Lady Dudley was walking home through the park to see all the trees that were blown down by that cyclone last year.
In Don Gifford's 1974 book, Notes for Joyce, it is explained that this refers to one of the most severe gales in Dublin's history and was compared at the time to that of 1839 (the night of the big wind). The gale caused great damage to property and particularly to trees in Phoenix Park. It is estimated that between 1000-3000 trees were uprooted in the park. In parts of the country it was reported that whole woods were leveled.
A cyclone that could bring down so many trees in Dublin would be seen as a catastrophic event today, and final proof of man made climate change / the end of the world. But we don't get storms that have this much force anymore, they are a thing of the past. Historic climatic events such as in 1839 and 1903 show that the climate, if anything, has actually improved in Ireland.
To be fair, I think there is probably a periodicity to storms of this force but the timescale to look at would be at least a 1,000 years. Then the historical frequency could be assessed and MIGHT be useful for projections in the future.
ReplyDeleteThat would have to apply both ways. They shouldn't take a recent powerful storm and use it as irrefutable evidence of climate change but they always do. Without showing any historical context.
DeleteThe point of this blog is to provide some historical context.
1000 years ago we were in the MIDDLE of the Medieval Warm Period. When temperatures were higher than now and we had no SUVS and CO2 levels were lower than now probably.According to Satellite Data global temperatures began DROPPING in 2004. So there is a low temperature correlation between now and 1000 years ago.It is very unlikely then that ferocious storms comparable to relatively recent times happened 1000 years ago.Most credible scientific prediction says we are now on the cusp of mini ice age that could be as the Maunder Minimum.
ReplyDeleteStorms are part of nature which is designed for nature, not for humans. Humans are a consequence of a number of highly unlikely coincidences. Humans evolved in North West Africa which is not prone to storms. Other parts of the world were prone to storms and droughts to varying degrees. Humans moved out into these regions and expected nature to change to suit them. When that becomes impossible they demand humans living in non- storm regions pay higher taxes as a penance for the privilege they.
ReplyDeleteenjoy. The taxes don't do any good but they make them feel better mentally.
After that all fails, the next solution is cannibalism as proposed by a Swedish Scientist, now google The coverage of Alexandria Ocasio Cortez's town hall meeting where an attendee demand we start eating babies to save the planet. Her vest says Eat the Children". So parents need to watch their children in case they are eaten. No court will convict the culprit as it Climate Change, a good cause. Search eat the babies for reference.