Though the field sits in shallow water, this part of the Caspian freezes over in winter and fierce winds blow chunks of ice into the islands that the consortium has built to develop the field.

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Now they face the punishment of winter: winds, cold, rain and snow.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

This tracks the difference in air pressure between Iceland and the Azores and, during the winter months, determines the strength of the winds, temperatures and rainfall in the St Kilda archipelago.

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The women's downhill skiing event at the Winter Olympics has been postponed because of strong winds in Salt Lake City.

BBC: Downhill delay 'the right decision'

The former, the simple-lifers, arrive in summer with high ideals, but soon discover the delights of social security when winter winds blow their crops away.

ECONOMIST: Beware the expression sea-girt