LAWNS :THE GOOD and the NOT SO GOOD

The jury is still out on this, but the smart money seems to be on yes. Why? Some of the conditions needed for a tornado to form are moist(humid) air and warm air are on the increase in some areas. To simplify, these conditions can cause strong winds that change with altitude, (wind shear). Worldwide Global Warming is thought to increase the presence of Greenhouse gases which add more energy to the storm and effect thunderstorms which play a role in tornado formation. On 5/16/22 a tornado occurred in New Hampshire. Winds 65-90 were recorded. According to weather records, May 2022 had been UNSEASONABLY Warm and Humid.  5/20/2022 Northern Michigan experienced an EFS3 storm. This was uncommon for this Michigan area as Lake Michigan generally absorbs the climate energy needed for a storm of this magnitude to occur. Michigan has recorded aprox. 1.000 tornadoes since 1951, few in the northern part of the state the last severe storm recorded was in 1998. At least three factors are being observed in relation to tornado activity. 1 Tornado Season is shifting, and storms are beginning to occur as early as Nov-Feb. The season is shifting from later Spring/Summer. 2. There has been a notable increase in tornados that occur at night. The nighttime tornados are considered to be more severe, and 3. Location of Storms.: The National Weather Service reports that fewer storms are occurring across the Great Plains or "Tornado Alley" and the storms that do occur in the Nebraska-Texas area have begun to consistently form at least a week earlier that had been the norm. Tornadoes are increasing in the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast. The hypothesis (educated guess) for this includes Global Warming related changes in the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream is an ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico bringing warm water to colder Atlantic Ocean. Global warming is thought to be responsible for melting polar ice caps. This effects the Gulf Stream which increases the temperature of the ocean in its path. The trickle-down effect is that air masses and air currents are effected and change as well. This causes unstable weather. Louisianna, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and the Carolinas are now hot spots for tornado activity. In April 2020, 4 EFS4 tornados occurred within a 20 mile radius in Miss. in one week. In 2022 a staggering 76 tornados occurred in Miss. between 3/22-4/17/2022. In April 2020 Hampton County S.C. had its first EFS4 tornado on record.   Most of us have seen photos of devastation caused by tornadoes.   Is that enough to make you think about what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint to slow Global Warming.  Rember Carpooling to work/school? Is this something you can or would do?  Yes, to get a carpool system up and running does require some thought and maybe some small sacrifice of perceived independence. Can you grocery shop with a neighbor or friend?  Can people carpool to all those meeting that are held to discuss Climate Crisis issues? Or hold them via computer?   Doing a little is better than standing by and watching.  

Imagine the positive and immediate impact on the environment if all vehicles were driven at the most efficient speed.  Driving speed and fuel use/emissions are directly related and this is one area of reducing your Greenhouse Gas footprint that you have total daily control over.    First the physics ....the faster an object, in this case a gas powered vehicle moves, the greater the "drag" . To clarify, the faster something moves the harder "air" pushes back so in order to maintain the increased rate of movement, more energy (fuel) is needed to move forward..  Makes sense, right. The US Environmental Agency (EPA) has done studies related to speed and fuel efficiency (Smart Way Program). The studies done by the EPA yielded the same basic results as other studies done on the same topic, with some differences due to make/model of vehicle , driving conditions, road conditions ,etc.     The summary of studies:  Increasing driving speed by 1 mph (mile per hour) reduces fuel economy by   .1  mpg(Mile per gallon) of fuel. OK that is not a large number BUT as speed increases so does  the loss of fuel efficiency (like compounded interest on your savings account math) and increase in Greenhouse Gas Emissions.    Driving between 35-45 mph is about the most efficient for many vehicles, however the  speed of 55 mph is thought to be the best compromise between speed and efficiency. At 60 mph efficiency is 3% less, at 65 mph it is 8% less, at 70 mph it is 17% less, and at 75mph it is 23% less.   Quite a difference we have here.    In 2021 it was reported that oil consumption in the USA was at 19.8 million barrels A DAY.   Really BIG numbers. Not all of this is used in cars however, any and all reduction in fossil fuel use is a good thing.      Dropping down to 55mph can be an adjustment. Use Cruise control if you have it. Or just pay close attention. Yes, as first it may feel like you could walk to your destination faster.  BUT resist the urge to speed up.

DRIVE 55,   you can do it!!   Help slow the Global Warming Climate Crisis EVERY DAY.

