Earth Gauge » Sandpoint

Lakes Appreciation (Western Mountains Region)

espinoza — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:20:07 +0000

As part of the National Lakes Assessment, the U.S. EPA selected and sampled 155 lakes in the Western Mountains Region (covering the Cascade, Sierra Nevada and Pacific Coast ranges, the Gila Mountains, and the Bitterroot and Rocky Mountains) to characterize the condition of more than 4,100 lakes throughout the area. What did researchers find?

More than half of lakes in the Western Mountains Region are in good biological condition, meaning they are able to support healthy aquatic plant and animal communities.
96 percent of lakes show low risk of exposure to blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), which produce toxins that can make humans sick.
43 percent of lakes show moderate or high levels of lakeshore disturbance due to human activities like removing trees to add paved areas, sandy beaches or lawns.

Viewer Tip: July is Lakes Appreciation Month. As you enjoy boating, fishing and swimming in local lakes, remember that you can help keep our lakes healthy.

If you live near a lake: Go Wild. Let natural vegetation grow near the lake shoreline to filter water pollutants and protect the shoreline from erosion.

If you visit a lake: Avoid hitchhikers. Non-native species (animals and plants that are not originally from a certain lake) can invade a lake and take over the habitat. If you are a recreational boater, don’t give non-native species a free ride: remove any visible mud and plants from equipment that was in the water, including your boat and trailer. And never put any plants, fish or other animals into a body of water – unless they came out of that same water!

Season: Summer

(Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2009. National Lakes Assessment: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation’s Lakes. EPA 841-R-09-001. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water and Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC; Trout Unlimited, www.tu.org)

Xeriscaping

espinoza — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:22:01 +0000

Earth Gauge Video is available for this tip.

Do you like a beautiful yard, but not the time, effort and money required to maintain it? In hot, dry climates, the water required to maintain a lush landscape can be costly. Just one lawn sprinkler operating three times per week can use more than 1,000 gallons of water. About half of that water is lost by evaporation.

Viewer Tip: Try xeriscaping to maintain a beautiful yard without guzzling water. “Xeros” is a greek word meaning “dry.” By choosing native, drought-tolerant plants that are well adapted to your climate, you can cut outdoor watering expenses in half!

To learn more about the principles of xeriscaping, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/outdoor-tips/how-to/landscape-to-xeriscape/index.php.

To find plants that are native to your area, visit www.wildflower.org/explore/ or ask an expert at your local garden center.

Seasons: Spring, Summer

(Sources: Water Use it Wisely, www.wateruseitwisely.org; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, http://www.wildflower.org/explore/)

Air Quality

espinoza — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:09:13 +0000

Did you know that almost 60 percent of Americans live an area with unhealthy levels of air pollution? Just like a recipe, the atmosphere needs all the right ingredients to make ground-level ozone – a harmful air pollutant that is common during the summer months. When the temperature rises and the sun is shining, heat and sunlight mix with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds that come from car exhaust, power plants, refineries, gasoline vapors at gas stations and other sources to “cook-up” ground-level ozone. Certain groups of people are especially vulnerable to health effects from air pollution, including young children, older adults and people who have lung diseases like asthma.

Viewer Tip: People who exercise or work outside are also at increased risk for health impacts from air pollution. Stay healthy and reduce your exposure by watching air quality reports from your local media or checking www.airnow.gov. When conditions reach “Code Orange” or higher, consider rescheduling sports games and other strenuous outdoor activities for another day. If you do go outside, aim for the early morning or evening hours, when air pollution levels are likely to be lower.

Season: Summer

(Sources: American Lung Association. “State of the Air 2010: Air Quality Facts.” http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/facts/; US EPA. “What Affects My Air Quality?” http://www.epa.gov/airnow/airaware/day2-detail.html; www.airnow.gov)

Become a Storm Spotter

espinoza — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:50:21 +0000

Have you ever wanted to help keep your community by reporting severe weather? SKYWARN is a volunteer network of nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters around the country. SKYWARN spotters help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate information to the National Weather Service about weather events like thunderstorms, winter weather and flooding.

