Jottings around Sleaford: Water resources and weather!

Lots have happened since I last wrote on this Blog and priorities keep changing.

Loss of our Monarch Elizabeth and a  "cost of living" crisis to name but two. Especially energy which is being exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and other international problems.

Clearly, the weather this winter will be an important factor in energy usage and will impact heating bills.  

Mild or cold: wet or dry. Hard to tell:  but the Global La Nina effect is still with us and may have an important influence. 

So the links to useful information are given below. Best of luck!

News: Anglian Water confirms the proposed site for a huge new reservoir.

Site of New Reservoir

Fears being expressed 

Much anger in and around the proposed site (especially around Bourne).

Interviews have been featured in the News inc Television, on Social Media, and in the local Press. 

This development if given the go-ahead will take many years. It is sited in one of the driest areas in the UK and that alone is a cause for concern given the drought condition of Summer 2022. Would it deliver what is required?

A major issue: would it deliver the water required? 

Another: Is this the best use of agricultural Land?

So onto the weather this winter. 

Our climate is affected by Global Circulations. Two main categorisations are related to El Nino and La Nina. El Nino is the more famous but once again we are in a La Nina situation and the forecasters are wary of making predictions. I have tried to make some sense and selected passages from experts. Here goes!

Could La Nina make temperatures drop in the UK this winter? 

“In late autumn and early winter it historically promotes high pressure in the mid-Atlantic, which stops Atlantic weather systems from delivering mild air to the UK, and therefore can allow cold conditions to intensify.“However, in late winter La Niña can drive a shift of the jet stream towards the Poles increasing storminess and heavy rainfall while bringing milder conditions”.

I hope this helps for the time being and I will update when possible.

Notes on July 2022 Weather Events:

UK Heatwave breaks records: Record low Antarctic Sea Ice: The scale of European wildfires in 2022:Tropicle Storm Aere and flooding in SW Japan:: Historic flooding in parts of the USA: Unusual July rainfall around the Persian Gulf: England and Wales dry weather:  
Extreme Heat July 2022 july_heatwave (metoffice.gov.uk)

Is it me or is life now too complex? Simpler views from Sleaford!!

 Funny old world!

Lincolnshire Parched Land. July 30 2022 Drought affected land

It is 7 months since my last blog piece. At the time Climate change discussions were all the rage after Cop26 in Glasgow. So on towards Cop27 in Sharm El-Sheikh (an extremely dry part of the world). 

The Cop26 in Glasgow was a bit of a farce as most official attendees (and some unofficial) seemed to arrive in private jets. And then went on to opine about Greenhouse gases and their effect on Global temperatures.

Now, in July 2022 the country is in the middle of an inflationary surge, and in-fighting of the ruling political group to select a new leader (less than 3 years after Boris Johnson became leader). Meanwhile, industrial unrest grows as attempts to keep up with the cost of living increase tensions.

Health-wise things appear to be deteriorating with obesity levels rising, a new surge in Omicron on the cards and worries about grooming, drugs and illegal entrants coming across the Channel and being housed where possible in hotels. It never rains but it pours. This reminds me: there is the prospect of water rationing and the use of stand-pipes (1976 repeat).  My own garden is a funny shade of yellow/brown. 

Parched Farm Land 

So maybe North Kesteven and Sleaford ain't so bad after all. Hope overdevelopment doesn't spoil the party. 

What to make of 2022 after a 2021 no-one expected: Holdingham Sleaford viewpoint.

Draft: So many things that were expected are now on hold: so who is to blame (or be praised) that some events did or did not unfold: main topics include:
Holdingham Roundabout almost complete - some issues remain: 
Sleaford Moore Pride Parkway Enterprise Park (passed 2 July 2021): 
Persimmon Holdingham Grange Phase 2 development aligned to Sleaford Moor: 
 Lincoln Road Open Space: 
Cop26 implications. 

The improvements to the Holdingham Roundabout are almost completed. Personally, I think the installation of traffic lights is a good thing. 

