Earth Gauge » Mid-Atlantic

Climate Trivia: East Coast Winter Storm Frequency and ENSO

kraus — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:59:51 +0000

December is East Coast Winter Storm (ECWS) season. These storms are powered by warm water that flows from the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream current flows along the Eastern Seaboard past Florida and the Carolinas before reaching Cape Hatteras, where the warm water heads out into the Atlantic. ECWS’s travel northward along the coast causing high winds and coastal property damage comparable to hurricanes. They also bring heavy snowfall, causing further weather complications. On average, there are 12 ECWS’s during the December to February season, with January being the most active month. One of the best predictors of how intense an ECWS season will be is the ocean temperature along the coast of the southeastern U.S. during the previous summer (Gulf of Mexico temperatures were above average this past summer). The warmer these waters are, the stronger the Gulf Stream generally is and the more active the winter storm season will be. Interestingly, conditions in the eastern tropical Pacific affect ECWS activity as well. What eastern tropical Pacific conditions are most conducive to an active ECWS season?

a)   El Niño conditions (warmer eastern tropical Pacific SSTs)
b)   La Niña conditions (cooler eastern tropical Pacific SSTs)
c)   Neutral Conditions (average eastern tropical Pacific SSTs)

The correct answer is a. More active ECWS seasons tend to coincide with El Niño years. This is in contrast to Atlantic hurricane season trends, as El Niño conditions tend to suppress Atlantic Hurricane formation. Over the second half of the 20th century, the frequency of ECWS events showed little trend, but the storms did become slightly more intense.

Season: Winter

Sources: DeGaetana, AT et al. “Statistical Prediction of Seasonal East Coast Winter Storm Frequency.” Journal of Climate 15 (2002): 1101-1117 and Hirsch, ME et al. “An East Coast Winter Storm Climatology.” Journal of Climate 14 (2001): 882-899 and Eichler, T and Higgins W. “Climatology and ENSO-Related Variability of North American Extratropical Cyclone Activity.” Journal of Climate 19 (2006): 2076-2093 and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Climate Prediction Center. Accessed Online 7 December 2009 http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/stormtracks/eisdiffobs.meta.gif

Fit to be Dried

espinoza — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:14:22 +0000

Dried arrangements and holiday wreaths may contain invasive plant species, such as Oriental bittersweet (found throughout the Eastern and Great Lakes states) and multiflora rose (found through the Eastern and Midwest U.S., Colorado, California and Oregon). When these arrangements hang outside, wind and birds foraging for food can carry away berries and seeds, which may re-sprout in other areas in the spring and cause environmental damage. Invasive plants can take over open fields, wetlands, forests and even your own backyard. Oriental bittersweet is capable of killing mature trees!

Viewer Tip: There are many beautiful, natural decorations that are safe for the environment. Consider using pinecones, winterberry, American holly, pine or spruce cuttings, or cranberries for decorations.

Photos and info about Oriental bittersweet: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/ceor1.htm
Photos and info about multiflora rose: http://www.nps.gov/plants/ALIEN/fact/romu1.htm

Seasons: Fall, Winter

(Sources: New England Wildflower Society, Framingham, MA. www.newenglandwild.org; National Park Service, Plant
Conservation Alliance Alien Plant Working Group, http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/)

Turn Tree Trunks White

espinoza — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:23:50 +0000

Ever wonder why some trees have their trunks painted white? Did you know that too much sun in the winter can damage young trees? According to the National Center for Appropriate Technology, sunscald can occur on cold winter days when the afternoon sun is high in the sky. Heat given off by the sun can “confuse” young trees, causing cells to become active during the day. After the sun sets and the temperatures drop, these cells die, causing bark to fall off the trunk. Painting tree trunks white or covering trunks with white material reflects sunlight, keeping the tree trunk from warming up on cold winter days.

Viewer Tip: Use crepe paper tree wrap sold in garden centers and nurseries to protect and insulate young trees on your property. Wrap the tree trunks with the paper, fasten with tape and remove in the spring.

Season: Winter

This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more: www.attra.ncat.org.

