July 30, 2010
Plankton in a Lab
If this doesn’t alarm you, you just can’t be alarmed. Since the 1950′s the amount of plankton in our oceans has dropped by 40%. The decline has been ongoing for at least a century according the Nature Journal.
Just in case you didn’t know, phytoplankton are a microscopic algae that is the bottom tier of the oceans food chain. It also provide half of the earths oxygen.
Let me put it bluntly. If we loose our plankton or planet will surely die. How quickly depends on how quickly the plankton die. If we lost all the plankton today. Animal life on this earth would begin dying in days and most of it would be dead within a week. After all animals can’t go long with out oxygen.
So what’s happening to all the plankton. Well according to the reserch:
In most regions tested, the phytoplankton decline seems to be the result of a 0.5–1.0 °C warming of the upper ocean over the past century. The warming leads to enhanced vertical ‘stratification’ of ocean layers, thus limiting the supply of nutrients from deeper waters to the surface.
Categories: Environmental News.
Tags: phytoplankton, plankton
July 14, 2010
Charlie Crist asked for more money from BP. They said no. And this just might be a good thing. Let me explain.
Governor Crist recently said he asked for $25 million to purchase adverts promoting tourism, in Florida. They said yes and he promptly spent the money on some ineffective advertising. Tourism dropped. New jobs created: 0. Gallons of additional Oil cleaned up or prevented from landing on Fl beaches: 0. Amount of money that went to people that were already wealthy: $25 million.
Two weeks ago, Mr Crist asked for $50 million more for the same thing. This time they said no. And now Charlies acting frankly, a little childish about it. He talking about “calling the lawyers”, remember he’s a lawyer himself so don’t be surprised if this does happen. He’s pointing out that BP is spending tons of money on their own advertising. Sure, Charlie o after them for the money, but use it to do some good.
We need to face the facts, each and every one of us, Charlie included. These facts:
- Nowhere near enough is being done to keep the oil from hitting land in the first place.
- It’s still leaking for God’s sake!
- The oil will hit our beaches. Lots of it on lots of beaches
- The tourists are going to stop coming.
- That oil needs cleaned up.
- If we continue to let it hit the beaches, most of it will have to be cleaned up by hand, by men with shovels.
- When it gets in the mangroves and the sea grass flats, it’s going to be even more labor intensive.
- Bridges, piers, docks, jetties and sea walls will need scrubbed.
- There are going to be lots of animals that need cleaned and released. some of these are going to need extended care.
Why not get money from them to work on that? Think of the tens of thousands of jobs that can and should go to Florida Residents first. Those we can’t fill with residents will be more jobs to give the state the growth that the capitalists (the ones that get politicians elected Charlie), the growth they so desperately need. The jobs are sorely needed. The work is certainly going to be need done. If we start preparing now, we’ll do a better job of it. we’ll also start rebuilding our economy faster.
If by chance Mr. Crist you happen to read this, how respected you’ll be by the voters and the business community if you create all these jobs, revitalize our economy AND save our beaches!
Categories: BP Oil Leak.
Tags: beach cleanup, BP Oil Leak, Gov. Crist
July 11, 2010
A group of scientist did took a flight over the northern portion of The Gulf of Mexico.
The good news is that they are still finding wildlife. The bad news they see huge plumes of oil headed for some very environmentally sensitive areas.
Categories: BP Oil Leak.
Tags: BP Oil Leak, Gulf of Mexico, science
July 4, 2010
The scientists said it would happen. I sure can understand why no one wanted to believe it. It seemed to easy to say predictions of a massive and intense red tide bloom were inaccurate when the season started with only sporadic out breaks of red tide. And then – BAM! Tons of very intense red tide blooms. With shellfish harvest closures from Cutler county to the Canadian Border.
We’re rooting for guys up there in Maine!
Categories: Red Tide Maine.
July 4, 2010
Seems a pilot off jetting around for a fun weekend discovered a big red tide out near Santa Barbra California. He took pictures for all the doubters too. This red tide hasn’t been documented by anyone but him so far. At least not in traditional sources.
I did find lots of mention of last months red tide bloom in San Diego. I also found several mentions of the California blue tide. But nothing on this red tide.
Here’s a map of the area where the red tide was spotted for those interested. It was somewhere near a large state park called Gaviota.
To address the comments saying they can’t see the pictures the pictures are here. They are on someone elses web site, I can’t just take them and put them on our site, that’s stealing. I will contact the photographer and ask him if I can use them though . . stay tuned.
UPDATE:
More Pictures
Categories: Red Tide Information.
Tags: California, red tide report
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