Certainly for those coming out from the Lincoln Road. Pity about access to McDonald's (I had hoped for a safer entrance/exit) to stop traffic coming out onto the Lincoln Road to go to the Roundabout without going down to the mini-roundabout. However the footpath is welcome. 

The Lincoln Road Playing field/open space is well used and the the young people use the covered area in front of the Nets and metal framework. 

Sleaford has continued to change as new developments continue despite stoppages due mainly to Covid restrictions. Like many all eyes daily on the latest tally of Covid-cases and which variety and whether or not the NHS will be overwhelmed. At least Christmas and the New Year celebrations got through with too many hitches. Local Businesses will be pleased with that (I assume).

On a wider scale any ramifications of Cop26 appear to be on hold. Day to day problems appear to be dominating and thinking bout 2030 or 2050 seems to have lost its gloss.  However it is good to see Lincoln University taking an active role in the subject.  My previous Blog also commented at Cop26

The Lincolnite produced a report: COP26 inspired climate change conference at University of Lincoln (thelincolnite.co.uk) 

More to follow.

Are proposed actions to mitigate against Climate Change unachievable? More harm than good?

Alok Sharma

The final concluding Statement from Cop26 is here: delivered late on November 13 by a weary President!  

Latest November 13th: Cop26 goes over the time limit: disagreement on Fossil Fuel phasing out  (Coal and others?). Many looking for cash to help. Meanwhile, the scale of lobbying by the fossil fuel industry is indicated by the size of their delegations in Glasgow.

Clearly, work has been going on behind the scenes for some time: rather undermines Cop26. 

COP26: Cautious welcome for unexpected US-China climate agreement

The next Cop is Cop27 

The COP27 will take place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. 2022. (well at least it  should be hot and dry.)

Lincolnshire Warnings  This local effects diagram within 10 years seems unlikely but represents a warning if nothing is done. (Better defenses etc) 

Here is the latest News


Much media interest in the number of Private Jets being used (not quite in the spirit of Cop26).  The Times (2 November highlighted it)


Cop26 brief from Met Office (Webinar) on 6th October 2021 (full day session)

It is essential that societies seek ways of becoming environmentally sustainable and adaptable to unknowable environmental changes, particularly in the climate. This must happen in the context of globalization. (OU)

RMetS Resources for Cop26

Climate change is now generally recognized as a phenomenon that requires both actions to prevent further damage and mitigation to improve the resilience of those experiencing its effects. 

Many groups are putting forward their aims and objectives on behalf of their members and Stakeholders in a bid to put pressure on Ministers and as input to COP26 (Conference of the Parties) due 31st October/November 2021 in Glasgow. 

One such recommendation from Prospect is at this link 

In brief these proposals say:

1. Publish a comprehensive Net Zero Roadmap: 2. Accelerate Deployment of low carbon infrastructure: 3.  Embed a whole systems approach: 4. Develop a fair funding formula: 5. A strategy for energy conservation: 6. Maximize the benefits for UK PLC: 7. Net Zero Workforce Plan: 8. Ramp up Research and Development Programme: 9. A Just Transition: 10. A Net Zero Energy Commission. 

Another submission from CSPA (Pensioners Alliance) is identified below. But will these proposals lead to anything substantial as there is little chance of succeeding until the major world economies agree? 

Such effects impact: with particular severity on older people. They include:

 • Severe weather (storms, floods, extreme heat) 

• Sea level rises and coastal erosion 

• Threats to water and food security

 • Potential interruption to and scarcity of fuel supply

• Increased air pollution. It is vital that dialogue improves between organizations representing older people and government, its agencies and other interested parties, for example, the insurance sector. It is necessary to

• Educate older people about what may be in store

 • Prevent stress and mental ill-health arising from climate change 

• Mitigate the effects of climate change and air pollution on physical ill health • Mitigate damage as far as possible. 

This AGM instructs the EC to open cross-party dialogue on this topic with a view to strategic and practical engagement in the political and civil arena and to produce an action plan relevant to CSPA members and consonant with Later Life Ambitions. 

Further, the AGM encourages Groups to engage on this topic with regional and local stakeholders such as the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Green Summit.