Save Your Fuel

espinoza — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:35:38 +0000

Don’t let a drop in the outdoor temperatures mean a drop in your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. According to the National Center for Appropriate Technology, as the temperatures cool off outside, your car may use more fuel than it does during the summer months. Cold temperatures can recue tire pressure and force engines to work harder, but there are a few simple things you can do to help your car stay efficient all winter long.

Viewer tip: Check tire pressure regularly during cold weather and keep your tires properly inflated. Having just one tire under-inflated by six pounds per square inch (psi) can increase fuel consumption by three percent and reduce the tire’s life. Check your owner’s manual for information on correct inflation pressure.

In very cold climates, you may want to install an electric block heater on your car. It is less expensive to warm engines with electricity for a controlled period of time than it is to use liquid fuel. Three hours on an electric block heater is generally sufficient to warm an engine.

Season: Winter

This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about soil management: www.attra.ncat.org.

A Bright Idea

espinoza — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:12:01 +0000

A sure-fire sign of the holiday season is brilliant neighborhood light displays. Festive colored lights boost holiday spirit – and they boost energy bills, too. Americans use up to 40 percent more energy during the holiday season and much of that energy is attributed to decorative lights. Luckily, you don’t have to lose the lights to save energy – and money – this season.

Viewer Tip: Look for Energy Star (www.energystar.gov) qualified decorative light strings that use light-emitting diode (LED) technology. Energy Star strands use 75 to 90 percent less energy than traditional incandescent strands, last ten times longer and are cool to the touch, reducing fire risk. The amount of electricity use by just one traditional seven-watt incandescent bulb is enough to power 140 LEDs – that’s two 24-foot strings of LED lights!

Save even more energy and money by plugging holiday lights into a powerstrip and turning it off during the day.

Season: Winter

(Sources: Energy Star. “Decorative Light Strands.” http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=dls.pr_dls; Northwestern University Pathway to Wellness. “How to be Environmentally Conscious this Holiday Season.” http://www.nwhealth.edu/healthyU/findBalance/environ.html)

Your Watershed Address (Great Lakes)

espinoza — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:38:52 +0000

Watersheds are areas of land in which all water drains into a common body of water. Because water does not obey political boundaries, watershed maps can cross county, state and even national lines. The size of a watershed can vary, but all bodies of water have one. You can think of watersheds like pieces of a puzzle; each one is part of a larger watershed “picture.” The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Watershed covers all or part of seven states and extends into Canada. Anytime a raindrop falls in one of these areas, that raindrop could eventually make its way to one of the Lakes.

Viewer Tip: Do you know your watershed address?

Surf your watershed: Enter your zip code to find out which watershed you live in. http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/index.cfm.
Explore your watershed: Take a walk or hike in your community and observe which way water travels. Watershed boundaries are usually the highest points of land from which water flows downhill. Where does rain water end up after it hits the ground? Where does your local stream or river lead?
Adopt your watershed: Become a volunteer water quality monitor or organize a trash cleanup. Learn more: http://www.epa.gov/adopt/.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: USGS. Science in Your Watershed. http://water.usgs.gov/wsc/reg/04.html; US EPA, www.epa.gov/adopt)

Your Watershed Address (North Atlantic)

espinoza — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:35:16 +0000

Watersheds are areas of land in which all water drains into a common body of water. Because water does not obey political boundaries, watershed maps can cross county, state and even national lines. The size of a watershed can vary, but all bodies of water have one. You can think of watersheds like pieces of a puzzle; each one is part of a larger watershed “picture.” The North Atlantic region encompasses several watersheds, including the Chesapeake Bay, Susquehanna River, Hudson River, Delaware River, Cape Cod, and Gulf of Maine. Anytime a raindrop falls in one of these watersheds, that raindrop could eventually make its way all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Viewer Tip: Do you know your watershed address?

