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This is the time of year when kids head back to school.  About 25 million kids ride the bus to and from school each day and experts estimate that 10 to 14 percent of all personal vehicle trips made during the peak morning commuting hours are taking kids to school.  Increased traffic and idling vehicles [...]

The answer is yes, but not all algae blooms are harmful.  In fact, they’re critical components of many aquatic organisms’ diets.  But when they grow out of control, often as a result of man-made nutrient pollution, algae blooms can take over an entire ecosystem by blocking out the sun and hogging all of the oxygen.  [...]

Everyone loves to play in the yard, but over time your foot traffic actually crushes the soil beneath your feet. This affects the health of your lawn more than you might realize.  For instance, just stepping onto wet ground even once can squash the dirt to within 75 percent of its potential “squish-ability,” if you [...]

Are you one of the millions of people making their way to the beach this year?  Beaches provide opportunities to play volleyball, run, relax, swim and do many other activities, but beach closures can put a damper on summer fun. Beach closures occur in coastal areas throughout the United States – according to EPA’s 2010 [...]

That smelly, gooey, blue-green film that blankets the water in late summer not only looks gross, but it could also endanger your health.  Blue-green algae blooms can release toxins that once ingested, inhaled or rubbed against the skin can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and skin rashes – persistent exposure can lead to more serious health [...]

Ever wonder why more people don’t swim in Chesapeake Bay? One big reason is jellyfish. When summer hits the Bay, so do stinging sea nettles, a small jellyfish that can lead to big stings. Stand on docks in the lower Bay in August and you’re pretty much guaranteed to see pulsating masses of these free-floating [...]

The sun emits radiation in the form of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation is at its highest when and where the sun’s rays are the strongest. This means that UV levels will be highest around noon on a clear sunny day, as well as during the summer months. UV levels will also be highest near [...]

While we enjoyed the unusually warm weather this past spring and winter, something was brewing in the water.  Algae blooms are back, resurfacing earlier than usual in lakes and streams across the country from the Pacific Northwest to the Florida panhandle.  Some of these blooms have become harmful, inciting warnings in Kansas, forcing lake closures [...]

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for two out of five of those fires. In 2010, fireworks ignited an estimated 15,500 fires, many of which were outdoor grass and brush fires. These fires can spread quickly, especially in areas that are experiencing dry [...]

Smoke from nearby wildfires can impact your health. Smoke is a mixture of tiny particles and gases – the fine particles can get into your eyes and lungs, where they can cause burning eyes, runny nose and may aggravate some health conditions like lung disease, bronchitis and asthma. Viewer Tip: Protect yourself and your family [...]

June 24-30, 2012 is Lightning Safety Awareness Week. Lightning strikes year-round, but summer is peak season.  There have only been four lightning deaths in the United States so far in 2012, and there was a record low number of 26 lightning fatalities in 2011 – the 30-year average is 54 per year. Looking at trends [...]

In the United States, more fires are reported on the Fourth of July each year than any other day. In 2010, fireworks ignited an estimated 15,500 fires, many of which were outdoor fires. These fires can spread quickly, especially in areas that are experiencing dry weather or drought. Viewer Tip: The best way to enjoy [...]

The Summer Flounder, Paralichthys Dentatus, is well named. Summer Flounder migrate inshore to shallow coastal and estuarine waters beginning in late spring and early summer to feed and spawn. Then, as water temperatures begin to fall, they migrate offshore into deep water in August or September. Viewer Tip: Flounder live in shallow water in the [...]

June 3-9, 2012 is Rip Current Awareness Week, when NOAA’s National Weather Service reminds you to “Break the Grip of the Rip!” Rip currents are channels of fast-moving water that may pull swimmers away from the shore. While the speed of rip currents varies, some have exceeded five miles per hour, which is faster than [...]

National Wildflower Week is May 6-13 — it’s the perfect time to visit a botanic garden or park where you can see spring blooms of the native variety. With hundreds of public gardens throughout the country, there is sure to be one near you. An increasing number of them have sections devoted to wildflowers and [...]

Spring rains mean that the historic drought in Texas may be over and that’s very good news for Galveston Bay. The multi-year drought reduced freshwater flow into the Bay from the Trinity River and other tributaries, making it saltier and creating detrimental conditions for native finfish, crustaceans and shellfish. The high salinity levels also helped [...]

Beginning in mid-April whales begin to arrive in the Gulf of Maine, many with newborn calves, to feast on plentiful sand eels, copepods, plankton and fish. Familiar visitors to Maine’s cold waters include humpback whales (whose Latin name, Megaptera novaeangliae, means “Big-winged New Englander”), pilot whales, minkes and massive finback whales, which can grow to [...]

Are you unknowingly harboring tiny hitch-hikers? One of the ways pests, diseases and harmful weeds spread is by hitching a ride with humans, pets and vehicles. An invasive pest is one that is introduced to areas that are not part of its natural range, where it may not have any natural enemies to keep its [...]

Are you unknowingly harboring tiny hitch-hikers? One of the ways pests, diseases and harmful weeds spread is by hitching a ride with humans, pets and vehicles. An invasive pest is one that is introduced to areas that are not part of its natural range, where it may not have any natural enemies to keep its [...]

Are you unknowingly harboring tiny hitch-hikers? One of the ways pests, diseases and harmful weeds spread is by hitching a ride with humans, pets and vehicles. An invasive pest is one that is introduced to areas that are not part of its natural range, where it may not have any natural enemies to keep its [...]