks pretty much like soot you get on signs around busy roads due to exhaust fumes

If it is indeed a fungus, there's no reason to blame it on any manmade source, it could just be nature finding a new way to survive ?

In Scotland in general, we have had a cold snowy winter with a lot of slushy spray onto road signs all over.

We have now changed, very quickly, into a warm humid spring.

I have seen this happen several times before over the years and can assure everyone that we are not being attacked by some alien fungus.

Sleep well.

Originally posted by petethespark
In Scotland in general, we have had a cold snowy winter with a lot of slushy spray onto road signs all over.

We have now changed, very quickly, into a warm humid spring.

I have seen this happen several times before over the years and can assure everyone that we are not being attacked by some alien fungus.

Sleep well.

Wait a second... So the people of this town are lying? I'm not sure what your saying, these people are actually saying fungus not grime.

Pred...

The black plague maybe?

Originally posted by petethespark
In Scotland in general, we have had a cold snowy winter with a lot of slushy spray onto road signs all over.

We have now changed, very quickly, into a warm humid spring.

I have seen this happen several times before over the years and can assure everyone that we are not being attacked by some alien fungus.

Sleep well.

Its becoming common to see some supposed scotsmen talking out there backside too just like you are, what you are referring too is dirt which covers road signs almost constantly but it does not cover homes.

I am growing tired of people talking trash on this site lately.

This is not common to see in Scotland in the middle of a heatwave.

I also cannot remember the last time I experienced a heatwave in April, in Scotland, it is not normal.

I wasn't suggesting it was dirt splashed up from the road.

I was only postulating that it may be something called "damp mould" which is also black and seems to spring out of nowhere if the temperature, humidity and lack of exposure to sunlight are just right. I have also seen it cover more than one side of a house in a couple of days when the conditions are right.

As for it not being normal for heatwave in Scotland in April, I think you will find it is not that unusual. It is quite common that we have cracking start to the year then a miserable summer after that. Check the meteorogical data over the past 30 or 40 years.

And as it is possible that I am talking from where you suggest I am and you really have discovered that we are being attacked by an alien fungus or growth then I presume you are concerned enough to have already taken a sample to one of the many, easily accessable, Universities in in our small country to have it examined completely free.

If so, I look forward to the results.

No its not normal to have a Heatwave in the Spring. But here in Peak District we recieved 166mm of rainfall during February and then just 13mm for ALL of March-April up to now. The reason being is that a dominant high pressure system we saw back in January that was so characteristic (bringing us the Siberian airmass from Russia) has returned, and as nocturnal temps are higher the flow blocks the Stratospheric Warming taking place so we remain under a Inversion layer. Effectively keeping the airmass warm and dry running off the European Continent, this blocking is consistent and is a predominant feature of the UK for the past 2 years now. Fluctuating occasionally between months. But regaining dominance in seasons.

La Nina also adding to the mix, with the warmer Atlantic flow sending the Jetstream off into the Higher Latitudes above Scotland meaning we miss out on the majority of Frontal Systems trying to edge their way in. Unseasonal but completely forecastable in the short-term.