Surf your watershed: Enter your zip code to find out which watershed you live in: http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/index.cfm.
Explore your watershed: Take a walk or hike in your community and observe which way water travels. Watershed boundaries are usually the highest points of land from which water flows downhill. Where does rain water end up after it hits the ground? Where does your local stream or river lead?
Adopt your watershed: Become a volunteer water quality monitor or organize a trash cleanup. Learn more: http://www.epa.gov/adopt/.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: Alles, David L. The Colorado River: An Ecological Case Study in Coupled Human and Natural Systems. Western Washington University. http://fire.biol.wwu.edu/trent/alles/ColoradoRiverIntro.pdf)

Your Watershed Address (Mississippi River)

espinoza — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:16:15 +0000

Watersheds are areas of land in which all water drains into a common body of water. Because water does not obey political boundaries, watershed maps can cross county, state and even national lines. The size of a watershed can vary, but all bodies of water have one. You can think of watersheds like pieces of a puzzle; each one is part of a larger watershed “picture.” The Mississippi River Watershed is made up of several smaller watersheds, including the Missouri River, Arkansas/White River, Red River, Upper Mississippi, Ohio/Tennessee River and Lower Mississippi River Watersheds – all of which are made up of even smaller watersheds. Anytime a raindrop falls in Iowa, eastern Montana or even western Pennsylvania, that raindrop could end up in the Mississippi River – and eventually the Gulf of Mexico!

Viewer Tip: Do you know your watershed address?

Surf your watershed: Enter your zip code to find out which watershed you live in. http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/index.cfm
Explore your watershed: Take a walk or hike in your community and observe which way water travels. Watershed boundaries are usually the highest points of land from which water flows downhill. Where does rain water end up after it hits the ground? Where does your local stream or river lead?
Adopt your watershed: Become a volunteer water quality monitor or organize a trash cleanup. Learn more: http://www.epa.gov/adopt/.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: GulfBase. General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.gulfbase.org/facts.php. National Park Service: A Profile of the Mississippi River. http://www.nps.gov/miss/naturescience/profmiss.htm; U.S. EPA, www.epa.gov/adopt)

Pollution Re-Leaf

espinoza — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:01:15 +0000

Unlike pollution from industrial sources and sewage treatment plants, non-point source (NPS) water pollution comes from many diffuse sources. Polluted runoff is caused by rainwater or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it carries and deposits pollutants – such as fertilizers, pesticides and yard wastes like grass clippings and leaves – into lakes, rivers and streams. These non-point source pollutants degrade water quality and can be lethal for trout.

Viewer Tip: Protect water quality and save hours of raking, blowing and leaf-bagging by composting or mulching fallen leaves. Trout Unlimited offers these tips to help compost your leaves:

Shred leaves to reduce their volume and make them easier to mix when composting. Try raking leaves into small piles and shredding them with a lawnmower.
Spread whole leaves around vegetable gardens, flower beds, bushes and trees. As they break down, the leaves will contribute nutrients to the soil.
Spread gathered leaves no more than six- to eight-inches deep on a wooded area of your property.

Season: Fall

This information is provided by Trout Unlimited. Learn more at www.tu.org.

Lighten Up (DC)

espinoza — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:04:38 +0000

Fewer daylight hours and cooler weather often mean that we spend more time inside during fall and winter. While heating and cooling account for more energy use than other household activities, small appliances and lights still add to home energy costs. Last year, DC residents spent 253 dollars on energy for home lighting.

Viewer Tip: The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that replacing the four most-used traditional light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) can save the typical DC household 145 dollars over the lifetime of the bulbs! While CFLs are generally more expensive at the time of purchase, they last about eight times longer than traditional bulbs.

If you are not sure which CFL is right for your home lighting needs, check out Energy Star’s Buyers Guide: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_guide. You’ll find tips on determining how much light you need, choosing the right shade and more.

Seasons: Fall, Winter

(Sources: The Alliance to Save Energy. “2008-2009 Winter State Fact Sheets.” http://ase.org/extensions/state_facts/; Energy Star Buyers Guide: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_guide)

Lighten Up (Maryland)

espinoza — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:02:54 +0000

Fewer daylight hours and cooler weather often mean that we spend more time inside during fall and winter. While heating and cooling account for more energy use than other household activities, small appliances and lights still add to home energy costs. Last year, Maryland residents spent 269 dollars on energy for home lighting.

Viewer Tip: The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that replacing the four most-used traditional light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) can save the typical Maryland household 150 dollars over the lifetime of the bulbs! While CFLs are generally more expensive at the time of purchase, they last about eight times longer than traditional bulbs.

