Drought Watch

[damianslaw]

6 hours ago, stainesbloke said:

It’s a good point that climate change may well be messing with normal rainfall. We don’t know when the dry pattern will break but it will break at some point, as it’s not quite southern California here just yet. I’m also hopeful of a wet autumn as it’ll massively help agriculture and growers. Hopefully not too much in the way of flooding though.

Could live with a dry winter if follows a wet autumn.. but a dry autumn and winter combo not good.. likewise a dry autumn wet winter ok.. we've had 2 dry winter's overall.. 

[Wold Topper]

4 minutes ago, SnowBear said:

Farmers I've spoken to reckon the spud crop this year is up to half what it should be. 

Deppendant on which part of the Country SB, With chalk on the Yorkshire Wolds good for holding moisture we grow a lot of spuds and 'so far' all is looking good yield wise! Time will tell as always,

[Northernlights]

2 hours ago, Wold Topper said:

Deppendant on which part of the Country SB, With chalk on the Yorkshire Wolds good for holding moisture we grow a lot of spuds and 'so far' all is looking good yield wise! Time will tell as always,

And unlikely to be a bonanza  for prices for farmers as most of market is on fixed price contracts with very little on the free market these days compared to 1975 /76 when it was nearly all free market and prices went through the roof. The middle man wholesalers may however up  prices to the retail level.

[SnowBear]

4 hours ago, Wold Topper said:

Deppendant on which part of the Country SB, With chalk on the Yorkshire Wolds good for holding moisture we grow a lot of spuds and 'so far' all is looking good yield wise! Time will tell as always,

Maybe, this is an article from Lincolnshire on one farm that has suffered a poor harvest.

Low rainfall causes 'disastrous' potato harvest in Spalding

THELINCOLNITE.CO.UK

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We've only had 4% of the average rainfall this month

We grow a lot of spuds round here too, and the dry weather won't be helping at all, never does, every dry year is a bad crop. 

Will enquire during the week how the crop here is when I catch up with the farmer. 

[Weather-history]

It would be interesting to see how the UK would cope if we were recording the annual rainfall totals that they were recording during the last decade of the Victorian era and into the Edwardian period.

We are in the midst or perhaps have come to an end of a wet cycle for the UK. 

EWP av 1887-1902: 846.5mm

EWP av 2006-2021: 989mm

 

 

[matty40s]

Early start on the Grand Union, overnight temp of 6.7c!!!! No problem with water down here so far(back pumping from Milton Keynes Great Ouse up to Mkt Harborough summit).

However, further North from Rugby virtually every canal bar the Shropshire Union has lock time restrictions or is shut completely due to lack of water. This is causing major issues for hire boat holidays again after 2 years of partial Covid closures.

The Shroppie will be OK so long as the good folks of Wolverhampton keep having a jaffa cakes.(mainly fed from Autherley sewage works outflow)

 

[al78]

4 minutes ago, Weather-history said:

It would be interesting to see how the UK would cope if we were recording the annual rainfall totals that they were recording during the last decade of the Victorian era and into the Edwardian period.

We are in the midst or perhaps have come to an end of a wet cycle for the UK. 

EWP av 1887-1902: 846.5mm

EWP av 2006-2021: 989mm

 

 

Firstly, the population of the UK was lower than it is now.

Secondly, the population did not live the wasteful unsustainable lifestyles to the level that it does now.

Both these mean less stress on natural resources like food and water back then.

Overpopulation in the UK

POPULATIONMATTERS.ORG

---

The United Kingdom is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. With no end to population growth in sight, pressure on wildlife, housing, public services and resources will...

 

[Northernlights]

12 minutes ago, al78 said:

Firstly, the population of the UK was lower than it is now.

Secondly, the population did not live the wasteful unsustainable lifestyles to the level that it does now.

Both these mean less stress on natural resources like food and water back then.

Overpopulation in the UK

POPULATIONMATTERS.ORG

---

The United Kingdom is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. With no end to population growth in sight, pressure on wildlife, housing, public services and resources will...

 

Have to say I totally agree with above even had serious discussions with others at Agri College in the seventies about an overpopulated planet. Natural decline of population will eventually happen as resources dry up or disease takes hold for example covid.

