July 22nd, 2010
A recent report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)has produced numbers and results to show that the land and ocean surface temperatures for 2010 are the warmest on record.
The NOAA have said that, so far, 2010 is the hottest year on record with June 2010 being recorded as the hottest June on record worldwide. But this is not a one off appearance as March, April and May 2010 were also the warmest months on record. These records have now been collated and it is the 304thconsecutive month that a global temperature has been above the 20th century average.
The last month that recorded a below average temperature was February 1985.
There are some non-believers of global warming and who have publicly said that it is a political game or a scape goat for other global issues. They have commented that the second half of 2010 will be cooler and that the evidence of global warming is still cloudy. But are these factually, recorded numbers not proof that there is something warming the earth, making these months warmer than we have previously experienced?
In among the high-rising temperatures registered there have been some regions, however, that did record cooler temperatures. Spain recorded its coolest June temperature since 1997 and a town in Southern China recording is coolest June since recordings started there in 1951.
The cooler temperatures do add to the fuel that there is no such thing as global warming but just that we are having a good ’summer’. But this pattern of heating is worldwide. Arctic ice is known for expanding over the winter months and reducing over the summer, but this June showed that the sea ice was declining faster than in previous June months.
It just goes to show that the planet, according to the numbers, on a whole is warmer.
Tags: Global Warming, NOAA, sea temperatures | Posted in Climate Change, Rising Temperatures
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June 21st, 2010
There has been a lot of press recently concerning the UK wind farms and the need for more wind turbines in the aim to tackle global warming and to increase the use of green energy.
Harnessing the winds power can and does ganerate a huge amount of useable energy. However, it has now been reported that there could be an overload of energy onto the National Grid if it gets too windy.
Too windy? Surely, this would be a good condition considering how unstable and infrequent the weather can be. To store up lots of wind-generate electricity cant harm us can it? Apparently, according to those at the National grid, too much wind and too much wind-generated electricity is not a good thing.
Owners of wind farms are now going to be awarded a payment to switch off thier turbines if it does become ‘too windy’. This seems all well and good in the grand scheme of helping the country to use more sustainable energy sources but this payment to the wind farm owners is going to come from the tax payers.
The National Grid is constantly working to match the need for electricity with supply and this can often be determined by weather predictions and TV schedules. Plant failures and erratic weather changes are also a factor when the National Grid juggles electricity use across the nation. They feel that the balance between using the wind famrs and deciding to turn them off in adverse weather conditions will prevent the network from being overloaded.
Tags: Global Warming, green energy, national grid, renewable energy, Sustainable Energy, wind farms, wind power, Wind Turbines | Posted in Energy Efficient, News, Sustainable Energy, renewable energy
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February 12th, 2010
The 2010 Winter Olympics kick off today, in Vancouver, Canada and unfortunately during the mildest Canadian January on record since 1937.
Whilst organisers resort to desperate measures, trucking in tonnes of snow and straw to pack-out the slopes, there are already whispers as to whether the freak change in the weather is pointing to something more serious that a disruption to the ski season.
The very real jeopardy of a favoured recreational activity it seems is enough to bring Climate Change to the forefront of people’s minds. It is frustrating, that after all the dire warnings and devastating climatic events already taking place around the world; raising sea levels, tidal waves, flooding etc… it takes a treat to our right to strap flat objects to our feet and slide downhill in cold weather, to really put the frighteners on us. But if it works and prompts any kind of positive action, then who are we to question to motives behind it?
Tags: 2010, Climate Change, Global Warming, winter olympics | Posted in Climate Change, Events, Rising Temperatures, rising sea levels
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January 6th, 2010
Dorset County Council have won their bid for government funding to help protect the Jurassic Coast from the ravages of climate change.
The main concerns for the area (15 sections of coastline between Devon and Dorset) are storm damage, erosion and rising sea levels. In fact, only last year a huge landslide destroyed 400 metres of the world heritage coastline near Lime Regis. Clearly, the councils realised it was time to act.
