#2016 wildfire season

[reasonsforhope]

"In response to last year’s record-breaking heat due to El Niño and impacts from climate change, Indigenous Zenù farmers in Colombia are trying to revive the cultivation of traditional climate-resilient seeds and agroecology systems.

One traditional farming system combines farming with fishing: locals fish during the rainy season when water levels are high, and farm during the dry season on the fertile soils left by the receding water.

Locals and ecologists say conflicts over land with surrounding plantation owners, cattle ranchers and mines are also worsening the impacts of the climate crisis.

To protect their land, the Zenù reserve, which is today surrounded by monoculture plantations, was in 2005 declared the first Colombian territory free from GMOs.

...

In the Zenù reserve, issues with the weather, climate or soil are spread by word of mouth between farmers, or on La Positiva 103.0, a community agroecology radio station. And what’s been on every farmer’s mind is last year’s record-breaking heat and droughts. Both of these were charged by the twin impacts of climate change and a newly developing El Niño, a naturally occurring warmer period that last occurred here in 2016, say climate scientists.

Experts from Colombia’s Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies say the impacts of El Niño will be felt in Colombia until April 2024, adding to farmers’ concerns. Other scientists forecast June to August may be even hotter than 2023, and the next five years could be the hottest on record. On Jan. 24, President Gustavo Petro said he will declare wildfires a natural disaster, following an increase in forest fires that scientists attribute to the effects of El Niño.

In the face of these changes, Zenù farmers are trying to revive traditional agricultural practices like ancestral seed conservation and a unique agroecology system.

Pictured: Remberto Gil’s house is surrounded by an agroforestry system where turkeys and other animals graze under fruit trees such as maracuyá (Passiflora edulis), papaya (Carica papaya) and banana (Musa acuminata colla). Medicinal herbs like toronjil (Melissa officinalis) and tres bolas (Leonotis nepetifolia), and bushes like ají (Capsicum baccatum), yam and frijol diablito (beans) are part of the undergrowth. Image by Monica Pelliccia for Mongabay.

“Climate change is scary due to the possibility of food scarcity,” says Rodrigo Hernandez, a local authority with the Santa Isabel community. “Our ancestral seeds offer a solution as more resistant to climate change.”

Based on their experience, farmers say their ancestral seed varieties are more resistant to high temperatures compared to the imported varieties and cultivars they currently use. These ancestral varieties have adapted to the region’s ecosystem and require less water, they tell Mongabay. According to a report by local organization Grupo Semillas and development foundation SWISSAID, indigenous corn varieties like blaquito are more resistant to the heat, cariaco tolerates drought easily, and negrito is very resistant to high temperatures.

The Zenù diet still incorporates the traditional diversity of seeds, plant varieties and animals they consume, though they too are threatened by climate change: from fish recipes made from bocachico (Prochilodus magdalenae), and reptiles like the babilla or spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), to different corn varieties to prepare arepas (cornmeal cakes), liquor, cheeses and soups.

“The most important challenge we have now is to save ancient species and involve new generations in ancestral practice,” says Sonia Rocha Marquez, a professor of social sciences at Sinù University in the city of Montería.

...[Despite] land scarcity, Negrete says communities are developing important projects to protect their traditional food systems. Farmers and seed custodians, like Gil, are working with the Association of Organic Agriculture and Livestock Producers (ASPROAL) and their Communitarian Seed House (Casa Comunitaria de Semillas Criollas y Nativas)...

Pictured: Remberto Gil is a seed guardian and farmer who works at the Communitarian Seed House, where the ASPROL association stores 32 seeds of rare or almost extinct species. Image by Monica Pelliccia for Mongabay.

Located near Gil’s house, the seed bank hosts a rainbow of 12 corn varieties, from glistening black to blue to light pink to purple and even white. There are also jars of seeds for local varieties of beans, eggplants, pumpkins and aromatic herbs, some stored in refrigerators. All are ancient varieties shared between local families.

Outside the seed bank is a terrace where chickens and turkeys graze under an agroforestry system for farmers to emulate: local varieties of passion fruit, papaya and banana trees grow above bushes of ají peppers and beans. Traditional medicinal herbs like toronjil or lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) form part of the undergrowth.

Today, 25 families are involved in sharing, storing and commercializing the seeds of 32 rare or almost-extinct varieties.

“When I was a kid, my father brought me to the farm to participate in recovering the land,” says Nilvadys Arrieta, 56, a farmer member of ASPROAL. “Now, I still act with the same collective thinking that moves what we are doing.”

“Working together helps us to save, share more seeds, and sell at fair price [while] avoiding intermediaries and increasing families’ incomes,” Gil says. “Last year, we sold 8 million seeds to organic restaurants in Bogotà and Medellín.”

So far, the 80% of the farmers families living in the Zenù reserve participate in both the agroecology and seed revival projects, he adds."