Viewer Tip: Anyone can join the SKYWARN program. To become a storm spotter, you must attend a free training class at any of the 122 National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices around the country. You’ll learn to identify and describe severe weather and you’ll also learn about basic weather safety. To get more information about SKYWARN and find out when classes are available in your area, visit www.nws.noaa.gov/skywarn or contact your local National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist at www.stormready.noaa.gov/contact.htm.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: NOAA National Weather Service. SKYWARN. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/skywarn/)

Summer Energy Savings for Renters

espinoza — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:37:39 +0000

Do you rent your home or apartment? You’re not alone – about 33 percent of U.S. residents were renters between 2006 and 2008. Taking energy-saving steps can seem challenging when you don’t own your home and cannot make major changes to your living space. But, did you know that there are easy ways to save energy and shave a few dollars off your utility bill this summer?

Viewer Tip: Give these renter-friendly energy-saving tips a try.

No Cost: Bump the thermostat up to 78 degrees when no one is home. For each degree you raise the thermostat, you’ll save three to five percent on air conditioning costs. Close shades and curtains during the day to keep the heat out.

Low Cost: Swap out a few traditional incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). CFLs are a bit more expensive to purchase, but they last six to ten times longer than traditional bulbs and give off 75 percent less heat!

Investment: If you are purchasing a room air conditioner, look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star qualified models use at least ten percent less energy than standard models. Make sure the unit you purchase is the right size for your room – for help, visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=roomac.pr_properly_sized.

Season: Summer

(Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates Data Profiles, http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en&_ts=; U.S. EPA, “EPA Offers Cooling Tips for Every Budget this Summer.” http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f5337/386ebff0a635644f8525773c004d84d3!OpenDocument; American Council for an Energy Efficiency Economy, “Cooling Equipment,” http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/cooling.htm)

Don’t Stress (Your Lawn) Out

espinoza — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:59:39 +0000

Mowing the lawn is a typical summer activity. Did you know that when you mow, you can actually “stress out” your grass? This can lead to a brown, weedy and patchy lawn. But, by increasing your mower height, you can reduce stress on turf species as well as the incidence of some common turf weeds. Increasing the height of your mower blades is particularly important when turf is under stress from heat, drought or shade.

Viewer Tip: Don’t leave your mower set at the same cutting height all year. Instead, increase the mower height to reduce stress on turf that is in the shade or exposed to extreme heat. Since turf species grow more slowly when they are under stress, allow enough time between cutting for the turf to regrow sufficiently before it is mowed again. This may mean mowing shady sections of your lawn at intervals different from those used in sunny areas.

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

Bike to Work Week

espinoza — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:15:08 +0000

May is National Bike Month and May 17-21, 2010 is Bike to Work Week. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that there is one adult-sized bicycle per U.S. household, but few adults report taking a bike trip outdoors. Taking your two-wheeler for a spin not only helps keep you healthy, it also saves money, reduces traffic congestion and contributes to cleaner air. As a matter of fact, using alternative transportation – biking, walking, carpooling or taking public transit – just one day per week for a year saves the typical commuter 1,200 miles on their car and about 567 dollars in driving costs.

Viewer Tip: Try biking to work or school just one day this week. Research has shown that the length of about half of all car trips – three miles – can be covered as quickly on a bike when parking and traffic delays are taken into account. These resources will help you on your way:

Find National Bike Month and Bike to Work Week events in your community: www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/events.php
Plan a bike route using Google Maps: maps.google.com/biking
Get cyclist and pedestrian safety tips from the Federal Highway Administration: safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/

Season: Spring

(Sources: Federal Highway Administration. “It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air: Alternative Transportation.” http://www.italladdsup.gov/tools/seasonal_materials.asp; League of American Bicyclists, www.bikeleague.org)

Mercury and Fish

espinoza — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:54:26 +0000

Earth Gauge Video is available for this tip.

Are you going fishing this season? Many people head to local lakes and streams during nice weather. A new, four-year, multi-agency study shows a nearly 50 percent chance that the fish you catch will contain mercury. Some levels are so high that pregnant women and children should not eat the fish. Mercury is emitted into the air by power plants, garbage incinerators, even cars. When it falls back to the Earth with rain and snow, it can enter lakes, streams and the fish food chain.

Viewer Tip: If you eat the fish you catch in local waters, check local advisories for advice about consuming fish safely. Visit www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish to find fish advisories in your area.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall

(Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2009. The National Study of Chemical Residues in Lake Fish Tissue. EPA-823-R-09-006. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC; USEPA, “Fish Advisories.” www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish)

Driveway Drips

espinoza — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:34:29 +0000

Residential driveways can account for up to 15 percent of the total paved area in a city or state. These paved surfaces are “hot spots” for accumulation of pollutants like motor oil, antifreeze and yard care chemicals. During a storm, rain water picks up pollutants from paved areas and heads to the storm drain, which often directs the water straight to our neighborhood streams and rivers without treatment. Too many pollutants in our water bodies can impact wildlife, fish and even drinking water quality.

