Bob’s Meanderings by Bob Grylls
Presently the Canadian government is juggling a lot of balls and with some difficulty in not fumbling any. There are other urgent ones in a holding pattern waiting to be dealt with as well.
Covid-19 is at the top of the list, with neither a firm ending of the virus in sight or the assurance of when vaccinations will be ready for distribution. Maybe next year or later! There is an urgency worldwide to research and produce one or more for the world’s population. Mind you, Canada is doing very well in the containment of Covid-19 compared to most countries, especially the one south of us, separated by a not so secure border. Maybe an insurmountable wall should be erected!
Massive debt loads continue to mount in order to keep businesses and citizens afloat – a debt level unheard of since the great depression. Spending our way out of recession to get the economy on track seems the most viable option but increasing the debt is still worrisome.
The country needs people at work but so many would rather play or pub-crawl which prolongs the virus itself. Paying extra for daycare and transportation will help. Daycare frees up more people to join the workforce and improved transportation gets them there. The humongous tax burden will hit home in a few years and probably continue for many more – a burden and a curse for taxpayers.
Then there is the perpetual worry of global warming- to me the most horrific and complex problem of all. It has been given a back seat for months and likely more months into the future. But it is imperative it becomes the priority once more.
When I read of a Siberian town on the Arctic Ocean reaching an unbelievable 30 degrees temperature I was stumped. Of course, people swarmed to swimming holes, many for the first time ever. conversely, during the winter, this area is one of the coldest spots on earth.
A study claimed, “This Siberian heat streak and Arctic temperature record is virtually ‘impossible’ without the momentum of global warming.” Furthermore, research shows this incident is one of the strongest links to global warming of any extreme event yet investigated.
The World Meteorological Organization said, “There is a 20 per cent chance that the 1.5-degree Celsius level will be reached in at least one year between 2020 and 2024. That is so much sooner than the previous forecast that it is mind-boggling. The 1.5-degree Celsius mark is the level to which all countries have agreed to stay below in a unified effort to limit global warming.
Scientists say average temperatures around the world are already at least 1(one) degree higher now than during the period from 1850-1900 primarily because of man-made greenhouse emissions.
There is another frightening phenomenon relating to a rise in global warming. It seems that the influential natural weather pattern that operates in the Pacific Ocean, El Niño and/or La Niña, contribute to increasing global warming and a rise in global warming gives these trade winds a boost in their impact. This is one more adverse blow for higher global temperatures. We cannot win.
El Niño features warmer-than-average temperatures in the waters of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, while La Niña features colder-than-average waters.
El Niño events occur irregularly at two to seven-year intervals. It is not a regular cycle, or predictable in the sense that ocean tides are. When present, it reduces Atlantic hurricane activity. CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller said, “The warmest years are reserved for the strong El Niño years.”
During La Niña, the trade winds become stronger and affect weather around the world, influencing high- and low-pressure systems, winds and precipitation. And as the warmer ocean waters release excess energy (heat) into the atmosphere, global temperatures rise. The Atlantic hurricane season generally sees an increase in hurricanes and tropical storms during La Niña – who’s cycle is just now beginning.
Historically, Canada is mostly affected by El Niño during winter and spring. Milder than normal winters and springs occur in Western, Northwestern and Central Canada. Generally, El Nino does not significantly impact Eastern Canada, including the Maritimes, but it may.
When I asked a high school grad what the future holds for him. He said, “There is no future.” I had no answer for him.