-via Mongabay, February 6, 2024

[the-raven-lady]

a momentary departure from my normal posting

Raven Lady fun fact: I was a firefighter explorer from 2016 to 2020, in California.

A lot happened in those years, including the deadliest wildfire in California's history, so I've become very passionate about that topic.

I am kindly asking that if you have the ability and means to support your local fire department to please do so. So many of us are volunteers, and even more of us were underpaid (If we were paid at all. I was not). If you can support wildfire victims, that's even more important. I'd seen a lot of homes lost and lives uprooted in a matter of minutes in my time, and the shelters and spaces that support them are in desperate need of supplies and volunteers. This recent heat wave has cause it to be in the 100s (Fahrenheit) where I live for the entire month of July, and this is going to be an awful fire season.

thank you for reading <3

[rockislandadultreads]

Libby Spotlight: Newly-Added Science & Nature eBooks

Fire Weather by John Vaillant

In May 2016, Fort McMurray, the hub of Canada’s oil industry and America’s biggest foreign supplier, was overrun by wildfire. The multi-billion-dollar disaster melted vehicles, turned entire neighborhoods into firebombs, and drove 88,000 people from their homes in a single afternoon. Through the lens of this apocalyptic conflagration—the wildfire equivalent of Hurricane Katrina—John Vaillant warns that this was not a unique event, but a shocking preview of what we must prepare for in a hotter, more flammable world.

Fire has been a partner in our evolution for hundreds of millennia, shaping culture, civilization, and, very likely, our brains. Fire has enabled us to cook our food, defend and heat our homes, and power the machines that drive our titanic economy. Yet this volatile energy source has always threatened to elude our control, and in our new age of intensifying climate change, we are seeing its destructive power unleashed in previously unimaginable ways.

With masterly prose and a cinematic eye, Vaillanttakes us on a riveting journey through the intertwined histories of North America’s oil industry and the birth of climate science, to the unprecedented devastation wrought by modern forest fires, and into lives forever changed by these disasters. John Vaillant’s urgent work is a book for—and from—our new century of fire, which has only just begun.

Slow Birding by Joan E. Strassmann

Many birders travel far and wide to popular birding destinations to catch sight of rare or “exotic” birds. In Slow Birding, evolutionary biologist Joan E. Strassmann introduces readers to the joys of birding right where they are.

In this inspiring guide to the art of slow birding, Strassmann tells colorful stories of the most common birds to be found in the United States—birds we often see but might not have considered deeply before. For example, northern cardinals thrive in the city, where they are free from predators. White brows on a male white-throated sparrow indicate that he is likely to be a philanderer. This essential guide to the fascinating world of common, everyday birds features: detailed portraits of individual bird species and the scientists who have discovered and observed them; advice and guidance on what to look for when slow birding, so that you can uncover clues to the reasons behind specific bird behaviors; and bird-focused activities that will open your eyes more to the fascinating world of birds.

Slow Birding is the perfect guide for the birder looking to appreciate the beauty of the birds right in their own backyard, observing keenly how their behaviors change from day to day and season to season.

Universe: 50 Ideas You Really Need to Know by Joanne Baker

From dwarf planets to dark energy; and from the Big Bang to the death of stars, this book is the perfect introduction to the cutting-edge science that is shaping our understanding of our place in the Universe and that could lead to the next great discovery -- the detection of life beyond Earth.

The Devil's Element by Dan Egan

Phosphorus has played a critical role in some of the most lethal substances on earth: firebombs, rat poison, nerve gas. But it's also the key component of one of the most vital: fertilizer, which has sustained life for billions of people. In this major work of explanatory science and environmental journalism, Pulitzer Prize finalist Dan Egan investigates the past, present, and future of what has been called "the oil of our time."

The story of phosphorus spans the globe and vast tracts of human history. First discovered in a seventeenth-century alchemy lab in Hamburg, it soon became a highly sought-after resource. The race to mine phosphorus took people from the battlefields of Waterloo, which were looted for the bones of fallen soldiers, to the fabled guano islands off Peru, the Bone Valley of Florida, and the sand dunes of the Western Sahara. Over the past century, phosphorus has made farming vastly more productive, feeding the enormous increase in the human population. Yet, as Egan harrowingly reports, our overreliance on this vital crop nutrient is today causing toxic algae blooms and "dead zones" in waterways from the coasts of Florida to the Mississippi River basin to the Great Lakes and beyond. Egan also explores the alarming reality that diminishing access to phosphorus poses a threat to the food system worldwide—which risks rising conflict and even war.

[littlemonstert-blog]

Starfire

My favorite girl from space Kori started to know her real name years later after Teen Titans.