Seasons: Fall, Winter

Lighten Up (Pennsylvania)

espinoza — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:32:21 +0000

Fewer daylight hours and cooler weather often mean that we spend more time inside during fall and winter. While heating and cooling account for more energy use than other household activities, small appliances and lights still add to home energy costs. Last year, Pennsylvania residents spent 185 dollars on energy for home lighting.

Viewer Tip: The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that replacing the four most-used traditional light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) can save the typical Pennsylvania household 140 dollars over the lifetime of the bulbs! While CFLs are generally more expensive at the time of purchase, they last about eight times longer than traditional bulbs.

Seasons: Fall, Winter

Lighten Up (Virginia)

espinoza — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:07:26 +0000

Fewer daylight hours and cooler weather often mean that we spend more time inside during fall and winter. While heating and cooling account for more energy use than other household activities, small appliances and lights still add to home energy costs. Last year, Virginians spent 204 dollars on energy for home lighting.

Viewer Tip: The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that replacing the four most-used traditional light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) can save the typical Virginia household 120 dollars over the lifetime of the bulbs! While CFLs are generally more expensive at the time of purchase, they last about eight times longer than traditional bulbs.

Seasons: Fall, Winter

Winter Prep

espinoza — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:06:30 +0000

Fall is here and wild animals are prepping for the winter. Some species migrate to warmer places, and not just birds. Monarch butterflies, dragonflies and even some mammals migrate south in the fall. Other species grow thick winter coats to stay warm. In the case of the artic fox, snowshoe hare and short-tailed weasel, those coats are as white as snow for winter camoflauge. Storing food is another strategy. Squirrels and some birds hide nuts and seeds in the fall to sustain them all winter long, while animals that hibernate or go dormant – think bears, groundhogs and turtles – store their food as body fat and live off it ‘til spring.

Viewer Tip: Fall is also a peak time for vehicle-widlife collisions. Wildlife are active at this time of year and more commuters are traveling after dark. Keep these tips in mind to keep you – and your local wildlife – safe.

Many vehicle-wildlife collisions occur on two-lane highways bordered by natural habitat. Slow down and keep watch in these areas, especially at dawn and dusk.
Don’t toss your trash out the window. Not only is litter an eyesore, but it can also attract wildlife to roadways and cause collisions.
If you see an animal crossing the road, slow down. Where there is one animal, there are likely others.

Related Video: Download b-roll video and a script from the National Wildlife Federation to accompany this tip at http://www.earthgauge.net/resources/public-video#20

Season: Fall

(Sources: National Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org; Humane Society of the United States. “The HSUS Reminds Drivers to Slow Down, Watch for Wildlife on Roads.” www.hsus.org)

Falling Fuel Costs

espinoza — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:58:25 +0000

Thanks to lower fuel prices and expectations for a slightly milder winter, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that households in the U.S. will spend less on heating fuel this winter compared to last year. Households that use natural gas for heating can expect to spend about 12 percent less – a savings of about 105 dollars – between October and March. Households that rely on propane for heat will spend 12 percent less and electricty users will spend about two percent less.

Viewer Tip: The amount you spend on energy this winter also depends on the size and energy efficiency of your home, the type of heating equipment you use and your thermostat settings. These low-cost tips from the Alliance to Save Energy will help you increase energy efficiency at home and save money on your energy bill:

Ditch filthy filters. Check your furnace filter each month and replace it if it looks dirty. A dirty filter slows air flow and makes your heating system work harder.
Drop a degree. Turning the thermostat down by just one degree can save up to five percent on energy costs!
Let the light in. Allow sunlight to heat your home naturally by opening curtains on on west- and south-facing windows during the day. Close them at night.
Close vents. Heat family members and pets, not empty space. Close vents in unoccupied rooms to save energy and direct heat to where you are.

Seasons: Fall, Winter

(Sources: Energy Information Administration. “Short-term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook.” October 6, 2009 Release. Available from: www.eia.doe.gov; Alliance to Save Energy. “Lower Winter Fuel Costs + Mild Weather + Energy Efficiency + Federal Tax Credits = Good News for Consumers.” http://ase.org/content/news/detail/6163)

Falling Fuel Costs (Northeast)

espinoza — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:50:49 +0000

Thanks to lower fuel prices and expectations for a slightly milder winter, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that households in the U.S. will spend less on heating fuel this winter compared to last year. In the Midwest, where over 70 percent of households use natural gas for heating, EIA projects that households will spend about 15 percent less on natural gas between October and March.

