A Alarm From California

While global warming is a scientific fact, denied solely past times those politicians in addition to industrialists who are threatened past times its reality, how it volition touching on diverse regions of the planet remains uncertain.  There is no uncertainty that polar ecosystems volition last dramatically altered in addition to that sea levels volition rising significantly, flooding coastal regions, only other effects are less clear.

Most climatologists seem to believe that the global rising inward temperature volition brand dry out areas drier in addition to moisture areas wetter.  Warmer sea waters volition augment the ability of tropical storms in addition to hurricanes in addition to storms over terrestrial regions volition driblet to a greater extent than atmospheric precipitation (in the course of teaching of pelting or snow).  In other words, both drought in addition to flooding volition stress natural ecosystems in addition to human civilization.

This week's wildfires inward California, fueled past times dry out vegetation in addition to intense Santa Ana winds, appears to last about other alarm that our delayed in addition to inadequate reply to human-induced climate alter volition convey tragic consequences.  One begins to wonder where the rubber zones volition last equally our climate continues to warm; flood-prone coasts in addition to river valleys in addition to fire-prone foothills in addition to canyons seem to last close at opportunity only nosotros volition all last affected past times the economical consequences.

Landsat Island

Returning from Scotland ii weeks ago, I had a window spot on the correct side of the aircraft.  Unfortunately, clouds obscured near of Scotland together with Republic of Ireland also every bit near of the North Atlantic.  As nosotros approached Labrador, however, the cloud embrace began to dissipate together with my offset sight of province was of a tiny isle inward the Labrador Sea.

Made visible yesteryear a white rim of waves crashing along its shores, the isle was far off the mainland amongst no other islands inward sight.  Based on interrogation since returning home, I constitute that I had seen Landsat Island, the near eastern bundle of Canadian Territory.  About one-half the size of a football game field, it was offset discovered every bit lately every bit 1973, when the Landsat I satellite uncovered geographic details theretofore unseen.  Later verified yesteryear scientists arriving yesteryear boat together with helicopter, the isle remains uninhabited together with its geology has non been assessed (though it is suspected to last a remnant from the rifting of Greenland from North America together with Europe, about thirty i grand 1000 years ago).

Since the Labrador Sea is unremarkably locked inward H2O ice during the wintertime months together with since cloud embrace is oftentimes extensive in that place during the warmer months, the tiny isle had gone unnoticed until the era of satellites greatly enhanced our appreciation of Earth's surface features.  I was for sure real fortunate to choose handgrip of a glimpse of that lonely speck of rock.  

Belle Isle, Canada

Having discussed Landsat Island inwards my final post, I would hold upwards remiss non to lift the spectacular persuasion of Belle Isle that nosotros enjoyed further downward the Canadian Coast.  Named yesteryear the French explorer Jaques Cartier, this elongated isle guards the northern entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, known every bit the Strait of Belle Isle.  Geologically, Belle Isle represents the northern halt of the Appalachians.

Oriented NE to SW, Belle Isle lies betwixt the coasts of Labrador in addition to Newfoundland; it is or in addition to thus 10 miles long in addition to upwards to three miles wide.  While the Strait offers the virtually straight transportation road betwixt the Great Lakes in addition to Europe, its waters are characterized yesteryear treacherous, intersecting currents, potent tides in addition to seasonal H2O ice floes.  Since the mid 1800s, 8 lighthouses accept been constructed on Belle Isle, the latest inwards 1901 at its northeast tip; since the lights in addition to foghorns are similar a shot operated remotely, the isle has been turned over to its wild residents, naturally equipped to suffer its harsh climate.

Our flying took us only eastward of Belle Isle in addition to I snapped this photograph from 30,000 feet.  Once again, when it comes to appreciating landscapes, at that spot is nix amend than air travel.

New York Bans Foie Gras

Per a written report inwards the New York Times, the New York City Council has voted to ban the sale of foie gras inwards the metropolis past times 2022.  Offered primarily inwards upscale French restaurants, foie gras is obese duck or goose liver, produced past times force-feeding a high-calorie mixture through a gastric tube for several weeks prior to slaughter.

As 1 powerfulness expect, French chefs as well as foie gras producers are non happy amongst the decision; others, myself included, wonder why such cruelty has continued inwards our "enlightened era" as well as why the ban volition non lead maintain number until 2022.  Our stewardship of the planet should sure enough non include such a practice, withal tasty (or lucrative) the production powerfulness be.

Of course, the swell bulk of Americans volition non discovery the unavailability of foie gras.  On the other hand, if they were to direct witness the processes involved inwards providing their beef, pork, chicken as well as veal, they powerfulness lead maintain instant thoughts nearly eating heart as well as individual altogether.  Animal cruelty as well as the volume production of heart as well as individual cannot move divorced.

