White Humpback Whale Spotted

A pure white humpback whale spotted near Norway.

               In 1851, the story of Moby-Dick was written by Herman Melville. Since then, the white whale has become a legend among nearly everyone who has heard of the adventures. But this mythical creature may be more than just legend. In August of 2012, Dan Fisher sighted a rare white humpback whale in the waters of Norway. Experts say this whale is either albino or it could have a condition known as leucism, where pigmentation cells fail to properly develop. Though these ghostly creatures have eluded us in the past, reports of other pure white whales have been surfacing. A white humpback has been seen frequently off the coast of Queensland, Australia; there have been sightings of white orca whales near Alaska and Russia; white right whales have been seen around South Australia; and even an albino dolphin in Louisiana. Fisher, who has worked on ship crews for over 10 years, referred to the experience as being a “once-in-a-lifetime spot” and added: “I saw lots of humpbacks this year, but nothing as spectacular as this one.” 

Bats in the Midwest!

Bats in the Midwest!

Big Brown Bat 

Wildfires

Wildfires

 

 

                In just minutes, fire being fueled by weather and dry vegetation can burn across the land, consuming everything in its path. Each year there are more than 100,000 wildfires that burn almost 5 million acres of land. Wildfires have been clocked moving at nearly 14mph; these fires will stop for nothing, not even human life.

                Wildfires need several key inputs to be successful. First, they need fuel, this could consist of trees, grass, brush, homes, and anything that is flammable in the surrounding area. Secondly, fires need oxygen that is pulled from the air and used in the combustion process. This pulling of air can generate its own gusts of winds. The last input for fire is a heat source; this is used to bring fuel temperatures high enough to ignite. Some examples of heat sources would be: lightning, campfires, cigarettes, hot winds, or even the sun.

                Fires are started all the time, nearly 4 out of 5 are started by humans, some are for good and others are bad. Nature usually contributes by supplying dry weather, high winds to allow fire to spread quickly, and hot temperatures. In these conditions it just takes one spark and a fire can burn for weeks. Fires can ignite anywhere but are more predominate in the western United States where drought and thunderstorms are abundant. In California the Santa Ana winds have been known to carry sparks for miles, igniting fires elsewhere. Firefighters deprive the fire from its 3 key inputs with several techniques. They can spray water or retardants, remove vegetation, or set up fire breaks.  In order to lower the danger of a fire, control burns can be done where vegetation is burned off of an area to thin out fuel density.

                When hearing about wildfires, a negative association is brought along with it. Although they can be destructive to human lives, they also serve a valuable purpose to the environment. Fires can return nutrients to the soil by burning dead organic material and then allowing new growth to prosper. When handled in a proper manner, fire can be a useful tool in generating new life.

Michael Lewis                                                                                                                                       NRES 260                                                                                                                                     2012/11/09

Power by Sewer Water

 

            The water energy nexus describes the inter-related demands for water and energy. In the United States to day 19 percent of all electricity is used to treat water according to Discover Magazine. Water, in turn, is used to create power. Water is used for steam to turn turbines and as a battery to store power created by renewable power sources. So we are faced with the problem of if we want to meet all of our water demands we need more power. If we want more power we need more water. This down ward spiral could lead to future where we will have to choose meet are water demands or our power demands. Scientists are looking to a surprising resource to solve this problem. That resource is sewer water.

            A fuel cell out lined in a New York Times blog by Sophia Li is being developed where water can be cleaned without external energy. The fuel cell cleans the sewage water pumped into by converting the biological material in water via bacteria into water and CO₂. The fuel cell will be powered by energy created from the bacteria breaking down the biological material. Creating a closed system that will not put any extra demand on cities energy grids and free up the energy that would have been used for treating water for other purpose.

            While this fuel cell is not a silver bullet it does offer a more economical solution to the challenge for the meeting the power and water needs of growing cities here in the United States and across the globe.      

 

Where Have All The Manta Rays Gone?

            With an 18-22 foot wingspan, soaring motion, and gentle disposition, manta rays are one of the truly amazing creatures to watch underwater.  They are harmless to humans, and considered curious and friendly to divers.  There are two different species of manta rays, Manta birostris (the giant oceanic manta) and Manta alfredi (the resident reef manta).  The migratory giant oceanic manta is known to be found in tropical, sub tropical and temperate waters, and have a much larger geographic range than the reef manta, who is commonly sighted inshore around coral reefs, tropical island groups, atolls and bays.  If the manta ray is harmless to humans and is such a fascinating creature, why are their population numbers dwindling? Just like most wild animals, manta rays have number of natural predators. 