Starfire from the planet Tamaran and is also one of the princesses. Was once a slave then escaped, has a sister and suprisingly a mysterious brother we don't even see in the tv show

but the comics wildfire (intresting name)

Teen Titans I feel is still one of her best iterations to date. Heck, also made me like Dick & Starfire ship so much.

Now, wasn't into the comics like back in the day. But I remember the series had a comic run.

The movies were okay had some development but, felt like she was nerfed and a bit more fanservice.

Titans -the show, never cared all that much they should have had a bigger budget when you have other charcters like Raven, Beast Boy and Superboy. They lost me after season 2 or 3

Felt as if over time they don't know what to do with her over time. 80's- 2009 runs seem pretty good for Starfire.

But her own somwhat(New52) recent comic that was not really all that great. Then outlaws they had a some great things but over did alot, so its a flip flop. Do love that the outlaws gave us more a recent space adventure with her.

I will say around 2016-now they seem to at least know what to do more better. Teen titans academy and Future state. After a soft reboot(prime earth/frontier). Seeing her more as a teacher and leading is intresting.

I'm happy that Star's gotten a bit more since because of the show. I wish when they do recent solo issues they don't make her so ditzy or so naive. Let's not make starfire like her 2015 run. With her romance I will always love her with Dick but, would love to see her with others characters. Explore her culture and planet, travel the galxay more and maybe tagged along with the green lanters or other space travelers well known in DC. See Starfire and her brother bond more if he ever appears in the contnuity.

There so much you can do with her if they just take the time.

[weather-usa]

Heat Wave Shifts to New York and the I-95 Corridor as Search for More Victims in Deadly New Mexico Wildfires Continues

Extreme Summer Weather Impacts Much of the US: Heat Wave in New York and I-95 Corridor, Deadly New Mexico Wildfires, and Potential Tropical Threats

Extreme summer weather continues to affect much of the US, with a dangerous heat wave intensifying in New York and the I-95 corridor, ongoing deadly and destructive wildfires in New Mexico, and potential tropical threats. Here’s the latest:

Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Wisconsin:

Heat Escalates This Weekend:

Over 100 million Americans, including those in the densely populated I-95 corridor, are under heat alerts through the weekend.

A heat emergency is in effect for Washington, DC, where temperatures could reach the upper 90s and even triple digits for the first time since 2016.

Search for More Victims in New Mexico Fires:

In New Mexico, authorities reported at least two fatalities, the destruction of 1,400 structures, and the evacuation of more than 8,000 residents due to wildfires.

The mayor of Ruidoso, New Mexico, indicated they are preparing for more fatalities and bringing in dogs to assist in the search for additional victims.

The South Fork and Salt fires have together burned an estimated 24,000 acres and remain 0% contained as of Friday.

Evacuations are still in effect for residents of the Village of Ruidoso and the City of Ruidoso Downs, with additional evacuation orders issued for at least seven more areas.

Flood Threat in Fire Zone

A flash flood warning was issued for Ruidoso and other New Mexico areas affected by the South Fork Fire after 0.5 inches of rain fell in the morning, with more rain expected into the late afternoon. Earlier in the week, rain created a flash flood emergency, necessitating water rescues as torrents of mud and water rushed from burned areas. Ground charred by fire, known as a burn scar, loses its ability to absorb water effectively, making it more prone to flooding.

Current Developments Across the US

Americans across the country are experiencing significant heat, with a daily count of people under active National Weather Service extreme heat advisories, watches, and warnings.

Tropical Threats Brewing:

The National Hurricane Center is closely monitoring two areas with a medium chance of tropical development over the next 48 hours.

One system could potentially develop into a tropical depression off the North Florida and Georgia coasts by Friday, while the other may track similarly to Tropical Storm Alberto.

See more:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/196960275/Weather-Forecast-for-Virginia

FBI Investigating New Mexico Fires:

FBI special agents have joined the investigation into the origins of wildfires in New Mexico, announced on Thursday.

A spokesperson from the bureau’s Albuquerque field office confirmed their assistance to local, state, federal, and tribal partners in investigating the fires in Ruidoso, NM.

President Joe Biden is closely following the wildfires in New Mexico, with the White House confirming on Thursday that an expedited major disaster declaration from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has been approved, unlocking additional federal support and FEMA assistance for affected communities.

US Heat Risk Forecast

This map depicts the forecasted risk for heat-related health effects within a 24-hour period across the contiguous United States. Darker shades indicate higher risk levels.

California Firefighters Prepare for 100-Degree Heat:

California is bracing for hot conditions on Friday, with temperatures expected to reach triple digits in certain areas.

Heat advisories cover parts of southern and central California, including Colusa County, where firefighters are battling the Sites Fire, which has spread across more than 19,100 acres.

High temperatures ranging from 100 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit are anticipated and could impede firefighting efforts.

The state is experiencing an active early fire season, as reported by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, with 89,784 acres burned since the beginning of the year compared to 5,747 acres during the same period last year.