[stainesbloke]

3 hours ago, al78 said:

Firstly, the population of the UK was lower than it is now.

Secondly, the population did not live the wasteful unsustainable lifestyles to the level that it does now.

Both these mean less stress on natural resources like food and water back then.

Overpopulation in the UK

POPULATIONMATTERS.ORG

---

The United Kingdom is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. With no end to population growth in sight, pressure on wildlife, housing, public services and resources will...

 

There should be some serious conversations at government level about the expansion of green energy and how to use our utilities much more efficiently. Something that could quite easily be done is to make rooftop solar panels compulsory for all new build properties and offices, which is happening here soon

[Methuselah]

15 minutes ago, stainesbloke said:

There should be some serious conversations at government level about the expansion of green energy and how to use our utilities much more efficiently. Something that could quite easily be done is to make rooftop solar panels compulsory for all new build properties and offices, which is happening here soon

Now that's something I've been advocating for years, SB!

[stainesbloke]

Just now, Ed Stone said:

Now that's something I've been advocating for years, SB!

I don’t know why this hasn’t been done yet. Vested interests, probably. If only everyone had solar panels on their homes and businesses. It’s just one idea, plenty more workable ones out there 

[Methuselah]

9 minutes ago, stainesbloke said:

I don’t know why this hasn’t been done yet. Vested interests, probably. If only everyone had solar panels on their homes and businesses. It’s just one idea, plenty more workable ones out there 

Aye, attaching windmills on roofs vacated by once ubiquitous TV aerials is another perfectly achievable option too -- there can't be that many days per year when there's neither wind nor sunshine -- October Fog Index Time notwithstanding?

Surely anything that reduces folks' reliance on fossil fuels has to be good, right? It is even better if we can all help supply the national grid?

[minus10]

3 hours ago, Ed Stone said:

Aye, attaching windmills on roofs vacated by once ubiquitous TV aerials is another perfectly achievable option too -- there can't be that many days per year when there's neither wind nor sunshine -- October Fog Index Time notwithstanding?

Surely anything that reduces folks' reliance on fossil fuels has to be good, right? It is even better if we can all help supply the national grid?

Yes fully agree ....i have thought for many years why more roofs dont have solar panels and/ or small turbines...it is a digrace that all new builds are not required to have this technology ...if we are serious about climate change then this needs to be done...but putting climate change aside it is still a good idea to use more 'clean' energy and reduce reliance on the grid...its a no brainer...no?

 

[SnowBear]

So where is our rain? Try Death Valley.... Record amounts of rainfall there in this topsy turvey year for weather... 

Flash flooding swamps California's Death Valley

WWW.BBC.CO.UK

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Nearly 1,000 staff and visitors were unable to leave as all roads in and out were closed.

 

[Methuselah]

2 minutes ago, SnowBear said:

So where is our rain? Try Death Valley.... Record amounts of rainfall there in this topsy turvey year for weather... 

Flash flooding swamps California's Death Valley

WWW.BBC.CO.UK

---

Nearly 1,000 staff and visitors were unable to leave as all roads in and out were closed.

 

Well obviously (thanks to their having highly advanced alien technology) the Yanks have stolen it!

[stainesbloke]

4 hours ago, Ed Stone said:

Aye, attaching windmills on roofs vacated by once ubiquitous TV aerials is another perfectly achievable option too -- there can't be that many days per year when there's neither wind nor sunshine -- October Fog Index Time notwithstanding?

Surely anything that reduces folks' reliance on fossil fuels has to be good, right? It is even better if we can all help supply the national grid?

I completely agree. Can’t be that difficult to install the windmills? Now, those with solar energy are not able to sell their excess back to the grid. Hardly encouraging to those looking to get green energy. Needs to be a much bigger national effort. 

[minus10]

6 minutes ago, stainesbloke said:

I completely agree. Can’t be that difficult to install the windmills? Now, those with solar energy are not able to sell their excess back to the grid. Hardly encouraging to those looking to get green energy. Needs to be a much bigger national effort. 

When did that change ? It was the case that you could sell it back to the grid thus supplying additional green energy to the grid...i just dont know anymore..nothing makes sense now...

