From a newspaper article today.
Only a modest drop in rainfall led to the collapse of the classic Maya civilisation more than 1,100 years ago, a new study has found.
The demise of the civilisation, centred on present day Mexico and Guatemala, was sudden and has intrigued archaeologists for many years with theories of the collapse around 950AD blamed on social unrest, disease and extreme drought.
But the study has calculated for the first time just how much rain was lost and discovered that only a 25 to 40% drop was enough to help lead to the collapse of the sophisticated society of accomplished architects and mathematicians that flourished for around 600 years.
The research was led by Professors Martin Medina-Elizalde of the Yucatan Centre for Scientific Research in Mexico and Eelco Rohling of the University of Southampton.
Professor Rohling said: "Our results show rather modest rainfall reductions between times when the Classic Maya Civilisation flourished and its collapse - between AD 800-950.
"These reductions amount to only 25 to 40% in annual rainfall. But they were large enough for evaporation to become dominant over rainfall, and open water availability was rapidly reduced. The data suggest that the main cause was a decrease in summer storm activity."
The study combined records of past climate changes from stalagmites and shallow lakes to model 40% reductions in summer rainfall and reduced tropical storm activity over the region.
Professor Medina-Elizalde added: "For more than a century, researchers have related the demise of the Classic Maya civilisation to climate change, and especially to drought. No sound estimates had been made about the severity of this drought, but some have suggested extreme scenarios.
"New data made it possible to finally get detailed estimates. To do this, we developed a model that coherently explains changes in critical datasets of change in the region's balance between evaporation and rainfall."
Professor Rohling explained such modest rainfall reductions would have caused the disintegration of a well-established civilisation.
"Summer was the main season for cultivation and replenishment of Mayan freshwater storage systems and there are no rivers in the Yucatan lowlands. Societal disruptions and abandonment of cities are likely consequences of critical water shortages, especially because there seems to have been a rapid repetition of multi-year droughts," he said
The scientists also note that the reconstructed droughts during the demise of the Classic Maya Civilisation were of similar severity as those projected in the near future in the same region.
"There are differences too, but the warning is clear. What seems like a minor reduction in water availability may lead to important, long-lasting problems.
"This problem is not unique to the Yucatan Peninsula, but applies to all regions in similar settings where evaporation is high. Today, we have the benefit of awareness, and we should act accordingly," explained Prof Medina-Elizalde.
The work, published in the leading journal Science, was funded by the UK's Natural Environment Research Council.
John
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Geordiecpl2001
2 hours ago
Straight Male, 67
Bisexual Female, 63
0 miles · Tyne and Wear
Forum
I'd heard of this, thought it was limited to 100,000 consumers only?
Wonder why local Councils don't start something like this? After all they must have big energy bills of their own, they know how many households in their area and can canvas the occupiers quite easily.
Eg. If all the Tyneside Councils got together. Say 1,000,000 people on Tyneside so estimate 330,000 households all paying @£1,000 per year for energy. Therefore revenue @ £330,000,000 (what's that 1/3 Billion?) plus Councils own fuel bills.
Some leverage on that lot if they approached a supplier.
John
Wonder why local Councils don't start something like this? After all they must have big energy bills of their own, they know how many households in their area and can canvas the occupiers quite easily.
Eg. If all the Tyneside Councils got together. Say 1,000,000 people on Tyneside so estimate 330,000 households all paying @£1,000 per year for energy. Therefore revenue @ £330,000,000 (what's that 1/3 Billion?) plus Councils own fuel bills.
Some leverage on that lot if they approached a supplier.
John
Quote by starlightcouple
Hang on, you've got the Olympics, The Queens Jubilee, most of the Uks wealth.....................and now you want OUR water ??? Is it Ok if we have some gruel now and then ?
John
john, the olympics is set in the heart of the country. buck house is set in the heart of the country. the wealth of the uk is in london. hardly the fault of all southerners is it?
anyway do they not have trains where you are
why not visit this great city to see ether the olympics or the jubilee?
we are going to the jubilee and yes whilst we do not live that far away we are still staying in a london hotel. eating in a london restaurant, and seeing all the sights of this great city. plus a bonus for you is that it will be much warmer than where you come from :grin:
it is not YOUR water as i presume you are a part of the uk where you live
we are all in this together
Don't think we've all been in this together since Maggie shut down most of the UKs industry, but that debate has been done on here already.
However, it will be a nice turnaround when instead of us Northerners pressing our snotty noses up against the windows of your restaurants (so to speak) you lot will be gazing longingly at us in our overflowing baths, showers and hottubs !!
Oh Yeah, and I BET our grass will really be greener
John
Quote by Superowl76
Hi. I would like to meet a lady or couple for a drink and a chat at youtopia's to help show me the ropes. I've been to a house party but would like to go to a club and it would be nice to meet some nice people to break the ice. Thanks.