Ditch filthy filters. Check your furnace filter each month and replace it if it looks dirty. A dirty filter slows air flow and makes your heating system work harder.
Drop a degree. Turning the thermostat down by just one degree can save up to five percent on energy costs!
Let the light in. Allow sunlight to heat your home naturally by opening curtains on on west- and south-facing windows during the day. Close them at night.
Close vents. Heat family members and pets, not empty space. Close vents in unoccupied rooms to save energy and direct heat to where you are.

Seasons: Fall, Winter

Help Protect Children from Environmental Risks

espinoza — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:24:26 +0000

October is Children’s Health Month. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when food, water or air is polluted, children are more affected by that pollution than adults. Children eat, drink and breathe more per pound than adults. Also, their bodies are still developing and their behavior can expose them more to chemicals and organisms.

Viewer Tip: Spending more time inside during the cooler fall and winter months means increased exposure to indoor hazards. You can help protect the children in your home, school and community from environmental health hazards in their surrounding daily environment.

Have a health care provider or local health department test children’s blood lead levels.
Wash floors and window sills to remove dust and peeling lead-based paint, especially in older homes. Repair peeling or chipping paint in older homes.
Reduce asthma attacks by controlling triggers such as pet dander, mold and second-hand smoke.
Avoid exposing children to cigarette, cigar or pipe smoke at home or in a car.
Store pesticides and other chemicals in a locked cabinet. Never put them in other containers that can be mistaken for food or drink.
Have your home tested for radon, as it is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

EPA offers additional tips for Children’s Health Month: http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/calendar.htm.

Season: Fall

(Source: Environmental Protection Agency. Children’s Health Month 2009: http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpWeb.nsf/content/chm2009.htm.)

Seasonal Shift (Northeast & Mid-Atlantic)

espinoza — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:29:33 +0000

The change of seasons is an important influence on animal behavior. Whether it’s the hot season turning cold or the dry season turning wet, wildlife has to adapt to survive. One strategy is migration. Songbirds, waterfowl, raptors and hummingbirds travel north and south each year, some as far as the tropics! Caribou and pronghorn shift their ranges to find access to food. Even insects such as monarch butterflies and green darner dragonflies travel great distances to survive the change in season.

Viewer Tip: Migratory species are on the move! The fall season offers great wildlife-watching opportunities in your own backyard or at a local park or nature preserve. In the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, keep a lookout for waterfowl and raptors that may drop by your yard to rest and feed. Report your sightings on the National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Watch website.

Download b-roll video and a script to accompany this tip: http://www.earthgauge.net/resources/public-video#19.

This information is provided by the National Wildlife Federation. Learn more at http://www.nwf.org/.

When the Rain Falls Down…

espinoza — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:27:39 +0000

If the water we use is replenished by precipitation, why do we need to save it? The short answer is that while water can be purified and reused over and over thanks to the natural water cycle and wastewater treatment technology, it may not be available everywhere—or every time—it’s needed. When we all use water more efficiently, we preserve our local water supplies and allow clean water to be shared among people and the environment. Every drop counts!

Viewer Tip: Consider installing WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures. For every nine homes that install WaterSense labeled toilets, enough water is saved to supply one more household in the community with water!

Season: Fall

This information is provided by EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more: www.epa.gov/watersense.

Rake in Water Savings

espinoza — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:13:44 +0000

Did you know that at least 30 percent of the water you use at home is outdoors? In drier parts of the country, homeowners use as much as 70 percent of their water outdoors.

Viewer Tip: This autumn, look for ways to be more water-efficient and fall into good water habits.

Adjust your watering schedule each month to match seasonal weather conditions and landscape requirements.
Plant in the fall, when temperatures are cool and water is more plentiful. In fact, fall is a great time to aerate your lawn, test your soil and plant trees, shrubs or spring-blooming bulbs.
Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps rather than hosing them off.
Spread a layer of organic mulch around plants to retain moisture and save water, time and money.

This information is provided by EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more: www.epa.gov/watersense.

Season: Fall

(Sources: www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php and www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/res.htm)