Weather

If one thinks about it, I feel sure the weather and what it is doing must be the topic most talked about around the world.  Doesn’t matter where one lives on this planet we are all subjected to and dependent on the weather. 

The amusing thing about this is that with our discussions we complain when it is too hot or too cold.  We complain when it rains too much or not enough: in fact, we find more to complain about with the weather than about saying something nice.  I have often wondered why.

Years and years ago, towns were always built near a river.  This way the population could be sure they would always have water.  That helped people in land locked countries, but what about islands.  Small islands in the middle of oceans were surrounded by the sea.  Because the sea is salty that wasn’t suitable to drink, so the population on an island was dependent on rain.  If there was a running stream that would have been their water source.

Those people who lived in the mountains where it snowed over winter, were assured of water in Spring as the snow melted and filled the streams.  People further down the river relied on that snow melt as well. 

Humans need water.  We are more likely to die from thirst than hunger.  So drinking water is necessary.  Can we rely on the rivers, streams and snow melts?  Will they always be there? 

Now I am not putting that question to scare anyone, but there are problems currently as each country is dependent on having enough water.  Firstly, dams are being built on rivers.  This stops the flow to people further downstream.  The water is generated in one country and used by several countries as it flows to the sea. But when dams are built near the source of the river it can help generate hydroelectricity and provide water for that country, but can cause a lack of drinking water downstream as well as bad flooding when sluice gates have to be opened to release too much water in the dam.  This is not a good situation. Generally, the countries at the source of the river don’t see any problem, or if they do they choose to ignore it.  But those countries further down the river and close to the sea are the ones that suffer.

As we are all so reliant on water, and most of that water comes from snow melts or rain, how can any country be flippant about how they treat their water ways?  We are reliant on the weather, and we can’t control it.  Though many people think they can.

Marshes which have been part of a country’s habitat for generations, have and are being drained to make more room for houses and towns.  This is perfectly OK until there is a change in the weather and the area that was once a marsh becomes once again awash with water.  Draining the water from the soil will fill again when there is an over abundance of rain.  The soil is used to absorbing the moisture, so the rain refills the open space.

Many people have taken to building homes in old river gullies where a river has dried up.  But when mother nature supplies a once in a hundred-year rain storm, the water naturally pours down the gully sweeping away all those homes with it.  This can include people caught inside the buildings.  Surely those living there should have known this was likely to happen?  Didn’t silly old grandma talk about the time when she was a child and the gully filled with water?  Unfortunately, the people who made the money out of erecting and selling homes in those gullies, weren’t interested in what silly old grandma used to say.  And now those once in a hundred year storms have started to happen more recently, those dried up river gullies are experiencing more and more flooding.

Glaciers are starting to melt quicker than was the habit 100 years ago.  When pieces break off, they are large.  They also contain an amazing amount of water.  Water from a glacier that once was enough to enrich the stream running past towns down to the sea, has now becoming raging rivers of water, taking over streams and many houses and soil with it. 

The weather is changing.  But are we, as the population on this planet doing anything about it?  We seem to be trying to change mother nature and make all the areas which are recently causing problems, suitable for us to live on.  Is this a good idea?  Personally, I would say No.  Draining marshes, trying to change the flow of rivers, building dams, and erecting buildings in a position where water would naturally flow is not sensible.  So why have governments allowed people to do it?

Unfortunately, Mother Nature will never be trained.  She will always take over.  She, has in the past and she will in the future.  Surely it is about time, we all started to realise that and play her game instead of our own.  Time for us to encourage more natural energy sources, to stop the pollution that is affecting the planet. 

Julie Finch-Scally ©