interesting.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/l...re/3205568.stm


--

cupra

" cupra" wrote in message ...
interesting.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/l...re/3205568.stm

This is the first mention I've seen in the media about drought
concerns in the UK. I was beginning to think they hadn't noticed.
These past few weeks, I have been enjoying the autumn sunshine; but,
as someone who enjoys walking along rivers and canals, I am very
concerned about the ongoing lack of rainfall. A couple of weeks back,
my parents had their Rhine cruise curtailed because the river level
was so low. According to a report in "The Guardian" on October 1st,
the river is only 38cm deep in places and it could dry up completely
soon. When rivers the size of the Rhine dry up, that's serious. In
fact, they are not anticipating any recovery in river levels until the
Alpine snow melt in the spring.

The Institute of Hydrology and the Environment Agency both have online
sites describing the water resources situation in the UK, on a monthly
basis:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/
http://www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/nrfa/monthly...9/summary.html

Both say some rivers were running at less than 30% of their average
flow in September. Soil moisture deficits continued to increase. The
dry autumn is also delaying the recharge of groundwater. Levels in the
Chalk in the SE England are particularly low. The Insitute of
Hydrology say the Feb-Sept 2003 rainfall total for the UK is the 2nd
lowest, after 1959.

When I looked at the Environment Agency's homepage and news releases,
all I could see were dire warnings about floods and what do about
about them. OK, I realise there could be flooding if there was a spell
of very intense rain on parched soil (like in 1990); but I think
Drought Warning would be more appropriate at the moment.

I hope the EA and the water companies will be prepared for the drought
problems that could occur in 2004 if we have a dry winter. Should
there be restrictions on water use at this stage, just in case?

In article , (Joan Lee) writes:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/l...re/3205568.stm

This is the first mention I've seen in the media about drought
concerns in the UK. I was beginning to think they hadn't noticed.


The Institute of Hydrology and the Environment Agency both have online
sites describing the water resources situation in the UK, on a monthly
basis:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/


Very poor graphics. Mostly illegible, colour scales not identified,
pretty useless.


http://www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/nrfa/monthly...9/summary.html

Better presented data.

I hope the EA and the water companies will be prepared for the drought
problems that could occur in 2004 if we have a dry winter. Should
there be restrictions on water use at this stage, just in case?

Farmoor reservior which serves Oxford and Swindon is now about 45% full.
It should be at least 75% full at this time of year.

Medium sized trees now showing severe signs of drought stress. Of course,
some people don't think drought can harm the environment because of a
semantic sleight of hand:-(


Cheers,

keith




---
Iraq: 4 thousand million pounds, 50 lives, and counting...

On 21 Oct 2003 09:48:45 GMT, (Keith Dancey) wrote:

Of course,
some people don't think drought can harm the environment because of a
semantic sleight of hand

It's the environment that's causing the drought.

--
Alan White
Twenty-eight miles NW of Glasgow.
Overlooking Loch Goil and Loch Long in Argyll, Scotland.
http://tinyurl.com/55v3

"Keith Dancey" wrote in message
...
In article , (Joan Lee)
writes:

Medium sized trees now showing severe signs of drought stress. Of course,
some people don't think drought can harm the environment because of a
semantic sleight of hand:-(

drought doesn't harm the environment, it is a part of it, and may cause the
flora and fauna to alter
Drought does harm individual animals and plants

Jim Webster



Cheers,

keith




---
Iraq: 4 thousand million pounds, 50 lives, and counting...

"Joan Lee" wrote in message
om...

I hope the EA and the water companies will be prepared for the drought
problems that could occur in 2004 if we have a dry winter. Should
there be restrictions on water use at this stage, just in case?

This seems to be gathering some momentum as far the media is
concerned. There was a story about it on the 6 O'Clock news this
evening, saying that if there wasn't substantial rain in parts of the
south and east in the next two weeks, there would be a 'crisis'.

Col
--
Bolton, Lancashire.
160m asl.
http://www.reddwarfer.btinternet.co.uk

In uk.sci.weather on Tue, 21 Oct 2003 at 19:07:56, Col wrote :

"Joan Lee" wrote in message
. com...

I hope the EA and the water companies will be prepared for the drought
problems that could occur in 2004 if we have a dry winter. Should
there be restrictions on water use at this stage, just in case?

This seems to be gathering some momentum as far the media is
concerned. There was a story about it on the 6 O'Clock news this
evening, saying that if there wasn't substantial rain in parts of the
south and east in the next two weeks, there would be a 'crisis'.

The weather forecaster this morning said Margate got 36mm yesterday -
share some of that around.
--
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham

Email to pahyett[AT]activist[DOT]demon[DOT]co[DOT]uk

In article , "Jim Webster" writes:


Drought does harm individual animals and plants

Uh?

Cheers,

keith



---
Iraq: 4 thousand million pounds, 50 lives, and counting...

In article , Alan White writes:
On 21 Oct 2003 09:48:45 GMT, (Keith Dancey) wrote:

Of course,
some people don't think drought can harm the environment because of a
semantic sleight of hand

It's the environment that's causing the drought.

There you go again: semantic sleight of hand. And a waste of bandwidth.

No Cheers,

keith



---
Iraq: 4 thousand million pounds, 50 lives, and counting...

In article , "Col" writes:

"Joan Lee" wrote in message
. com...

I hope the EA and the water companies will be prepared for the drought
problems that could occur in 2004 if we have a dry winter. Should
there be restrictions on water use at this stage, just in case?

This seems to be gathering some momentum as far the media is
concerned. There was a story about it on the 6 O'Clock news this
evening, saying that if there wasn't substantial rain in parts of the
south and east in the next two weeks, there would be a 'crisis'.


There already *is* a crisis in some parts of this country. From the small
scale of my losing so many (evergreen) trees, to the massive reduction in vole
and mouse populations effecting kestrels in particular, to farmers who have
lost their *entire* winter wheat sowings...

Of course, there are people who think it impossible that plants can be effected
by drought, and that its the "environment" (of dead fields?) which is "causing"
the drought, but they are just playing with words instead of listening to the
plight of people who are being severely effected by this drought and who care
about its effects on others.


Cheers,

keith

---
Iraq: 4 thousand million pounds, 50 lives, and counting...