Their survival is most severely threatened by growing pressure from fisheries. They are in high demand for their gill rakers, which are cartilaginous structures that branch off the gill arch and are used to filter plankton. Since manta rays move in predictable patterns, they are known to be easy targets, causing this kind creature to be netted, trawled, and harpooned for this specific body part.  In recent years, fishermen have begun targeting manta rays with modern fishing gear making fishing an even simpler process.  It has been declared that each year, fishermen catch about 97,400 manta rays.  Unreported catches will mean the true numbers to make the catch rate even higher.  With the manta ray classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this means they are facing a high rate of extinction. Manta rays are also subjected to unsustainable fishing pressures sparked largely by demand for use in Chinese medicine.  Their gill rakers are promoted as a cure for a wide array of sickness’s ranging from smallpox to cancer.  Manta rays also provide a cheap substitute for shark cartilage used in nutritional supplements. 

Bycatch is another major threat to the manta ray, meaning that they are “incidentally” caught in industrial fishing nets throughout the waters in which they roam.  Longlines and gill nets used primarily to capture tuna are most frequently responsible for manta rays becoming entangled, usually resulting in death.  Unfortunately, mantas cannot swim backwards, and so attempts to disentangle themselves often results in becoming more tangled. Mantas, which become entangled in nets quickly, die because they are unable to actively pump oxygen rich water over their gills in order to respire. Fishing line can also cause severe entanglement resulting in deep, and often life threatening lacerations if mantas become entangled in it.

Both species of manta ray frequently visit coral reefs to feed and be cleaned, but because coral reef degradation is occurring rapidly, another threat to the manta ray is habitat destruction.  If reefs aren’t striving, the organisms on which manta rays feed and rely on to thrive, will not be abundant putting the manta ray at risk.  Marine debris is another major threat caused by pollution in the water.  Although manta rays are protected in some countries, they migrate through unprotected waters of others making them very vulnerable to be hunted.  Female manta rays are not able to give birth until 15 years of age, giving birth to one pup every two to three years over a lifespan estimated to be about 40 years, only producing a handful of pups in her lifetime.  Because this rate is so low, only a small percent of manta rays can afford to be fished before there is a dramatic decline in their population.

Everyone likes a good treasure hunt

When I was little, I ached for a real treasure hunt.

I wanted to follow a map, find some buried treasure, and go on swash-buckling adventures. Now that I’m older, I realize that’s not quite how the world works. Geocaching offers the next best thing: a high-tech treasure hunt.

Essentially, geocaching is a worldwide game where players locate hidden containers – called geocaches or caches for short – using GPS-enabled devices. Players hide the geocaches, and then record its coordinates online. Other players can then find the geocache using the coordinates and any other clues the geocache-hider has to offer.

The containers range in size anywhere from army ammunition cans to a plastic matchboxes. Each geocache usually contains a logbook of who’s found it. They also contain small treasures that geocachers can trade. Examples of common treasures include foreign currency, marbles, seashells, stones, and other interesting trinkets.

Most people use a handheld GPS device or GPS-enabled cellphones to find geocaches. Geocaching.com sells a $10 geocaching app for iPhones, Android, and Windows 7 phones. However, other people just print off a map from the geocaching website.

Basically, no matter what equipment you have to work with, you can figure out a way to go geocaching. There are even several caches on or near City and East campus in Lincoln.

Since I love making lists so much, here’s my top five reasons why you should go geocaching A.S.A.P.

1)   Learn about a new place

Geocaching is a great activity while you’re on vacation in an unfamiliar area. Caches might be hidden in areas you wouldn’t have normally explored. Even the caches in Omaha were exciting, since I hadn’t explored Standing Bear Lake so thoroughly before.

2)   Get exercise without going to the gym

Sometimes the caches require quite the hike to reach your desired treasure. The fresh air and hike rejuvenates both the mind and body. There’s nothing quite like going on a cache hunt in Hawaii.

3)   Be part of a world-wide community

Millions of people around the globe share the love of geocaching. If you’re a geocacher, you’ll always have a huge community of friends to go to for advice and more caches. 

4)   Improve your observation skills

Sometimes we can’t see the small details that really make life interesting. Geocaching forces you to look at every object with scrutiny. Let me tell you, it’s hard to find a matchbox – sized cache if you don’t take the time to look closely! 

5)   Strengthen your family or friendship

Nothing brings people together like getting lost in the middle of the woods looking for a box of trinkets. Yes, this is a cheesy reason. However, I do think it’s one of the most important. Geocaching builds a sense of teamwork; everyone can help find the cache. Most families or groups come up with a team name to write down in the geocache logbooks. My family’s name is Mysterious Loggers. I’ll leave the name up to interpretation.