Viewer Tip: There are easy ways to help protect water quality in your community.

Low cost: Keep your driveway free of pollutants and chemicals by fixing car leaks. If fertilizers or other yard care treatments spill onto the driveway, sweep them back onto the lawn or garden. Never use a hose to clean your driveway – the water will act just like a rain storm, carrying pollutants away to the storm drain.
Long-term investment: If you are replacing a driveway or walkway, consider using permeable pavements. There are many materials available that allow rain water to soak through to the soil rather than running off to the storm drain. For some examples, check out http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/stormwater/pavements.htm.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO). Planning for Stormwater: Driveways, http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/stormwater/driveways.htm and Planning for Stormwater: Permeable Pavements, http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/stormwater/pavements.htm)

40 Years of Earth Day

espinoza — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:57:50 +0000

Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the first Earth Day, which took place on April 22, 1970, as a national “teach in” about the environment. On that day, over 20 million Americans participated – including 10,000 elementary and high schools, 2,000 colleges and more than 1,000 communities. Today, as Earth Day turns 40, the event is celebrated by more than 500 million people worldwide.

Viewer Tip: Looking for ways to celebrate Earth Day? There are fun opportunities taking place all week.

National Park Week: From April 17-25, the National Park Service is offering fee-free days at 392 national parks around the country. This is a perfect to time to get outside, enjoy nice weather and reconnect with nature. Plan your visit: www.nps.gov/npweek.
Participate in a local event: Search for events by region at www.epa.gov/earthday/events.htm.
Contribute to the Billion Acts of Green: Help Earth Day Network document one billion acts of green for Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary. Tell them what you’ll do to help protect the environment – it can be as simple as recycling, walking to school or work, or planting a tree! www.earthday.net/earthday2010splash/.

Fun Fact: The advent of fiber optics, the Beatles’ last album, Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” the death of Jimi Hendrix and the birth of Mariah Carey all took place in 1970 – the same year Earth Day was born.

(Sources: The Earth Day Network, “History of Earth Day.” http://www.earthday.net/node/77; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Earth Day.” http://www.epa.gov/earthday/; Gaylord Nelson and Earth Day, “The Earth Day Story and Gaylord Nelson.” http://nelsonearthday.net/)

Earth Gauge: 40 Years of Earth Day
Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the first Earth Day, which took place on April 22, 1970, as a national “teach in” about the environment. On that day, over 20 million Americans participated – including 10,000 elementary and high schools, 2,000 colleges and more than 1,000 communities. Today, as Earth Day turns 40, the event is celebrated by more than 500 million people worldwide.

Viewer Tip: Looking for ways to celebrate Earth Day? There are fun opportunities taking place all week.
National Park Week: From April 17-25, the National Park Service is offering fee-free days at 392 national parks around the country. This is a perfect to time to get outside, enjoy nice weather and reconnect with nature. Plan your visit: www.nps.gov/npweek/.
Participate in a local event: Search for events by region at www.epa.gov/earthday/events.htm.
Contribute to the Billion Acts of Green: Help Earth Day Network document one billion acts of green for Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary. Tell them what you’ll do to help protect the environment – it can be as simple as recycling, walking to school or work, or planting a tree! www.earthday.net/earthday2010splash/.
Fun Fact: The advent of fiber optics, the Beatles’ last album, Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” the death of Jimi Hendrix and the birth of Mariah Carey all took place in 1970 – the same year Earth Day was born.

Urban Wildlife

espinoza — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:04:48 +0000

B-roll video is available for this tip.

Spring is here and there’s no better time to get outside, enjoy the weather and do some wildlife watching! And, you don’t have to live in the country to do it. There’s an amazing diversity of wildlife in the suburbs – and even in the city.

Viewer Tip: Fill a bird feeder, plant some flowers or put out a birdbath and you’ll attract all sorts of birds, butterflies and other backyard wildlife. If you don’t have your own garden space, just head to the local city park to discover your wild neighbors.

