http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/feb/12/summer-drought-looms-for-england
Thought that this might be worth a thread given that we're now looking forward to Spring. Can hosepipe bans in Southern England be far away? Luckily, we'll have no such problems here and presumably Scotland and Wales should be ok too, but it certainly looks like there will be problems for many parts of England. Of course, the question is whether the problems are caused by the drought or simply because a high density population simply needs too much water or simply wastes it. Either way, it's hard to see the problems being avoided this year - by the time May arrives, much less water gets into the water-table as most rain either evaporates or gets consumed by vegetation. So unless March and April are exceptionally wet.....
Usually when the media start worrying about drought the rain comes back with a vengence. I strongly suspect that sometime during 2012 we'll have a very wet period.
Question is, will it start before, during or after summer?
Edited by user 12 February 2012 21:05:34(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Its definately caused by lack or rainfall here.
I have noticed through the winter whilst out walking that streams are lower and some small water channels are entirely dry where they would usually have water flowing. Similarly the ponds are at a lower level than usual and one or two only muddy puddles.
I think you are correct, it is a combination of rate of water use combined with increasing population plus the winter drought.
Gavin may well be right. These things have a habit of balancing themselves out - but sometimes the balancing takes a while, i.e. there is nothing to say we won't have a dry spring and summer before the pattern changes.
Knowing our luck the first rains will fall as the new cricket season arrives....
When I walk our dog I had noticed that in December the water courses and river beds were dry. We could walk down them. It was only in mid December after a few days of moderate rain that they started to fill up. Now they are running, but still low. we definitely need more rain, and lots of it.
4.5 inches of rain down on our normal rainfall since September 2011 here, some major problems could be coming soon if no major rain arrives.....
That's actually a good point. Over here 2011 has been exceptionally dry at this neck of the woods. I don't have the exact figures to hand, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was on par with 1976 - but without the heat.NOW, it seems that the metered system system has become a very a good idea. Had everyone remained on the old "unlimited" water rates, I bet water would be wasted away through frivolous use (watering gardens, hosing cars down every other day, running fountains and filling up swimming pools, etc).Should the dry trend continue all the way into 2012 . . . then it will be worrying times when it comes to our water supply.
Not seen any resevoirs around here recently, but the lochs and rivers are low.
We had a wet autumn (well pretty wet year in places) but a lot of the resevoirs were well below their capacities. Not sure the wet end to the year helped it that much.
I'll have a look next time im passing some of them
See photo of Ardingly reservoir under 'West Sussex Snow' in Weather Photo sub-forum.
Records at local West Dean Gardens show that 2011 is only the 3rd driest year in the last 15 (when the current head Gardener took up post) but 2011 was also the year with one of the wettest summers, and well down on autumn and winter rainfall which is what replenishes reservoirs and ground water
It was a very dry here in Bournemouth in January, as was Autumn and follows an exceptionally dry spring.. Winter rainfall is important because it is in winter that groundwater levels are recharged. Any rain falling in Spring, Summer and Autumn either evaporates or is taken up by plants and little makes its way to replenish ground water reserves.
Below is the lastest water situation report issued by the enviorment agency for England and Wales.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Research/January_2012.pdf
That was grim reading
LOL 'super-drought' so what is the Sahara called then? This is a perfectic excuse for an article.
I think you miss the point. There are not 60 million people living in the Sahara with piped water and agriculture/industry/commerce, nor an abundance of wildlife that needs protection.
Good grief.
Exactly.. plus, do we want England to become the second Sahara? I thought not.
And peaking during the Wimbledon monsoon period in late June
Not sure what you mean. It's been dry for much of the last 12 months.
Actually its longer than that. I think year on year rainfall has been running generally below average for many of us since autumn 2008.
These extended dry periods often run 2-4 years, but rarely longer, so like I say we should be coming to an end this year, though it might not be until after summer and if we were to have a hot/dry summer, obviously that would be cause for concern.
Edited by user 13 February 2012 01:08:23(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Actual stock Change since last week Normal year Last year Regional total 93.6% -1.4% 95.8% 95.4% North & West Cumbria 99.4% +0.1% 99.5% 100.0% Haweswater & Thirlmere 93.4% -3.1% 96.0% 95.1% Pennine sources 91.5% -1.4% 95.0% 93.6% Dee & Vyrnwy reservoirs 94.9% -0.5% 96.0% 97.4%
I think we will be ok in the North West !
Edited by user 13 February 2012 02:35:18(UTC) | Reason: Not specified