tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367053740188758246.post7230990998126275997..comments2023-06-21T00:39:34.443-07:00Comments on Dosbat: On the difference between knowing and knowing.Chris Reynoldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16843133350978717556noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367053740188758246.post-88718688822385614962012-07-29T04:27:39.777-07:002012-07-29T04:27:39.777-07:00Comments are now back to normal.Comments are now back to normal.Chris Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16843133350978717556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367053740188758246.post-37307225807870571622012-07-14T06:02:30.074-07:002012-07-14T06:02:30.074-07:00Temporary change to comments policy.
As I wait fo...Temporary change to comments policy.<br /><br />As I wait for the installation of a new phone line and internet connection I will be off the 'net for around 2 weeks, so I'm putting comments into moderation. This effectively means no comments will be published for the next two weeks after which normal service will be resumed. <br /><br />Sorry for the incovenience.Chris Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16843133350978717556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367053740188758246.post-86468118185286460962012-06-29T12:39:29.824-07:002012-06-29T12:39:29.824-07:00Thanks Neven,
I've been very lucky, in the la...Thanks Neven,<br /><br />I've been very lucky, in the last 24hrs across the North East of England there's been widespread flooding power cuts and transport disruption, with some people losing everything on the ground floor due to the speed of the floods.<br /><br />We're having a very wet June at present after large parts of the South and East of the UK have been in drought with 'hosepipe bans' due to a succession of dry winters. This follows the warmest March since 1957, and the third warmest since 1910.<br /><br />But all of this is against notorious variability in UK climate/weather. I do think we're seeing the start of the sort of swings the climate community has been warning about - but I also think that here in the UK we'll need to wait years before anything statistically strong can be asserted.Chris Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16843133350978717556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367053740188758246.post-14989258874760682372012-06-28T21:51:30.580-07:002012-06-28T21:51:30.580-07:00Hey Chris, sorry to read about the flooding. :-(
...Hey Chris, sorry to read about the flooding. :-(<br /><br />It seems to be happening more often in the region where I live as well. This is something I really try to take into account when looking for a house or plot of land to buy. But droughts will be problematic here as well. Last winter it didn't rain for five whole months. Just when the mayor had started to assure everyone that everything was fine in the local news paper etc (which usually is a sign that trouble is not far off) we had a couple of good rains. And in some parts too good.Nevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15413215743703093876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367053740188758246.post-33427420982560114842012-06-26T11:38:52.818-07:002012-06-26T11:38:52.818-07:00It seems to be to protect existing and long standi...It seems to be to protect existing and long standing areas (e.g. around the Docks and other low lying areas). <br /><br />I suspect that the simple matter of insurance may harm projects of building in risky areas - I understand that insurers in the UK are now simply refusing to insure against flooding in flood risk areas. Who wants to risk putting millions into a new housing development where there's a risk of possible buyers finding out that they can't get flood insurance? At the very least it immediately devalues the house. <br /><br />Anyway, we'll either act proactively or learn the hard way and get our asses kicked - like I did. ;)Chris Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16843133350978717556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367053740188758246.post-77715721967943041522012-06-25T13:37:55.154-07:002012-06-25T13:37:55.154-07:00I hope you're right about that, although I'...I hope you're right about that, although I'll have to reserve judgement until we see some real progress on mitigation. The nightmare scenario is one where people are so desperate to adapt that there is little left over for mitigation. For now, unfortunately, there's still plenty of serious money going into fossil fuels.<br /><br />Further to my mention of the Duluth event, things are very <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/06/25/505474/midwestern-drought-intensifies-i-dont-remember-anytime-it-was-this-dry-this-early/" rel="nofollow">different</a> not far away.<br /><br />Re your area, is the thinking that the new facilities will make it possible for everyone to rebuild in place rather than abandon vulnerable locations?Steve Bloomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12943109973917998380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367053740188758246.post-85712360601280981452012-06-25T10:36:54.510-07:002012-06-25T10:36:54.510-07:00Thanks Steve,
Here in the North West of England I...Thanks Steve,<br /><br />Here in the North West of England I know that around the city of Preston they've been building quite an impressive network of tunnels, it's caused long term diversions in parts of the city. The system comprises of massive chambers which are now being capped, linked by tunnels, designed to accept overflow from the drains and buffer (or integrate) pulses of heavy rain, such as the event that got me.<br /><br />I see the denialists as increasingly irrelevant. They may persuade the gullible, but that's the nature of the gullible, who are also prone to change opinion rapidly and quietly. The serious money (and the works in Preston involve SERIOUS money) is on the serious science now, not the cranks.<br /><br />As things are going, by the mid 2020s the denialist camp will be an object of popular ridicule.Chris Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16843133350978717556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367053740188758246.post-90795302382132589832012-06-25T01:28:23.379-07:002012-06-25T01:28:23.379-07:00Wow, Chris, that's unfortunate, although I'...Wow, Chris, that's unfortunate, although I'm glad you were able to get some of your possessions out.<br /><br />By coincidence, at about the same time something similar (<a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/160198125.html" rel="nofollow">article</a>) was happening in Duluth, Minnesota and environs (western tip of Lake Superior). My impression is that it was extreme enough to give pause to the local denialists, a good sign.Steve Bloomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12943109973917998380noreply@blogger.com