I would check with the club for opening days this weekend, pretty sure its Sat which means couples only.
J & S
Quote by starlightcouple
i think it is about time southern water stopped paying huge dividends to there share holders, and invested those huge amounts of money in getting water from the north to the south.
if firms can build the channel tunnel and all the engineering skills involved with that, putting some large pipes into the ground and a way of pumping the water into the reservoirs in the south, should be as easy as southern water counting there profits every yeer.
i get tired of reeding about hose pipe bans almost every yeer, while southern water continue to announce yeer on yeer profits. in the south very little water and yet 100 milers away from london loads of water. the water companies have the know how to do this, but do not want to spend the money on the investment. it reely is as simple as that. reward the shareholders and fuck the peeple who pay there water bills every yeer off out of it. :twisted: the same as the enery companies do as well. as the gas companies announce vast profits yet i have just had my latest gas bill in, and yet another rise.
Hang on, you've got the Olympics, The Queens Jubilee, most of the Uks wealth.....................and now you want OUR water ??? Is it Ok if we have some gruel now and then ?
John
Well, when you South-easterners are doing your Lawrence of Arabia impersonations, crawling round a parched dust bowl of a countryside looking for water, you'll be glad to hear that up in the North we have LOADS of water !!
Tell you what..........send us some jobs and we'll send you some water.
John & Shel
Tell you what..........send us some jobs and we'll send you some water.
John & Shel
Jed,
I think you assume too much competance on the part of the Gov. If plans existed for every eventuality, how come last years snow brought the airports and a lot of the Country to a standstill ? And abroad, remember Katrina wrecking New Orleans, which everyone knew was below water level?
John
I think you assume too much competance on the part of the Gov. If plans existed for every eventuality, how come last years snow brought the airports and a lot of the Country to a standstill ? And abroad, remember Katrina wrecking New Orleans, which everyone knew was below water level?
John
To me a bonus is awarded when pre-agreed targets are met or exceeded.
If this man has met or exceeeded the targets set for him then he should receive the bonus.
But in the current hoo-har which led to him eventually saying he would not take the bonus, would it not have been better for him to say, "OK I'll take the bonus (shares) then transfer them into the name of a charity" that way he is rewarded for the work done, then proves he is a hero by giving the money away, which will in turn pave the way for the knighthood which Mr Cameron will have undoughtedly promised in return for giving up the bonus.
John
If this man has met or exceeeded the targets set for him then he should receive the bonus.
But in the current hoo-har which led to him eventually saying he would not take the bonus, would it not have been better for him to say, "OK I'll take the bonus (shares) then transfer them into the name of a charity" that way he is rewarded for the work done, then proves he is a hero by giving the money away, which will in turn pave the way for the knighthood which Mr Cameron will have undoughtedly promised in return for giving up the bonus.
John
Quote by Max777
The talk of Scotland living of of its oil revenues its all pretty patchy TBH. For a start if you look at it historically most of the early work is done by BP and Shell British companys not Scottish. I know first hand as I have family there people involved in the industry. Its certainly not all Scots working on the rigs and neither is the infrastructure. In fact the some of the Scots I know who work on rigs work for a Canadian comany) however Can anyone deny that North sea oil is a British venture?
I dont now know the exact structure but it would sound like we will all still be using our expertise in workers comanys and technologies to provide Scotland an income? Does not sound right to me.
The nationality of the companies that have invested and built the oil infrastructure does not matter. They get to keep the oil but pay a tax for the privilege of extracting the oil. Currently this revenue goes to the UK Exchequer but Alex Salmond will lay claim to 90% of this should Scotland obtain independence. At the same time, he will look for Scotland to take on board 8% of the UK national debt, based on the proportion of the UK population currently living in Scotland.
The whole drive for independence is underpinned by the oil revenues.
Diary of Independance in Newspaper headlines;
Day 1. "Hooray, we're Independant, now to be rich with all that oil money"
Day 2. Cold Fusion perfected, unlimited supplies of cheap electricity for all
Day 3. Alex Salmond qouted as saying "Oh Fuck!!!"
John
Quote by Max777
The border (one of the many borders over time) was, of course, Hadrian's Wall. Let's rebuild that and develop a proper friendly relationship with our Scottish neighbours.
Personally I don't think the occupants of this region (England) should have a say in the collective decision of that other region (Scotland) - including whether or not they even get to make the decision. You want independence - get enough people to vote for it (a goodly majority please) and you can have it. If it needs to be done in stages so be it. That's just logical.
Hadrian's Wall was never a border between England and Scotland. It was built by the Romans in what was then Britannia and was designed to defend the most northerly frontier of the Roman Empire.
