I don't hear any huffing and puffing about the climate, yet it is far more deadly than any nuclear weapon on Earth.
If Earth loses it's oxygen content, game over.
We have not been here before. The planet is supporting billions of people and the consumer demands insult the troposphere with greenhouse gases such as methane.
As far as I am concerned the USA is in a very dangerous place, but, it has absolutely nothing to do with nuclear weapons.
August 8, 2017
By Michael D. Shear and Brad Plumer
Washington — The impending (click here) release of a key government report on climate change will force President Trump to choose between accepting the conclusions of his administration’s scientists and the demands of his conservative supporters, who remain deeply unconvinced that humans are the cause of the planet’s warming.
A White House official said on Tuesday that it was still reviewing the draft document that was written by scientists, some of whom have said they fear Mr. Trump will seek to bury it or alter its contents before it is formally released. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said the administration would not comment on the report before its scheduled release this fall.
But the looming publication of the climate report — which concludes that “evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans” — once again raises a contentious policy issue that has deeply divided Mr. Trump’s closest advisers since he arrived in the Oval Office....
Wednesday, August 09, 2017
Governor Eddie Baza Calvo is the ELECTED Governor of Guam.
Pangasinan Governor (click here) Amado T. Espino, Jr. and Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo lead the signing of the Sister City Agreement between the Province of Pangasinan and the island of Guam as members of the Provincial Board of Pangasinan look on. Other signatories to the agreement include, (L-R) Philippine Consul General to Guam, Hon. Bayani V. Mangibin, Guam Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio, Pangasinan Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr., and Major Vic Rivo, Sr. (Ret), President of the Federation of Pangasinanses of Guam.
The military that exists in Guam is not that of the people of the islands, it belongs to the USA. North Korea has no argument with the people of Guam.
The military that exists in Guam is not that of the people of the islands, it belongs to the USA. North Korea has no argument with the people of Guam.
Pangasinan (click here) was among the earliest political and administrative units in the Philippines. It was officially conquered and colonized by D. Martin de Goiti in 1571. On April 5, 1572, Pangasinan was made an encomienda by the Spanish royal crown to receive instruction on the Catholic Faith, which means that Pangasinan was organized under one leadership and has identity before the Spanish royal court. Eight years later, in 1580, Pangasinan was organized into a political unit under an alkalde mayor who at that time has authority as head of the province or provincial government with judicial function indicating that Pangasinan has become a province. To commemorate the day when Pangasinan became an encomienda and the year it became a province, Pangasinan celebrates April 5, 1580 as the official founding day of the Province of Pangasinan. At that time, its territorial jurisdiction included the Province of Zambales and parts of La Union and Tarlac. By the middle of the 19th century however, the northern towns of Agoo to Bacnotan were separated from the province and became parts of La Union. The provincial territory was further diminished in 1875 with the annexation of Paniqui and other towns south of it to Tarlac.
Pangasinan, derived its name from the word “panag asinan”, which means “where salt is made”, owing to the rich and fine salt beds which were the prior source of livelihood of the province’s coastal towns....
Tuesday, August 08, 2017
Guam has no military. It has no way of protecting itself. Guam is a peaceful territory of the USA.
Guam has a highly diverse population, including, Korean and Chinese nationality.
These are USA citizens.
Chamorro 37.3%
Filipino 26.3%
White 7.1%
Chuukese 7%
Korean 2.2%
Other Pacific Islander 2%
Other Asian 2%
Chinese 1.6%
Palauan 1.6%
Japanese 1.5%
Pohnpeian 1.4%
Mixed 9.4%
Other 0.6% (2010 est.)
Kim Jong-un needs to consider how any attack on a minor group of islands and people would be received by the global community. It would be hideous for North Korea to consider such wrongful acts.
The five permanent members of the United Nations have nuclear weapons. They don't have to kill people to prove they have that capacity. North Korea needs to consider the respect it is looking for and the methods it contemplates to achieve it.
A basketball contest would receive more respect by the world than firing such a heinous missile. The World Cup receives respect. Every country on the face of Earth regards that sport gathering vital to their country's identity. So, a basketball contest falls into that category.
North Korea needs to seek respect in ways other country's seek it.
These are USA citizens.
Filipino 26.3%
White 7.1%
Chuukese 7%
Korean 2.2%
Other Pacific Islander 2%
Other Asian 2%
Chinese 1.6%
Palauan 1.6%
Japanese 1.5%
Pohnpeian 1.4%
Mixed 9.4%
Other 0.6% (2010 est.)
Kim Jong-un needs to consider how any attack on a minor group of islands and people would be received by the global community. It would be hideous for North Korea to consider such wrongful acts.
The five permanent members of the United Nations have nuclear weapons. They don't have to kill people to prove they have that capacity. North Korea needs to consider the respect it is looking for and the methods it contemplates to achieve it.
A basketball contest would receive more respect by the world than firing such a heinous missile. The World Cup receives respect. Every country on the face of Earth regards that sport gathering vital to their country's identity. So, a basketball contest falls into that category.
North Korea needs to seek respect in ways other country's seek it.
This is just insane. Temperatures of a nuclear explosion, energy or weapon.
There are two primary methods of producing nuclear energy. The first is fission, which occurs when the heavy nucleus of a radioactive element like uranium or plutonium splits in two and the second is fusion, in which light nuclei are joined together as occurs in the Sun....
Approximately 85 percent of the energy of a nuclear weapon (click here) produces air blast, shock waves and thermal energy. The remaining 15 percent of the energy is released as various type of nuclear radiation.
The thermal energy is usually around 35% of the total energy released. A 100 kt nuclear explosion releases 116,222 MWh of energy of this 40,678 MWh is released as heat. That’s enough heat to melt 136,000 tons of steel.
