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Anyone who hasn't seen this coming since the early 90's at least has either had their head in the sand or been wilfully ignoring the evidence
My newsfeed fairly regularly show me articles about the reducing birth rate in what might be termed 'developed nations' The reasons cited for this generally focus on the security and cost of housing, costs of childcare and generally high living expenses and how it negatively impacts women's professional development throughout their careers.
Almost never is concern over the impacts of climate change on future generations mentioned, which I find extremely surprising. No way would I be considering having kids these days considering the shit the world will be in 70-80 years in the future, and I hope to never be a grandparent for the same reasons.
By the way that Google AI summary on how to turn AI off is another AI nonsense response for a lot of people. Those settings apparently haven't existed for a couple of years but its just scraped old web sites.
If you want to search without AI type -ai at the start of whatever your searching for. (Well it works for me anyhow)
Was a very wet winter for much of southern europe so reservoir levels are excellent for the time of year
I'm in southern europe (I think), this piqued my curiosity as you often hear that the rainfall is too hard/fast for the reservoirs to catch it, so I did some digging. Turns out there's a rather old school reservoir levels website, marvellous. Anyway, I was interested in why the monthly average level for the reservoir my tapwater comes from varies much less these days than it did in the 90s/00s. Seems to be more stable these days. Improvements in the distribution or something?
Our level now is at 79% capacity, same as this week last year and down on the 10 year average for this week of 83.4%. Fascinating stuff!
My guess is that the hydro-electric use of the dam's water changed in about 07 and that has resulted in higher more stable levels, Bob.
My guess is that the hydro-electric use of the dam's water changed in about 07 and that has resulted in higher more stable levels, Bob.
That would not have even occured to me. I think you're right, I moved to the area in '08 and there's never been a lot of activity around the generators. You'd expect technicians' vans, noise etc. And I'm up there all the time as it's a road loop of mine. Hmm.
The waterbombing plane is out in our general area - about 12 miles from the house - looks like it in the wooded area near the top of a very nice Cat 3 climb. Not many houses in the area... hope all are safe and OK
They're probably still generating, Bob, but to a different protocol. Hydro dams have to release a flow to the river so the fishes don't die and have a minimum level to respect. Within those constraints they generate when needed and preferably when the price is high. They almost never waste money with overflowing water which would also be risky from a flood management POV.
We escaped the 40+ in town with a walk in the mountains. Back home it's still 34 outside at 21h and 29 in the house. Debating sleeping in the cooler garage.
Political will is the hard bit.
Made much harder when oil and and auto industries are chucking tens of millions of ££ at your political party.
Reform are about 90% funded by oil and gas players.
Oof, cooler this morning. Spent the night in the garage and went for a tepid swim - that's another problem, the local outdoor pool gets too warm and doesn't lose enough heat over night.
Till the next heat wave then, 20 in the last decade and constantly rising according to France 2 The Zoe's battery cooling is humming away, I normally charge overnight but didn't want to disturb the neighbours' sleep.
Why the **** do people in northern Europe head down here for their Summer holiday? it't miserable at less than 1000-1500m.
Meanwhile we go back to North Wales camping in August and it's tipping it down all week. My sister's apologetic, oh the weather's always like this when you come over. But I cannot wait. Last time we started the journey here in 40C, campervan no aircon, pitched up in Eryri and it was 14C mizzle. Got cold sleeping in summer bags. Wonderful
I have Dutch friends who moved to the middle of France a few years ago. On account of the climate, they are now seriously considering moving north, possibly to Scotland.
And so my next door neighbours, who are the ultimate aspirational consumers (I) run 2 cars despite living in a well connected city (ii) have a never ending procession of DIY projects to rip out perfectly good decor/furniture (iii) have 2x black wheelie bins that they absolutely brim every week (we barely 1/4 fill one)
Speaking to them yesterday:
"Oh it's getting too warm nowadays. we're installing air conditioning "
🤦