Roy Mangersnes / Person stretching after waking up on the Pulpit Rock, 604 meters above the Lysefjorden, Rogaland, Norway, Scandinavia, Model released

Brent Stephenson / A rough and windy day in the Drake Passage with Force 9+ beaufort scale conditions. Drake Passage, South Atlantic, January.

Ernie Janes / Three fishing boats wrecked on the coast in winter storms, Pembrokeshire, UK,

Ernie Janes / Franz Josef Glacier, Southern Alps, South Island, New Zealand

Jeff Wilson / Royal Navy ship, HMS Endurance, crashing through the waves in the south atlantic ocean, Antarctica, November 2009. Taken on location for the BBC series, Frozen Planet.

Erlend Haarberg / Sunlit ridges against volcanic scree beneath a low cloud. Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland, April 2010. Highly commended in Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 competition, Wild Places category.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel "Harvester" powering through huge waves while operating in the North Sea. Europe, January 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel "Ocean Pioneer" nearing Fraserburgh Harbour, with waves crashing against the harbour wall. Scotland, February 2011.

Konstantin Mikhailov / Birch trees weighed down by weight of ice, which formed after rain in December, and was then covered with snow. Many trees have broken and branches are bent to the ground by the weight. This unusual...

Konstantin Mikhailov / Trees weighed down by weight of ice, which formed after rain in December, and was then covered with snow. Many trees have broken and branches are bent to the ground by the weight. This unusual phenom...

Floris van Breugel / Twilight descends on photographer's mountain camp with light inside tent, in Oregons highest mountain forest on Drake Peak at 8,500 feet. Oregon, USA, January 2010.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Severe winter storm hitting Inuit community of Savissivik, Northwest Greenland, 1998.

Philip Stephen / Huge wave enveloping fishing vessel "Harvester" while operating in the North Sea. Europe, November 2010. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel "Harvester" on a stormy North Sea. Europe, November 2010. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Wave breaking as it hits shoreline at Peterhead, Scotland, September 2010.

Kevin Schafer / Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva), White Mountains, California

Anup Shah / Common zebra (Equus quagga) herd standing in a dust storm caused by extreme wind in the dry season, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. March

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Norwegian guard vessel "Stril Tender" in heavy weather. North Sea, April 2009.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel "Ocean Harvest" in heavy seas, North Sea, October 2008. Property Released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, trawling to the east of the Shetland Isles. December 2008. Property released.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Yacht in heavy seas during Figaro Challenge, March 2008

Benoit Stichelbaut / Sebastian Josse on bow of yacht during Vendee Globe 2004

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Norwegian guard vessel "Stril Tender" in heavy weather. North Sea, April 2009.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Jean Luc van den Heede arriving from Global Challenge (Western circumnavigation), record boat -122 days 14 hours 3 minutes 49 seconds, Ouessant (Ushant), Brittany, France, March, 2004

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel in heavy seas, North Sea, April 2009. Property released.

Philip Stephen / Fishing vessel trawling in heavy seas off the Shetland Islands, December 2008. Property released.

Andrew Parkinson / Mountain hare (Lepus timidus) adult in white winter coat sits out a mountain top blizzard, Monadhliath Mountains, Scotland, UK, February.

Jeff Wilson / Royal Navy ship, HMS Endurance, crashing through the waves in the south atlantic ocean, Antarctica, November 2009. Taken on location for the BBC series, Frozen Planet.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Kayakers on the beach in a snow flurry. Antarctica, February, 2004.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Nenets reindeer herder's camp on the tundra during a winter storm. Yamal Peninsula, Western Siberia, Russia, August 2008.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Tourists in poor visibility during a skiing trip on Trinity Island, Antarctica, 2009.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Zodiac filled with tourists powering through frazil ice in extreme weather, Stromness, South Georgia, 2009.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Zodiac powering through frazil ice in the harbour at Stromness after many hours of sleet. South Georgia, 2009.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Zodiac from cruise ship "Ocean Nova" in a snow flurry, Falkland Islands, 2009.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Tourists in double kayaks paddling past glaciers during snowstorm. Mikkelsen Harbour, Trinity Island, Antarctica, 2009.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Shovelling snow from mountain tent in the wind. Patriot Hills. Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Gas cylinders in blowing snow during a storm, with tent behind. Patriot Hills, Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Radio tent in a ground storm. Patriot Hills, Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Tent in a storm with mountains barely visible behind. Patriot Hills, Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Man outside the Radio tent in a storm. Patriot Hills, Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Man kite skiing as the wind picks up, Patriot Hills, Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Mountain tent and skis in wind at Patriot Hills. Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Ski sailing against a backdrop of the Ellsworth Mountains. Patriot Hills, Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Moment of excitement while ski sailing in a good wind at Patriot Hills. Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Ski sailing in good wind at Patriot Hills. Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Ski sailing in good wind at Patriot Hills. Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Ski sailing in good wind at Patriot Hills. Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Man kite skiing in good wind at Patriot Hills. Antarctica, January 2006.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / During a Spring storm, blowing snow swirls around a Nenets reindeer herders' winter camp on the tundra near Tambey. Yamal Peninsula, Western Siberia, Russia, March 2011

