Why we should certainly keep an eye on Sandy.......

Every now and then a combination of factors can come together to create geographical events of note and Hurricane Sandy is certainly one to watch. It is its course which causes most concern, heading towards the north east coast of America and its heavily populated and low-lying coastline. Shallow, shelving coastlines cause approaching storm surges to gain height....current estimates are running at approximately 3 metres, which is an incredibly destructive amount of water to hit any urban area.  east London in 1953  suffered because of  low pressure over the North Sea, a very high tide, heavy precipitation in the Thames Basin causing high levels in the Thames itself and the 'funneling' effect caused by the shape of the estuary as well as the land either side of the river being the low-lying, flat north Kent and Essex marshes. It is why we now have the Thames Barrier. London's Underground would be particularly vulnerable if Central London ever flooded and I fear for the subway in New York. I am also anxious for Central Park - where I spent some of the happiest hours of my life birding in the Autumn of 2007 - because rain-sodden leaves on trees that have not fully dropped yet will make them very susceptible to being blown over. Wind and rain are one thing but I hope that the people of the eastern coastline take the storm surge most seriously as it is that which poses the greatest threat to life. I will be listening to Radio 5 tonight around midnight UK time for updates and wish you all well........