tagged w/ rainfall
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Thailand’s Great Flood Likely to Peak this Weekend and Damage One Quarter of Rice Crop of World’s Top Exporter
No, the main headline wasn’t about Thailand — it was about El Salvador (as is the picture). We’ve been seeing twin uber-deluges this month on opposite sides of the Earth, both spurred by warming waters, as meteorologist and former hurricane hunter Dr. Jeff Masters explains on his blog.
The Thai floods have gotten more attention, because of their epic nature — and global economic impact on rice prices (see below). So let’s start with El Salvador and Central America:
“I want to tell the world that El Salvador is going through one of the most dramatic disasters in its history,” President Mauricio Funes said on national radio and television Wednesday night, as he appealed for international aid. A week of torrential rains across Central America have triggered extreme floods and landslides that have killed 105 people, according to media reports. El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua have declared states of emergency due to the disaster. El Salvador and Guatemala have seen the worst flooding, with 34 and 38 people killed, respectively. Another 18 have died in Honduras, 13 in Nicaragua, and 5 in Costa Rica. The rains were due to a large area of low pressure that was moistened by the landfall of Tropical Depression 12-E near the Mexico/Guatemala border last week.
Contributing to the record-intensity rains were ocean temperatures off the coast of El Salvador that were 0.5 – 1°C above average during the first half of October, allowing more water vapor than usual to evaporate into the air. Over the past ten days, rainfall amounts of over a meter (39.4″) have fallen over a large area of southwest El Salvador (Figure 2.) At Huizucar, an astonishing 1.513 meters (4.96 feet) of rain fell in the past ten days.
Climatologist Kevin Trenberth explained the deluge-warming connection in an interview with Climate Progress last year:
I find it systematically tends to get underplayed and it often gets underplayed by my fellow scientists. Because one of the opening statements, which I’m sure you’ve probably heard is “Well you can’t attribute a single event to climate change.” But there is a systematic influence on all of these weather events now-a-days because of the fact that there is this extra water vapor lurking around in the atmosphere than there used to be say 30 years ago. It’s about a 4% extra amount, it invigorates the storms, it provides plenty of moisture for these storms and it’s unfortunate that the public is not associating these with the fact that this is one manifestation of climate change. And the prospects are that these kinds of things will only get bigger and worse in the future.
The AFP reports that many in Central America do understand the connection between warming and deluging:
Officials have blamed the effects of global warming for the spate of deadly rains and flooding.
“Climate change is not something that is coming in the future, we are already suffering its effects,” said Raul Artiga with the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD).
Here’s a graphic of the “astonishing” amount of rain El Salvador has been hit by:
More at the linkThailand’s Great Flood Likely to Peak this Weekend and Damage One Quarter of... more
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Toxic algae is sucking the oxygen out of Lake Erie.
The lake is currently undergoing one of the worst algae blooms in decades, turning the water a scummy bright green. According to NASA, blooms like this did occur in the 1950's and 60's, but now phosphorus from farms, sewage, and industry have fertilized the waters.
After the 60's, increased regulations and improvements in agriculture and sewage treatment limited the phosphorus and helped to control the blooms. However, the shallower Western basin near Detroit has been more susceptible to the algae than other deeper areas.
The exact reason behind the bloom is a bit unclear, but scientists believe it could be linked to increased rainfall and, believe it or not, mussels. It seems the types of mussel, zebra and quagga that have invaded the lake feed on phytoplankton instead of algae, making it even easier for the blooms to occur, according to NASA.
While the algae doesn't directly kill fish, it's still not good. As the algae dies, it's broken down by bacteria which uses oxygen from the water. This oxygen removal creates areas where fish can't survive. In addition, if consumed, it can also create flu-like symptoms in people or even kill pets.
Former Vice President Al Gore spoke Thursday in Detroit on the matter, associating climate change with the algae problem. "We're still acting as if it's perfectly OK to use this thin-shelled atmosphere as an open sewer. It's not OK," he said. "We need to listen to the scientists. We need to use the tried and true method of using the best evidence, debating and discussing it, but not pretending that facts are not facts."
While in the past, some have criticized Gore, claiming that he's made exaggerated statements about the environment, yesterday's speech drew upon some pretty hard scientific evidence, leading many leaders at the International Joint Commission to listen a bit more intently.
More at the linkToxic algae is sucking the oxygen out of Lake Erie.
The lake is currently... more
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Dr. Jeff Masters: An extreme rainfall event unprecedented in recorded history has hit the Binghamton, New York area, where 7.49″ fell yesterday. This is the second year in a row Binghamton has recorded a 1-in-100 year rain event; their previous all-time record was set last September, when 4.68″ fell on Sep 30 – Oct. 1, 2010. Records go back to 1890 in the city….