This information is provided by the National Wildlife Federation. Get more tips on wildlife watching at www.nwf.org/wildlifewatch.

Use the National Environmetal Education Week Nature Center Map to search for nature and environmental education centers in your area: http://www.eeweek.org/nature_centers.htm.

Spring Showers

espinoza — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:56:50 +0000

Showering accounts for about 17 percent of residential indoor water use – up to 30 gallons of water per household per day. According to EPA, we use 1.2 trillion gallons of water every year in the U.S. just for showering. That’s enough water to meet the water needs of New York and New Jersey for a year.

Viewer Tip: Starting this spring, look for WaterSense labeled showerheads. EPA’s WaterSense label helps identify faucets, toilets and showerheads that save water and perform well. A WaterSense labeled showerhead saves more than 2,000 gallons per year while also saving energy. The energy your family can save in a year from heating less water for showers is enough to meet your entire home’s electrical needs for 10 days!

Learn more about the WaterSense label: www.epa.gov/watersense/

Season: Spring

(Source: U.S. EPA. WaterSense Program: Showerheads. www.epa.gov/watersense/products/showerheads.html)

Spring Cleaning

espinoza — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:30:19 +0000

How much hazardous waste does the average American household accumulate in one year? Ten pounds? Fifty? Actually, the typical home accumulates up to 100 pounds of household hazardous waste in just one year! Think of paints, pesticides, cleaning supplies, oil, antifreeze and other products that hide away in the basement, garage or shed. These products may contain corrosive, toxic or flammable ingredients. If products are dumped outside or stored in an area where rain or floodwater can reach them, they can be washed into storm drains, rivers and streams, and even well water, putting water quality at risk.

Viewer Tip: Take a few minutes during spring cleaning to make sure you’re properly storing and disposing of household hazardous wastes.

Store products in their original containers with labels to avoid misuse or accidental ingestion.
Never mix leftovers with other products – this may cause reactions or explosions. Mixing products may also make it so they cannot be recycled.
If you no longer need a product, take it to a local household hazardous waste collection program. Find one at www.cleanup.org.

Season: Spring

(Source: U.S. EPA. “Household Hazardous Waste.” http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/hhw.htm)

Know Your Plant Hardiness Zone

espinoza — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:52:37 +0000

For home gardeners, weather is a major variable in determining the success of crops. Spring planting dates are commonly scheduled around the first frost-free day. Weather has a large influence on timing because of its effect on seedling establishment and crop growth. For example, peas planted at the first possible planting date in the spring and then again two weeks later will usually mature only one week apart. Germination conditions at the time of the second planting will likely be much better, and the young plants will grow faster as the days lengthen, slowly catching up with the first crop.

Viewer Tip: If you know your U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone number, you can find the average annual frost-free date for your area. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides the United States into 11 zones. Knowing your zone means you can look up the first day in your area without frost. To find your zone, visit your local extension agent, ask at an area nursery or check with your local librarian.

You can also visit http://www.garden.org/zipzone/ and use your zip code to learn more about your hardiness zone and get suggestions for plants that will fare well in your area.

This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more in ”Scheduling Vegetable Plantings for Continuous Harvest” – http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/continuousharvest.html.

The Grass isn’t Always Greener

espinoza — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:19:42 +0000

Did you know that the average American household uses about two-thirds of its water outside? Most is used to water lawns and as much as half of that water is wasted by inefficient watering, either too often or at the hottest part of the day when water evaporates quickly. When we conserve water at home, there is more water available for fish and wildlife.

Viewer Tip: Trout Unlimited suggests offers these suggestions to help you conserve water when tending to your lawn or garden:

Before watering your lawn, check the local forecast. Rain might be in the forecast and would eliminate the need for watering.
Place buckets outside to collect rain water and then use the rain water to water your gardens. This is a great water-saving alternative.
Even in the hottest weather, a lawn only needs to be watered about once per week.

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

Spring Compost for Lush Summer Grass

espinoza — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:51:43 +0000

Early spring might be the season for heavy rain or even a white blanket of snow, but it’s not too early to start thinking about using compost to help grow a lush green lawn. Did you know the best time to apply compost is in the spring? According to the National Center for Appropriate Technology, compost applied in the spring provides nutrients during the main growing season. Cool-season grasses do most of their growing during the spring and root growth for cool-season grasses peaks during the two months prior to maximum shoot growth in the spring.

