The Return to the Sea

I have often wondered how long it would take for molecules of water in the sea to evaporate, fall as rain and return to the ocean. Sadly, my schoolboy geography (which by now largely consists of vague memories of dull lessons dedicated to rubber-tapping in Brazil) is of little help in answering this question.

 

However, interrogating google quickly reveals that the average time for the above process is 3200 years. Blimey.

 

Now, cogitating on this in a decidedly unscientific way for a moment, one can imagine that the last time the water represented in this photo fell as rain was sometime around 1178 BC. Blimey indeed.

 

Further, given the current madness that seems to be engulfing the world right now, the possibility that we may not actually be around to see it fall again in 5222 doesn't seem that farfetched.

 

And 5222, of course, reminds me of that song by Zager & Evans from 1969, which you can hear/see here: youtu.be/zKQfxi8V5FA

 

It is worth noting that 5222 is not mentioned in the lyrics (5555 is the nearest year) and that the song and the photo do not actually go together. At least, I don't think they do. You may, of course, think otherwise...

 

—

 

Sandymouth Bay, Cornwall.

Done