Disclaimer: The focus of this Website is Environmental Education. It is NOT Political.  A refugee, by definition is one who flees, the rest of the definition according to the Webster Dictionary states: esp. from an attacked city or from political oppression. Most of us are familiar with the horrors and suffering associated with Refugee Status.   Now take Webster's definition a step further, to include one who flees because their land has become unlivable, or even disappeared altogether and is now underwater.  What if, in this case your plight is because Global Warming caused the sea levels to rise and swallow your homeland.  And who is responsible and how will they help you?  Across the Globe, how many people are coming to your aid by voluntarily doing whatever they can to reduce their Carbon Footprint, and work towards reversing the Climate Crisis?  (Maybe a little Political here) Frequently there is talk of 3rd Word Nations and Societies.  Could a more realistic thought be that there is only one world, and the people on it adapt to their environment and culture. Does the person who lives in the Rainforest really need a big brick house with 4.5 baths and a built-in swimming pool? Probably not so much. Human cultures vary widely but all have adaptive brilliantly to the environment they live in. A lot of noise is made about SOME areas having problems caused by rising sea levels. But what about those people who are at genuine risk of losing their homes BUT DON'T GARNER MUCH GLOBAL Attention. Tiny Island Nations that you may or may not even know of.  But does that diminish the magnitude of the issue and potential for human disaster? Or the Population's Right to remain on home soil? Some of the most endangered are: Pacific Ocean, Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Indian Ocean: the Maldives. Get a map...look for them and remember other people, just like you live there.  Problems have begun to occur as salt seawater is mixing with the fresh ground water making farming impossible. Land is disappearing underwater.   Imagine trying to pull into your driveway and the place where you and your family lived for generations was....GONE. Where would you go. How could you afford this emotionally, in relation to your Cultural Identity and knowledge and financially.

Other sections of this site offer suggestions concerning some steps that could easily be taken by most people that when added up have some chance of making a positive impact towards mitigating Global Warming.  Please review them and put at least something into practice.  Rember: what happens to other people can also happen to you. Be a part of the Global Community cut back on your Carbon Footprint.  The home you save may someday be your own.

And read the book: Retreat from a  Rising  Sea ....see sidebar for details. 

The first photo was taken in April 2022, the second and third photos were taken very close to the end of June 2022.  First, why is corn an important crop. People can eat it. If it is not your favorite vegetable, chances are good that the milk in the ice cream you may enjoy or the Pork sausage you had for breakfast was made possible because corn is grown as food for animals that produce such products. Corn syrup is used in a large variety of food products, and corn can be used to produce biofuel and some plastic like materials. So, a breakdown in corn production can have a long reaching domino effect.   To be optimistic, not all of the corn fields in Wayne Ct., N.Y. are doing as poorly as the ones shown, some are doing quite well.   HOWEVER, based on over 30 years of personal observation, fields with notable barren patches are on the increase. Spaces of unsuccessful plant growth are a common sight. And if all of the bare patches were connected together...the loss of successful corn may be considered a "problem" So, what is going on.  It would be reasonable to suspect a variety of factors are at work.   One, increasingly heavy precipitation in the region. (Photo 1) Seeds wash away or rot in the ground before germination (sprouting) can occur. Wet fields delay planting, and as a result the growing season. This increase in precipitation has been linked to Global Warming and the Climate Crisis. Next, Erratic fluctuations in temperatures. For example. (Wayne County) April 1,2022, 45 degrees F, April 6, 62 degrees F, April 10, 40 degrees F, April 13, 80 degrees F, April 16, 48 degrees F, April 19, 39 degrees F, April 25, 80 degrees F. May 2022, First week high 50-low60s degrees F. Second week Began at 65 degrees F ended at 83 degrees F. On May 19, 60 degrees F and on May 21, 89 degrees F. June was a bit more stable, however on the 4th, 9th and 18th the high was 65 degrees F alternating with 7 days at 80-87 degrees F. A lot of numbers to take in. Very confusing for the plants as well.  Why does the temperature mater? Plants unlike humans are not warm blooded. They rely on the environment for optimum growing conditions.  When temperatures are stable plants grow better. Some plants begin to produce blossoms or "go to seed" when their environment becomes warm.  When a drop in temperatures occurs the blossoms drop off, reducing overall production.  For most seeds including corn, the ground should remain at a consistent temperature for germination to occur.   These fluctuations in daily temperatures are the "weather" conditions, likely caused by Global Warming and Climate Crisis, that lead to an overall change in the Climate of an area.  So, what if these photos show the tip of the iceberg of a change in the Upstate N.Y. climate, which will turn an agricultural area into one where few crops can grow and flourish.   Will a gallon of milk cost $20 in the future because the crops needed to feed cows become scarce?    Or worse...is this what the very beginning of conditions that lead to famine look like.   Do you really want to wait to find out?

Definition: Lagoon: A body of water that is separated from a larger body of water by a physical barrier, such as a sand bar, reef, or other natural structure.

