Preparedness for when

ALIBOBSY

I have to admit having enjoyed the volcano programme as well-sort of a morbid fascination I think.

I know some of us on here had discussed about the Icelandic volcanos before. There has been various earthquakes around Hekla and Katla in the last couple of days and something has just been shaking the cr*p out of the Katla webcam just now (wind? or a quake?).

BUT I do think we shouldn't panic. The programme deliverately took worst case senarios and exagerations to make things more dramatic. Any sulphuric acid formed would NOT be concentrated-I felt they didn't really make this that clear. Even in 1783 people would not stood "burning" in the rain. Yes some outdoor workers died because of repeatedly breathing in the gas and crops were badly effected leading to many starvation deaths, but this is over 200 years ago, overall health was worse then, virtually no medical health, no breathing masks, little food imports and no way of issuing health warnings on mass to tell people to stay indoors on certain days/hours of the day. So deaths would be a lot less, but economically the Eurozone or the UK could really struggle.

For info the "year without a summer" was nothing to do with Iceland. It was a series of mid level eruptions worldwide, capped with the massive, "super volcano" eruption at Mount Tambura, all not helped by a solar minimum. Icelanic eruptions are unlikely to be that big.

So don't underestimate the effects, but don't panic either-unless you live in Iceland that is.

TBH a stock of food against bad harvests/food costs rising makes sense anyway.

Ali x

beaujolais-nouveau

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Here is the full length Super volcano for all those who haven't watched it or those who want to re watch it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6kGGX4QB7k

I watched that on YouTube for the first time last night and realised that the bug-out bag ought to contain a compass! In case of having to do a "walk for life". Imagine trying to get to somewhere else safer in the country, even if only a few miles away, when all the landmarks had been obliterated and the sky was permanently overcast (so the position of the sun wasn't visible).

Any recommendations for compasses?

nuatha

beaujolais-nouveau wrote: »

I watched that on YouTube for the first time last night and realised that the bug-out bag ought to contain a compass! In case of having to do a "walk for life". Imagine trying to get to somewhere else safer in the country, even if only a few miles away, when all the landmarks had been obliterated and the sky was permanently overcast (so the position of the sun wasn't visible).

Any recommendations for compasses?

My preference for training groups were Silva baseplate models. The Polaris 177 (Hi-Vis) is the closest to what I used to use and what I'd probably choose now for the same scenario (mountain walking, orienteering etc). The larger transparent baseplate makes setting it from a map far easier, it also lies better in the palm of the hand for sighting. The Hi-Vis ring is new to me but was longed for back in the day. I'm wondering whether I can justify adding yet another compass to the collection.
However, like many things learn to use one in advance

[Deleted User]

I can remember the summer of the year following the Mount St Helens eruption in 1980, that put masses of ash high into the atmosphere and the following year was wet, wet, wet and grey and dreary for months on end. I remember getting soaked to the skin most days even with a raincoat, which just got waterlogged. Things grew but the harvests were depleted and that wasn't a particularly big volcano. I think ALI has the right of it in that a good stock of food against weather related bad harvests/shortages is just basic common sense, and can be put together a little at a time and it's surprising just how fast the stocks build up. I wonder how many folks are even aware of the possibility of such an event that are not posters here? Interesting to know I think, Cheers Lyn xxx.

VJsmum

I saw that report GQ, not sure how true it is or just the Daily Fail being their usual scaremongering selves.

However, power outtages are going to be a thing of the future so we need to be prepared. I wonder if it would be better to have rolling blackouts for a fixed period at a defined time each day - so at least you know when you have to deal with it and can be prepared.

GreyQueen

VJsmum wrote: »

I saw that report GQ, not sure how true it is or just the Daily Fail being their usual scaremongering selves.

However, power outtages are going to be a thing of the future so we need to be prepared. I wonder if it would be better to have rolling blackouts for a fixed period at a defined time each day - so at least you know when you have to deal with it and can be prepared.

I take the DW with a bucketul of salt but they do turn up some interesting stuff (stealing it from cleverer publications, mostly). I would prefer a planned outage over an unplanned one, too.

Right, got to get up to that allotment and sow some carrots. Laters, GQ xx

D&DD

Thanks for the info re the volcano programme I managed to find it on the sky thingy and watched it last night,fascinating in a morbid sort of a way
Got me a thinking tho..always a dangerous thing! It was mentioned that an eruption could cause the jetstream to move/be blocked and cause arctic winters wonder if thats possibly why we have had a few coldun's on the trot??

pineapple

GreyQueen wrote: »

Mrs LW, I have been forced to interact with the Minions of Satan (aka the TV Licensing authority) yet again last week as they were threating me with court.

FGS, the weren't even saying they'd detected a TV operating, just that they were going to take me to court. I now have a letter which should cause them to leave me along for 2 years.

You have hit on my pet peeve. This sort of thing really REALLY bugs me :mad:. We don't get letters and threats demanding to know why we don't have a fishing licence !!!!!!! (yes pineapple is swearing now). It shouldn't be up to us to try to convince them. If they think we are lying let them come with their (fabled?) detector vans and catch us at it! Ghhrrr...
The other bug in my life is the man who fitted the little halogen lights underneath the kitchen wall units. I have a wet bottom at the mo and it's all his fault. They take those teeny bulbs with the prongs which slide into teeny holes. Unfortunately mine are fitted with the holes towards the outside so you can't see the blinkin things. To fit a new bulb you have to sit on the unit with your back pressed against the wall and your head contorted upwards, holding a torch in your mouth, with a magnifying glass in one hand and the new bulb in the other. It's not a pretty sight...

ALIBOBSY

Just for info the Katla webcam is here

http://www.ruv.is/katla

and I reckon it was a quake earlier on as it is very still now and wind doens't go that quickly lol.

Ali x

mardatha

D3, I've been thinking a lot recently about volcanoes and weather systems and crops. I think we're getting more marginal up here for a lot of things.