...The "yield" of a nuclear weapon (click here) is a measure of the amount of explosive energy it can produce. The yield is given in terms of the quantity of TNT that would generate the same amount of energy when it explodes. Thus, a 1 kiloton nuclear weapon is one which produces the same amount of energy in an explosion as does 1 kiloton (1,000 tons) of TNT. Similarly, a 1 megaton weapon would have the energy equivalent of 1 million tons of TNT. One megaton is equivalent to 4.18 x 1015 joules....
Tropical Storm Franklin has a central pressure of 996 over the Yucatan and headed to the Gulf of Mexico.
10.20.30z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of north and west hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)
I told you so. Get the methane under control, now!
August 7, 2017
By Lisa Friedman
Washington — The average temperature (click here) in the United States has risen rapidly and drastically since 1980, and recent decades have been the warmest of the past 1,500 years, according to a sweeping federal climate change report awaiting approval by the Trump administration.
The draft report by scientists from 13 federal agencies, which has not yet been made public, concludes that Americans are feeling the effects of climate change right now. It directly contradicts claims by President Trump and members of his cabinet who say that the human contribution to climate change is uncertain, and that the ability to predict the effects is limited.
“Evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans,” a draft of the report states. A copy of it was obtained by The New York Times.
The authors note that thousands of studies, conducted by tens of thousands of scientists, have documented climate changes on land and in the air. “Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate change,” they wrote....
Monday, August 07, 2017
There is something Robert Mueller has that Trump doesn't; loyalty to the US Constitution.
The Mueller Special Prosecutor status was received by the country with acclaim. He has served this country for a very long time, most of that time in high ranking offices. Robert Mueller is the single best person to carry out the Special Prosecution of issues that is very far reaching, into some of the most sensitive foreign information.
August 7, 2017
By Bob Dreyfuss
By now, it's clear: Robert Mueller, (click here) the special counsel looking into Russiagate and related matters, is a determined, relentless inquisitor whose investigation could lead to criminal charges against a wide range of Donald Trump's staff, associates, former campaign officials and members of his immediate family. And, when its work is complete, it isn't out of the question that Mueller's team could deliver a report triggering Trump's impeachment....
There should be NO personal attacks on any American standing up for the country, including US Senator Blumenthal.
The Mueller panel is about the country. It is important he goes forward with this investigation no matter where it takes him. If the country is at risk this investigation has to be conducted. It is outrageous to think a foreign country, a powerful foreign country is persisting a fight against the USA through subverting our elections. The facts have to come forward.
If the current president finds the investigation threatening, too bad. This is about the country. If a president is complaining about an investigation that is about the country he is automatically setting himself up for ridicule. Too bad.
...Trump, of course, is lashing out at Mueller, the congressional panels, his own attorney general and Department of Justice, the FBI and the media over what he called, in a tweet, "the single greatest witch hunt in American political history - led by some very bad and conflicted people."...
What is this 'of course?' There is no 'of course' here. Trump has no idea what is being found. Got that? He doesn't know what is occurring with the investigation. Yet, he is OF COURSE lashing out. What? He doesn't even know what to lash out about. The man is paranoid. There is no greater truth than that. Robert Mueller is NOT holding press conferences. He is conducting his work out of the spot light. There is no 'of course' here.
Robert Mueller has assembled a very impressive group to help him with the investigation. That group will grow with the responsibility the investigation discovers. The Special Prosecutor has a very important responsibility. He has a country at risk and it doesn't get anymore important.
I trust Robert Mueller. The country should trust him as well.
August 3, 2017
August 7, 2017
By Bob Dreyfuss
By now, it's clear: Robert Mueller, (click here) the special counsel looking into Russiagate and related matters, is a determined, relentless inquisitor whose investigation could lead to criminal charges against a wide range of Donald Trump's staff, associates, former campaign officials and members of his immediate family. And, when its work is complete, it isn't out of the question that Mueller's team could deliver a report triggering Trump's impeachment....
There should be NO personal attacks on any American standing up for the country, including US Senator Blumenthal.
The Mueller panel is about the country. It is important he goes forward with this investigation no matter where it takes him. If the country is at risk this investigation has to be conducted. It is outrageous to think a foreign country, a powerful foreign country is persisting a fight against the USA through subverting our elections. The facts have to come forward.
If the current president finds the investigation threatening, too bad. This is about the country. If a president is complaining about an investigation that is about the country he is automatically setting himself up for ridicule. Too bad.
...Trump, of course, is lashing out at Mueller, the congressional panels, his own attorney general and Department of Justice, the FBI and the media over what he called, in a tweet, "the single greatest witch hunt in American political history - led by some very bad and conflicted people."...
What is this 'of course?' There is no 'of course' here. Trump has no idea what is being found. Got that? He doesn't know what is occurring with the investigation. Yet, he is OF COURSE lashing out. What? He doesn't even know what to lash out about. The man is paranoid. There is no greater truth than that. Robert Mueller is NOT holding press conferences. He is conducting his work out of the spot light. There is no 'of course' here.
Robert Mueller has assembled a very impressive group to help him with the investigation. That group will grow with the responsibility the investigation discovers. The Special Prosecutor has a very important responsibility. He has a country at risk and it doesn't get anymore important.
I trust Robert Mueller. The country should trust him as well.
August 3, 2017
[Washington, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (click here) today joined U.S. Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to introduce bipartisan legislation that would create a judicial check on the executive branch’s ability to remove a special counsel.
The Special Counsel Independence Protection Act (SCIPA) ensures that any action by the Attorney General or Acting Attorney General to remove a special counsel from office must first be reviewed by a panel of federal judges.
