Saturday, January 20, 2007

Confusing "Nature" of Europe

"Because You love the Burning-ground, I have made a Burning-ground of my heart - That You, Dark One, hunter of the Burning-ground, May dance Your eternal dance."
~ Bengali Hymn~


Waiters in Vienna, where the mercury rose to 60 degrees (15.6°C) just edging out Rome's 59 degrees (15°C) put tables and chairs back out on the sidewalks. Bulgarians basked in the sun on balmy 62-degree Black Sea beaches.

Roses bloomed in eastern France. In the Netherlands, crocuses started sprouting and birds began nesting. And in Sweden, bears were finally hibernating two months late after the weather played havoc with their biological clocks.
-- Picked up from New.Yahoo.com


With so much spring in the air, many Europeans wonder: Where's winter?

While there has been reports of snow blizzards in the US during Christmas, affecting flight schedules, this part of the world has remained pretty much untouched. With January closing to an end, the average temperature in Budapest should have been around -15°C. This winter its a far cry with most of the days hitting a maximum of 15°C. The Sun getting more inclined towards its Lover (The Earth) in the Northern hemisphere, Winter in Europe needs more than just luck.


Unseasonable warm weather affects former dancing bears
15 January 2007 - Issue : 712

The recent unseasonably warm weather in Bulgaria’s mountainous area has kept the former "dancing bears" awake, the BTA news agency reported. The bears, saved from the streets and returned to nature by the "Four Paws" group, withdrew to caves several weeks ago anticipating winter sleep - but sunshine and warmth
-- Picked up from http://www.neurope.eu/view_news.php?id=69003


The Trees in my locale are budding, shrubs are getting leaves, pots are blossoming with flowers. Bears have come out for Hunting. They are not hibernating. For the first time in 20 years, Birds from colder parts of Europe have decided not to Migrate to warmer climes down south. Austrian weather bureau started daily pollen (grains) warnings after hazel and alder trees blossomed and were close to releasing choking clouds of dust. The Norway Bureau is following suit.

Nature is also confused in many other countries

The Effects??
I am happy!!
More than that, People are taking out to Sunbath in January - a fact, which their grandmothers can only tell stories of. In most european cities, people are out in shorts and t-shirts making the most of the warmth. With Flowers, Colors and Greenery all around, Winter was never so beautiful.
Is everything so rosy??
Surely, Pollen Allergy is not fun, but it's something which people can deal with. The Winter Sports Industry has been hit the most with surmounting amount of lay-offs. According to Canada's Globe and Mail, that's just what's happening in Ontario's ski industry. Scientists say that disease-bearing ticks could multiply out of control if it doesn't get chilly fast. In the Swiss and Austrian Alps, World Cup ski race organizers canceled training runs to avoid chewing up grassy patches lean on snow and already damaged by rain and warm conditions.
And above all these, not to forget that my Skiing trip to Slovakia has been indefinitely delayed. I am sitting back at home with Ski-Jackets bought at hefty costs. Any Buyers for the next season??

All these reminds me of my experiences of Total Solar Eclipses that were visible from my hometown when i was a kid. As the day went from dim to dimmer, the wild birds would return to their nests. The shrill of their chirps kept on increasing till the Sun visibly eclipsed. Then at one moment, it went dark, birds would stop their chatters. Everything would be so nocturnal. In a matter of few seconds, the Sun would come up again announcing a new morning, leaving the poor birds in a state of wonder.

If a chilly winter sets in Europe in the next few weeks, nothing could be more disastrous. Wild animals will suffer. Birds will lose nests. The trees would shed leaves, flowers will dry, crops planted in the last autumn will die. The prices of natural fruits and vegetables will rise because their harvest will take a hit. The tragedy doesn't end here. None of us will get GOOD WINE for cheap in spring and summer.

What's to blame: global warming, as many suspect, or just one of those extreme years that roll around every century or so?


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