EARLIER this month, Sustainable Blewbury wrote that while we were feeling the effects of the cold and snow, the Arctic had been having another record-breaking warm winter, with temperatures often more like what is normal for May and less winter sea ice than ever recorded.

Temperatures often fluctuated due to changes in the strength of the polar vortex, that circle of winds – including the jetstream – which deflect warmer air from further south.

The polar vortex seems to be weakening, so that heat peaks are becoming more frequent, extreme and longer-lasting.

Never has that been more true than this year.

Sustainable Wantage also wrote that the positive feedback mechanism was at play in the Arctic.

This is when changes feed into a loop which magnifies the change.

Arctic sea ice is white so it reflects most of the sun’s rays back into space, keeping the area cool, but water is much darker and more solar radiation is absorbed.

This warms the water, which melts more ice, leaving even less ice to reflect the sun’s rays back into space – so the vicious circle goes on.

This is the positive feedback mechanism at work.

It is one reason the Arctic is warming far faster than the planetary average.

You may wonder what any of the above has to do with Wallingford’s air quality.

Well, not so very long ago, we all travelled by bus: I remember the very first family in my street who got a car in the 1960s. It was only used on a Sunday when the whole family came out in their Sunday best.

As our society became more affluent, car ownership became more affordable.

Fewer passengers meant buses struggled to make profits so services were cut.

We started to complain about the poor service and stopped using buses when we could using the car more. It’s a vicious circle.

This has happened all round the world: the unintended consequence – along with the massive change in how our consumables are made – is a huge rise in all the greenhouse gases.

But as the famous advert says, 'every little helps', and using buses more frequently and shopping locally will make a difference, not only to your wellbeing but to Wallingford’s air quality.

Contact us at sustainablewallingford.org to get involved in Clean Air for Wallingford or any other of our projects.

Or if you prefer to speak to a human being phone Caron on 01491 825034.