[sabrina]

After the terrible weather the other day what has been left behind is awful. Peterhead, Stonehaven, Wick Boddam all lost harbour walls. In some places pictures were taken of 20ft waves. Over the past few years Scotland seems to have had more strong winds and much wetter weather than in the past. Global warming or the world as we know it gone forever.

[oor wullie]

I think part of the problem is that there are much more people with much more stuff than ever before.  Compared with 100 years ago we have 10 times as much stuff (cars, bigger houses etc) spread over a larger and more vulnerable area (eg 100 years ago there was much less building in flood plains) so a similar storm will cause much more damage nowadays.  In addition we have an instant news industry always looking for a story (eg. front page pictures of 1 inch of snow) so a big deal is made of weather that in the past was just accepted.

Of course global warming is a big issue but perhaps another problem is that modern people are so insulated from nature that when they do experience something it takes them by surprise.

20ft waves are big for a harbour but I spent last christmas eve on a ship in 21m (yes that's 69 ft) waves.  This, understandably, caused Santa a few problems in delivering to us.

[Ina]

20ft waves are big for a harbour but I spent last christmas eve on a ship in 21m (yes that's 69 ft) waves.  This, understandably, caused Santa a few problems in delivering to us.

Argh! The first time I ever went up to Shetland it was in one of the worst storms they'd been out in... I was so horribly sick, I never travel without having pills handy now. Didn't stop me from going to Shetland, though...

Anyway, as to Scotland getting all the bad weather - I actually had the feeling throughout this year that it was always down south they were worse off. Maybe it just seemed like that because you expect more of the bad weather up here. The little town where I live actually seemed to be better off than most - even now, with Stonehaven so badly hit, there didn't seem to be much of an impact here, only 10 miles south of it.

[Lesley Silvester]

What I want to know is this.  When global warming was first mentioned, we were warned that world tyemperatures would rise. It was predicted that Britain would have Mediterranean type weather - warm, wet winters and hot, dry summers.  Since then, the weather has become progressively worse.  When is it actually going to improve?

[Ina]

Nobody speaks of "global warming" any more - it's climate change these days. They've long noticed that the temperatures won't go up everywhere, let alone weather "improve" in general. It is, however, changing on a large scale...

[Lesley Silvester]

Is it actually getting warmer anywhere?  I know they changed the name but no one has actually said that it's because they were wrong.

[Ina]

As far as I know, it is getting warmer - on average. I know it doesn't seem like it here...

[oor wullie]

Is it actually getting warmer anywhere?  I know they changed the name but no one has actually said that it's because they were wrong.

Yes, particularly in the polar regions but most of the world is getting warmer.
The last few winters which have been quite cold for us have actually been remarkably warm in places like Greenland.
The key is in the 'global' bit of the phrase global warming.  You can't judge based on a local area.

North West Europe is a bit of an anomaly as our climate is remarkably mild given our latitude due to the ocean currents ( in other parts of the world at 55N there is permafrost, the sea freezes every winter etc).  We are so dependent on the ocean currents we are vulnerable to a drop in temperature if anything disturbs them.

[jaykay]

I think part of the problem is that there are much more people with much more stuff than ever before.  Compared with 100 years ago we have 10 times as much stuff (cars, bigger houses etc) spread over a larger and more vulnerable area (eg 100 years ago there was much less building in flood plains) so a similar storm will cause much more damage nowadays.  In addition we have an instant news industry always looking for a story (eg. front page pictures of 1 inch of snow) so a big deal is made of weather that in the past was just accepted.

Exactly so 

[RUSTYME]

The fact is that nothing , the weather or the climate are doing atm , hasn't happened before . I have no doubt that what man does has some effect on the climate , but the political bs about glo'bull' warming is about tax and getting more money and nothing to do with being green or saving the planet .
The people shouting the loudest about 'save the planet ' etc , rarely actually attempt to do any such thing .
If they did they would grow their own food , make their own clothes , walk instead of drive , never fly , never use plastic , only buy locally produced goods with nil miles , but there are very few of them about , and not one of them is an mp ! , (how could they be ?lol) .
I try as best as possible to have a low impact on the planet , and hope to improve on my attempts as time goes by . The weather and climate are among the reasons i do this , but are not the only ones .
But the sad fact is glo'bull' warming and climate change , are huge money makers for corrupt mp's all over the world .
On the plus side , it was warm today and i didn't get totally soaked again !

[sabrina]

Only once did i take the ferry to Shetland. Made it as far as Peterhead before being sick. Thats about one hour into an 8 hour journey. Never again, took me a week to recover. I felt everything was still moving for days. I had my 3 children also throwing up, not a good start to our holiday. Have flown up since.

[deepinthewoods]

climate change? global warming?
pull the other one.

just an excuse to tax the air we breathe.

if global warming was such an issue why isnt aviation fuel taxed? 100 000 flights depart a day, with no tax on the emmisions they dump in the upper atmosphere.  whereas we all pay 60% on our miniscule fuel use in comparison.

[mab]

global warming is happening. As oor Wullie says, the global average temp is going up; and as our 'normal' climate is unusually warm for our latitude, a change in the climate is more likely to give us cooler weather on average.

if global warming was such an issue why isnt aviation fuel taxed? 100 000 flights depart a day, with no tax on the emmisions they dump in the upper atmosphere.  whereas we all pay 60% on our miniscule fuel use in comparison.

for the same reason multinational companies like google, and the very rich who live in tax havens, etc aren't taxed - 'cos if you try to tax 'em here they threaten to take their business and money elsewhere. So the politicians roll over and don't tax 'em.


Back on the original subject of the post; someone I know of on the isle of Raasay was saying they've had a fantastic summer - except their hydro-electric has shut down due to lack of rain.

[Lesley Silvester]

That's it, then.  I'm moving to Greenland.

[cleopatra]

Only once did i take the ferry to Shetland. Made it as far as Peterhead before being sick. Thats about one hour into an 8 hour journey. Never again, took me a week to recover. I felt everything was still moving for days. I had my 3 children also throwing up, not a good start to our holiday. Have flown up since.

oooh, iv been there coming from ireland to england...barf...havent been on a ferry since.