Pine cones

The BBC is looking for a new "Head of Weather".    To help candidates, here's a few interview questions.

1) In the top image, what has happened to the major centres of UK population between Birmingham and Newcastle ? Do you think Peter Salmon has noticed ?

2) Comparing and contrasting the two images, which provides more detail about Scotland ?    Do you get on with Alex Salmond ?

3) In both images, what is it with all this blue ?