“This measure seeks to forestall a potential constitutional crisis raised by President Trump’s ominous ongoing threats of improperly firing the current special counsel,” said Blumenthal. “The specter of Presidential action against Robert Mueller – designed to stop or stymie a vitally necessary criminal investigation of the President himself – makes safeguarding the special counsel urgently necessary. Congress must act, right away, to check this potential Presidential abuse of power. Even the threat of such political interference, constituting potential obstruction of justice, undermines the special counsel’s investigation. Only judicial review can check such possible abuse and eliminate any doubt about special counsel’s ability to hold accountable all lawbreakers. Make no mistake: this investigation will continue and conclude fairly and fully.”...
This is about the country. The country is more important than any lousy politician.
The Rooster
"Okeydoke"
Better yet, let's look to the FCC filings regarding "Trump TV."
August 7, 2017
By Shawn Langlois
Straight, (click here) unbiased news or the type of propaganda Kim Jong Un would be proud of? That probably depends on what you think of Donald Trump.
Kayleigh McEnany, previously known as a pro-Trump political pundit for CNN, announced her departure from the network on Saturday with this tweet:..
There is a far bigger picture that involves the inappropriate use of the FCC. First Trump uses the FCC to try to control free speech in the media. The most high profile personality to be attacked by the FCC was Steven Colbert.
Then there is the protestations of Brookings:
July 11, 2017
By Tom Wheeler
There is no other industry (click here) in the world like broadcasting,” the CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Gordon Smith told his annual convention. “No other industry has, at its core, such an overarching focus on bringing communities together and serving the public good,” Smith opined. “No other media industry is as dedicated to supporting our local communities.”
That “overarching focus” on “serving the public good” is being stealthily watered down, with the industry’s support, by the Trump Federal Communications Commission. In little-noticed decisions, the agency has been removing regulatory requirements to protect broadcast localism, shield a diversity of local voices, and avoid the establishment of a dominant national broadcaster....
There needs to be a public accounting for Trump Television. There also needs to be equal time offered by a channel set up to promote Trump's agenda.
This is still the odd and threatening world we face with Donald Trump controlling the Executive Branch. The President, by nature of the office, has a megaphone whenever he/she requests it. The media is obliged to consider the requests of the President to speak to the people when it is vital to do so. The addition of a "Trump Channel" is a worry to the traditional relationship between the President and the media.
I find it odd that the anchor is from a cable channel known to have a political focus, CNN. I don't know if this is a gift to Ms. McEnany to win her affections, GIVEN HIS REPUTATION WITH WOMEN, or if this is serious news.
The Trump Channel is somewhat not a surprise, is it? The "Lame Stream" media has been a focus of frustration for the constituency of the Republican Party. This is a political party that has complained about the media for decades. So, Trump TV is not putting up with the ? tilt ? of the mainstream media.
The Trump Channel reminds me of the other million-billionaires with their own media, such as "O." In realizing how paranoid Trump is about rivals he created his own channel simply to compete with Oprah before she announces. I am serious. There are people that see Oprah as a sincere option as a candidate, hence, "Trump TV."
The ego is bigger than anyone wants to speak to when it comes to the paranoia of 'keeping the office.' Trump has a real reason to 'keep the office' and primarily because his private concerns, including the In-laws, finds success while he is in office. He also believes the country has a transition to achieve that can't be carried out in four years. Those transitions is to remove obstructionist Republicans from his agenda, too.
I think Trump TV is a dangerous political channel that can direct the country no different than any other TV channel within the menu of Americans.
Are there commericals?
Are there rivals on the air?
Is the news exploited for his private concerns?
Is his family promoted as authorities?
And WHAT IS BEING PROMOTED about the "All White" White House? The "Alt Right" now has their own platform to find ways to launch a greater influence. I find the Trump TV a real threat that will promote racism in it's priorities. After all, there are many ways to vanquish rivals and I don't see Oprah being asked to be anchor of Trump TV.
"Good night, Moon"
14.3 days old
99.7 percent lit
August 6, 2017
By Paul Wesley Sullivan
Before it stars (click here) in the much-anticipated solar eclipse on Aug. 21, the moon will be at full phase two weeks earlier.
On Aug. 7, the Full Sturgeon Moon will appear. Astute sky watchers in Africa, Asia and Australia will even be able to see a partial lunar eclipse,space.com says.
But back in these parts it’s called the Full Sturgeon Moon because August is when, the Farmer’s Almanac says, the sturgeon fish was most easily caught in the Great Lakes. Native American tribes also called it the “Full Green Corn Moon,” Wheat Cut Moon,” and “Blueberry Moon.”...
Sunday, August 06, 2017
I think the IPCC has made compelling facts about the dangers of mismanagement of savvanna fires.
Each savanna is different than the next. They require dedicated staff that keep detailed records regarding NATIVE and INVASIVE SPECIES plants. Anytime I am concerned for the balance of a biotic area, I look into journals for PLANT INVENTORIES of TRANSECTS of the area. Somewhere in the history of land on Earth there is some scientist/botanist that was compelled to make a study of the land and it's flora. Most of the time when I look for these historical transect inventories I find them. The funding for such important information was available then.
So, if there is mismanaged savannas with fire ecology there can be restoration if a search for historical inventories is made. It is fascinating the dedication that has occurred in knowing the importance to the future of such inventories. Our forefathers knew we were coming.
