Friday, July 13, 2007

I'm Sinking!

According to a study reported here, most of London is sinking and at the same time sea levels are rising due to global warming. So in the worst effected areas the net result is water levels rising by up to 2.5 mm / year which over the next 40 years would work out as a noticeable 10 cm. Not all is so bad - towards Northolt the ground is slightly rising due to the underlying geology.

Fortunately where I am is steady or slightly decreasing (light blue in the figure above). Phew! No need yet for life jackets or rafts!

What is more the same study identified that due to tidal effects London moves vertically 10 mm twice a day due to the weight of water coming in and out. That must be near the estuary rather than upriver here where surely there can't be enough water to make that amount of height variation.

Even so its hard to think of a whole city rising and falling - makes me think of this series of books I've just finished (recommend if you like that sort of thing).

1 comment:

Jordan said...

Dear JP,
I hadn't previously heard of the 'sinking' worry, only that if the yanks didn't clean up their act and stop driving hummers, then global warming might freeze the UK... anyhow, I saw your informed blog and thought that you might like to join many yacht captains in passing on some recommendations for the Superyacht Services Guide.... to the USA... We currently publish an annual Caribbean and Med guide - both over 800 pages each, and entirely ONline for free. This is the first year for the big old USA. I see you are not anywhere near the us now, but perhaps have spent some time there? we also list 'worldwide' recs, ie: if a service is online-based or would make sense to be listed in the WWchapter.. my territory goes from St. Augustine, FLA north to the CT/RI border and then starts again with NH, up through Maine and beyond, as well as taking care of the w. coast. So, if you think you could steer our readers toward 'the good guys' with any recs of services, the professional yachting industry would greatly appreciate your knowledge! (our books are referred to as 'the bible') The questionnaire is below; please do jot down anyone you can think of and don't worry about blank spaces! You will be grandly thanked in the front matter of the book. Thanks so much and have a great day,
Jordan Mitchnick
Superyacht Publications, Ltd.
mobile: (954) 235.1908
jordan@superyachtpublications.com
www.superyachtservicesguide.com

TM Superyacht publicationS Ltd.
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