Readers' letters

IT'S NOT THAT IMPRESSIVE

Dear Ed, — May I congratulate Ken Philips on his 'Cereal Eruption' article in pointing out that the eruption of the Eyafjallajokull volcano is not so significant in scale to have any major deleterious impact on our weather this summer.

The press photographs and satellite imagery are quite spectacular of this impressive plume.

This has, however, been largely due to unusual conditions as a consequence of large amounts of glacial ice and melt waters entering the basaltic magma and producing high temperature steam and shards of volcanic glass that have then been erupted to relatively high altitudes.

Icelandic eruptions, in general, are upwellings of magma through large

fissures or cracks in the earth's oceanic crust, as a consequence of the island's position astride the mid-Atlantic ridge.

Here, new crust is being created and as a result of that the Atlantic Ocean is getting wider and Europe further from North America.

Slightly more spectacular eruptions occur if the basaltic magmas erupt from the ocean floor where water is involved.

Most Icelandic eruptions are generally not highly gaseous not least sulphurous (compared with Vesuvius), which made the photograph's caption of 'Sulphuric atmosphere' a little curious! (Sorry - Ed!)

Unlike Tamabora, Icelandic eruptions rarely eject material to stratospheric altitudes that are likely to influence weather patterns. Hence, the current problems for air traffic as the plume is reaching the altitudes that modern jet aircraft fly at for optimal fuel efficiency.

The current eruption might be moderately disruptive, but we have to weigh it against events such as the formation of the Deccan Traps in India during the late Cretaceous period that had a hand in the extinction of life on the planet. Now that is geology in action! — Yours etc.,

DR ANDREW HIGHTON,

Geological Consultant,

Border Geo-Science,

2 Oxengate Cottages,

Elsrickle.

VOTERS CHOSE PM

Dear Ed, — Jim Hood MP made some interesting but dubious points in his Westminster Comments piece last week.

Contrary to Mr Hood's assertion, David Cameron did not become Prime Minister because Nick Clegg voted for him; he did so because the UK electorate voted for him.

Like it or not more people wanted David Cameron as PM than any other candidate for the job. If the Lib Dems had not come to an arrangement with the Conservatives David Cameron would be PM anyway, heading a minority Conservative government.

Only an arrangement between the Lib Dems and Labour would have prevented David Cameron becoming PM, but surely Mr Hood would not suggest it is wrong for the Lib Dems to come to an arrangement with the Conservatives but acceptable for them to do so with Labour?

Mr Hood points out that the Lib Dems won only 9 per cent of the seats in the Commons. True.

He could equally have told us (but of course wouldn't) that the Lib Dems received 23 per cent of the popular vote, not so far behind Labour's 29 per cent (which got them 40 per cent of the seats), or that on average it required 33,000 votes to elect a Labour MP but 120,000 votes to elect a Lib Dem MP.

It is little wonder that both the Labour and Conservative parties are unenthusiastic about voting reform; the present system is biased in their favour and they are loath to see that change. — Yours etc.,

IAN McLACHLAN,

Nemphlat Hill,

Lanark.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Dear Ed, — I was disquieted by the appeal to keep dogs permanently leashed at Lanark Loch (Gazette letters May 20).

We should protect children from danger but not necessarily from fear; if children learn to overcome fear they will be more confident and better able to share in the joys the world has to offer.

Rather than introducing more regulations and restrictions we should be encouraging children to deal with situations that may at first be challenging.

The writer pointed out that her dog was also discomfited by other dogs who are roaming. By putting a dog on a lead we are depriving it of one of its two options when frightened, flight or fight.

In my experience, dogs on leads are more likely to respond aggressively to other dogs as they cannot run away or have a quick sniff and move on.

It is one of the greatest pleasures to see a dog enjoying the freedom to investigate and interact with our beautiful environment. It is even more of a joy to see happy confident children learning and playing. If dog owners are considerate and parents a little less protective then we can get to see both. — Yours etc.,

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

COMMON SENSE?

Dear Ed, — I write as a confused parent who on the one hand is being urged to walk my children to Lanark Primary School — ie National Walk To School Week — but on the other hand had to cross an extremely busy road, Cleghorn Road, with no lollipop lady assistance.

The council maintains it is the parent's responsibility to get their kids to school safely.

However, parents find themselves with no choice but to drive their kids to school. I doubt this is deemed as healthy or helping traffic congestion.

The council states that the removal of the lollipop lady is due to 'cutbacks' but it turns out that the lollipop lady is now at the Westport where there is already a controlled crossing. Some sensible decision-making is required! — Yours etc.,

JAN MacDONALD,

27 Wheatlandside,

Lanark.