Early-Season Heat Wave Intensifies This Weekend:

More record daily high temperatures are likely through the weekend as heat expands into new areas and intensifies in others.

A persistent heat dome over the eastern US is contributing to unusually intense heat across portions of the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic.

Washington, DC, is expected to experience increasing heat on Friday, with potential triple-digit temperatures threatening Saturday and Sunday.

Impact of Extreme Heat and Humidity

The combination of extreme heat and humidity is expected to elevate the heat index – how hot it feels – to between 100 and 105 degrees across a wide area, reaching up to 110 degrees in the southern mid-Atlantic. Record overnight low temperatures will further increase health risks by limiting opportunities for cooling down during the night.

The prolonged duration of this heat wave is of particular concern. New York City may endure temperatures of 90 degrees or higher for seven consecutive days, marking the longest stretch ever recorded in June for the city.

Weather Forecast For Colorado:

In the West, after a brief respite, intense heat is returning in full force. Heat alerts have been issued for parts of California, Arizona, and Utah. Temperatures are expected to surge 10 to 15 degrees above normal in cities like Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Bakersfield, California, throughout the weekend.

Heating Up Hurricane Season

The Atlantic hurricane season is also becoming more active. Following Tropical Storm Alberto's landfall as a sprawling tropical storm in Mexico, heavy rain and storm surge affected much of the western Gulf of Mexico.

Another system, with a moderate chance of tropical development, could follow a path similar to Alberto's through the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and into northeastern Mexico over the upcoming weekend.

Tropical System Potential in the Gulf of Mexico

A broad area of low pressure near the Yucatan Peninsula is expected to intensify as it moves into the southwest Gulf of Mexico this weekend. There is a moderate chance that this system could develop into a tropical system over the next few days, bringing increased rain chances to South Texas.

While not expected to reach the size of Alberto, this system could still bring significant rain and raise new flooding concerns for South Texas and the Gulf Coast.

Texas is not the only area monitoring this potential tropical system. Residents in Florida and Georgia should also remain vigilant, as a tropical depression could form on Friday with little time before potential landfall Friday night.

See more:

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-71646

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-71647

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-71651

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-71652

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-71653

On Friday morning, the National Hurricane Center noted increased organization within the storm system, raising the likelihood of development. Regardless of its final classification, heavy rain, high surf, and gusty winds are anticipated from this system.

[swldx]

BBC 0435 23 Apr 2024

12095Khz 0358 23 APR 2024 - BBC (UNITED KINGDOM) in ENGLISH from TALATA VOLONONDRY. SINPO = 55445. English, dead carrier s/on @0358z with ID@0359z pips and Newsday preview. @0401z World News anchored by Fiona Macdonald. Rishi Sunak's flagship Rwanda bill is finally set to become law after months of wrangling ended in a parliamentary showdown shortly before midnight. It designates Rwanda a safe country and is a key part of the government's plans to send some asylum seekers there. The bill has been fiercely criticised by opposition parties but the Lords ended their objections late on Monday. The top UN envoy for Haiti on Monday stressed the need for improved security in the country to allow for further political progress. In her briefing to the Security Council, Maria Isabel Salvador, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Haiti, welcomed the recent political progress in Haiti, especially the establishment of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC). A hush-money payment was "election fraud, pure and simple", the prosecution alleges in Donald Trump's historic New York trial. But the former president's lawyer says his client did not commit any crimes, adding "he is cloaked in innocence". Trump is accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 (£104,500) payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before he won the 2016 election. A father has started legal action against UK oil giant BP over the death of his 21-year-old son. Hussein Julood alleges the burning off of gas at a BP-run oil field in Iraq, a practise known as flaring, caused his son Ali's leukaemia. A BBC investigation in 2022 found Ali's village, which lies within the field, had high levels of cancer-causing pollutants known to come from flaring. First responders were battling several wildfires in western Canada Monday, in an area facing extreme drought which last year saw its worst-ever fire season. After a long legal battle in Peru for the right of an assisted death, Ana Estrada said she now feels free to avoid suffering from an incurable and debilitating illness that has plagued her for three decades. The Peruvian Supreme Court this week confirmed a prior ruling that allows Estrada, a 44-year-old psychologist, to end her life after a five-year legal battle and years of illness. Federal police in Brazil arrest several 1st Capital Bank executives on money laundering charges. Tunisia held a "first advisory meeting" Monday in its capital Tunis with Algerian and Libyan leaders in the hope of establishing a new Maghreb regional coalition. No leaders from Morocco or Mauritania were present at the meeting, set to take place every three months. The coalition is aimed at furthering "security, stability and development throughout the region", Tunisian foreign minister Nabil Ammar read from a statement. @0406z "Newsday" begins. 250ft unterminated BoG antenna pointed E/W w/MFJ-1020C active antenna (used as a preamplifier/preselector), Etón e1XM. 250kW, beamAz 315°, bearing 63° . Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 15359KM from transmitter at Talata Volonondry. Local time: 2258.