Check out this video for more info about geocaching: http://www.geocaching.com/videos/default.aspx#cat=cat:newbies&vid=-4VFeYZTTYs

The main website, Geocaching.com, also lists geocache locations.

Are you thirsty for water?

                Odds are you’re viewing this blog on a computer.  Have you ever stopped to consider what was required to make your computer?  It takes a lot of water to produce a computer, so much that you could do 70 loads of laundry with the amount used on your computer.  Ten gallons alone is required to make the small processor that does all the work on your computer.  Your processor works as the “brain” of your computer that uses instructions from a program to perform a certain task.   The processor, therefore, requires lots of water to make relative to the size.   As everyone wants the latest gadget, our water usage has increased over time.

                We use water daily, from brushing our teeth and cooking to using computers and driving cars.  Our demand for products such as food, clothing, and electronics uses vast amounts of water to produce these for consumption.  With the recent drought in Nebraska and global water shortages, Americans need to understand how to reduce their water usage both personally and economically such as factory water usage.

                Five unexpected high water use products:

• The average car uses enough water in production of the steel and plastic used to make the car to fill 800 bathtubs or about 40,000 gallons.
• A plastic water bottle uses 1.85 gallons of water to make, more water than the bottle actually contains.
• A pound of beef needs 4,000-18,000 gallons of water. Most of the water goes to growing food and water for the cow.
• A 100% cotton shirt and jeans uses a combined total of 2,500 gallons of water to grow the cotton and dye the fabric.
• Each latte consumed uses 53 gallons of water to grow the coffee beans, make the plastic lid, and produce the cup and sleeve.

Americans need to be more aware of their water usage if we are to reduce national and global water usage.  In 2012, the global population passes seven billion people and continues to grow. Competition for fresh water will also increase, especially in drier areas of the world.  America, one of the most wasteful countries in the world, must take the initiative to reduce water usage for a greener future.

Four innovative possibilities to lower water usage:

• Purchase a water efficient washer rated by Energy Star
•  Use reusable water bottles to prevent water from being wasted on plastic bottles
•  Behavioral changes to our daily routines, such as shorter showers and turning off the water when brushing.  Simple behavior changes by people can have a huge impact on reducing water usage.
•  Mulching a garden retains moisture better and keeps soil cooler during the summer.

Resources

Treehugger http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/how-many-gallons-of-water-does-it-take-to-make.html

U.S Geological Survey Water School http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/

Photo Credits

engineerguy.com

Celebrate Earth Day or Die

 

We need Earth Day to remind us that for now and into the immediate future, this Earth is the thing that sustains our lives. Mankind at this point in our evolution cannot live anywhere else in our solar system. That could change some day, but for now we need to try as hard as we can to care for the Earth that we all share to give us time and means to explore other worlds.

Need some persuasion? Consider the many threats that are good reasons why we need Earth Day.

Deforestation is a problem rapidly affecting areas like Africa, Central and South America. Not only does this mean less trees, less cleansing oxygen, and the displacement of the wildlife that live within the forests, but deforestation is also a large contributor to global warming and enhanced greenhouse effect. Removing trees also leads to much drier climates, as trees extract groundwater to release into the air.

Pollution is the introduction of harmful contaminants into air, water or soil. These contaminants can have dire effects on entire ecosystems, making life more difficult for humans, plants and animals. Children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to the health effects from these toxins. In many cases, exposure to pollution has a cumulative effect on the body.

Loss of biodiversity is an important threat because each species has a role in planet, and as they dwindle or become extinct, this points to a much larger problem. For example, the decline of the bee population has a direct effect on both the environment and food production, with their instinctual role of pollination. A major factor of saving the earth is to also protecting its inhabitants.

Any of these environmental problems could really harm the Earth. People need to start realizing the significance of Earth Day. You can celebrate Earth Day by outdoor performances, where individuals or groups perform acts of service to earth. These can include planting trees, picking up roadside rubbish, conducting various programs for recycling and conservation, and using recyclable containers for snacks and lunches. Other activities include encouraging people to sign petitions to governments calling for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction.

By doing any of these activities makes a huge difference to the Earth. I mean why wouldn’t you want to help out Mother Nature? Look what she does for you. We are provided with a world to live on, water to drink, and food to eat. Our whole lives depend on Earth. What’s the harm in one day a year of doing an outdoor activity benefiting the Earth?

Pulling the Plug on the Panda?