£376,500 is now available to Devon and Dorset in order for them to assist the most venerable communities in the area. However, the money will not, as you would imagine, be going to improve sea defences, but to help the inhabitants gain a better understanding and ability to adapt to the impact of inevitable coastal changes. Debates will be held at local level, contingency plans devised and there will be the introduction and development of training programmes for conservationists.
Is this a case of forearmed is forewarned? Although it’s a positive nod by the government, towards recognising the dangers facing an island nation from the ravages of global warming, perhaps more should be being done to slow erosion and raising sea levels in the first place.
Tags: Climate Change, Global Warming, government, Jurassic Coast, rising sea levels | Posted in Climate Change, Local Councils, education, environment, rising sea levels
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December 7th, 2009
With the Copenhagen Summit kicking off today, it has been reported that many people do not accept that global warming exists and that if it does, that we have no part in it.
Hard to believe I know, especially when the evidence is so clear – greenhouse gasses cause climate change, Fact. As the ice melts in parts of Antarctica, sea levels are anticipated to rise by 1.4 m by the end of the century, which could be disastrous for many countries. Climate change is a very real phenomenon; as greenhouse gasses go up, so the temperature increases.
And yet, there are still non-believers! Following a recent opinion poll, it seems members of the public feel the following: that the science is too confusing, that it doesn’t affect them personally; that there is no urgency and it is not an important priority. Some even view it as a costly over-reaction.
What also appears to be a major factor in the public not facing the hard reality of global warming is that the message is frequently conveyed by politicians, which immediately gives rise to scepticism. So, why after all the eye wash we are fed by politicians, is this the one thing we choose to question? Somebody please answer me that!
Tags: Climate Change, Copenhagen Summit, Global Warming, greenhouse gasses, policticians, rising sea levels | Posted in Climate Change, carbon emissions, rising sea levels
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November 25th, 2009
Alex Hartley, an artist, has discovered an island in the Arctic. It appeared from beneath the melting ice of a retreating glacier in the High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. Alex was the first person ever to stand on it and has named it Nowhereisland. With this project Alex won the Artists Taking the Lead prize for the South West of England
Obviously distressed by this casualty of global warming, Alex has arranged, as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, to use a part of it to highlight the climate change crisis we are facing.
The ‘portion’ referred to, will be transported by barge to Poole, in Dorset by mid July 2012. It will then embark a 702 mile coastal journey to Weymouth, arriving in time for the start of the Olympic sailing events in August.
The artist hopes that the island will capture international interest and by registering it as a micro nation and allowing people to become citizens, it is highly likely that he will succeed. Alex said, ‘The island addresses the most significant global issue of our time, namely how we can respond to the urgent issue of climate change together.’
For those of you who are wondering, some time after the Olympics the land mass will be returned to the Arctic and made whole again.
Tags: Alex Hartley, Arctic, artist, climate change crisis, Global Warming, island, London 2012 Olympics, Nowhereisland | Posted in 2012, Climate Change, education, environment, rising sea levels
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November 16th, 2009
This charity was set up last year by 3 Cambridge University students; Lynn Morris, Tim Bromfield and Will Lorimer. As the name ‘Atlantic Rising’ suggests their area of concern is the rising levels of the Atlantic Ocean and the potentially devastating repercussions of this.
In the next 100 years it is predicted that the Ocean will rise by 1.5m, taking with it unique landscapes, communities and reshaping our geography forever.
The trio believe that education is the key, particularly that of children. To this end they are embarking on a trip; the vision of which is to follow the 1m contour line around the edge of the Atlantic which is most likely to be affected. Their intention is to build educational links between places as far apart as the Scottish Isles, West Africa, Guyana and Canada.
Clearly some of these areas will suffer little or no affect whereas some will be devastated by the rising sea level – if these children communicate with each other it will, raise awareness of global climate change and hopefully teach our children the importance of helping and protecting the environment.
Tags: Atlanic Ocean, Atlantic Rising, children, education, environment, Global Warming | Posted in Climate Change, education, environment, rising sea levels
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September 26th, 2009
The Northeast Passage has been notorious amongst seafarers over the centuries. For 500 years this perilous sea-lane has proven impassable due to its heavy ice floes, even taking the lives of some those who were brave enough to attempt it.