The loop below is made by American firefighters. The idea is to get the fire out, to save lives and property, but, most importantly to save the forest as well. I don't know if these techniques will work everywhere in the world, but, I guarantee if American firefighters were asked to look at African savannas, they could tell you what will work and won't. They are incredible people with a great deal of knowledge in how to fight and prevent unnecessary fires. The US Forest Service would be another strong resource to proper management of savannas, even African savannas. They study stuff from more than the USA. Guaranteed. They love their work.
Increasing occurrence of forest fires, including savanna fires, will be a growing source of greenhouse gases.
Savanna burning methodology (click here) for fire management and emissions reduction: a critical review of influencing factors
Tek Narayan Maraseni, Kathryn Reardon-Smith, Greg Griffiths and Armando Apan
Carbon Balance and Management, 2016, (11)26
Received: 1 August 2016
Accepted: 7 November 2016
Published: 16 November 2016
Savanna fire is a major source of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In Australia, savanna fire contributes about 3% of annual GHG emissions reportable to the Kyoto Protocol. In order to reduce GHG emissions from savanna burning, the Australian government has developed and approved a Kyoto compliant savanna controlled burning methodology—the first legal instrument of this kind at a global level—under its Emission Reduction Fund. However, this approved methodology is currently only applicable to nine vegetation fuel types across northern parts of Australia in areas which receive on average over 600 mm rainfall annually, covering only 15.4% of the total land area in Australia. Savanna ecosystems extend across a large proportion of mainland Australia. This paper provides a critical review of ten key factors that need to be considered in developing a savanna burning methodology applicable to the other parts of Australia. It will also inform discussion in other countries intent on developing similar emissions reduction strategies.
Action: Use prescribed burning on savannas (click here)
Tek Narayan Maraseni, Kathryn Reardon-Smith, Greg Griffiths and Armando Apan
Carbon Balance and Management, 2016, (11)26
Received: 1 August 2016
Accepted: 7 November 2016
Published: 16 November 2016
Savanna fire is a major source of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In Australia, savanna fire contributes about 3% of annual GHG emissions reportable to the Kyoto Protocol. In order to reduce GHG emissions from savanna burning, the Australian government has developed and approved a Kyoto compliant savanna controlled burning methodology—the first legal instrument of this kind at a global level—under its Emission Reduction Fund. However, this approved methodology is currently only applicable to nine vegetation fuel types across northern parts of Australia in areas which receive on average over 600 mm rainfall annually, covering only 15.4% of the total land area in Australia. Savanna ecosystems extend across a large proportion of mainland Australia. This paper provides a critical review of ten key factors that need to be considered in developing a savanna burning methodology applicable to the other parts of Australia. It will also inform discussion in other countries intent on developing similar emissions reduction strategies.
Action: Use prescribed burning on savannas (click here)
The savannas of Africa do not have the best management program and need consultants to bring about good outcomes.
...There is evidence (click here) to suggest that too frequent burning has also caused an increase in the proportion of Increaser II grass species in the rangelands. This is because an analysis of the grass fuel loads recorded in the Park during the period 1989 to 1992 indicates that the majority of the areas (73%) subjected to controlled burns during this period were in a non-moribund condition (<4000 kg/ha) and need not have been burnt. These data would suggest that the rangelands were being burnt too frequently during the burning policies that were implemented since 1980.
One of the solutions to the declining condition of the rangelands in the Kruger National Park is to modify the controlled burning program, particularly reducing the frequency of burning.
This was addressed in 1994 when a laissez faire burning policy was introduced to replace the previous subjectively structured burning program. This comprises a "hands off" policy where all fires ignited by lightning in the Park are permitted to burn freely whereas all anthropogenic fires must be extinguished as far as is possible. The basic philosophy of this laissez faire burning policy is that lightning should be regarded as the only natural ignition source and if left alone will result in the development of a natural fire regime as regards types and intensities of fires and the season and frequency of burning. It is reasoned that human interference in the functioning of one component of a natural ecosystem will eventually lead to interference in the other components with unforeseen consequences. The laissez faire burning policy is not based on any practical examples from elsewhere in the savannas of Africa but rather on the basic and sincere belief that if a natural area is large enough, as the Kruger National Park is assumed to be, the ecosystem will function normally in response to natural variations in the environment, for example seasonal variations in the rainfall.
Another option to modifying the burning program in the Kruger National Park in order to achieve the management objectives of the Park is a structured approach where controlled burning is applied following a decision support system using ecological criteria....
What is the chance methane can be recaptured from the air?
August 6, 2017
By Guest Columnist
Western Colorado (click here) would not be what we know today without a century and a half of mining. Mining made us a state....
...We went from pristine Alpine landscapes to maybe 25,000 abandoned mines, many of them sources of pollutant laden water. We have seen the good and the bad in technicolor.
We have learned. Colorado was a leader in enacting modern mine reclamation legislation. The old practice of dumping mine waste in the nearest creek, or letting the smelter smoke darken the sky is long gone....
...When these permits were issued, there was no thought of today’s issue, the considerable methane emissions these mines produce. To the extent methane was discussed, it was an occupational safety issue: methane needed to be vented from the mines to prevent explosions and protect worker safety. Now it is seems that the North Fork mines may be the West Slope’s leading methane emitter.
We now understand that this methane is a potent greenhouse gas. We need badly to control these emissions, and do so now.
But we cannot forget our Western values of working together in times of trouble. The North Fork miners deserve our support. Their jobs are technically challenging. They are widely admired for efficiency, worker safety, and technical competence....
...But the truth is that coal mining has been built on public subsidies. A 2015 International Monetary Fund study concluded that energy subsidies worldwide were enormous – 6.5 percent of the entire world economic output, some $5 trillion per year. That subsidy overwhelmingly goes to fossil fuels.
STOP PETROLEUM INDUSTRY SUBSIDIES! Is any US elected official serious about reducing the national debt? Here is a good place to star.