You don’t often see a major city break its all-time 24-hour precipitation record by a 60% margin, according to wunderground’s weather historian, Christopher C. Burt, and he can’t recall ever seeing it happen before.
Before seeing that amazing story, I was all set to lead with the “unprecedented” rains soaking the Washington, DC area:
“I can’t recall flooding like this. This is unprecedented,” [Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman] Morris said.
The unrelenting rains, sometimes falling at four inches an hour….
Capital Weather Gang’s Jason Samenow points me to this post, which has more details on our deluge:
Fort Belvoir, Va., recorded at least (last ob with rain total was 7:55 p.m.) an incredible 8.82” with as much as 7.03” coming during a three-hour stretch during the evening. It has received a stunning 13.52” since Monday.
And let’s not forget Irene’s recent devastating 1-in-100 year deluge, which was “the most devastating weather event ever to hit the region” where I grew up near the Catskill Mountains of New York state. It also set “the greatest single-day rainfall in Vermont’s history” by over an inch.
What’s going on?
Well, a very basic prediction of climate science is that as you warm the planet you get more water vapor in the atmosphere and more rain comes down in extreme deluges. Observations reveal that is already happening, and the recent scientific literature has said that is extremely likely that human emissions are the cause of this increase in precipitation intensity. Climate Progress ran through the recent literature in this February post, “Two seminal Nature papers join growing body of evidence that human emissions fuel extreme weather, flooding that harm humans and the environment.”
In a new report by by the scientific group Climate Communication, “Current Extreme Weather and Climate Change” report, top climatologists scientists spell out how human-caused global warming is loading the dice for the extreme weather seen in the past year. You can listen to a press conference held Wednesday by Jeff Masters and Jerry Meehl and Kevin Trenberth and Richard Somerville here.
Trenberth, of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, explained the deluge-warming connection in an interview with Climate Progress last year:
I find it systematically tends to get underplayed and it often gets underplayed by my fellow scientists. Because one of the opening statements, which I’m sure you’ve probably heard is “Well you can’t attribute a single event to climate change.” But there is a systematic influence on all of these weather events now-a-days because of the fact that there is this extra water vapor lurking around in the atmosphere than there used to be say 30 years ago. It’s about a 4% extra amount, it invigorates the storms, it provides plenty of moisture for these storms and it’s unfortunate that the public is not associating these with the fact that this is one manifestation of climate change. And the prospects are that these kinds of things will only get bigger and worse in the future.
More at the linkDr. Jeff Masters: An extreme rainfall event unprecedented in recorded history has hit... more
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We had a power outage this morning, so I resorted to doing something I rarely do anymore... listening to the radio. I finally settled on WCBM in Baltimore. "Oh, fine," I thought. "This is the Limbaugh station. Whatever happened, I'm sure it will be Obama's fault." But I was pleasantly surprised. Local morning host Tom Marr and his crew were actually INFORMING THEIR AUDIENCE about the local severe weather and traffic problems. Of course, once that settled down, Marr returned to his stock in trade -- scaring the white people.
http://www.billschmalfeldt.com/blog/racist-radio-station-takes-a-brief-break-from-scaring-the-white-people-to-report-news/We had a power outage this morning, so I resorted to doing something I rarely do... more
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It all started with Sting, this fad for owning one's very own patch of tropical rainforest, though it is probably unfair to blame him entirely for creating the boom industry that buying up forests piecemeal has become. It is 20 years since the musician first set foot in Brazil and pledged to fight the cause of the Yanomami Indians, setting up the Rainforest Foundation to protect forests and their indigenous inhabitants. Today, protecting forests has acquired a more international purpose.
Climate change, rather than assuring the livelihoods of local people, has become the issue. Celebrities and politicians, and many others just in search of a quick buck, are falling over each other to advocate plant-a-tree conservationism as a salve to global warming. http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&Itemid=27&id=27%3Athe-joomla-communityIt all started with Sting, this fad for owning one's very own patch of tropical... more
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2 years ago
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Hydro Seeding works great for lawns, roadsides, erosion control projects and more. It offers faster germination, eliminates the use of messy straw and has a nice green appearance.
There are reasons hydro seeding works so well. The seed is suspended in a nutrient rich slurry. The contact of the seed with the water in machine triggers the germination cycle. The mulch layer seals in the moisture, and holds the soil in place. The seed is at an ideal depth for good results. The conditions are right to produce a lush green lawn in very short time.
Hydro seeding is a fast, cost effective way to have a new lawn that will turn your neighbors green with envy.
Hydro seeding costs only a little more than old fashioned methods using dry seeding techniques combined with a messy straw mulch.
The cost to have your new lawn hydro seeded is less than 1/4 the cost of using sod, and in a few weeks you will have a better appearing lawn with no need to worry if the sod will take.
The protective mulch covering has an attractive green appearance. A special blend of seeds will be used that will be chosen for the conditions and requirements you have. The factors that may go into the choice may be the amount of sun, shade, the terrain, the type of soil and if you have children or pets.