City Lights From Above

As nosotros flew dorsum from Denver to Columbia, Missouri, this evening, the skies were clear together with the lights of cities together with towns glowed from the darkness below.  A magnificent sight, i could non assistance merely admire the human ingenuity that made such a spectacle possible.

Yet, inwards this era of global warming, I could non assistance merely wonder how much of that lighting was necessary.  While nosotros movement to fighting climate alter amongst cleaner forms of energy, majority transit together with other measures, nosotros volition non locomote successful unless nosotros significantly trim back our issue energy consumption; to a greater extent than efficient engines, ameliorate insulation together with low-energy lighting volition assistance merely lowering thermostats (in winter) together with turning off non-essential lights volition likewise locomote business office of the solution.

The urban marrow lights were indeed beautiful from 30,000 feet merely darker landscapes volition locomote to a greater extent than inspiring inwards the long run.  Natural ecosystems create non depend on artificial illumination together with it is best that nosotros aspire to limit our dependence every bit well.  Don't forget, Daylight Savings Time begins tonight!

Detour To Congaree National Park

On the agency to our condo on Longboat Key, Florida, my married adult woman in addition to I made a detour to the east, crossing the wide swath of the Appalachians betwixt Berea, Kentucky, in addition to Spartanburg, South Carolina.  Our finish was Congaree National Park, southeast of Columbia, South Carolina.

Established inwards 1976, this Park covers 27,000 acres of the Congaree River's floodplain, protecting the largest remnant of old-growth floodplain wood inwards the United States.  While roughly of the commons is wilderness, accessible solely past times canoe or kayak, the northwest corner of the save includes a Visitor Center, a 2.4 mile boardwalk loop in addition to several longer earthen trails.  Massive bald cypress trees rising inside the sloughs in addition to Cedar Creek Valley piece towering oaks in addition to long-leaf pines dominate the upland areas.  Among the wild residents are pileated woodpeckers, barred owls, river otters, five-lined skinks in addition to a large multifariousness of waders in addition to wetland songbirds.

Today, the sloughs in addition to trails were dry, reflecting an ongoing drought inwards the Congaree watershed.  As a result, wild animals sightings were express despite the mild, sunny conditions.  On the other hand, nosotros got enough of practice in addition to were able to explore an ecosystem that has been nearly (99%) lost to logging, inundation control, wildfire suppression in addition to agriculture inwards America.

Lake Manatee Dry Soil Park

Lake Manatee, a reservoir on the Manatee River due east of Bradenton, was created inwards the 1960s; Lake Manatee State Park stretches along its southern shore.  Those who see the Park to military camp or hike piece enjoying views of the Lake may endure a fleck disappointed; indeed, shoreline views of Lake Manatee are express to the boat launch in addition to the pocket-size swimming area.

The Park's trails primarily loop through scrubby apartment woods, characterized past times stands of pine, alive oak in addition to palmetto, offering alone distant views of the lake.  On the other hand, hikers may run into gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, marsh rabbits in addition to gray fox; plants of involvement include garberia in addition to the rare Florida goldenaster.  Birds of banking concern annotation include bald eagles, ospreys in addition to sandhill cranes in addition to American alligators may endure observed.

On this hot, sunny morning, nosotros followed the 1.8 mile Gopher Trail Loop inwards the eastern department of the Park.  Sightings included a solitary anhinga, an osprey, dark vultures, Cooper's hawks, red-bellied woodpeckers in addition to gray catbirds, amidst other songbirds.  An early on morn or level hike would convey been to a greater extent than enjoyable in addition to to a greater extent than productive for wild fauna viewing.

Fifteen Months Afterward The Cherry Tide

It has been 15 months since a devastating ruby-red tide poisoned the waters roughly Longboat Key, Florida.  Having returned 3 days ago, I accept observed promising signs of recovery simply the ecosystem is non however dorsum to total health.

The position out of brownish pelicans together with double-crested cormorants angling on Sarasota Bay accept increased dramatically simply the populations of ospreys, waders, gulls together with terns accept non however returned to pre-tide levels.  We did come across a pod of dolphins inward the Gulf but, at to the lowest degree to date, their numbers appear to locomote relatively low.

These observations, purely my own, may non concur upwards to scientific scrutiny simply I suspect that effects of the ruby-red tide persist; of course, natural ecosystems evolve over long periods of time, also tedious for the impatience of humans.  Hopefully, the recovery volition gradually cash inward one's chips along earlier some other insult, peradventure fueled yesteryear global warming together with seawater pollution, threatens this subtropical paradise.

See: Encountering the Red Tide together with Benefits from a Red Tide?