Almost the entirety of Newcastle lies north of the wall and I doubt many Geordies, let alone Northumbrians and Cumbrians would wish to be forced to become Scots.
Not forced, but if thats where the jobs and money are, bring it on.
John
But to take it one step further.
Assuming the Scots get independance and have a very healthy economy. (Before anyone jumps in thats an assumption to lead on to the rest)
Living in the North East we tend to do badly as as region ecomonically because to the Labour Party we are "safe seats" therefore better to channel investment to "marginal seats" to get re-elected. To the Conservatives, no chance of them getting many seats in the North East so better to channel investment to "marginal seats" to get re-elected.
So based on the above is it outlandish to foresee a situation where Northumberland, Durham, Tyne&Wear, Teeside and Cumbria think it would be a better option to be part of Scotland rather than England ?
Wonder what would be the response in London and Edinburgh if there was a "Northern Spring" where us Northerners wanted to change from being English to being Scots?
John
Assuming the Scots get independance and have a very healthy economy. (Before anyone jumps in thats an assumption to lead on to the rest)
Living in the North East we tend to do badly as as region ecomonically because to the Labour Party we are "safe seats" therefore better to channel investment to "marginal seats" to get re-elected. To the Conservatives, no chance of them getting many seats in the North East so better to channel investment to "marginal seats" to get re-elected.
So based on the above is it outlandish to foresee a situation where Northumberland, Durham, Tyne&Wear, Teeside and Cumbria think it would be a better option to be part of Scotland rather than England ?
Wonder what would be the response in London and Edinburgh if there was a "Northern Spring" where us Northerners wanted to change from being English to being Scots?
John
Quote by Bluefish2009
New 'Iron Lady' orders Cameron to win back powers from Brussels
Incoming head of Tory Eurosceptics has drawn up 'shopping list' for PM
Top of her shopping list is a new EU rule allowing member states to opt out of Brussels directives whenever they have a change of government. That would allow the Coalition to end the maximum 48-hour week under the EU's working time directive, agreed when Labour was in power.
Is it time to loose the max 48 hour week?
Thought there was always an opt-out from the 48 hour maximum which workers can "volunteer" to sign up for.
John
If your talking pride, then surely the thing(s) to be proud of are what you DO. Not as in "I'm the boss of a bank and very proud" but more like "I've fostered 50 kids and they have had a better life because of my actions".
In other words, I don't care what size, gender, etc you are, but do you help make the World a better place ?
John & Shel
In other words, I don't care what size, gender, etc you are, but do you help make the World a better place ?
John & Shel
Pension funds typically invest in a range of things, from buldings to stocks and shares and commodities.
Bet if the teachers contributions had been invested in those over 35 years the 83K would look a whole lot bigger, maybe 10 times bigger. Plus some of it will still be growing whilst he is being paid out.
John
Bet if the teachers contributions had been invested in those over 35 years the 83K would look a whole lot bigger, maybe 10 times bigger. Plus some of it will still be growing whilst he is being paid out.
John
Think you'll find that ClubF is a lot closer to Chams in every respect (except distance) compared to Isis.
While we've not been to Isis in years, we've been to ClubF recently and can recommend it. Not been on a Weds tho. If I were you I'd ring ClubF to see that you can just turn up and join. It'll take you about 90 min from York, (quicker if your riding Black Bess) !!
J & S
While we've not been to Isis in years, we've been to ClubF recently and can recommend it. Not been on a Weds tho. If I were you I'd ring ClubF to see that you can just turn up and join. It'll take you about 90 min from York, (quicker if your riding Black Bess) !!
J & S
Totally agree with Ben, money ain't everything.
About 18 years ago was offered a job in Houston, it came with a house, swimming pool, car, full works and probably doubled my money.
Problem was, I'd have to be working away all over USA and Canada, so while wife and kids might be sitting round the pool, I wouldn't be seeing the kids enjoying it or them growing up. So turned it down, stayed on Tyneside.
A case of "Love over Gold"
John
About 18 years ago was offered a job in Houston, it came with a house, swimming pool, car, full works and probably doubled my money.
Problem was, I'd have to be working away all over USA and Canada, so while wife and kids might be sitting round the pool, I wouldn't be seeing the kids enjoying it or them growing up. So turned it down, stayed on Tyneside.
A case of "Love over Gold"
John
Quote by Bluefish2009
Looks like a costly affair to me, add to that those who will have to be of work for child care....
Public sector strikes next week could cost the UK £500m and lead to job losses, say ministers - as unions accuse them of "fantasy economics".
The Treasury made the estimate based on lower public sector output and knock-on effect on the private sector, including closed schools.
The PM's spokesman said there was "no question" large-scale strikes over pension changes would hit the economy.
And you expect the Gov to say anything else ?? Be it true or untrue ??
John