Your lawn will be hydro seeded with a tested, high quality, certified turf mix. Germination time will depend on the weather, the time of year, the amount of water, the area you live in and other factors. Usually grass will be visible in 5-7 days, a few days slower in cold weather or the hottest part of summer.
H & K Landscaping
Brett Huizenga
Hydroseeding, Hudsonville
http://hklandscaping.comHydro Seeding works great for lawns, roadsides, erosion control projects and more. It... more
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H & K Landscaping Lawncare Tips
WATERING
Do not water until the hydro-seed application has completely dried. This allows the tack to set which helps hold the mulch, seed and soil together.
For optimum seed germination, the soil surface should be kept moist for a period of 6 to 8 weeks.
To prevent washouts, it is recommended that you avoid watering when heavy rains are predicted.
To prevent fungus, it is recommended that you water thoroughly every other day when temperatures are 85 degrees or higher.
MOWING
The lawn should be mowed after the grass has reached a height of 3 1/2 to 4.
The cutting height of the mower should be set no lower than 3.
No more than 25% of the grass should be cut off in one cutting.
The mower blade should be sharp to prevent tearing.
The clippings should only be picked up to prevent clumping of cut grass.
The lawn should be cut with the lawn mower set on 1/2 throttle to reduce the amount of suction generated by the mower blade.
The above procedures should be followed for the first 3 or 4 cuttings.
There are three very important conditions to obtain optimum seed germination and plant growth.
First you need a good soil. If your seed bed contains too much clay, your ground becomes too dense and hard making it very difficult to establish good root growth. If your seed bed contains too much sand, then it will be extremely hard for your seed bed to retain a sufficient amount of moisture to support plant growth. We suggest that if you have a clay base area to be seeded that you should add a minimum of 2" sandy base topsoil. If you are dealing with a sandy base area to be seeded, such as yellow sand or coarse sand, then we would recommend 3 to 4 inches of a clay based topsoil.
The next important thing is water. Your seeds must be kept moist, but not saturated. Kept moist could mean, not watering at all today because it had rained enough to keep the ground moist all day or it could mean that you need to water as many as 8 times a day because it is a very sunny, warm and breezy day resulting in quicker evaporation, which in turn will dry out the surface of the Hydro Seeding. It is likely that the germination process will be extended if you are watering only one or twice per day during time when there is little or no rainfall. Insufficient watering will more than likely have an effect on the germination and growth rate. It will usually extend the time it takes for the seed to germinate. For example, if your seed blend contains perennial turf type rye, it will take 7 to 10 days to germinate under optimum conditions. If the seed is not watered sufficiently, then it might take 15 to 20 days for the seeds to germinate.
H & K Landscaping
Hudsonville, MI
http://hklandscaping.comH & K Landscaping Lawncare Tips
WATERING
Do not water until the hydro-seed... more
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As the globe continues to warm, the rainiest parts of the world are very likely to get wetter, according to a new study in Science. Desert dwellers, however, are likely to see what little rain they receive dry up, as the rain becomes even more concentrated in high-precipitation areas.
Atmospheric scientists Richard Allan of the University of Reading in England and Brian Soden of the University of Miami looked at satellite records of daily rainfall stretching back to 1987 to see how warmer temperatures had affected precipitation. That's one of the key climate changes expected from rising greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. The researchers specifically focused on El Niño, the warming of the waters of the tropical Pacific that raises air pressure, changes winds, and recurs every few years.
The weather pattern causes floods in some areas and droughts in others while changing climate across the globe over time—and thus is a pretty good stand-in for global warming.
"For the period we examined, 1987 to 2004, there was a clear relationship between warm El Niño events and increased occurrence of heavy precipitation," Soden says. Such "events will certainly become more frequent in a warmer climate."
For example, other research has shown that monsoon storms that dump six inches (150 millimeters) or more of rain on India have become more common since the 1950s.
The satellite observations agree with the predictions of various computer models. The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change expects that such changes will wreak havoc on agriculture, human health and the natural environment.
But the Science study also reveals that the computer projections may be underestimating how severe such downpours may become. Warmer seas resulted in three times as many heavy rainstorms as the models would have predicted—and other studies have shown that such models fail to account for the rapid increase in water vapor in the atmosphere.
"It is very likely that heavy rainfall will become more common and more intense in a warming world," Allan says. "It is too early to say by how much real world changes in rainfall will surpass projections from the climate models."
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The effects of this will have devastating effects on agriculture in areas that need rain but do not receive it, and areas that will receive heavier rains. This will also bring with it health risks such as disease carrying insects and waterborne diseases as well as many more displaced people. It is studies like this that must be taken into account in any new global climate treaty.
As the globe continues to warm, the rainiest parts of the world are very likely to get... more
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