Global Warming?

[JK]

Wow, we have had a balmy December and January, better weather then BC even, then you read this from Sunday AM BBC news:

Europe freeze hits transport hubs
A Bosnian man walks near a frozen tram in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, on February 4 The Bosnian capital Sarajevo has ground to a halt amid the big freeze

Freezing weather has hit transport hubs across Europe, closing airports, blocking roads and halting trains.

London's Heathrow cancelled 30% of Sunday's flights, and dozens of flights were delayed at Amsterdam's Schiphol.

Transport hubs in Central and Eastern Europe have been forced to close amid the biggest freeze in decades, which has claimed more than 200 lives.

Bosnian officials have declared a state of emergency in Sarajevo, where snow has paralysed the city.

In Serbia, a state of emergency is in place across much of the country.

Thousands of people are said to be trapped in their homes across both countries, and many travellers have been stranded.

"I've been waiting here two days and we don't know what we will do," said Turkish tourist Ducim Tahroglu, waiting at Sarajevo airport.

Ukraine has been hit hardest by the weather, recording more than 100 deaths so far.

Forecasters predict the freeze will ease in Ukraine, though parts of the country will still be enduring temperatures as low as -19C.

The Siberian weather system has brought heavy snow and temperatures plummeting to below -30C in parts of Central and Eastern Europe.

The spike in energy demand forced Russian gas supplier Gazprom to reduce its deliveries to Europe over the past few days.

The firm said it could fulfil the demands of all of its customers, but insisted that supplies were now back to normal levels.

The freezing weather is now moving westwards, with most of the UK expecting snow overnight on Saturday.

In Italy, canals in Venice have begun to freeze over, and the capital Rome has seen its most severe snowfall in more than 25 years.

The Netherlands marked temperatures of -21.8C in the town of Lelystad on Saturday, the lowest recorded in the country for 27 years.

Motorist associations reported hundreds of miles of traffic jams across Belgium and the Netherlands as the first snow fell on Friday.

[Madzng]

186 cargo vessels are trapped in ice in Azov sea and Kerch Strait

Unusually cold winter in Azov – Black seas region froze Azov sea and Kerch Strait, which connects Azov and Black sea. Locals say they can’t remember anything like that for at least 30 years. Ice covers most part of Azov sea, reaching some 30 centimeters in thickness, with icepacks up to 1.2 meter high. Emergency Agency of Ukraine reports some 60 cargo vessels are presently trapped in ice, scattered around Azov sea area. 126 vessels have been thronged near or in Kerch Strait, waiting for ice channeling to Azov sea ports. There’s a growing danger of shortage of fuel and provisions on board of vessels trapped in Azov sea, some of them are stuck in ice for more than 10 days. Turkish freighter Taurus already asked for immediate assistance, requiring either icebreaker of delivery of fuel and provisions (http://www.odin.tc/news/read.asp?articleID=561), as of evening Feb 9 at least 8 other vessels are in critical condition, too, running out of provisions and fuel. There are presently 4 Russian icebreakers and 3 ice-classed tugs, plus probably, 2 Ukrainian icebreakers. They have to deal with dozens of stuck in ice vessels, scattered around a vast area of Azov sea. Azov sea MRCC zone is divided between Russia and Ukraine, with almost nil cooperation between the two States. In Russia itself, there is no Agency solely responsible for rescue operations at sea, in cases of emergency a bunch of Agencies and organizations comes up to the scene with their facilities. Among them are the biggest rescue agency of Russia, Emergency Ministry of Russia, then Maritime Rescue Agency, Ministry of Fisheries has its’ own Rescue service, then there is Navy and there is Coast Guard, both possessing separate rescuers. There is no coordination between them, everybody is for himself and considers others as rivals. Icebreakers in Azov sea belong to Rosmorport Agency, rather dubious in its’ character and origin State-owned organization, managing all sea ports of Russia. Such a mess results in Azov sea mess – icebreakers are sweating themselves out running from one distress vessel to another, all Russian Rescue agencies keep away as long as most vessels are trapped in Ukrainian zone of responsibility, meanwhile few Ukrainian Rescue helicopters do their best to evacuate crews and ill members of crew. If weather and ice conditions won’t improve soon enough to release vessels from ice trap, obviously, there will be a general request from dozens of vessels to provide them with fuel and provisions, and the only possible way to do it seems to be air transportation.
Taken from: http://www.odin.tc/news/read.asp?articleID=567

[JK]

That is quite amazing. 186 Ships. Would the crew be prepared for cold weather,I wonder. A lot of the ships we escorted, the crews had little or no winter gear.

ETA, Yesterday I sat out on my bench on the lake wearing only a light fall jacket enjoying the sun. Normally in February there is a good snowfall down and cold enough for it to squeek under foot. Truly bizarre weather.

At one time it would be common to have 60-70 ships icebound in the Gulf of St Lawrence. Now the only ice there is what comes out of the river.

[JK]

I spoke too soon, -25*c with wind chill tonight. It rained all last night, then freezing rain then snow.
Spring is coming though, Costco has all the toys out.

[JollyJack]

It has been pointed out repeatedly that as the arctic ice cap melts, the press of water south will redirect the North Atlantic Drift further south, subjecting northern Europe to another ice age. Remember London is 52 degrees north lattitude, just a bit further north than Belle Isle, off the northern tip of Newfoundland. The North Atlantic Drift is the only reason that the English Channel is ice free year round.

The "canary in the coal mine" would be the palm trees on the esplanade at Poolewe, on the north west coast of Scotland. If they start to die, watch out! They exist only because the warm water from the Gulf Stream reaches European shores there first.

[JK]

Palm trees in Scotland! Who knew? certainly not me!!

[Big Pete]

During the Roman occupation of Britain they grew grape vines in Scotland and made wine there, 500 years ago, Malaria was endemic in Southern England, especially around the swamps of the Thames Estuary. They called it the "Ague".
The climate has always changed in cycles, due to Solar activity inclination of the Earth to the Sun etc.
The problem with "Climate Change" is trying to remove all the background" noise" and natural cycles from the observed data to try and make an estimateof the "Man Made Effect".

BP

[jimmys]

Just a little reading from your local weather station in Glasgow, time as reported.

Temp 10degC, 1028 MB. 61% cloud, no rain.

The last two winters have been Canadian East Coast this one like Spanish Costa Del Sol. No rhyme nor reason to it. I have a little weather station in my garden and some erratic readings in the last five years.

South East England in a drought??

regards

[JollyJack]

Palm trees in Scotland! Who knew? certainly not me!!

Well, you do now!

http://nigelburkin.wordpress.com/tag/poolewe/

http://www.ullapool.camusnagaul.com/localinfo.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plockton

http://www.google.ca/images?q=plockton+ ... group&sa=X

[jimmys]

Just for JK and Jolly Jack - have a wee look at Tiree an island near Oban called "the sunshine isle" . 220 hours sunshine average in May every year. The songs say "The Most beautiful island of all" and I dont think they are far wrong. Just pick your sailboat, a nice 35 foot ketch and look at the island and dream. A beautiful place to sail!!!

regards

PS Hundreds of the population were deported to Canada in the 1860's most of them farmers and seaman.

[JollyJack]

Have a look at John Prebble's book "The Highland Clearances" to get an idea of how Bibby Line started. Ships licensed to carry 440 slaves on the middle passage from west Africa to the Carribean (Pelican, Sarah, Dove, cash cargo on delivery,) embarked more than 700 Scots, who were required to provide their own food and water for a 6 week voyage. (cash cargo on embarkation) The shipowner relied on high death rate on the way across the Atlantic.