Crossing Greenland

On our flying dorsum from Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday, the road took us over the southern tip of Greenland, the largest isle on our planet.  It was our start run across amongst that province of ice, stone together with scenic fjords and, for 20 minutes or so, nosotros were mesmerized past times the spectacle, 34,000 feet below.

Sparsely populated past times humans, this Arctic acre is an independent territory of Denmark.  Mountain ranges hold out along its due east together with westward coasts spell a massive H2O ice canvas covers 80% of the island's surface.  Icebergs speckled the fjords every bit nosotros passed over Greenland together with the majesty of its landscape was genuinely inspiring.

Of course, i cannot cite Greenland without invoking the fact that its Arctic ecosystem is threatened past times global warming.  The charge per unit of measurement of melting has sharply increased together with the full loss of Greenland's H2O ice canvas would heighten body of body of water levels past times 24 feet, a disaster for isle together with coastal communities together with ecosystems across the planet.

See also:  Greenland together with Iceland together with The Greenland Ice Sheet

Inspecting The Dead

Wanting to become closer to the cerise tide destruction, my married adult woman in addition to I visited Whitney Beach this morning.  Stretching along the northwest border of Longboat Key, it is both the almost scenic stretch of sand in addition to (in my opinion) the best birding place on this barrier island.  As expected, the beach was littered alongside dead fish, eels, rays in addition to horseshoe crabs in addition to the diverseness of birds was far below normal.

Wandering amid the dead, nosotros endured the nauseating stench of rotting bounding main life.  While a distich of yellow-crowned dark herons in addition to a dozen shorebirds (black-bellied plovers in addition to ruddy turnstones) scoured the beach, they stayed clear of the victims; dark-brown pelicans in addition to large flocks of laughing gulls passed overhead or lounged far offshore.  Except for a lonely hunter alongside his metallic detector, nosotros were the solely humans on that pop beach.

Though the algal counts accept waxed in addition to waned along Florida's Southwest Coast, the cerise tide is expected to persist until a tropical tempest or cool spill weather condition invades the region.  There is problem inwards paradise and, this morning, nosotros bore witness to its wrath. 

Mystery Seismic Sea Wave Inward Indonesia

Yesterday, next 2 earthquakes (the minute a magnitude 7.5 quake) as well as a serial of aftershocks off the due west coast of Sulawesi Island, a seismic sea wave struck Palu, at the terminate of a long, narrow bay.  Both the Island as well as the side past times side Makasser Strait prevarication squarely on a southern extension of the Eurasian Plate, which encompasses all of Indonesia.

Destructive tsunami's are mostly triggered by Subduction Earthquakes, where 1 tectonic plate dips beneath another; such a subduction zone stretches along the outer edge of Indonesia, where the Australian as well as Philippine Plates are subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate.  Yesterday's serial of quakes as well as aftershocks are idea to bring developed along a transverse fault, where 2 microplates (of the Eurasian Plate) are scraping past times 1 another; such faults arrive at non mostly arrive at vertical elevator of the overlying sea, the tectonic procedure that commonly generates tsunamis.

Geologists suspect that closed to vertical crusade of 1 of the microplates may bring occurred as well as that the topography of the narrow bay probable amplified the moving ridge that was produced.  Regardless of the geologic explanation, the seismic sea wave struck Palu as well as killed at to the lowest degree 384 residents as well as visitors.

Update:  As of 10-3-18, to a greater extent than than 1400 bodies bring been recovered as well as the decease terms is expected to rise.  

Birdlife Afterward The Reddish Tide

Returning to Longboat Key, Florida, for the outset fourth dimension since terminal summer's devastating ruddy tide, I accept flora that the regional aeroplane populations accept been affected.  While the province birds rest equally mutual equally usual, those that feed on fish as well as marine invertebrates seem to endure far less abundant.

Though nosotros accept alone been on the isle for 24 hours, near ospreys, pelicans, waders, cormorants, mergansers, gulls as well as terns look to accept moved to areas where prey is to a greater extent than readily available.  Far fewer fish are jumping on the Bay as well as schools observed from the seawall are less widespread as well as composed primarily of smaller fish.

