Editing Bath, Somerset (section)

==Geography and environment==
===Physical geography===
Bath is in the Avon Valley and is surrounded by limestone hills as it is near the southern edge of the [[Cotswolds]], a designated [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]], and the [[Mendip Hills]] rise around {{convert|7|miles}} south of the city. The hills that surround and make up the city have a maximum altitude of {{convert|781|ft|0|abbr=off}} on the Lansdown plateau. Bath has an area of {{convert|11|mi2|0|abbr=off}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/environmentandplanning/Pollution/contaminatedland/Pages/default2.aspx |title=Published Contaminated Land Inspection of the area surrounding Bath |publisher=Bath and North East Somerset Council |access-date=25 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513102611/http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/environmentandplanning/Pollution/contaminatedland/Pages/default2.aspx |archive-date=13 May 2012 }}</ref>
[[File:Clevelandhouse.JPG|thumb|alt=A iron bridge spanning water. In the background is a yellow stone building. On the left trees reach out over the water.|right|Cleveland House and the cast iron bridges of [[Sydney Gardens]] over the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]]]]

The [[floodplain]] of the Avon has an altitude of about {{cvt|59|ft|0}} above sea level,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://idox.bathnes.gov.uk/WAM/doc/BackGround%20Papers-92552.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=92552&location=VOLUME1&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=1 |title=Bath Western Riverside Outline Planning Application Design Statement, April 2006, Section 2.0, Site Analysis |date=April 2006 |access-date=2 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810063821/http://idox.bathnes.gov.uk/WAM/doc/BackGround%20Papers-92552.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=92552&location=VOLUME1&contentType=application%2Fpdf&pageCount=1 |archive-date=10 August 2016 }}</ref> although the city centre is at an elevation of around {{convert|25|m|ft}} above sea level.<ref>[[Ordnance Survey]] mapping</ref> The river, once an unnavigable series of [[braided streams]] broken up by [[swamp]]s and ponds, has been managed by [[weir]]s into a single channel. Periodic flooding, which shortened the life of many buildings in the lowest part of the city, was normal until major flood control works were completed in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carr's Mill, Lower Bristol Road, Bath Flood Risk Assessment |url=http://idox.bathnes.gov.uk/WAM/doc/BackGround%20Papers-212576.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=212576&location=VOLUME1&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=1 |publisher=Bath and North East Somerset |access-date=17 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722034626/http://idox.bathnes.gov.uk/WAM/doc/BackGround%20Papers-212576.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=212576&location=VOLUME1&contentType=application%2Fpdf&pageCount=1 |archive-date=22 July 2011 }}</ref> Kensington Meadows is an area of mixed woodland and open meadow next to the river which has been designated as a [[local nature reserve]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kensington Meadows |url=http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=35&N=&ID=984 |publisher=Natural England |access-date=23 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074101/http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=35&N=&ID=984 |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>

Water bubbling up from the ground as [[List of geothermal springs in the United Kingdom|geothermal springs]] originates as rain on the [[Mendip Hills]]. The rain percolates through limestone aquifers to a depth of between {{cvt|9000|to|14000|ft|-2}} where geothermal energy raises the water's temperature to between 64 and 96&nbsp;°C (approximately 147–205&nbsp;°F). Under pressure, the heated water rises to the surface along fissures and faults in the limestone. Hot water at a temperature of {{convert|46|°C|°F|0}} rises here at the rate of {{convert|1170000|L|impgal|0}} daily,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseAction=SM.nav&UUID=F9F320C4-1A95-4C04-AC609094E5B5DFD3 |title=Sacred Spring |access-date=31 October 2007 |publisher=Roman Baths Museum Web Site |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102122621/http://romanbaths.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseAction=SM.nav&UUID=F9F320C4-1A95-4C04-AC609094E5B5DFD3 |archive-date=2 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> from the Pennyquick [[geological fault]].

In 1983, a new spa-water bore-hole was sunk, providing a clean and safe supply for drinking in the Pump Room.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/walkthroughs/spa-water-fountain |title=Hot Water |access-date=31 October 2007 |publisher=Roman Baths Museum Web Site |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228065838/http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/walkthroughs/spa-water-fountain |archive-date=28 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> There is no universal definition to distinguish a [[hot spring]] from a [[Geothermal gradient|geothermal]] spring, although, by several [[Hot spring#Definitions|definitions]], the Bath springs can be considered the only hot springs in the UK. Three of the springs feed the thermal baths.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Hot Springs of Bath: Geology, geochemistry, geophysics |url=https://www.thermaebathspa.com/the-spa/natural-thermal-waters/ |format=PDF |publisher=Bath and North East Somerset |access-date=26 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113025346/http://www.thermaebathspa.com/the-spa/natural-thermal-waters/ |archive-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{See also|Climate of south-west England}}
Along with the rest of [[South West England]], Bath has a [[temperate climate]] which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of the country.<ref name="weather">{{cite web |title=South West England: climate |work=Met Office |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/regional-climates/sw |access-date=3 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225164404/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/location/southwestengland/index.html |archive-date=25 February 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> The annual mean temperature is approximately {{convert|10|°C|°F|1}}. Seasonal temperature variation is less extreme than most of the United Kingdom because of the adjacent sea temperatures. The summer months of July and August are the warmest, with mean daily maxima of approximately {{convert|21|°C|°F|1}}. In winter, mean minimum temperatures of {{convert|1|or|2|°C|°F|1}} are common.<ref name="weather"/> In the summer, the [[Azores]] high pressure affects the south-west of England bringing fair weather; however, [[convective]] cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600&nbsp;hours.<ref name="weather"/>