Coal is the most highly subsidized of all. Worldwide, coal subsidies are about 4 percent of the entire economic output of the human race.
The one remaining North Fork coal operation is requesting three things from government: First, a reduced royalty on the federal coal they are mining. Second, to build roads into a lovely roadless area, to drill methane vents to permit mining more coal. Finally, a revised permit that, like past permits, will not require control of the mine’s methane emissions.
Federal coal royalties are already below market rates. The last thing we should approve is more subsidies....
...Before roading more roadless areas, there needs to be impartial evaluation of whether we can avoid road building in these beautiful areas....
In the spirit of our region, we should come together to solve the methane problem. The blame game will get nothing done. County commissioners, coal companies, local electric utilities, public interest organizations, state agencies and others all must do their share to find a way to capture and make use of the West Elk methane.
There are multiple options for methane control and use. One small existing project captures North Fork methane, generates electricity, and sells it to Aspen. Methane can become vehicle fuel or industrial feedstock.
As to the future, this state must develop regulations for coal methane emissions. Colorado is a leader in managing oil and gas industry emissions. We must also lead for coal.
Luke Danielson is president of Sustainable Development Strategies Group, a nonprofit institution dedicated to improving management of mineral resources, headquartered in Gunnison.
The country needs to get this done. It is a great infrastructure project that needs funding. No more subsidies, fund the projects that end pollution!
By Guest Columnist
Western Colorado (click here) would not be what we know today without a century and a half of mining. Mining made us a state....
...We went from pristine Alpine landscapes to maybe 25,000 abandoned mines, many of them sources of pollutant laden water. We have seen the good and the bad in technicolor.
We have learned. Colorado was a leader in enacting modern mine reclamation legislation. The old practice of dumping mine waste in the nearest creek, or letting the smelter smoke darken the sky is long gone....
...When these permits were issued, there was no thought of today’s issue, the considerable methane emissions these mines produce. To the extent methane was discussed, it was an occupational safety issue: methane needed to be vented from the mines to prevent explosions and protect worker safety. Now it is seems that the North Fork mines may be the West Slope’s leading methane emitter.
We now understand that this methane is a potent greenhouse gas. We need badly to control these emissions, and do so now.
But we cannot forget our Western values of working together in times of trouble. The North Fork miners deserve our support. Their jobs are technically challenging. They are widely admired for efficiency, worker safety, and technical competence....
...But the truth is that coal mining has been built on public subsidies. A 2015 International Monetary Fund study concluded that energy subsidies worldwide were enormous – 6.5 percent of the entire world economic output, some $5 trillion per year. That subsidy overwhelmingly goes to fossil fuels.
STOP PETROLEUM INDUSTRY SUBSIDIES! Is any US elected official serious about reducing the national debt? Here is a good place to star.
Coal is the most highly subsidized of all. Worldwide, coal subsidies are about 4 percent of the entire economic output of the human race.
The one remaining North Fork coal operation is requesting three things from government: First, a reduced royalty on the federal coal they are mining. Second, to build roads into a lovely roadless area, to drill methane vents to permit mining more coal. Finally, a revised permit that, like past permits, will not require control of the mine’s methane emissions.
Federal coal royalties are already below market rates. The last thing we should approve is more subsidies....
...Before roading more roadless areas, there needs to be impartial evaluation of whether we can avoid road building in these beautiful areas....
In the spirit of our region, we should come together to solve the methane problem. The blame game will get nothing done. County commissioners, coal companies, local electric utilities, public interest organizations, state agencies and others all must do their share to find a way to capture and make use of the West Elk methane.
There are multiple options for methane control and use. One small existing project captures North Fork methane, generates electricity, and sells it to Aspen. Methane can become vehicle fuel or industrial feedstock.
As to the future, this state must develop regulations for coal methane emissions. Colorado is a leader in managing oil and gas industry emissions. We must also lead for coal.
Luke Danielson is president of Sustainable Development Strategies Group, a nonprofit institution dedicated to improving management of mineral resources, headquartered in Gunnison.
The country needs to get this done. It is a great infrastructure project that needs funding. No more subsidies, fund the projects that end pollution!
Prescribed burns principles. Oh, yes. There are many principles and morality involved in all these decisions.
They gotta know their stuff. It is about water temperature of the oceans. Unless the corals are coming out of the laboratory more hearty then their predecessors, I remain concerned for the outcomes.
...Weather conditions needed for the burn (click here)
Relative humidity and dew point are the most important factors, since they will have a controlling influence on fuel moisture. Even if the fuel was dry yesterday, a strong dewfall on the morning of the burn may delay things.
Weather conditions that are best for savanna burns are often different than for prairie burns. Whereas a wind speed of 5 mph and a relative humidity of 50% may be fine for a prairie burn, the conditions for a savanna burn should include a stronger wind speed and a lower relative humidity (for instance; 10-15 mph wind and 25-30% relative humidity). Oak leaves take longer to dry out than vertically standing grass, and flame heights are much lower, so the fire does not carry as well with lower wind speeds.
Wind direction is another important factor and the required direction will depend upon the location of the burn unit in relation to surrounding areas. Certain types of burn units can only be burned when the wind is from particular directions. Also, wind direction must be considered with different slopes and aspects of the site. A wind shift during a burn can have major effects, making it perhaps necessary to put out a burn that is already in progress (often difficult to accomplish). A north wind is generally associated with a cold front and a south wind with a warm front.