All well and good but very broad brush and as mentioned above will be difficult, and futile to implement, unless everyone is on board.

County Council and Police Crime Commissioner Elections 2021

 The County Council and Police Crime Commissioners elections 

are to take place on May 6th 2021. 
Due to the sad death of Price Phillip, campaigning has been suspended for 10 days from April 9th 2021. 
The link to the candidates at County Level are here. Electoral Listings

Crime Commissioner Candidates are here in the Sleaford Standard release. 
Crime Commissioner

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It Never Rains but it Pours: a Blog Theme of our times for Sleaford & Holdingham

 As it happens it has just started raining for what is forecast to be a wet week-end.

In more ways than one it seems. 

There are several themes on the news at the moment after weeks and weeks of constant Covod-19 stories (some very sad but one or two reasons to be cheerful). Exhaustion appears to be creeping in after promises which don't always come to fruition. Here is an image from the Daily Telegraph as we teeter on (or already in) a second wave.

Whilst Closing Times have been getting a lot of attention there is a lot going on.

Zoom events, and similar, seem to be appearing on an increasing basis: and personally if I accepted all I would be busy 23 hours per day. Most are Webinars but one or two are  direct Zoom events with maybe about 100 - 200 attendees. Added to that, Podcasts and Reports, and the world has certainly changed to a more virtual mode.

I have three or four strings to follow. International especially China and Hong Kong:  Local Political issue and with effects of Brexit negotiations, Employment effects of Covid-19:  Sustainability (Green Energy) and last but not least Climate Change and TV productions bending towards productions featuring futuristic worlds based on Sustainable lifestyles.

Centre For Cities also invite me onto their Zoom discussions. Apparently Cities and Large Towns are being affected by a movement of residents out of Urban Areas. Interesting topic. 

Note: I am a member of RTS, RMetS, Twitter and Prospect - so some of my information comes from them.

https://members.prospect.org.uk/news/id/2020/September/15/Prospect-pushes-importance-green-recovery-at-TUC-Congress 

Enough for the moment.   

Green Energy: Zero-Sum Carbon Emissions by 2050 through exploitation of Renewable Sources? Lincolnshire Effect?

Reduced reliance on Carbon Fuels and the pollution: 

A Green Recovery Plan for the energy sector
Introduction

As the Government Department States:  

UK becomes first major economy to pass net zero emissions law

(New target will require the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.) The BBC put it this way last year (click image)

Most renewable energy sources originate from the sun (solar energy), while tidal energy originates from the gravitational pull of the moon, and geothermal energy results from heat trapped below the surface of our planet. See below!

Is Nuclear also an option? 

What is Green Energy: Here is the Open University Definition

Solar energy can be used directly in a two different ways. The heating part of the Sun’s rays can be used to directly produce hot water (solar thermal), while the light energy can directly produce electricity from photovoltaic cells (PV).

There are, however, a number of indirect ways in which solar energy can be utilised:

·       Wind energy has been utilised for mills and pumps for hundreds of years, but has been harnessed to produce electricity during the past several decades. Wind 'farms' have been set up in the UK, and around the world, both inland and offshore.

·       Wave energy technology is still in the early development phase but several devices have been tested in pilot projects. The most widely used is the oscillating water column which uses waves to push air through a turbine which generates electricity.

·       Tidal energy is utilised by allowing the tide to build up a head of water behind a barrier, then allowing the water to flow through a turbine to produce electricity. The effectiveness depends on the position of the moon, being greatest at full and new moons. Tidal currents can also be used to generate power, by installing turbines in the flows, and that is seen as a more likely way ahead than building large invasive barrages.

·       Geothermal energy is energy taken from hot regions below the surface. The available heat varies from place to place.

Note: Nuclear Energy: energy is produced by a controlled nuclear chain reaction and creates heat—which is used to boil water, produce steam, and drive a steam turbine. The turbine can be used for mechanical work and also to generate electricity. This is being looked at more seriously than previous!! This option is also being widely pushed (n addition to the above). It is safer and appears (to many) as less costly to produce.