Hello we are back!
It is useless to apologize for the delay, but unfortunately, tropical farm
life conditions, don’t allow definitive deadlines to be accomplished.
We had arranged to set up a general scope of the climatic situation referring
to the tropical winter, on the Ecuadorian northern coast.
Since then, things haven’t changed much; even including a very short
period, of ¨miraculous¨ rains between April 21st thru May 2nd and
yet the data isn’t comforting: only 46 days of rain, in 4 months of
winter, with only 8 heavy rain showers, and the rest were just low intensity
rain showers; and the meteorological national institute´s data clearly
confirms this.
Not until we had those rain showers, on the last days of April, which
we already mentioned above, the average of rain coming down was 231 mm (with
the following rains, we might reach 280mm); that really isn’t hardly
enough, if we were to compare it to the 580mm, from last year´s rains!
And even less if we compare it to the area´s statistics averages which
estimate 700-750mm.
That would be less than a third, for what is needed to properly irrigate
my plants on the farm! Now that the winter season seems to not be sending
any additional miracles, only our tears, will be able to irrigate the plants!
Shall we all weep then?
By the precision of this event, the meteorological experts, outline the
presence of a climatic event, known as ¨La Niña¨ which is
exactly the same to the raining and sea current changing phenomenon known
as the ¨El Niño¨; which means the circumstantial cooling of
the oceanic water currents, which will avoid the formation of thermal connective
currents and consequently that of low altitude cloudiness; which means a
very hot sun in the day, and shining moon at night, with no appealing possible.
But this anomalous and occasional phenomenon isn’t a good enough explanation,
to explain the constant and progressive demise of rains, year after year.
Because since we have already stated, in precedence, the tendency is negative.
We could try to understand this, as a phenomenon of circumstance, which combined
with a series of other natural events of greater magnitude, only makes us
fearful and demands us to defend ourselves in any which way possible!
We will have the proof next winter; but it is a fact (without increasing
global warming) that rapid and progressive disappearing of the tropical forest
(by the hands of irresponsible people) will have direct influence on the
environment, in the summer season, when precisely the presence of massive
forest areas, provoke the normal cycle of evaporating and transpiration,
in a higher degree; throughout this process, the soil´s humidity combined
with the heat, which is determined by the albedo effect ( it´s absorption
is much higher where forests are located) produces the necessary energy to
recycle itself and condensate in the atmosphere, firstly as vaporized water
and then as precipitations, and of course if not affected by the external
sea currents (which on the other hand are vital for the winter season), is
good for our plants in general!
The farm in itself is ok, everything is working out regularly (the tear
I mentioned for irrigation, were just a metaphor), even if the soil is completely
dry; the river and pumping well, provide enough irrigating water to cultivate
cacao, tomato, and all the other crops I have on my farm! In spite of the
general gloom, there are enough reasons to keep a smile on my face (that
is my particular case!
We expect a lot of visitors on these virtual sites, to chat and hopefully
one day we can meet in person, at the next event that will take place at
the end of May!
Alessandro