The ideal wind is one that is steady from the same direction throughout the duration of the burn. A very light wind, or none at all, may make the burn more difficult to accomplish. A steady 5 mph wind is preferable to no wind at all. For savanna burns, with their low flame heights and thin fuels, the wind should be at least 5 mph, preferably 8-10 mph, or on flat topography up to 15 mph. A steady wind of 10mph is better than a gusty wind of 5 mph.
Another consideration for wind direction is smoke management. If the burn is in an urban or suburban area, a wind direction must be selected that will blow the smoke away from the built-up area. Also, the wind cannot be allowed to blow smoke across a major highway.
Temperature is another important factor, because hot fuels ignite better than cold ones. Also, temperature affects relative humidity. A temperature of 75 degrees F may be too hot for a prairie burn but could be just right for a savanna burn. An ideal temperature for a spring savanna burn is 70 F, but successful burns can be accomplished at temperatures as low as 50 F when the R.H. is low and there is a good strong wind from the right direction....
...Weather conditions needed for the burn (click here)
Relative humidity and dew point are the most important factors, since they will have a controlling influence on fuel moisture. Even if the fuel was dry yesterday, a strong dewfall on the morning of the burn may delay things.
Weather conditions that are best for savanna burns are often different than for prairie burns. Whereas a wind speed of 5 mph and a relative humidity of 50% may be fine for a prairie burn, the conditions for a savanna burn should include a stronger wind speed and a lower relative humidity (for instance; 10-15 mph wind and 25-30% relative humidity). Oak leaves take longer to dry out than vertically standing grass, and flame heights are much lower, so the fire does not carry as well with lower wind speeds.
Wind direction is another important factor and the required direction will depend upon the location of the burn unit in relation to surrounding areas. Certain types of burn units can only be burned when the wind is from particular directions. Also, wind direction must be considered with different slopes and aspects of the site. A wind shift during a burn can have major effects, making it perhaps necessary to put out a burn that is already in progress (often difficult to accomplish). A north wind is generally associated with a cold front and a south wind with a warm front.
The ideal wind is one that is steady from the same direction throughout the duration of the burn. A very light wind, or none at all, may make the burn more difficult to accomplish. A steady 5 mph wind is preferable to no wind at all. For savanna burns, with their low flame heights and thin fuels, the wind should be at least 5 mph, preferably 8-10 mph, or on flat topography up to 15 mph. A steady wind of 10mph is better than a gusty wind of 5 mph.
Another consideration for wind direction is smoke management. If the burn is in an urban or suburban area, a wind direction must be selected that will blow the smoke away from the built-up area. Also, the wind cannot be allowed to blow smoke across a major highway.
Temperature is another important factor, because hot fuels ignite better than cold ones. Also, temperature affects relative humidity. A temperature of 75 degrees F may be too hot for a prairie burn but could be just right for a savanna burn. An ideal temperature for a spring savanna burn is 70 F, but successful burns can be accomplished at temperatures as low as 50 F when the R.H. is low and there is a good strong wind from the right direction....
Oxygen can't hit any closer to home to realize that a carbon sink, such as corals, are real, needed and vital to life on Earth.
By Elizabeth Djinis
Key West — A strange scene (click here) plays out in the depths below the clear azure water of Key West’s Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park on a recent morning, one that doesn’t quite fit with the serene ambiance of the area.
About a quarter-mile offshore, two Mote Marine Laboratory scientists dive into the water, holding trays with tiny pieces of coral mounted on a ceramic base. They delicately grasp each circular piece, resembling something one might see at a dinner party — a mini-quiche or canape — and place them gingerly into the rock, nearly 15 feet below the surface.
Soon, scientists expect the 320 pieces of coral planted in late July will grow and fuse into full-size mountain star coral, which will spawn and produce coral of its own. The nearly 6,000 coral fragments planted last year in an underwater landscape mere meters from this one have already begun what David Vaughan, executive director of Mote’s newly completed Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration, calls “re-skinning.” It will take them two to three years to fully come together, but Vaughan said their progress is a positive indicator for the 7,000 corals they planted in another section this year.
“This is the good news — that’s what’s different,” Vaughan said. “This is now a turnaround that we can make a difference growing corals. But it’s not over.”
Corals have been under attack in the world’s oceans for some time. In the 1970s, Vaughan said, the Florida Keys lost 20 percent of their corals through bleaching, a process in which changes in conditions such as temperature can stress and kill them, turning them white and causing the algae inside them to leave. The Florida Keys have experienced bleaching in 12 of the last 14 years, he adds, and in 2005, half of the coral reefs in the Caribbean were lost to a bleaching event.
Vaughan grows frustrated when he hears from climate-change deniers who contest the destruction of coral and its importance....
It is time to love Earth again. Scientists can make that love interesting, wholesome and easy.
It is time to love Earth again. Scientists can make that love interesting, wholesome and easy.
This is how intense foresters are when realizing the consequences of a controlled burn.
Cox C.A. (1987) Nesting bluebirds tolerate prescribed burn (Minnesota). Restoration and Management Notes, 5, 48-48
Flame lengths were 1 m or less (click here) (thus did not reach the nest boxes). Adult bluebirds left the boxes as the fire approached. One pair hovered over their box as the fire passed underneath. Both pairs of adults returned to the boxes when the fire had passed. No eggs were harmed by this fire and there was 100% nest success (all eggs produced fledglings) for both boxes. In the area, the success rate for 23 nests was 93%.
When entering into the idea of "controlled burn" vs "prescribed burn" is to understand the intense assessment and evaluation that exists before these burns are set. The study above is from 1987 which is before scientists of the IPCC carried concern for the climate in relation to the burning of savannas. It is testament to the perfection of the science and the intense focus of protecting life in forests.
"We stand on the shoulders of our forefathers of science."