Perhaps our initial observations are deceiving simply in that place is niggling doubtfulness that the 2018 ruddy tide had a dramatic impact on the local marine ecosystems, both on the Gulf of United Mexican United States of America as well as inward Sarasota Bay.  H5N1 total recovery volition eventually occur simply the fish as well as aeroplane populations volition probable rest depression for an extended catamenia of time.

South To Gasparilla Island

As I get got mentioned inward the past, my married adult woman together with I oftentimes accept solar daytime trips from our condo on Longboat Key together with get got explored some areas of the Florida Peninsula.  On this warm, sunny Sunday, nosotros decided to view Gasparilla Island (90 minutes to our south), which stretches along the westward side of Charlotte Harbor.

This long barrier island, named for a legendary pirate, is accessed via a cost span at its northward end.  Home to Boca Grande, an upscale community of spacious homes, golf game courses, restaurants together with a marina (where nosotros enjoyed a pleasant luncheon on the bay), Gasparilla Island is renowned every bit a fisherman's paradise together with hosts Gasparilla State Park, which stretches along the southwest border of the island.

Accessed past times a serial of little parking lots (which were packed amongst visitors today), the Park is a strip of Gulf beaches together with their following dune ecosystem.  Shelling is a pop activeness in that place together with shells were for sure abundant on our brief afternoon walk; on the other hand, wild fauna was all exactly absent, represented past times entirely a duo of ring-billed gulls (no pelicans, terns, shorebirds or other seabirds on the beach, on the Gulf or inward the air).  I am oftentimes amazed when seemingly pristine habitat fails to attract fifty-fifty a little multifariousness of wildlife; no doubt, this phenomenon was transient exactly it was disappointing nonetheless.

Emerson Indicate Preserve

Located at the western terminate of Snead Island at the rima oris of the Manatee River, Emerson Point Preserve is 1 of the best birding locations inwards Manatee County.  Characterized past times upland woods of palm, oak together with pine, mangrove swamps, lagoons together with common salt marshes, this 270 acre refuge is owned past times the State of Florida together with managed past times the County.

The save is accessed past times a fine network of crunch trails together with wooden boardwalks together with an observation tower offers broad views of the Manatee Valley, barrier islands together with Tampa Bay.  On our two-hour walk this morning, my married adult woman together with I observed ospreys, anhingas, brownish pelicans together with a broad multifariousness of wading birds; habitation to gopher tortoises, the refuge likewise harbors remnants of early on North American culture, including the 1200 year-old Temple Mound.

Unfortunately, the western tip of Emerson Point Preserve has instruct a pop site for local fishermen, Sun bathers together with H2O recreation enthusiasts, detracting from the natural beauty together with placidity of this subtropical refuge.  If 1 sticks to the trail together with boardwalk network, however, the pristine lineament of the preserve's varied habitats is fully appreciated.

Rushing Through Perico Preserve

On this cool, foggy morning time inward South Florida, my married adult woman together with I visited the Perico Preserve, eastward of Anna Marie Island, off Manatee Avenue.  Another terrific site for birdwatching, this refuge is a mosaic of upland woods together with scrubland, freshwater wetlands together with a tidal pool.  Accessed yesteryear trails together with boardwalks, the save stretches out to mangroves along Perico Sound.

Unfortunately, mosquitos were numerous together with voracious during our early on morning time see and, since nosotros left our repellant at home, our exploration was brusk together with swift.  Nevertheless, nosotros encountered 25 species of birds, including mutual gallinules. tri-colored herons, a yellow-crowned dark heron together with a trio of forest storks.  Though non observed this morning, Florida scrub jays inhabit this scenic refuge.

On our means dorsum to the condo, nosotros stopped yesteryear Whitney Beach on the northwest coast of Longboat Key.  There, a steady, cool breeze together with gentle mist were peculiarly soothing later on our musquito gauntlet at Perico.  Though birds were impossible to consider on or over the crude oil Gulf (due to the dense fog), nosotros were greeted yesteryear a large, mixed flock of laughing gulls, dark skimmers, majestic terns, Sandwich terns together with Forster's terns that lounged on the beach, waiting for the fog to lift.

Crossing The Dandy Ocean

It took Magellan's crew a total calendar month to negotiate the direct that would come upwardly to comport his name.  Strong currents, fog, a tortuous course, unsafe rocky outcrops too shifting gales slowed progress too a mutiny on the San Antonio, the chief render ship, cutting the fleet to iii boats past times the fourth dimension they entered the Pacific inward tardily November, 1520.