At the forefront of conservation efforts around the world, the giant panda has been a major flagship species. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has used the giant panda as their logo since their founding in 1961 and the panda has attracted a lot of the publics’ attention due to its charismatic and fluffy disposition. Although being rare, some naturalists have said the pandas should be left alone to face their extinction.

            In a controversial interview with Radio Times magazine, Chris Packham, a respectable naturalist and presenter of Autumnwatch on BBC, stated the money spent on the giant panda should be used on “stronger” species.

            "Here's a species that, of its own accord, has gone down an evolutionary cul-de-sac. It's not a strong species. Unfortunately it's big and cute and it's a symbol of the WWF, and we pour millions of pounds into panda conservation. I reckon we should pull the plug. Let them go, with a degree of dignity," said Packham.

            Packham considers the giant panda as a weak species for many reasons: the panda has chosen a rather unreliable food source with low nutritional value. The panda is also susceptible to several diseases and has developed a sporadic breeding style that is incredibly hard to replicate in captivity. Millions are being spent on an animal that seems to be ecologically doomed.

Since one of the major causes of extinction is habitat loss, Packham suggests purchasing rainforests and biodiversity hotspots would be a more effective use of the millions spent on panda conservation. Instead of singular campaigns focusing on a single species like Save the Pandas; Save the Rainforests would be better.

            Of course, this idea spurred some backlash. Dr. Mark Wright, a conservation scientist at WWF, states that the panda has adapted to life in a narrowly defined habitat. There are many other species on the planet that have adapted to living in specific environments as well. Why does the giant panda not deserve to be conserved? Wright argues that if it were not for human populations encroaching on and destroying the panda’s habitats they would survive just fine.

            The giant panda also shares its environment with several other species in need of preservation; for example the red panda, the endangered golden monkey, and many endemic bird species. So, preserving the habitat for this extremely popular animal will in turn help the not as well-known animal species.

            Since conservation has limited resources to tackle all the species on the planet, should we only focus on flagship species that people find attractive, and then hope they protect the “unpopular” species in return? Or should we think more broadly and use campaigns focusing on whole ecosystems? The conservation efforts of the panda aren’t likely to change due to their overwhelming popularity, but this topic does bring up some good questions regarding worldwide conservation practices and whether or not they should change.

Pic from: http://blog.malaysiajao.com/2012/06/pandas-new-tourism-product.html

Water Quality Sustainability

Have you ever wondered how we can just turn on faucet and have crystal clear water, healthy enough for drinking? Lincoln hasn’t always had this luxury… and it just doesn’t happen by magic. There is actually a very complex system behind it that has been developed over many years.

The sources of our drinking water come from surface water, including lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. This water needs to be filtered and treated. Nature has done a lot of the work for us by filtering the water by perculating through the soil, down into the aquifer; however, iron and manganese content are still high. To remove these elements our water is treated at treatment plants, before being sent to our homes. The old process that has been used in the 1930’s is still used today. This includes: aeration, chlorination, detention and filtration. An exact of amount of chlorine is added to reservoirs and held for up to two hours. The undesired particles then get filtered through the sand and gravel, which gets cleaned every 5 days. Another process uses the strong oxidizer and disinfectant known as ozone. After the water undergoes these processes, the disinfectant called chloramine is added to prevent bacteria growth in the city’s pipes. Fluoride is also added to prevent tooth decay. In order to prevent other contaminants, Lincoln has a cross connection control program. This employs backflow prevention devices in case of a main break that causes a sudden drop in pressure, or caused by heavy usage. Plumbing systems need to be inspected every five years as preventative maintenance. Water services are owned and maintained by the property owner. In order to deliver water to these owners, $1.7 million is spent for electricity. Another $1.35 million is spent on the electricity and diesel fuel to pump that water to Lincoln. The city covers more than 90 square miles, and has 1,243 miles of water mains, 10,562 fire hydrants and 24,993 valves. 105 broken mains were repaired in 2011. The water delivered to our homes can vary from 41 degrees to 77 degrees. The average use per person came out to be 124 gallons every day in 2011.

The Safe Drinking Water act requires that Lincoln Water System issues a report, describing the quality of our drinking water. This report helps us understand and raise awareness about the quality and conservation of our water. All of this information can be found on InterLinc. By going to www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/water, you find fun facts, general information, informative videos, water distribution information, water system master plans, and water quality data. All of this is managed by public works, and when it comes to the conservation of our water it is monitored and decided by the mayor. All of Lincoln Water Systems operators and state certified, and must be documented to comply with state and federal laws. Their hours are around the clock, same as any repair man that works on the mains.