Kindly realize the intricate methodology passed down from scientist to scientist. It is a heritage to be proud of. The article below is from 2008.
Fire ecology in Laikipia, Kenya (click here)
...The S.A.F.E. (Scale and Fire Ecology) research project set out to understand how the use of prescribed burns in Laikipia, Kenya affects the foraging ecology of wildlife. We were keen to understand whether burning is useful for maintaining wild herbivore populations. In this study we make the assumption that an animal’s preference for a burned area would be a good indicator of long-term population responses: if an animal prefers burned areas, through time this will likely translate to an increase in numbers of that species. While there have been numerous studies generally examining how wildlife respond to burning, there has been very little consensus on which species prefer burned areas. Therefore, we were particularly interested in testing the ecological theories predicting that grazers of smaller body size would make use of burns more than larger species.
While this report does not seek to be an exhaustive review of the relevant studies and literature regarding fire ecology and grazing, we provide some of the background information, which may be of interest to some land managers. The primary goal of this report is to discuss how the use of fire may be a useful tool for land managers and conservationists in Laikipia, Kenya....
Flame lengths were 1 m or less (click here) (thus did not reach the nest boxes). Adult bluebirds left the boxes as the fire approached. One pair hovered over their box as the fire passed underneath. Both pairs of adults returned to the boxes when the fire had passed. No eggs were harmed by this fire and there was 100% nest success (all eggs produced fledglings) for both boxes. In the area, the success rate for 23 nests was 93%.
When entering into the idea of "controlled burn" vs "prescribed burn" is to understand the intense assessment and evaluation that exists before these burns are set. The study above is from 1987 which is before scientists of the IPCC carried concern for the climate in relation to the burning of savannas. It is testament to the perfection of the science and the intense focus of protecting life in forests.
"We stand on the shoulders of our forefathers of science."
Kindly realize the intricate methodology passed down from scientist to scientist. It is a heritage to be proud of. The article below is from 2008.
Fire ecology in Laikipia, Kenya (click here)
...The S.A.F.E. (Scale and Fire Ecology) research project set out to understand how the use of prescribed burns in Laikipia, Kenya affects the foraging ecology of wildlife. We were keen to understand whether burning is useful for maintaining wild herbivore populations. In this study we make the assumption that an animal’s preference for a burned area would be a good indicator of long-term population responses: if an animal prefers burned areas, through time this will likely translate to an increase in numbers of that species. While there have been numerous studies generally examining how wildlife respond to burning, there has been very little consensus on which species prefer burned areas. Therefore, we were particularly interested in testing the ecological theories predicting that grazers of smaller body size would make use of burns more than larger species.
While this report does not seek to be an exhaustive review of the relevant studies and literature regarding fire ecology and grazing, we provide some of the background information, which may be of interest to some land managers. The primary goal of this report is to discuss how the use of fire may be a useful tool for land managers and conservationists in Laikipia, Kenya....
I just wanted to give a "high five" to US Senator John McCain.
He looks a little tired, but, still very vital. I have a sister that has experienced multiple craniotomies, shunt revisions, radiation and five gamma knife surgeries and Senator McCain is amazing.
She does well, by the way. She has a high level of quality of life for all she has been through. The science and medicine have advanced so much that quality of life is very possible for those that recover from their tumors.
And Cindy is by his side. Nice. Really nice.
Senator McCain provided an interesting dialogue during this interview.
August 1, 2017
During his visit to The Arizona Republic (click here) editorial board Thursday, McCain offered an analysis of the situation that reflects the dangers of the modern world.
Terrorist groups, like ISIS, pose an ongoing threat, and they will continue to launch attacks, he said. But they do not have the military capability, technology and ambition to back up their intent to rule the world.
Russia does. And Russia is not a friend to the free world.
In addition to attempting to influence the 2016 presidential campaign in this country, evidence suggests Russia also sought to influence the recent presidential election in France. Germany expects Putin’s hackers to try to influence its Sept. 24 general elections.
Russia has established a presence in the Middle East and continues to exert pressure on eastern European countries, McCain says....
She does well, by the way. She has a high level of quality of life for all she has been through. The science and medicine have advanced so much that quality of life is very possible for those that recover from their tumors.
And Cindy is by his side. Nice. Really nice.
Senator McCain provided an interesting dialogue during this interview.
August 1, 2017
During his visit to The Arizona Republic (click here) editorial board Thursday, McCain offered an analysis of the situation that reflects the dangers of the modern world.
Terrorist groups, like ISIS, pose an ongoing threat, and they will continue to launch attacks, he said. But they do not have the military capability, technology and ambition to back up their intent to rule the world.
Russia does. And Russia is not a friend to the free world.
In addition to attempting to influence the 2016 presidential campaign in this country, evidence suggests Russia also sought to influence the recent presidential election in France. Germany expects Putin’s hackers to try to influence its Sept. 24 general elections.
Russia has established a presence in the Middle East and continues to exert pressure on eastern European countries, McCain says....
Dr. Ernest Moritz worked on the methane hydrates with Japan. Methane MUST BE CONTAINED. No exceptions.
Vast amounts of methane hydrate (click here) are buried in sediment deposits on the continental slopes. The total global amount of methane carbon bound up in these hydrate deposits is in the order of 1000 to 5000 gigatonnes – i.e. about 100 to 500 times more carbon than is released annually into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas).
Methane is far more dangerous than carbon dioxide and there is little focus on controlling it. Methane hydrates should be a focus of evaluation now. The oceans are warming as evidence by the mass extinction event of the corals globally. The methane hydrates can serve to be a burgeoning climate danger. Depending on the latitude, I am sure some have already released, however, deep ocean is a fairly SAFE place for methane hydrates to exist. The surface oceans are where most climate crisis events are happening. I simply don't see ocean methane hydrates as a reasonable source of energy. They need to remain frozen without exception. Japan has other options.