Having no concept of the corking distance that yet prevarication ahead, Magellan sailed northward, paralleling the coast of South America equally far equally present-day Santiago, Chile.  Then fishing to the WNW, his ships caught the merchandise winds too enjoyed pleasant atmospheric condition for the adjacent iii months.  Unfortunately, since maps of the Pacific had non yet been created past times Europeans, the fleet could non "island hop" to restore supplies; malnutrition too scurvy took a pregnant terms on the crew earlier they finally reached Guam inward early on March, 1521.  There they encountered friendly natives whom they managed to mistreat too kill despite receiving life-saving nutrient too water.

By mid March, the fleet reached the Philippines, having crossed the Pacific Ocean inward iii too a one-half months.  Today, nosotros know that their finish of reaching the Spice Islands (Indonesia) was unopen to realized but, inward 1521, alongside no maps of Southeast Asia available, Magellan too his crew were equally lost equally they were at the Strait.

Note:  As mentioned inward the lastly 2 posts, these brief summaries are taken from Over the Edge of the World, past times Laurence Bergreen.  Interested readers are encouraged to obtain that highly-detailed simply easily read concern human relationship of Magellan's Journey.

See also: Polynesian Migration  for perspective on pre-European colonization of the Western Pacific.

Flashback Postal Service Xvi

In recent days, the Bahama Islands bring been inwards the intelligence every 2d they bring endured the wrath of Hurricane Dorian.  A review of their natural history thence seems appropriate, the champaign of written report of a post service dorsum inwards September, 2009.

See: Natural History of the Bahamas

Pollution Begets Pollution

As nosotros humans view carbon dioxide too marsh gas into the atmosphere, our climate warms, glaciers too H2O ice sheets melt, sea levels rising too hurricanes larn to a greater extent than potent.  Dorian, forthwith pummeling the coast of the Carolinas later on producing devastation across the northern Bahamas, offers a prime number example.

Since humans are fond of tropical islands, barrier islands too coastal cities, a sizable segment of our population lives inward flood-prone areas, discipline to the effects of tempest surge too torrential rain.  These coastal too isle residents are non exactly inconvenienced past times hurricanes too tropical storms; lives are lost, homes too businesses are destroyed too the nation is scoured past times the sea, dragging debris too pollutants into the marine ecosystem.

In our efforts to fighting global warming, nosotros must address both the pollution that is triggering climate alter too the marine pollution that comes from cities, towns, industrial areas too farms.  Watching coverage of Dorian's devastation across the Bahamas, i feels for the victims too those who lost their homes but likewise worries well-nigh the harm done to the isle ecology too the surrounding sea environment.  In lite of our warming climate too rising sea levels, i wonders if re-building inward storm-prone areas is wise.

Northward Through Scotland

Yesterday morning, nosotros left Edinburgh, Scotland, inwards a lite drizzle, heading northwest across the rolling hills of the Central Lowlands, quilted amongst hay fields, cattle ranches as well as sheep pastures.  Just beyond Callander, nosotros crossed the Highland Boundary Fault as well as climbed into the scenic Scottish Highlands, eventually dropping toward the North Atlantic through the spectacular Glen Coe Valley.

After enjoying luncheon inwards Fort William, nosotros traveled northeastward through the Great Glen, its flooring lined amongst a serial of iv lakes (called lochs inwards Scotland); the concluding (most northeast) of these is the famous Loch Ness, claimed yesteryear around to harbor a prehistoric plesiosaur.  We spent concluding nighttime inwards Inverness as well as and thus headed northward along the North Sea Coast of northeast Scotland, crossing several large firths as well as enjoying scenic body of body of water vistas earlier reaching the lighthouse simply northeast of John O'Groats, the almost northern town on the Great United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland mainland.

H5N1 ferry carried us across the choppy, wind-driven Pentland Firth, which connects the North Atlantic as well as North Sea, to the Orkney Islands; in that place the economic scheme is sustained yesteryear agriculture, ranching, fishing, tourism as well as distilleries.  We are spending the nighttime inwards Kirkwall as well as volition explore the principal isle tomorrow; though the conditions has been cloudy, cool as well as breezy, nosotros bring been spared whatsoever meaning atmospheric precipitation since leaving Edinburgh.  More on our tour of Scotland inwards coming posts.