Two German cargo ships; MV Beluga Fraternity and MV Beluga Foresight are the first merchant vessels to successfully cross this gruelling stretch of water. It has taken them two months to complete, setting off from Ulsan, South Korea, via the Northeast Passage to Siberia and finally on to their destination of Rotterdam.
This previously impassable course has now become possible due to an unprecedented ice-melt. Scientists report that the Arctic Ocean ice cap has been shrinking to unexpected levels in recent summers, because of global warming, opening up many passages that were ice-choked in earlier times.
In July, new NASA satellite measurements showed that sea ice in the Arctic was not just shrinking, but thinning dramatically. The Arctic is turning into a blue ocean.
Tags: Arctic Ocean, Global Warming, ice caps, North East Passage | Posted in Climate Change, environment, rising sea levels
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July 22nd, 2009
A plan to build six giant wind turbines in Silton the picturesque village near Gillingham, Dorset has been rejected.
Most people accept that there is a pressing need to find alternative sources of energy. However, when it’s on their doorstep, potentially blocking their view, it’s a whole different story!
When are we going to recognise the true gravity of both the global warming crisis and the decline in oil production?
Surely we should be striving to find solutions? The widespread opposition to wind farms is fundamentally down to their appearance, though other half-baked, inaccurate arguments are often deployed.
Let’s hope that the next application, wherever it may be, is better received and that we will have the sense and foresight to put necessity before the narrow-minded, self-centred view of a few people!
Tags: alternative energy, Global Warming, oil production, wind farms rejected, Wind Turbines | Posted in Climate Change, News, Sustainable Energy
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June 29th, 2009
Set 35 yrs into the future, time is the predominant theme. From the minute the opening credits start to roll there’s no escaping it, or more specifically, the lack of it. The impressive opening sets an ominous tone, but the cut to supposedly ‘special’ effects representing the impact of climate change on society, although believable as concepts, sadly are not believable as effects.
Things only get worse once the Archive is introduced; a computer generated ‘Matrix’ like structure so foreboding it has to be accompanied by the mandatory clap of thunder every time it’s in shot – it’s more evil villain’s lair than last vestige of civilization. Unfortunately the Archivist Pete Postlethwaite goes on to utterly ruin this film and I can’t stress this strongly enough. The whole idea of the archivist is an appallingly week structure on which to hang such an important narrative, turning a series of fascinating documentaries, into nothing more than Government Warning Footage for schools. It’s not Pete Postlethwaite’s fault, but this character belittles the audience to such a degree you cringe every time he comes onto screen.
Of course there is a seriously powerful message; the film is engineered to make you want to pass the word around. In a perfect world everybody must watch this film and act upon it immediately before it’s too late. Naturally, nobody will really enjoy it, but everyone should see it – seriously.
Together with the educational message there is a liberal dishing out of shame and guilt along side healthy measures of blame, particularly if you live in the developed world. Quite rightly so – the depth and scale of unashamed and revolting corporate corruption is truly shocking. Facts and statistics are brilliantly illustrated, e.g. the immoral and irresponsible actions of Shell Oil in Nigeria and the utter and indiscriminate rape of Africa throughout the ages. The price other people are having to pay for the west’s extravagance and thoughtlessness is really driven home.
All of the above are forgivable, in fact pretty much unavoidable in a film with this subject matter. However, there is very little hope and I think that is a failing. The futility of mankind’s situation corrodes any faith in humanity you may previously have held. Designed to rally people into positive action before it’s too late, it succeeds in casting serious doubt as to whether humanity can even be saved from itself or whether reducing, halting or reversing our carbon emissions is just beyond us.
… Still want to see it? Well you should.
Starring: Pete Postlethwaite. Director: Franny Armstrong
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Tags: Age of Stupid, carbon emissions, Climate Change, Film, Global Warming, Review | Posted in Airport Protests, Climate Change, New Road Protests, Transport
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