August 1, 2017
By Zack Colman
While hydrate resources (click here) look like an enormous boon to energy-starved nations like Japan, all that carbon and methane has climate scientists and advocates concerned.
This issue has quickly risen because Japan conducted its second production test of these deposits, known as methane hydrates, in May. China soon followed with its first attempt to do the same. The news caught natural resource experts off guard because most of them thought it would still be years before nations tried to turn these icy gases into commercial products.
Production might still be a decade or more away in the U.S., which has been a quiet partner with Japan and China, although the Department of Energy has begun discussions with Alaska and Japanese interests about performing an extended production test in Alaska’s North Slope. The negotiations are considered “delicate,” says Tim Collett, a U.S. Geological Survey research geologist. Hydrates exist in the already commercialized Gulf of Mexico, too. If fully developed, hydrates around the globe could provide as much energy worldwide as natural gas does today....
August 1, 2017
By Mark Hand
A federal appeals court (click here) ruled late Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency must enforce Obama-era restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas industry.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down the EPA’s attempt to suspend methane restrictions for the sector, formally vacating the agency’s 90-day stay of key provisions of New Source Performance Standards. The rule is now in effect....
August 1, 2017
By Mark Hand
A federal appeals court (click here) ruled late Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency must enforce Obama-era restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas industry.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down the EPA’s attempt to suspend methane restrictions for the sector, formally vacating the agency’s 90-day stay of key provisions of New Source Performance Standards. The rule is now in effect....
It is called "Fire ecology." There is an aspect of nature that requires fire to reclaim itself.
In an environment of heat where more heat spells hideous danger, it is important to understand the impacts BEYOND the primary definition of the benevolent effects of fire. It is important to understand why and how these fires can cause dangerous effects to the climate.
Fire ecology is not permission to add heat to Earth's troposphere, but, to understand it and control it.
Rupert Seidl, Dominik Thom, Markus Kautz, Dario Martin-Benito, Mikko Peltoniemi, Giorgio Vacchiano, Jan Wild, Davide Ascoli, Michal Petr, Juha Honkaniemi, Manfred J. Lexer, Volodymyr Trotsiuk, Paola Mairota, Miroslav Svoboda, Marek Fabrika, Thomas A. Nagel & Christopher P. O. Reyer
"Forest
Distrubances Under Climate Change." (Click Here)
Received 22 August 2016
Accepted 24 April 2017
Published online 31 May 2017
Forest disturbances are sensitive to climate. However, our understanding of disturbance dynamics in response to climatic changes remains incomplete, particularly regarding large-scale patterns, interaction effects and dampening feedbacks. Here we provide a global synthesis of climate change effects on important abiotic (fire, drought, wind, snow and ice) and biotic (insects and pathogens) disturbance agents. Warmer and drier conditions particularly facilitate fire, drought and insect disturbances, while warmer and wetter conditions increase disturbances from wind and pathogens. Widespread interactions between agents are likely to amplify disturbances, while indirect climate effects such as vegetation changes can dampen long-term disturbance sensitivities to climate. Future changes in disturbance are likely to be most pronounced in coniferous forests and the boreal biome. We conclude that both ecosystems and society should be prepared for an increasingly disturbed future of forests.
Received 22 August 2016
Accepted 24 April 2017
Published online 31 May 2017
Forest disturbances are sensitive to climate. However, our understanding of disturbance dynamics in response to climatic changes remains incomplete, particularly regarding large-scale patterns, interaction effects and dampening feedbacks. Here we provide a global synthesis of climate change effects on important abiotic (fire, drought, wind, snow and ice) and biotic (insects and pathogens) disturbance agents. Warmer and drier conditions particularly facilitate fire, drought and insect disturbances, while warmer and wetter conditions increase disturbances from wind and pathogens. Widespread interactions between agents are likely to amplify disturbances, while indirect climate effects such as vegetation changes can dampen long-term disturbance sensitivities to climate. Future changes in disturbance are likely to be most pronounced in coniferous forests and the boreal biome. We conclude that both ecosystems and society should be prepared for an increasingly disturbed future of forests.
I think this a bit naive, but, if the Nature Conservancy is invested in the outcome, then I wish them success.
By Fiona Harvey
...Under the Cancún insurance policy, (click here) pioneered by the insurance company Swiss Re and the Nature Conservancy, a US environmental charity, local organisations dependent on tourism will pay in to a collective pot likely to amount to between $1m (£770,000) and $7.5m for the insurance premiums on the policy, and a 40 mile (60km) stretch of reef and connected beach will be monitored. If any destructive storms damage the reef system, the insurer will pay out sums likely to be $25m to $70m in any given year.
Any payouts will be used for restoration of the reef, for instance by building artificial structures that can increase the height of the reef in case of storm damage.
Corals from the reef can be removed and rested for a period of weeks or months, to help them regrow, at which point they can be safely reattached to their native habitat to regenerate the growth of the reef system.
The advantages of such restoration go far beyond the hotels that border the seafront. As well as providing a natural brake against destructive storms, coral reefs provide nurseries for fish when they are growing, and form a vital part of the marine ecosystem. Their health or decline is seen as one of the key indicators of the state of the natural environment globally....
The next on the list of "Kyoto Protocol" is "Prescribed burning of savannas."
The Forest Service (click here) manages prescribed fires and even some wildfires to benefit natural resources and reduce the risk of unwanted wildfires in the future. The agency also uses hand tools and machines to thin overgrown sites in preparation for the eventual return of fire.
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