[stainesbloke]

2 minutes ago, minus10 said:

When did that change ? It was the case that you could sell it back to the grid thus supplying additional green energy to the grid...i just dont know anymore..nothing makes sense now...

Think it was last year? Might not be all energy companies, though

[Methuselah]

4 minutes ago, minus10 said:

When did that change ? It was the case that you could sell it back to the grid thus supplying additional green energy to the grid...i just dont know anymore..nothing makes sense now...

I think that must have been back when Cameron was sucking up to UKIP? But, whatever, as far as the climate is concerned, we are being governed by idiots!

[Evening thunder]

5 hours ago, stainesbloke said:

There should be some serious conversations at government level about the expansion of green energy and how to use our utilities much more efficiently. Something that could quite easily be done is to make rooftop solar panels compulsory for all new build properties and offices, which is happening here soon

Completely agree, been saying that for years, before the nearby new town of Cranbrook (hailed as being green/environmentally friendly) was built near Exeter, but nope... nothing about solar panels on all the new roofs. Not sure why but as you say, probably vested interests and it eats into developers profits... even though it's a small amount of the cost of the properly.

I wish this government was truly serious about being green/climate change... but their actual policies suggest otherwise

Heard roof aesthetics suggested as one excuse before.. well roofs (especially new builds) are hardly natural and don't often 'look nice' anyway! and it's better than in fields.

Edited August 7, 2022 by Evening thunder

[minus10]

38 minutes ago, SnowBear said:

So where is our rain? Try Death Valley.... Record amounts of rainfall there in this topsy turvey year for weather... 

Flash flooding swamps California's Death Valley

WWW.BBC.CO.UK

---

Nearly 1,000 staff and visitors were unable to leave as all roads in and out were closed.

 

Yes, rain in the dry areas of the world: UAE and now Death Valley...it is said that cloud seeding occured in UAE, maybe we will have to do that over here ( in the south east of course)

[richie3846]

I've been doing a bit of Googling, and it seems that most trees will survive a one year drought, and many survive a year without photosynthesis, so good news for those trees which are already shedding leaves. 

 

When I thought about this, all the old trees today survived the 95 and 76 droughts, trees wouldn't be much use if they can't survive a few droughts in a 300 year life span.

[stainesbloke]

6 minutes ago, richie3846 said:

I've been doing a bit of Googling, and it seems that most trees will survive a one year drought, and many survive a year without photosynthesis, so good news for those trees which are already shedding leaves. 

 

When I thought about this, all the old trees today survived the 95 and 76 droughts, trees wouldn't be much use if they can't survive a few droughts in a 300 year life span.

Yes, established trees are generally very resilient. It’s the recently planted trees that will be suffering and dying in this drought. If anyone has any nearby them, please water them  

[minus10]

1 minute ago, richie3846 said:

I've been doing a bit of Googling, and it seems that most trees will survive a one year drought, and many survive a year without photosynthesis, so good news for those trees which are already shedding leaves. 

 

When I thought about this, all the old trees today survived the 95 and 76 droughts, trees wouldn't be much use if they can't survive a few droughts in a 300 year life span.

Yes trees are amazing lifeforms. They will use strategies to deal with changing conditions such as early leaf full or slow growth and because of the fungal network they are able to communicate...more about this is being found out all the time..thats why we add micro funghi to new plants when planting to encourage a stronger relationship between root and ground...droughts like any form of severe conditions effect the deseased/weakened trees/young trees more...healthy established ones can withstand it plus their roots go down a long way...

[richie3846]

1 minute ago, stainesbloke said:

Yes, established trees are generally very resilient. It’s the recently planted trees that will be suffering and dying in this drought. If anyone has any nearby them, please water them  

I saw some small trees planted recently on an embankment in a Swindon country park, I think some of them are kaput.

Just now, minus10 said:

Yes trees are amazing lifeforms. They will use strategies to deal with changing conditions such as early leaf full or slow growth and because of the fungal network they are able to communicate...more about this is being found out all the time..thats why we add micro funghi to new plants when planting to encourage a stronger relationship between root and ground...droughts like any form of severe conditions effect the deseased/weakened trees/young trees more...healthy established ones can withstand it plus their roots go down a long way...

Like a wind storm, a drought may serve to clear the way for the healthy.