What really caused the Irish Potato Famine - Stephanie Honchell Smith
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Date: 2023-11-03
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Comments and reviews: 11
Fernando
The primary factor influencing these weather conditions was a phenomenon called the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO, which refers to the changes in atmospheric pressure and wind patterns occurring in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The NAO can fluctuate between two phases: positive and negative. During the negative phase, Ireland typically experiences wetter and stormier conditions due to the prevalence of low-pressure systems and enhanced westerly winds. The period from 1845 to 1852 coincided with an extended negative phase of the NAO, resulting in prolonged wet and damp weather conditions across the country.
It's believed that the impact of the blight on the Irish potato crop during the Great Irish Famine could have been reduced if farmers had cultivated a greater variety of potato types. The famine was primarily caused by an outbreak of late blight (Phytophthora infestans, a devastating fungal disease that specifically targeted the Irish potato crop, which was predominantly comprised of a single susceptible variety called the Irish Lumper.
The Irish Lumper variety was particularly vulnerable to the late blight pathogen, and its widespread cultivation across Ireland made the entire crop susceptible to the disease. Had farmers instead grown a more diverse range of potato varieties, including both early and late-maturing types, the impact of the blight would have likely been lessened.
The reliance on the Irish Lumper as a staple crop was a result of various factors. The Irish Lumper was particularly well-suited to the Irish climate and soil conditions, making it easier to cultivate in large quantities. It was also regarded as a hardy and high-yielding variety.
0ver-reliance on a single variety of potato, such as the Irish Lumper, made Ireland's agriculture extremely vulnerable to disease and pests.
The range of potato varieties grown could have helped mitigate the impact of the blight on Ireland's population.
By cultivating different potato varieties, farmers could have potentially mitigated the effects of the blight. Early-maturing varieties, for example, could have been harvested before the blight had a chance to take hold, providing some food security.
Additionally, late-maturing varieties may have been more resistant or tolerant to the blight, reducing the overall impact on the crop.
Growing a variety of potato types would have helped to diversify the genetic makeup of the potato crop, making it less susceptible to mass outbreaks of diseases like late blight. Disease resistance can vary among different potato varieties, allowing for natural defense mechanisms against specific pathogens.
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The primary factor influencing these weather conditions was a phenomenon called the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO, which refers to the changes in atmospheric pressure and wind patterns occurring in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The NAO can fluctuate between two phases: positive and negative. During the negative phase, Ireland typically experiences wetter and stormier conditions due to the prevalence of low-pressure systems and enhanced westerly winds. The period from 1845 to 1852 coincided with an extended negative phase of the NAO, resulting in prolonged wet and damp weather conditions across the country.
It's believed that the impact of the blight on the Irish potato crop during the Great Irish Famine could have been reduced if farmers had cultivated a greater variety of potato types. The famine was primarily caused by an outbreak of late blight (Phytophthora infestans, a devastating fungal disease that specifically targeted the Irish potato crop, which was predominantly comprised of a single susceptible variety called the Irish Lumper.
The Irish Lumper variety was particularly vulnerable to the late blight pathogen, and its widespread cultivation across Ireland made the entire crop susceptible to the disease. Had farmers instead grown a more diverse range of potato varieties, including both early and late-maturing types, the impact of the blight would have likely been lessened.
The reliance on the Irish Lumper as a staple crop was a result of various factors. The Irish Lumper was particularly well-suited to the Irish climate and soil conditions, making it easier to cultivate in large quantities. It was also regarded as a hardy and high-yielding variety.
0ver-reliance on a single variety of potato, such as the Irish Lumper, made Ireland's agriculture extremely vulnerable to disease and pests.
The range of potato varieties grown could have helped mitigate the impact of the blight on Ireland's population.
By cultivating different potato varieties, farmers could have potentially mitigated the effects of the blight. Early-maturing varieties, for example, could have been harvested before the blight had a chance to take hold, providing some food security.
Additionally, late-maturing varieties may have been more resistant or tolerant to the blight, reducing the overall impact on the crop.