[finlaure13]

Seth Borenstein

The Associated Press

January 09, 2024

Earth shattered global heat record in '23 and it's flirting with warming limit, European agency says

Earth last year shattered global annual heat records, flirted with the world’s agreed-upon warming threshold and showed more signs of a feverish planet, the European climate agency said Tuesday.

In one of the first of several teams of science agencies to calculate how off-the-charts warm 2023 was, the European climate agency Copernicus said the year was 1.48 degrees Celsius (2.66 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times. That's barely below the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit that the world hoped to stay within in the 2015 Paris climate accord to avoid the most severe effects of warming.

And January 2024 is on track to be so warm that for the first time a 12-month period will exceed the 1.5-degree threshold, Copernicus Deputy Director Samantha Burgess said. Scientists have repeatedly said that Earth would need to average 1.5 degrees of warming over two or three decades to be a technical breach of the threshold.

The 1.5 degree goal “has to be (kept) alive because lives are at risk and choices have to be made,” Burgess said. “And these choices don’t impact you and I but they impact our children and our grandchildren.”

The record heat made life miserable and sometimes deadly in Europe, North America, China and many other places last year. But scientists say a warming climate is also to blame for more extreme weather events, like the lengthy drought that devastated the Horn of Africa, the torrential downpours that wiped out dams and killed thousands in Libya and the Canada wildfires that fouled the air from North America to Europe. For the first time, nations meeting for annual United Nations climate talks in December agreed that the world needs to transition away from the fossil fuels that are causing climate change, but they set no concrete requirements to do so.

Copernicus calculated that the global average temperature for 2023 was about one-sixth of a degree Celsius (0.3 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the old record set in 2016. While that seems a small amount in global record-keeping, it's an exceptionally large margin for the new record, Burgess said. Earth's average temperature for 2023 was 14.98 degrees Celsius (58.96 degrees Fahrenheit), Copernicus calculated.

“It was record-breaking for seven months. We had the warmest June, July, August, September, October, November, December,” Burgess said. “It wasn’t just a season or a month that was exceptional. It was exceptional for over half the year.”

There are several factors that made 2023 the warmest year on record, but by far the biggest factor was the ever-increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that trap heat, Burgess said. Those gases come from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.

Other factors including the natural El Nino — a temporary warming of the central Pacific that alters weather worldwide — other natural oscillations in the Arctic, southern and Indian oceans, increased solar activity and the 2022 eruption of an undersea volcano that sent water vapor into the atmosphere, Burgess said.

Malte Meinshausen, a University of Melbourne climate scientist, said about 1.3 degrees Celsius of the warming comes from greenhouse gases, with another 0.1 degrees Celsius from El Nino and the rest being smaller causes.

Given El Nino and record ocean heat levels, Burgess said it’s “extremely likely” that 2024 will be even hotter than 2023.

Copernicus records only go back to 1940 and are based on a combination of observations and forecast models. Other groups, including the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA, the United Kingdom’s Meteorological Office and Berkeley Earth go back to the mid-1800s and will announce their calculations for 2023 on Friday, with expectations of record-breaking marks.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency, which uses similar techniques as Copernicus and goes back to 1948, late last month estimated that it was the warmest year at 1.47 degrees Celsius (2.64 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The University of Alabama Huntsville global dataset, which uses satellite measurements rather than ground data and dates to 1979, last week also found it the hottest year on record, but not by as much.

Though actual observations only date back less than two centuries, several scientists say evidence from tree rings and ice cores suggest this is the warmest the Earth has been in more than 100,000 years.

“2023 was probably hottest year on Earth in about 125,000 years,” said Woodwell Climate Research Center climate scientist Jennifer Francis. “Humans were around before that but it’s certainly fair to say it’s the hottest since humans became civilized, depending on the definition of ‘civilized.’ ”

Amid record hot months were days that were downright unprecedented hot across the globe.

For the first time, Copernicus recorded a day where the world averaged at least 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) more than pre-industrial times. It happened twice and narrowly missed a third day around Christmas, Burgess said.

And for the first time, every day of the year was at least one degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than pre-industrial times. For nearly half the year — 173 days — the world was 1.5 degrees warmer than the mid-1800s.

Meinshausen, the Australian climate scientist, said it's natural for the public to wonder whether the 1.5-degree target is lost. He said it's important for people to keep trying to rein in warming.

“We are not abolishing a speed limit, because somebody exceeded the speed limit,” he said. "We double our efforts to step on the brakes.”

[steelcoretank]

What are fire protection tanks?

