Hotter, wetter and more extremes

Pinot Noir year 2 looking good

How climate change is forecast to impact Ireland ...

Senior Met Eireann climatologist Keith Lambkin told the Irish Times that the average temperature in the State has increased by about one degree C over the last 120 years. By 2050, we are to get slightly more rain but in patterns that differ from today. Honestly, they already differ from when I first started coming here 20+ years ago. We are to get wetter Autumn and Winter and drier summers. Moreover, the rain will fall in heavier amounts rather than in the showers alternating with sunshine that we used to get. It's why we're associated with so many rainbows. 

There always have been severe weather events and always will be. But the UN's WMO issued a report in concert with COP 26 which indicates that the events are becoming more extreme and are clearly associated with man's actions. To better predict these events the WMO is launching the Global Basic Observation Network, strategically placed in areas that do not currently have extensive meteorological observation capacity. 

Today, the cold arrived and it is certainly wet up in the field. The donkeys were complaining so I brought them carrots. They complained even more loudly. What a difference a day makes. The leaves have started dropping quickly. Autumn is clearly here.  The days are getting noticeably shorter. And daylight savings time has confused my sleep-wake cycle. Now I count the days until December 21. 

We worked in the vineyard again, tying up vines, clearing grass and removing plastic ties. I got the Pinot Noir row done. The vines are looking really good for the most part. A few are weaker, some are more robust, but overall they are doing great, much better than the Albarino planted at the same time.

Yesterday I made grape juice from the remaining white grapes at Ross House. It's delicious without even adding sugar, the grapes were so sweet. Our wine continues to bubble away, so I am hopeful. 

And just for the heck of it, yesterday's delicious chicken pot pie with oyster mushrooms I grew in a mail-order kit. It's always something.