Most of the rainfall in the south-west is caused by [[Low-pressure area|Atlantic depressions]] or by [[convection]]. In summer, a large proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground, leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. Average rainfall is around {{cvt|830|mm}}. About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the southwest.<ref name="weather"/>
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|collapsed = Y
|location = Bath (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–2005)
|Jan record high C = 14.5
|Feb record high C = 18.4
|Mar record high C = 20.6
|Apr record high C = 25.5
|May record high C = 26.7
|Jun record high C = 32.2
|Jul record high C = 33.0
|Aug record high C = 34.2
|Sep record high C = 27.3
|Oct record high C = 25.0
|Nov record high C = 17.2
|Dec record high C = 15.0
|Jan record low C = -14.0
|Feb record low C = -9.0
|Mar record low C = -6.8
|Apr record low C = -5.0
|May record low C = -0.6
|Jun record low C = 1.1
|Jul record low C = 4.4
|Aug record low C = 4.9
|Sep record low C = -0.1
|Oct record low C = -3.2
|Nov record low C = -7.2
|Dec record low C = -10.0
|Jan high C = 8.0
|Feb high C = 8.5
|Mar high C = 10.9
|Apr high C = 14.0
|May high C = 17.1
|Jun high C = 20.0
|Jul high C = 21.8
|Aug high C = 21.6
|Sep high C = 19.1
|Oct high C = 14.9
|Nov high C = 11.2
|Dec high C = 8.5
| year high C = 14.7
|Jan mean C = 5.1
|Feb mean C = 5.4
|Mar mean C = 7.2
|Apr mean C = 9.6
|May mean C = 12.5
|Jun mean C = 15.3
|Jul mean C = 17.3
|Aug mean C = 17.1
|Sep mean C = 14.8
|Oct mean C = 11.4
|Nov mean C = 8.1
|Dec mean C = 5.5
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 2.2
|Feb low C = 2.2
|Mar low C = 3.5
|Apr low C = 5.1
|May low C = 7.8
|Jun low C = 10.6
|Jul low C = 12.7
|Aug low C = 12.6
|Sep low C = 10.4
|Oct low C = 7.9
|Nov low C = 4.9
|Dec low C = 2.5
| year low C = 6.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 83.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 57.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 58.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 57.8
|May precipitation mm = 58.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 54.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 57.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 73.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 63.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 86.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 88.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 90.7
|year precipitation mm = 829.9
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 13.2
| Feb precipitation days = 10.8
| Mar precipitation days = 10.2
| Apr precipitation days = 10.0
| May precipitation days = 10.0
| Jun precipitation days = 9.5
| Jul precipitation days = 9.7
| Aug precipitation days = 10.7
| Sep precipitation days = 9.5
| Oct precipitation days = 12.2
| Nov precipitation days = 13.7
| Dec precipitation days = 13.6
| year precipitation days =132.9
|Jan sun = 56.2
|Feb sun = 68.3
|Mar sun = 128.8
|Apr sun = 161.3
|May sun = 197.3
|Jun sun = 192.2
|Jul sun = 210.1
|Aug sun = 198.0
|Sep sun = 146.7
|Oct sun = 104.1
|Nov sun = 67.0
|Dec sun = 51.2
|year sun = 1582.0
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="MetOffice">{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/location-specific-long-term-averages/gcnk62de6 |title=Station: Bath, Beechen Cliff School Climate period: 1991–2020 |publisher=Met Office |access-date=15 December 2024 |archive-date=19 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219002356/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/location-specific-long-term-averages/gcnk62de6 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php |title=Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature, Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature |publisher=Starlings Roost Weather |access-date=16 December 2024 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173843/http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}

=== Green belt ===
{{further|Avon Green Belt}}
Bath is fully enclosed by [[Green belt (United Kingdom)|green belt]] as a part of a wider environmental and planning policy first designated in the late 1950s,<ref name="Avon-Green-Belt">{{cite web |title=Bath & North East Somerset Green Belt Review – Stage 1 Report April 2013 – Green Belt history and policy origins |url=http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sitedocuments/Planning-and-Building-Control/Planning-Policy/Evidence-Base/Environment/gbr_stage1_report.pdf |website=bathnes.gov.uk |access-date=14 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918163736/http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sitedocuments/Planning-and-Building-Control/Planning-Policy/Evidence-Base/Environment/gbr_stage1_report.pdf |archive-date=18 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and this extends into much of the surrounding district and beyond, helping to maintain local green space, prevent further [[urban sprawl]] and unplanned expansion towards Bristol and [[Bradford-on-Avon]], as well as protecting smaller villages in between.<ref name="Avon-Green-Belt"/> Suburbs of the city bordering the green belt include [[Batheaston]], [[Bathford]], [[Bathampton]], the University of Bath campus, Ensleigh, [[Twerton]], [[Upper Weston]], [[Odd Down]], and [[Combe Down]].

Parts of the Cotswolds [[AONB]] southern extent overlap the green belt north of the city, with other nearby landscape features and facilities within the green belt including the River Avon, Kennet and Avon Canal, [[Bath Racecourse]], Bath Golf Club, [[Bathampton Down]], Bathampton Meadow Nature Reserve, Bristol and Bath Railway Path, the [[Cotswold Way]], [[Limestone Link]] route, Pennyquick Park, [[Little Solsbury Hill]], and Primrose Hill.<ref name="Avon-Green-Belt"/>