Fire protection tanks (or water storage tanks) play a vital role in protecting fresh water in drier areas from wildfires and contamination. They are often found on farms, wineries, and industrial zones in places where water is scarce. Simply put, they are a necessity in regions prone to fires and drought. Thousands of rural American businesses rely on modern water storage containers for their operations today.

High-quality tanks are generally designed with galvanized steel and are bolted into the ground. Others are simply constructed with carbon welded and factory coated steel. The structures themselves are typically round and silo-like, with pointed steel roofs. They can be found all over the dry areas of California, where wildfires run rampant in the summertime.

The need to protect your water from fires is increasing

Between 1978 and 2013, the length of the wildfire season increased by 19%. To make matters worse, the NOAA estimates that half of the United States is in drought – and as dry seasons become longer, water is becoming an even scarcer resource. Not only are summers becoming drier, but wildfires are becoming more frequent, putting precious resources like water at risk which is why Fire Protection Tanks are more important than ever.

The unfortunate truth is that there has never been a more important time for businesses to ensure their water remains protected from natural disasters.

As a result, water storage tanks are no longer just about storing water for the long term. Hundreds of businesses around the country are using these tanks to ensure their water remains fresh, uncontaminated, and safe from the elements. Companies like SteelCore are dedicated to keeping your water safe so that your business or farm can thrive, even in the harshest conditions. We have been in business since 2016, and have become one of the most trusted names in the industry.

What makes a good fire protection tank?

California Fire Code holds storage tanks to a high standard – after all, when some of the worst wildfires in the country happen in Northern California, it is important that storage tanks are built with precision.

The Sonoma County website has a detailed list of all the requirements and exceptions as well. However, one of the main requirements is that a tank should meet the standards of NFPA 22. NFPA simply stands for National Fire Protection Agency, with standard materials including galvanized steel or fiberglass-reinforced plastic.

Generally, water storage tanks over 5,000 gallons need a permit, in addition to sitting on a concrete foundation. Make sure to check with your county’s fire code, as your exact requirements may change depending on your location.

As far as fire protection tanks go, SteelCore designs and sell some of the highest quality ones on the market. Unlike tanks from other companies, SteelCore’s tanks are manufactured with corrugated, galvanized steel. Because of their tough design, they can survive an array of environmental conditions and meet several more standards than carbon welded tanks.  Truly the definition of heavy-duty, these tanks can withstand wind speeds of nearly 170 MPH and survive up to a zone 4 seismic earthquake.

Finding a high-quality storage tank

With so many designs on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose a proper storage tank. There are a lot of factors to consider before making a purchase, and we at SteelCore want you to make the most educated decision as possible.

One important consideration is storage capacity. Tanks come in a variety of sizes and capacities, so it is important to have a solid understanding of your water needs. Luckily, SteelCore has a calculator tool to help determine what dimensions you may need depending on your water capacity.

Similarly, it is important to take the materials and the foundation into consideration. Tanks that are bolted to concrete foundations like SteelCore’s are often more durable and can withstand more hazards than their smaller, unbolted counterparts.

The material of the water tank is important as well. This ensures that you can use the water for irrigation or drinking. This is usually denoted with an NSF certification, which essentially states that the water is potable. However, the material and tank you go with will ultimately depend on what you use your water for.

For example, if your business of farm uses a large amount of water, one possible solution is a 1,000,000 gallon galvanized water storage tank. Certified to NSF, NFPA and OSHA standards, this mammoth tank has astounding protections against fire and environmental disasters, all the while keeping the water inside potable.As with anything, be sure to read your county’s fire code before committing to a storage tank. SteelCore representatives are always available to answer any questions and point you in the right direction. After you have decided, our experienced installers will work with you to ensure the installation process goes smoothly and that your water remains fire protected.

[noloveforned]

we've been dealing with smoke from wildfires here in central virginia for the past few days but i'll be trekking through the haze later tonight for my radio show on wlur from 8pm until midnight. join us live or catch up with last week's show on mixcloud at a more suitable time!