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / During a Spring storm, blowing snow swirls around a Nenets reindeer herders' winter camp on the tundra near Tambey, Yamal Peninsula, Western Siberia, Russia, March 2011

Angelo Gandolfi / Snow plough clearing road, in the forest of Carrozzica, Haut Asco mountains Parc Naturel Regional de Corse, Calvi, Corsica island, France, February 2010

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Inuit children walking into the wind during a storm at George River. Ungava Bay, Quebec, Nunavik, Canada, 1998.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Woman struggling against the wind during winter storm in Norilsk. Western Siberia, Russia, 2000.

Konstantin Mikhailov / Tree branches weighed down by weight of ice, which formed after rain in December, and was then covered with snow. Many trees have broken and branches are bent to the ground by the weight. This unusua...

Konstantin Mikhailov / Trees, mainly Birch, weighed down by weight of ice, which formed after rain in December, and was then covered with snow. Many trees have broken and branches are bent to the ground by the weight. Thi...

Konstantin Mikhailov / Trees, mainly Birch, weighed down by weight of ice, which formed after rain in December, and was then covered with snow. Many trees have broken and branches are bent to the ground by the weight. Thi...

Konstantin Mikhailov / Trees, mainly Birch, weighed down by weight of ice, which formed after rain in December, and was then covered with snow. Many trees have broken and branches are bent to the ground by the weight. Thi...

Konstantin Mikhailov / Trees, mainly Birch, weighed down by weight of ice, which formed after rain in December, and was then covered with snow. Many trees have broken and branches are bent to the ground by the weight. Thi...

Konstantin Mikhailov / Oak trees did not suffer from effects of ice and snow as happened with Birches. Oaks have different structure of crown. January 2011. Central part of Russia, Moscow Region.

Konstantin Mikhailov / Birch tree weighed down by weight of ice, which formed after rain in December, and was then covered with snow. Many trees have broken and branches are bent to the ground by the weight. This unusual p...

Konstantin Mikhailov / Trees weighed down by weight of ice, which formed after rain in December, and was then covered with snow. Many trees have broken and branches are bent to the ground by the weight. This unusual phenom...

Konstantin Mikhailov / Trees weighed down by weight of ice, which formed after rain in December, and was then covered with snow. Many trees have broken and branches are bent to the ground by the weight. This unusual phenom...

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Residents in central Murmansk during winter snow storm. Kola Peninsula, Northwest Russia, 2005.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Sled dogs (Canis familiaris) covered in snow during autumn storm at Dezhnovka. Uelen, Chukotka, Siberia, Russia.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Town of Uelen exposed to heavy seas during autumn storm. Chukotka, Siberia, Russia, 2004.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Chukchi hunter in doorway of hut during winter storm at Dezhnovka. Chukotskij Peninsula, Chukotka, Siberia, Russia.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Town of Uelen exposed to heavy seas during autumn storm. Chukotka, Siberia, Russia, 2004.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Snow plough clearing road between Murmansk and Nikel. Kola Peninsula, Northwest Russia, 2005.

Uri Golman / View of the village of Ittoqqortoormiit after heavy snow fall. Scoresbysund, North East Greenland. February 2009.

Uri Golman / Village of Ittoqqortoormiit during blizzard, Scoresbysund, North East Greenland. March 2009.

David Woodfall / Drain hole flooding during heavy rain, exacerbated by official council complacency towards flood problems. Example of extreme weather climate change. Denbigh North Wales, UK. July 2009.

David Woodfall / Drain hole flooding during heavy rain, exacerbated by official council complacency towards flood problems. Example of extreme weather climate change. Denbigh North Wales, UK. July 2009.

Colin Monteath / Cascade Saddle sunrise, Mount Aspiring on extreme right above Matukituki Valley, Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand

David Woodfall / Parked cars covered in snow, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales, December 2009

David Woodfall / Car driving along moorland road in bad snow conditions, Denbigh Moor, Denbighshire, Wales, December 2009

David Woodfall / Car driving along moorland road in bad snow conditions, Denbigh Moor, Denbighshire, Wales, December 2009

David Woodfall / Mother struggling with pushchair in snow, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales, January 2010

David Woodfall / Family walking along road in snow, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales, January 2010