The Orkney Mainland

The Orkney Islands are an archipelago of seventy islands as well as islets off the northeast coast of Scotland; the largest of these is known every bit The Mainland as well as it is that isle that nosotros explored today.

Famous for its collection of Neolithic "architecture," including rock circles, a burial sleeping room (Maeshowe) as well as the remnants of a hamlet  (Skara Brae), all dating dorsum to 3000 BC, every bit good every bit Viking engravings (at Maeshowe) from the twelfth Century AD, the island's pastoral, rolling landscape is pleasing to the eye.  A large, natural harbor (second alone inwards size to that of Sydney, Australia) stretches across the nub of The Mainland spell several saltwater bays, freshwater lakes as well as depression ridges disrupt the hayfields as well as grasslands.  Massive cliffs of granite ascent along the western coast, lashed as well as sculpted past times monstrous waves from the North Atlantic.

During our tour of the island, nosotros too encountered large flocks of greylag geese as well as a large divulge of swans (primarily whooper swans migrating from Republic of Iceland as well as peradventure about Bewick's swans, arriving from Siberia to wintertime inwards Scotland).  Tomorrow nosotros larn out the Orkneys to move across the northern Scottish mainland every bit nosotros caput toward The Hebrides, about other archipelago off the western coast of Scotland.

Escorted Past Times Gannets.

This morning, afterwards visiting a bounding main cave on the Orkney Mainland inward driving sleet, nosotros caught the ferry dorsum to the Scottish mainland, crossing the turbulent Pentland Firth.  Oblivious of the roiling bounding main too gusty winds, a minor flock of northern gannets escorted the ship, veering off at times to dive for fish.

Scotland is domicile to 40% of all northern gannets; indeed, the gannet rookery on Bass Island, inward the Firth of Forth (near Edinburgh), is the largest on Earth.  On this roughshod forenoon inward Northern Scotland, it was inspiring to scout these large, hardy seabirds too I for certain appreciated their company.

Once nosotros reached shore, the Sun broke through the clouds too the winds died down.  Our journeying across the Northern Coast of Scotland was both scenic too pleasant equally nosotros crossed several rivers too firths earlier fishing southwest through Northwest Scotland, mayhap the nigh spectacular share of the country.  More on that landscape inward tomorrow's post.

The Hebrides

The Hebrides, an archipelago off the westward coast of Scotland is comprised of 2 groups of islands.  The Outer Hebrides are bounded yesteryear the Atlantic Ocean to their westward as well as The Minch (Strait) as well as the Sea of Hebrides to their east; the Inner Hebrides are bounded yesteryear The Minch as well as Sea of Hebrides to their westward as well as a complicated network of sounds, firths, lochs as well as bays to their east, separating them from the Scottish Mainland.

H5N1 few days ago, nosotros caught a ferry from Ullapool, inwards western Scotland, to Stornoway, on the northern component of the Outer Hebrides; piece it is 1 dry reason mass, this portion is divided into the Isle of Lewis, inwards the north, as well as the Isle of Harris to its south.  Much of the one-time is characterized yesteryear extensive peat bogs, nevertheless used to oestrus homes as well as to infuse Scottish whisky amongst a smokey flavor; traveling through Lewis, nosotros also encountered spectacular seascapes, visited an early on short town inwards Arnol, explored a Neolithic stone circle at Callanish as well as learned that the Gaelic linguistic communication as well as civilisation stay dominant throughout the Outer Hebrides (as they are inwards many Highland regions of Scotland).  The Isle of Harris is to a greater extent than mountainous than the Isle of Lewis as well as harbors pristine beaches; its southernmost portion is a "moonscape" of rock-studded grasslands.  As inwards close all rural areas of Scotland, sheep grazing is extensive as well as this isle is dwelling to the famous Harris tweed.

H5N1 instant ferry took us from Tarbert, on the Isle of Harris, to the Isle of Skye, the largest isle of the Inner Hebrides.  Known for its resort towns, fabulous scenery, rocky beaches as well as towering body of body of water cliffs, this isle is accessible via a couplet from the mainland as well as is thence a pop finish for residents of Scotland's urban centers.  After 2 nights inwards Portree, nosotros accept returned to Edinburgh for the balance of our view to Scotland; it has for sure been a fascinating journeying through this scenic as well as history-laden country.

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.

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?