Adriatic Sea: The upper most arm of the Mediterranean Sea, a body of water that separates the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula.

Venice: A North Italian city, famous for gondolas, canals, the play: Merchant of Venice by W. Shakespear, A city seemingly built on water. The area has about 118 islands, connected by canals. The buildings are not constructed on these islands. Read on to see just what they are built on. And why Global Warming is a THREAT to this very marvelous human creation.

What we now call the City of Venice, represents humans' ability to adapt to the most challenging conditions.   

When did construction begin?   Around the year  4oo AD (that is correct not 1400)  people began to move into the lagoon area, now called Venice.  They did not build on the marsh islands but instead drove over A MILLION tree trunks into the soft ground until a solid bottom was found. Once the poles were in place the builders began to construct platforms on them.  It is on these platforms that building began.  The wooden poles and platforms did not rot away because they were under water, not exposed to oxygen and the composition of the water preserved them to this day.  WOW!  Please try to imagine that no modern construction equipment was available in these years. All of the building material such as trees had to be imported to the area.

Due to the location the City grew and prospered. Beautiful buildings were created. Art and Culture flourished. Venice became an Internation cosmopolitan center.

So what is the connection to Global Warming?   The Rising Sea level.    It is predicted that if the Climate Crisis continues by the year 2100 AD the City of Venice will be under water.   GONE.

The area has historically experienced periods of high water (Aqua Alta) during some tides. However, that usually been a few feet above normal and receded quickly.  

In the past 20 years 5 record floods have occurred.    In 2018 ,70% of the area was covered by water.  The second highest water level, since water levels have been tracked was recorded in 2019.

The water level in the Adriatic Sea has risen 5.5 inches since the year 1900.   The elevated and sustained water level does the predictable water damage, but also has begun to erode the very foundations of the buildings in Venice.     Will the people of Venice also become Climate Crisis refugees?

What about Flood Gates?  In response to the rising sea level/flooding, gates have been installed in an attempt to control the water level and stop the ongoing destruction. These has been successful on a small scale.   THE DOWNSIDE: the floodgates prevent the natural flow of dirt and silt into the area. Both are necessary to maintain the integrity of the mash land and the ground beneath the city will begin to disappear without it.

For thousands of years monuments which underscore the human ability to create have existed. However, due to environmental factors such as high level of air pollution, flooding, and Climate Crisis related storms and erratic weather conditions have done more damage to these iconic structures than had been done in the sometimes thousands of years since they had been constructed.

Is preserving the Human Legacy enough to make you act to take steps to reduce your carbon footprint. NOW

It is not unusual for summer to be warm/hot. But have we reached the point when Summer weather is more DANGEROUS than FUN?  Seems maybe so.  Recent News reports indicate dangerously high and sustained temperatures not only in the U.S.A., but worldwide. Not uncomfortable weather but dangerous weather. For example, during the week of July 18, 2022, 60 million people or roughly 20% of the U.S. population experienced temperatures of 100degrees F. or above. Scientific research is beginning to find that while yes, the human body can adjust to a variety of environmental conditions doing so may take longer than had been previously thought, and it may be that the environment is heating up faster than our bodies can adjust. The result of this unpresented, extended heat has led to a variety of disasters. Human Life: Throughout the U.S. and the world an upswing in heat related loss of human life is increasing. Heat related problems include increased and dangerous wildfires, death from heat related illness such as dehydration, heat stroke to name a few, lack of clean drinking water, famine due to crop and livestock failure, storms caused by unstable weather, Between April 4-6 ,2022 several Southern U.S. states experienced 100 tornadoes, one being F4 (see tornado section). In the past 5 years 17.8 BILLION dollars in weather related damage including loss of life has been reported. This is the highest to date.  Lake Mead, a large lake adjacent to the Hoover dam has dried up. Hailstorms which shower baseball size ice have occurred. (Hail is a strange weather phenomenon which frequently occurs in hot unstable weather and pieces of ice rather that water fall) In the U.S. we have many cities that line our shores.  These cities which are usually man-made unnatural surfaces such as pavement or concrete, store rather than release heat, making living conditions dangerous for the populations. Trees have been cut down to make room for development when they are needed for shade and air cleaning. No more cool ocean breezes to keep people safe. One of the defenses that has been developed is artificial cooling, such as air conditioning. Great idea, however, the current need creates power brown/black outs when the grid is overused.  This creates more problems.

What is the solution?  Cool things down. Take all the steps that you can to reduce your Carbon Footprint.   Help save lives.     The Climate Crisis is REAL and is becoming SERIOUS not just inconvenient.

Keep up with World News not the Local events and the trend will be evident.