Growing a variety of potato types would have helped to diversify the genetic makeup of the potato crop, making it less susceptible to mass outbreaks of diseases like late blight. Disease resistance can vary among different potato varieties, allowing for natural defense mechanisms against specific pathogens.
reply
Sami
The English didn't just lack the political will to aid the Irish; the actively worked to hinder aid from other countries. The Muslim Chalifate donated more than 1000% of what Queen Victoria has donated for the Irish. The British refused and asked him to lower it a little less than what the Queen did as not to make her look bad.
The Khalif still sent 5 ships loaded with goods. They were blocked by the English when only one was able arrive Irish shores in Drogheda, Ireland.
The English did worse to Palestines when they gave their homes to European Zionists.
That's why Irish and Muslims are one in their hate of oppression and English arrogance.
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The English didn't just lack the political will to aid the Irish; the actively worked to hinder aid from other countries. The Muslim Chalifate donated more than 1000% of what Queen Victoria has donated for the Irish. The British refused and asked him to lower it a little less than what the Queen did as not to make her look bad.
The Khalif still sent 5 ships loaded with goods. They were blocked by the English when only one was able arrive Irish shores in Drogheda, Ireland.
The English did worse to Palestines when they gave their homes to European Zionists.
That's why Irish and Muslims are one in their hate of oppression and English arrogance.
reply
Sara
A good person overcomes his pain and helps people overcome it. But the bad and despicable person commits crimes that are more horrific than what he was exposed to, and he commits them against people who did not even harm him, and he screams everywhere that he is hated and persecuted.
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A good person overcomes his pain and helps people overcome it. But the bad and despicable person commits crimes that are more horrific than what he was exposed to, and he commits them against people who did not even harm him, and he screams everywhere that he is hated and persecuted.
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julia
I thought at the time they thought it was a fungus but now we know it is an oomycete, a kingdom Chromista organism. It looks like it split off before there were actual fungal organisms and is more closely related to algae?
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I thought at the time they thought it was a fungus but now we know it is an oomycete, a kingdom Chromista organism. It looks like it split off before there were actual fungal organisms and is more closely related to algae?
reply
RIDWAN
I always feel close to ireland in terms of colonial rule and oppression. We had to face same type of famine in Bangla during the british occupation in late 1800. It also stemmed from heavy taxes and jeer.
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I always feel close to ireland in terms of colonial rule and oppression. We had to face same type of famine in Bangla during the british occupation in late 1800. It also stemmed from heavy taxes and jeer.
reply
Jacob
Something important to note that the laissez-faire argument has been argued. The economic situations in London, and the collapse of the rail bubble made it expensive to continually fund Ireland.
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Something important to note that the laissez-faire argument has been argued. The economic situations in London, and the collapse of the rail bubble made it expensive to continually fund Ireland.
reply
Page
Learning about the potato famine in US elementary schools: Wow, what a horrible situation to occur
Learning about the potato famine when you are older: What in the actual world.
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Learning about the potato famine in US elementary schools: Wow, what a horrible situation to occur
Learning about the potato famine when you are older: What in the actual world.
reply
BrackenStrike
The potato famine is the reason there are roughly 6x as many people who identify as having Irish heritage in the US than the entire population of Ireland.
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The potato famine is the reason there are roughly 6x as many people who identify as having Irish heritage in the US than the entire population of Ireland.
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gourab
Hello Ted Ed. Please do the story of the Bengal famine. How the starvation, desperation, and british apathy has scarred the subcontinent cannot be understated.
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Hello Ted Ed. Please do the story of the Bengal famine. How the starvation, desperation, and british apathy has scarred the subcontinent cannot be understated.
reply
BlueFox94
The Irish Potato Famine was how the ancestors of John Winston Lennon, James Paul McCartney, and George Harrison ended up in Liverpool.
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The Irish Potato Famine was how the ancestors of John Winston Lennon, James Paul McCartney, and George Harrison ended up in Liverpool.
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Kevin
We never see any videos on the atrocities committed by the British against India. You could start a series on the Bengal famine.
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We never see any videos on the atrocities committed by the British against India. You could start a series on the Bengal famine.
reply
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