no love for ned on wlur – november 10th, 2023 from 8-10pm

artist // track // album // label teenage fanclub // mad dog 20/20 // dgc rarities volume one compilation // dgc everyone asked about you // it's days like this that make me wish the summer would last forever // paper airplanes, paper hearts // numero group hotline tnt // i thought you'd change // cartwheel // third man terry malts // seen everything // lost at the party // slumberland the belair lip bombs // say my name // lush life // cousin will the creases // point // tremolow // liberation jungle breed // unfamiliar streets // wynona, paloma, papilloma // blossom rot alien nosejob // stories of love // the derivative sounds of... or... a dog always returns to its vomit // goner equal parts // same old games // equal parts ep // tiny town cut piece // don't become the enemy // cut piece 7" ep // dirt cult sunwatchers // foams // music is victory over time // trouble in mind waylon jennings // she comes running // singer of sad songs // rca victor carmen perry // mexican wine // that's how the world began ep // (self-released) the woods // never before // so long before now // dot matrix miss grit // off you // fader and friends volume one compilation // fader maria elena silva // ruido blanco // dulce // astral spirits / big ego oiro pena // puna // puna // we are busy bodies david wertman // sharatarr // kara suite // finders keepers lonnie liston smith with adrian younge and ali shaheed muhammad featuring loren oden // cosmic changes // jid017 // jazz is dead yaya bey // crying through my teeth // ten fold // big dada mavi // 3 left feet // laughing so hard, it hurts // de rap winkel dinner party featuring nineth wonder and phoelix // can't go // enigmatic society // empire maxx traxx // tell me // maxx traxx // numero group fortunato durutti marinetti // clerk of oblivion // eight waves in search of an ocean // soft abuse sweeney // straight boy crushes // disappointment archives, 1986-2016 // observable universe the palisades // alternatively wednesday // a month too soon 12" // easter rachel love // april love // the cat collects seasons compilation // the cat collects the proper ornaments // two weeks // split 7" w/ beat mark // croque macadam the ian fays // viola // viola // we were never being boring model shop // swimming backwards // check the forecast 7" ep // meritorio

[shahananasrin-blog]

[ad_1] While this year’s wildfire rampage is far from over, its growing economic costs are becoming increasingly clear.Although we’ve already seen about 10 times as much land burn in Canada this year than we did in all of 2022, this season is unlikely to be a record breaker in terms of financial devastation. That dubious title belongs to the 2016 season, when the Fort McMurray fire alone forced the evacuation of about 90,000 people and ultimately cost the insurance industry about 4.4 billion Canadian dollars.That fire also significantly affected the Canadian economy by disrupting production at the oil sands.But there’s no question that this year’s fires have taken a significant toll on thousands of people as well as governments and, it is likely, the Canadian economy as a whole.[Read: Warming Set the Stage for Canada’s Record Fires, Study Finds][Read: Canadian Officials Condemn Facebook for News Ban as Wildfires Burn][Read: British Columbia Wildfire in Photos: ‘A Long-Lasting Scar’][Read: At Least 50 Buildings Have Burned in British Columbia Wildfires]Among the most obviously affected are the 20,000 or so people who heeded orders and fled Yellowknife. They are now in their second weekend thousands of kilometers away from their homes, businesses and, for those who can’t work remotely, jobs. While sprinkler systems and continual forest clearing have kept the fire more or less 15 kilometers from the city, its threat remains. Some leaders in other communities in the territory have told evacuees they should plan on being away for weeks.The main financial support now being offered is minimal: a single payment of 750 Canadian dollars, to people over 17 who have been out of work for at least a week because of the evacuation. While some insurance policies do cover the costs for evacuees, Caroline Wawzonek, the territorial finance minister, acknowledged this week that many people are so short of cash that they won’t be able to return home when the time comes without additional financial support, which she said the territory will provide. Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s finance minister, said that the federal government will help the territory out, but, to date, no specific amounts or programs have been announced.In and around Kelowna, British Columbia, tens of thousands were also evacuated, and 181 structures, most of them probably houses, were consumed by fire.While the fires are far from over in British Columbia, people who have lost their homes there and who are insured will soon face difficult questions. In particular, they will have to decide whether to rebuild on the charred landscape.I returned to Fort McMurray about a year after its big fire, which had engulfed about 1,500 homes and numerous businesses. Many people, I soon found, had decided they would not rebuild but instead take cash settlements, which were significantly less than replacement settlements, sell their empty land and move on.Those who did rebuild told me the settlements were often much less than the actual replacement value of their houses, sometimes by about 20 percent.The real estate market dynamics are very different in Kelowna today compared to Fort McMurray at that time. Slumping oil prices and oil sands layoffs were already driving down housing prices in 2016. The Kelowna area, by contrast, is one of Canada’s fastest growing markets. But that is unlikely to mean that settling up with insurers is a seamless and satisfying process for those whose homes are now ash and rubble.As for the insurance industry, an analysis by DBRS Morningstar, a debt rating agency, anticipates that the losses from fires to date will come in at 700 million to 1.5 billion Canadian dollars “but remain manageable for insurers.”Both Kelowna — where the province banned travelers from entering for a period, in order to free up hotels for evacuees and fire crews — and Yellowknife have taken blows to their important tourism industries. Kelowna, with its impressive lake and vineyards, is a top summer destination in Western Canada. August and September are peak months for viewing the aurora borealis in Yellowknife, making it a global tourist attraction. When I stayed in a hotel there while on assignment last year, many signs were posted in English, Yellowknives Dene and Japanese.Few economists are forecasting the effect on Canada’s economy as a whole yet. And we have to wait for hard numbers. The gross domestic product figures for this month won’t be released until the end of October.But in an analysis issued this week, Capital Economics, a private forecasting firm based in Britain with operations in Canada, said that historically there’s no real connection between how much forest burns and any negative economic implications. While the Fort McMurray fire caused G.D.P. to fall by a significant 0.6 percent in May 2016, that year was a relatively mild one as far as wildfire activity goes.This year, however, the report said that “with the fires so widespread, we are seeing more of an impact than usual.” It concludes that drops in sales in Alberta and British Columbia related to fires likely were a significant force behind the 0.2 percent decline in G.D.P. during June.The report offers some consolation, advising that fire-induced economic slumps generally disappear quickly. But there may be one lingering and unwelcome effect, in that “the fires could leave a lasting impact on consumer prices due to higher insurance premiums.”Trans CanadaAnn Johnson was a 30-year-old teacher, volleyball coach and mother of an infant from Regina when a stroke took away her ability to speak and paralyzed her left side. My colleague Pam Belluck describes how, 18 years later, “implanted electrodes decoded Mrs. Johnson’s brain signals as she silently tried to say sentences. Technology converted her brain signals into written and vocalized language, and enabled an avatar on a computer screen to speak the words and display smiles, pursed lips and other expressions.”Isabel Crook, a China-born daughter of Canadian missionaries who became one of that country’s most celebrated foreign residents, known there as an educator, anthropologist and strong supporter of the Communist state, has died at the age of 107.A native of Windsor, Ontario, Ian Austen was educated in Toronto, lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for two decades. How are we doing?We’re eager to have your thoughts about this newsletter and events in Canada in general. Please send them to nytcanada@nytimes.com.Like this email?Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. [ad_2]