Red Tide is a generic term used to describe Harmful Algae Blooms that occur in the Oceans.  The name stems from the fact that during a bloom the water may turn RED, however the bloom may also be other colors such as green or brown. What happens?   See side bar. Ocean Algal blooms have been recorded for hundreds of years. However, research suggests that since at least 1982 Global warming has contributed to creating increasingly large comfort zones for algae growth, particularly along the North Atlantic and Northwest Pacific area. This increase in water temperature along with other human generated factors has created larger, longer lasting and more widespread Toxic blooms.  The Gulf of Florida has begun to experience blooms that have begun to significant negative effects on not only humans but the area wildlife including fish, birds and mammals.  Humans are effected by RED TIDES as follows: Ingestion of seafood that is infected with toxic bacteria can result in serious illness which may have permanent life changing problems or even death. It has been found that people exposed to areas where RED TIDE is found may experience problems of the breathing process. In addition, the stench generated by the toxic water may make living nearby very uncomfortable.  Of less significance is the fact that millions of dollars are being lost annually due to poisoned seafood that cannot be harvested or sold.     Pets that are exposed to toxic water may become sick or die. If you look up "Images" of Red Tide online you may be amazed that the water in severe cases does indeed turn red.

So how can you help?   First: Keep in mind that the toxins in Harmful Algae Blooms in the oceans have cost people their lives, So this issue must be taken seriously. If research is indicating that the HABs are increasing in size and length partly because of factors caused by HUMANS. (SEE SIDE BAR) In addition keep in mind that a great deal of our FOOD SUPPLY comes from the OCEAN.   

Think about how you contribute to the problem..........what are you willing to give up.   What we are losing is a safe source of food, many forms of Marine Life are at risk for extinction, We are facing BEACH CLOSE signs on a more frequent basis, and the quality of life for people living near HAB is degrading.  What are you willing to give up to contribute to reducing the trend of increasing HAB in our OCEANS.     According to the fossil records Algae has been here long before us.....will it be here long after us as well?

VANISHING SANDS (LOSING BEACHES TO MINING)  By Dr. ORRIN PILKEY jr.  DUKE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Available on Amazon and Kindle! 

Why is this new book important?

1. The Title is self-explanatory.

2. The Author: Dr. Pilkey . Since 1987 Dr, Pilkey has won awards recognizing his work in the area of Enviromental Science. A Professor Emeritus, Duke University.   In recognition of his work Duke University named the Duke Marine Laboratory in North Carolina in his honor. He has written numerous books and appeared in environmental documentaries. (Check Wiki for an expanded list of accomplishments) One important factor separates Dr. Pilkey from the current spate of Enviromental Authors. The books are written in a very informative, accurate easy to read style . It is possible to ENJOY the read not feel like you are taking a boring and hard science class that you can't wait  for the bell to ring so the class is over..(no offense to Science teachers everywhere, just saying  (:  It is more likely you will actually read and act on information that is presented in an understandable fashion.  That is IMPORTANT.   It won't sit around collecting dust.  Disclaimer: No put down or negativity aimed towards ANYONE who is doing something about the Climate Crisis by trying to Educate the Public.  Write On! The more the merrier And Thank you for your efforts.

 This book will  make you think of damage that is being done to our environment in ways that you see on a regular basis but don't realize the full impact. of what is going on. Get it......Read it...THINK about what you are reading. Look around your own environment. What can you take away from this book that will help our planet and the people that live on it?  He is not new to the game so take the opportunity to benefit from a player with decades of experience.   Seriously. 

  Scroll down for additional books from Dr. Pilkey.

DECEMBER  is a month of Holidays to many people.  Hanukah, Christmas, Eid al-Adha, Kwanza, Winter Solstice, to name only a few.     An idea for a new tradition to celebrate your Holiday and Celebrate and help the Earth.    Many store now see  live Evergreen Trees planted in containers full of dirt.      Instead of purchasing a disposable item  for you Holiday  purchase a live tree instead.  Any size.    Remember the decorations can be removed and replace with something that represents you.  These trees usually survive nicely outside long after December.    THE NEW TRADITION:    When the weather in your area warms up and the ground has thawed,  set aside a day to PLANT  the TREE in the ground.  For example , to celebrate Easter,  Passover, Juneteenth, Ramadan, Spring Equinox Earth Day, or what ever fits and is accepted by your culture.. You can plant it in your yard or ask permission to plant on public land such as your local park.  Watching the trees grow year by year can be a happy reminder of a past celebration and link to celebrations to come.   

So now the tree has served two purposes . To be enjoyed in December and to be given a permanent home at another time.   Think about the positive effect on our environment if  thousands of people did this!   Plus for each tree that is  purchased and planted it is one less tree that is discarded because it did not sell.