les O'fieldstream WUblog

Posted by: ofieldstream, 11:33 PM GMT on August 12, 2012

Drought Haiku

Much of the midwest United States swelters and thirsts under the oppression of the worst drought since the Dust Bowl Era of the 1930's! Fires rage, streams, lakes, ponds and swamps dry up as weeks go by without rain. Occasional showers pass through a few areas, and while this is welcome relief, it - in no way slakes the thirst of the land. The crops of corn, soybeans and livestock not only suffer, they are systematically destroyed.

Modern civilization is an amazingly advanced collection of technology and derived knowledge. We do some truly amazing things. Yet, in the face of the natural world - and it's more fickle member: weather - no amount of technology has been able to overcome the rudimentary elements of Mother Nature. We can barely predict; doing so only if the weather remains template consistent; let alone control. That is yet only in the realm of science fiction. Yet, if one thing is learned about weather, it is the inconsistency of weather.

Many are asking, "Is this [the hot weather and drought] because of global climate change?" The naysayers tell the questioning crowd, "It's nothing more than a natural cycle. We've seen them before and we've made it through. We'll weather this one, too."

Sounds good and there is a grain of truth in the statement.

These spikes/anomalies/weather variances have occurred before. As well, there are definitely cyclical components to weather events. But mankind has never just 'made it through' a weather alteration/variance/anomaly/spike. Something - or somethings - always fall subject to unexpected change. Often times it is the change that alters entire lifestyles. Not always for the better. Think potato famine in Ireland; or droughts in Africa; or even our own Dust Bowl Era. None of these occurred without seriously painful changes.

Drought Haiku
Dry land, tinder rage,
Dreams sear in summer broil: pain
Desiccated hope.

Drought is manifested as land - forced to offer up changes. Once fertile areas become - if not desert - then near-desert. Water sources/ways/impoundments change and so do the life forms found within/near/dependent for their existence along their shores.

The land deals change. It has no choice. Wildlife either adjust or perish or move on to new areas that will support them. Adaptation, is a slow process, so in the interim many animals and plants are lost; extirpated from the affected area. Humans, though we have a bit more flexibility, we, too are not invincible in the face of weather disruptions.

The land suffers future changes. In the face of an extended and severe drought much of the land becomes useless for what it once provided. It's future and the future of any life depending on it, also changes. When the land changes, the weather itself changes in response. And thus a vicious cycle of pain-filled alteration begins. The last work in this is not pretty.

So, did we (humanity) have a hand in this? Can mankind be blamed for what the earth and its inhabitants are being exposed to today? Can man actually have an overall changing effect upon the surface of the earth? If so, does this 'effect-range' proctor an affect vast enough to actually change the weather? Have we erred in our assessments of human involvement? On the side of pride: regardless of the side of the table? All of these questions are hotly debated and are very much in need of answers: soon!

To err is most certainly human. But to do so deliberately, that my friend ...is colossal stupidity.
Sam Stovepipe, Sage of Gar Island, Journal #6; Slogging Through It, 1946

This is a fundamental question. Many argue their position-answer. But, as always, nature will have the last, and final, answer. That one bit of truth, you can take to the grave: the other sure thing in life.

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Categories:Temperature Extreme Climate Change Drought Politics

Updated: 3:10 AM GMT on August 13, 2012

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UPDATE: Typhoon Haikui .. churning up

Posted by: ofieldstream, 6:53 PM GMT on August 06, 2012

-- UPDATE: Wednesday 08.08.12 --It appears Typhoon Haikui came ashore to 'do serious typhoon business' !According to reports from Chinese and World news agencies, Haikui came ashore with wind speeds of 110 km per hour (68mph). Yes, the speeds were barely up to hurricane force (74mph for both hurricane and typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson scale), there was widespread damage. This was the third such storm to hit China this week. The winds may not have b...

Categories:Typhoon Hurricane Flood Photos Update

Updated: 6:55 PM GMT on August 08, 2012

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Big Shake Clusters in Mexico

Posted by: ofieldstream, 1:25 AM GMT on March 21, 2012

Today the ground between the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, Mexico shook, and shook quite violently. With a huge 7.4 Quake at less than 10 miles deep, the ground was tossed mightily; we're still waiting on reports of the severity of the damage. But with a large cluster of 7 quakes from the massive 7.4 to 4.6, and all of the quakes clustered in a radius of less than 40 miles; including one offshore; there has to be some serious damage. This is also NOT an unpopulate...

Categories:Earthquake

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They're Shakin' 'n I'm Markin' !

Posted by: ofieldstream, 6:34 PM GMT on March 14, 2012

Over the past 5 or 6 years I've had a Google Alert for Earthquakes going. It's been quite interesting to see the various locations and what seem to be 'patterns' - despite the constant denial of 'earthquake patterns' by the experts.Once WU began including earthquake data in the Interactive FLASH Map on the landing page, I've been following it like a puppy in heat. But for WHY! - I don't know - I didn't think about logging these in a personal map on Google Maps! She...

Categories:Earthquake

Updated: 9:31 PM GMT on March 15, 2012

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So Close, Yet So Far Away ....

Posted by: ofieldstream, 4:09 AM GMT on February 16, 2012

[UPDATE: 02.16.12 ]I didn't have time to peal the image and make a map again, but noticed that today's Xtreme temps were in roughly the same places as yesterday. So for another FIRST, this was the first time with a double-day where the Xtremes temps are so close togther! Interesting.les O'fieldstream----I thought y'all might find this bit of trivia interesting. I have been paying rather close attention to the Extreme HI and LO for the day, posted on the Default ...

Categories:Temperature Extreme Climate Change

Updated: 7:42 AM GMT on February 17, 2012

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