[blogynews]

Unveiling the Unforeseen Economic Impact of Raging Wildfires - Prepare to be Astonished!

As the devastating wildfires continue to ravage Canada, the economic costs are becoming increasingly apparent. This year, we have already witnessed approximately ten times more land burn than in all of 2022. However, despite the significant destruction, this season is unlikely to surpass the financial devastation caused by the 2016 wildfires, particularly the Fort McMurray fire. The insurance…

[blogynewz]

Unveiling the Unforeseen Economic Impact of Raging Wildfires - Prepare to be Astonished!

As the devastating wildfires continue to ravage Canada, the economic costs are becoming increasingly apparent. This year, we have already witnessed approximately ten times more land burn than in all of 2022. However, despite the significant destruction, this season is unlikely to surpass the financial devastation caused by the 2016 wildfires, particularly the Fort McMurray fire. The insurance…

[blogynewsz]

Unveiling the Unforeseen Economic Impact of Raging Wildfires - Prepare to be Astonished!

As the devastating wildfires continue to ravage Canada, the economic costs are becoming increasingly apparent. This year, we have already witnessed approximately ten times more land burn than in all of 2022. However, despite the significant destruction, this season is unlikely to surpass the financial devastation caused by the 2016 wildfires, particularly the Fort McMurray fire. The insurance…

[rivendellrose]

Yeah, I’m 40, too, and as a native of the suburban/rural area outside Seattle one of my big takeaways is how much less it rains now. It never rained *all* the time here, and there was always, as long as my grandpa could remember, one weirdly nice sunny week in April, but a lot of the rest of the fall, winter, and spring were gray and drizzly, and cool-ish even in summer. Like, 75/80 was the warmest I remember summers typically getting when I was a kid. Now we regularly hit the mid-90s and I know that doesn’t sound like a lot for other parts of the country, but it’s totally new for here.

And there was no smoke season until I was an adult. Ever since about 2016 we’ve counted on a week or more in late summer or early autumn where we get hit with unhealthy levels of smoke from wildfires around us and elsewhere on the west coast. My son will think it’s normal, because it’s all he’s ever known, but it breaks my heart and is so goddamn weird. Not just because it’s awful and scary to breathe this crap, but because it should not regularly be dry enough here for those fires to happen so much to begin with. It never was before.

You mentioned in a post on my dash that you were old enough to experience real seasons unaltered by climate change. What was that like?

I was young, so it feels like something I read in a book sometimes. I remember how chilly it could get at night in the summer, which doesn't seem to happen as much anymore.

That's actually the thing that seems to keep popping back up in my mind - that like, it was really chilly in the mornings in summer even, and it would warm up, and it seems to just kind of... stay warm all the time.

I dunno. The seasons were more distinct, there were bigger temperature swings on individual days, and like... weather was more predictable on a seasonal basis, if not on a daily basis.

Like... the kind of seasons you read about in Olde Tyme Books? They... were real things. We didn't always have snow on Winter Break, but we had a pretty predictable number of snow days?

And it almost feels silly to talk about it. "What were normal seasons like, Uncle Spider?"

But yeah.