Viewer Tip: For uniform turf growth throughout the growing season, apply the majority of your compost in the spring –about 50 percent of the nutrients your lawn needs. For an eco-friendly fertilizer, try mature compost, which provides turf plants with a balanced source of nutrients that are released slowly into the soil. To get grass to turn green early in the spring, you may want to supplement compost with other natural nitrogen sources, like alfalfa meal.

Season: Spring

This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about sustainable turf care: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/turfcare.html.

More Peas, Please!

espinoza — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:44:10 +0000

Did you know that weather has a large influence on seedling establishment and crop growth? If you enjoy eating peas from your garden, you can plant peas early in the spring, plant another batch of peas a few weeks later, and both batches will be ready to harvest at almost the same time. That’s because weather conditions will slow germination for the first batch of peas and speed them up for the second. The younger second batch of plants will grow faster as the days lengthen, slowly catching up with the first crop.

Viewer Tip: You can start planting peas in soil temperatures of 40–75 degrees Fahrenheit. Try putting a crop in as soon as the soil reaches the lower end of the temperature range, and then add another set of seeds in a few weeks. Then wait until summer and you’ll have an abundance of peas to enjoy.

Season: Spring

This information is provided by ATTRA– National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about continuous crop harvest at http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/continuousharvest.html#succession

If it’s Falling…

espinoza — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:45:08 +0000

You may as well collect! The upcoming dry summer months are probably the last thing on your mind during heavy late winter and spring rains. At this time of year, it may seem like it will never dry out, but it’s important to remember that a hot summer is just around the corner. So why not collect that extra spring rainwater for the summer, when your yard seems to always need a drink? Buildings can play a role in capturing rainwater for irrigation. Rooftop water-catchment systems vary in complexity from simple rain barrels placed at the bottom of gutters to systems that collect runoff that is stored in a cistern and treated for vegetable irrigation.

Viewer Tip: Water collection and re-use systems play an important role in conserving water. A properly placed rain barrel can collect rain runoff from your roof this spring and save it for use in the summer. Just remember that birds and other animals also visit your roof, so water from a rain barrel is best used on non-food plants, like your flowers and lawn.

Season: Spring

This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about efficient agricultural buildings: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/agbuildings.html

Birdhouses

espinoza — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:38:08 +0000

B-roll video is available for this tip.

Mid-winter is the perfect time to put out a birdhouse. Even though there is still snow on the ground in many places and many bird species are still far to the south, it’s not too early. Chickadees, bluebirds, screech owls and woodpeckers are among the bird species that will use a birdhouse built and mounted to their specifications. All of these species stick around for the winter and at this time of year begin scouting out locations to build their nests come spring. If you have a birdhouse out now, these birds are likely to pick your yard as the place to raise their new family once spring arrives.

Viewer Tip: If cold or snowy weather is keeping you inside and you’re looking for a fun do-it-yourself project, consider building your own birdhouse instead of purchasing one. The Cornell Lab or Ornithology has plans for several different types of birdhouses, along with plans for predator guards to keep animals like raccoons, snakes and cats away from nesting birds. Visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/nestinginfo/nestboxref/construct.

More helpful birdhouse-building tips are available from National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Outdoor-Activities/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/Tipsheets.aspx.

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

Climate Trivia: ENSO and Regional Rainfall (Northwest)

kraus — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:58:02 +0000

Winter storm season is here. Storms will be blowing in from the Pacific, bringing rainfall to lower elevations and snow to the mountains. This year, the eastern tropical Pacific is in an El Niño phase, meaning that its waters are warmer than average. When the eastern Pacific is in an El Niño phase, the northwestern U.S. can expect:

a)   more than normal rainfall
b)   less than normal rainfall
c)   about average rainfall

The correct answer is b. The Northwest gets less than normal rainfall during El Niño winters and greater than normal rainfall during La Niña winters, when the colder waters in the eastern Pacific cause the Pacific storm track to shift north and hit us. The storm track will spend most of its time south of us this winter, thus giving us below average rainfall through about April.

View a schematic diagram of how El Niño and La Niña events affect wintertime rainfall and temperature: http://www.earthgauge.net/climate-facts-image-library#5. For more information on El Niño, including seasonal forecasts by region, visit: http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/. Learn more about what Northern Hemisphere storm tracks are and how they work: http://www.earthgauge.net/wp-content/CF_Storm%20Tracks.pdf.

Season: Winter

Sources: 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