After a quiet period earth seems to be waking up! There is always on going seismic activity but I believe this is the first major activity in a populated region? With an autocratic dictatorship I guess they are Trumps BFF? But due to the rest of the world thinking they are shits there is little news getting out. In Bangkok there was a high rise under construction that collapsed with many deaths – I suspect that there are many more in Myanmar itself. Pictures on the BBC show a major bridge collapsed. I hate heights and used to hate driving over the bridge in Plymouth and the Seven one – fucking nightmares are waiting for me!
CANADA
I have never been – although I did get the migration papers back in the 1970’s – of course I did not have the bottle to follow through! But I retain a romantic memory of dreams of paddling through lakes and wide open spaces. Should Canada be threatened by Trumps absurd claims that it should become the USA’s 51st state. At least he got the number right this time – unlike with Alaska. The capital of Canada is situated further away from the US than its main cities for a reason. 1775 and 1812 were dates when the USA invaded Canada, unsuccessfully. Now Trump coverts the treasures below the Canadian soil. Every move he makes is stimulated by money – I fucking hate him!
NET ZERO
Climatic events can occasionally be violent and sudden’ish. However the main global events will be gradually but even more devastating. Sea level is creeping up putting nations such as Tuvalu and the Maldives under threat of inundation. The melting of floating ice will not in itself cause a problem but allow glaciers to deliver ice to the sea more quickly. Melting glaciers is a much more dangerous and unpredictable. 2 billion people rely on glaciers indirectly for their water supply. E.Africa has lost 80% of its glaciers; Europe 40%; Andes 40%. Melting and retreating glaciers reduce the albedo effect and lead to greater warming. Permafrost is also melting, releasing methane and destabilising communications and buildings. Highly populated regions such as the valleys of the great rivers sourced in the Himalayas are in danger of fluctuating water supply which would devastate agriculture and thus human survival. These are facts not supposition – the World Meteorological Organisation published its annual State of the Worlds Climate last week.
But – hey, all this is irrelvant to those wanting to make political and financial gains like our right wing political parties and basically most of Americas! According to Ed Milliband the government is set on meeting its green commitments. This makes absolute sense. Until we large scale storage we will always rely on other energy sources during grey windless periods – but the rest of the time we have cheap green energy. A no brainer!
WORLD
It gets boring talking about Trump all the time – he is an idiot. He says that Mexico and Canada would not have to pay tarrifs until April on lots of goods. Errr – thick shit – it is not those countries that pay the tarrifs but the importers i.e. American citizens! China has responded robustly to increased tarrifs. If Trump wants to promote American businesses, why not subsidise them (or reduce their taxes?). He has pledged to reduce taxes so that will not work! Will tax cuts (mainly for the rich) compensate for higher prices! Eggs seem to be a major issue !
America also seems to have a problem with Fentanyl – I am completely ignorant on this!
Most Britons and West Europeans (In order, UK, Germany,Spain, France, Italy) believe Trump is a threat to peace in Europe – this is only marginally less than Putin! Italy comes out as less anti-Trump, and less happy with spending on defence of Ukraine. Today Russia launched a large attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure – did Trump OK this? He is denying Ukraine intelligence reports so whether or not he knew he basically approved the attack.
Trump says that Ukraine started the war by wanting to join NATO, By the same argument Israel started the war with Hamas by its actions in Gaza and the West Bank? Can anyone explain the difference? Cries of anti-semitism will be ignored.
DOMINATING
USA dominates the news in the UK. Firstly the hurricanes in Florida and Carolinas, then the Presidential election, then fires in LA followed by guff from the orange man child and minions and Muskrat, and now the plane crash in Washington. How military planes are allowed to fly with impunity in civil airspace is rather confusing to me – I am fairly sure it is not allowed in the UK. Air traffic control. just asks whether the military see civil planes! I suppose with the White House, Congress and Pentagon in close proximity ….. – but modern technology? The video I saw – the helicopter either did not see/ was aware of the plane – or it was deliberate?
STORM DARRAGH
This one looks like it may be rather windy! And with snow in Scotland and heavy rain in Wales! I suspect that we will have a blowy winter! Every 1C warmer = 7% more moisture in the atmosphere. So with global warming it will be wetter than the past average as a normal? And all those houses built on flood plains? The pumps in Worle and the levels maybe working overtime.
EXAMS
Labour Education Minister has said too much emphasis is put on exams. I totally agree. This is not to say that exams are irrelevant, but that other aspects are also very important. The exam system favours a certain proportion to the detriment of others. Society has undervalued other qualifications. the whole system is defiunct.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Much has been made of the lack of preparedness and warnings in the Valencia Region. But are we any better? Certainly the Met Office and Env. Agencies have plans and warnings but do they call wolf too often? And does anyone take any notice anyway? Parents evenings at school 10 years ago continued despite warnings and the evidence outside! During the Covid Crisis it was apparent that there was no locally based planning or organisation. The local council disappeared completely. New housing developments will/may excabated the situation. Locally I believe that a syatem for closing the road to Puxton should be an obvious duty for the council if weather warnings are issued. Churchill traffic lights are often flooded and new housing nearby may increase the problem. As an A road this situation needs attention urgently. Other problems seem to have been solved after floods about 10 years ago. However there are very local situations that can affect one or two houses – contingency plans need addressing.
HURRICANES
Sloppy journalism in the USA. Watching a weather forecast from Florida the presenter (presumably not a meteorologist) stated that the storm surge was caused by the winds blowing the water onshore. This may be a small part of the process but it is the fall in air pressure thatt has most impact. This effect is estimated at a 10 mm (0.39 in) increase in sea level for every millibar (hPa) drop in atmospheric pressure. The average for the Caribbean Sea is just over 1000mb, so Milton coming in at 900mb could see a potential surge of 10m – this is obviously too high and I am out of my scientific knowledge, I guess te surge also depends on how enclosed the area is and also on surrounding air pressure, and the shape of the shoreline and its depth close to the shore? Definitely out of my depth now!
HURRICANE MILTON
Hurricane Milton is turning into one of the most dangerous to hit the USA. Estimates of wind speeds upto 165mph, a storm surge of over 4m and nearly 500mm of rain could bring devastation to the Tampa region. The geographical extent of the hurricane is still being determined but it is thought it may broaden to several hundred miles which means that many will not have evacuated far enough! Petrol stations were also without fuel anyway! The area to the north of the expected path of Milton was affected by Helene anyway so there is probably still problems there. It is somewhat ironic that over 1000 flights have been cancelled (what clmate crisis!). So tonight will see landfall. Some questions I have! Will the Evergaldes be flooded? and if so is it likely that Alligators will become a problem in urban areas?