Anchovies and climate change

This has been a good news story in relation to fishermen operating out of Brixham. Just lately they have been catching substantial quantities of anchovies, for which there is no quota limit. These fish are a long way north of their normal location: usually they are to be found around the Iberian Peninsula. I've noticed increasingly frequent reports of the ocean's more tropical inhabitants being spotted off our coast. Whereas to a certain extent the variability of our weather is masking our perception of climate change in the UK it is to nature and particularly the oceans that we need to look.

Just imagine for a moment if this year we replicated the weather of 2007 with regard to sunshine, cloudiness and rainfall but that the temperature was one degree centigrade warmer throughout. Our perception would be of two identical years, we would be oblivious of the rise in temperature. However in nature things are very different and I believe this movement northward of 'tropical' fish is very indicative of a change in climate.

In my previous post I had yet another go at Piers Corbyn who just happens to be a denier of man made climate change. I try not to be swayed by arguments that don't have much backup but here is the core of my belief: Planet Earth tries to get into some sort of equilibrium but all manner of things such as volcanoes and earthquakes are forever throwing a spanner in the works. The activities of man of course have huge potential to upset any balance. Unlike a certain candidate for the US presidency I don't believe this planet was created 6000 years ago, more like 4.6 billion years ago according to the scientists. Now for me 4.6 billion years is a time period that I can't imagine. However let's equate that vast period to a year on Earth. If one does the arithmetic it will be found that all the oil that has been burnt by mankind so far has occurred in the very final second before midnight on December 31st. I think that this fact combined with the simply enormous increase in human population over the same period is bound to have had some effect on the Earth and it is pure arrogance to assume otherwise. Here ends the first lesson.