Yet another nice weekend on the way for the First Coast. Lots of sun & a dry westerly wind will allow temps. to rise quickly Sat. reaching the 70s in the afternoon. A dry cold front will move through the area late Sat./Sat. night bring cooler temps. Sun. but still lots of sun & temps. that will manage to reach the mid to upper 60s but with a pretty stiff breeze. The chilliest temps. will be early Mon. with inland lows dropping into the 30s.
Our next storm system could be a potent one for the middle of next week. Low pressure will move from the Gulf of Mexico northeast up or near the spine of the Appalachians. A return of warm, humid air should develop showers by Tue. night followed quickly by a cold front that will trigger showers & thunderstorms. It's possible this system could bring some decent rains to the First Coast...& maybe strong storms.
"Hazardous Weather Awareness Week" concludes today. The topic is wildfires &, of course, we're coming off a terrible fire year. Our longterm drought continues -- & with rainfall expected to be no better than average the next few months -- so our late spring/early summer fire season could be another rough one...probably beginning earlier than normal.
Earth Gauge: Safe Feeders
This is the time of year when you're likely to see a lot of activity at backyard birdfeeders, especially if a storm is approaching. When storms are on the way, birds will often feed heavily to prepare for bad weather, and feeders can help supplement their diet. Providing a variety of seeds, nuts, suet (fat mixed with seed), and berries can help to attract a variety of bird species to your yard.
Tip: If you are adding a feeder to your yard, there are simple placement and care considerations that can help keep backyard birds safe when they visit for a meal:
Place feeders a good distance away from windows - about 30 feet - which can reduce the likelihood of startled birds striking your windows. It is estimated that up to one billion birds die in the U.S. each year from window strikes.
Keep seed supplies fresh - when wet weather is in the forecast, birdseed can be saturated with water and grow mold. Store extra seed in a container that will stay dry, and refresh outdoor feeders often.
Keep feeders clean - a monthly scrub can help to remove bacteria and mold. The National Audubon Society recommends a nine-to-one water-bleach solution for cleaning plastic, metal, or ceramic feeders, or a three-to-one water-vinegar solution for wooden feeders.
Consider keeping your cat indoors - this benefits both backyard birds and your pet. Indoor cats tend to live longer than outdoor cats, and are exposed to fewer threats from disease and accidents.
(Sources: eNature.com, National Wildlife Federation. Birds and Birding: Southeast.; National Audubon Society. "Audubon at Home: Keeping Wildlife Safe."
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Climate Fact: ENSO and Carbon Concentrations
Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have risen from 280 parts per million in pre-industrial times to around 385 parts per million today. The rate of this rise has varied from year to year. The two phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation Cycle (ENSO), El Niño (positive) and La Niña (negative), appear to have a significant influence on this variation. The influence that the cycle has on temperature and rainfall in the tropics appears to in turn affect the rates of vegetation growth, which takes CO2 out of the atmosphere, and plant respiration, which takes place when plants use the energy reserves that they stored during years that were more conducive to growth; respiration releases CO2 into the atmosphere. ENSO’s influence seems to be especially strong in southeastern Asia and the western Amazon; during warm and dry El Niño years, plants in these regions grow at a slower rate, there are more fires, and plants consume more of their stored energy. During cool and wet La Niña phases, there is more plant growth, fires are rarer, and plants are storing more energy reserves than they are consuming. The influence that ENSO phases have on tropical forest conditions is thought to largely account for the variation in annual growth rates in atmospheric CO2 concentrations. In the same ENSO cycle, these rates can vary as much as 225 percent between the El Niño and La Niña phases.
(Source: Heimann, Martin and Reichstein, Markus. “Terrestrial ecosystem carbon dynamics and climate feedbacks.” Nature (2008), vol 451. pp. 289-292)
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Climate in the News: "Finger pointed at La Niña in search for clues" - Financial Times, February 2, 2008
The recent snowstorms and heavy rains in China, which have slowed the Nation's transportation network, are being linked to La Niña.
A baby giraffe was recently born at our beloved Jax Zoo & Gardens, & you can see it this weekend! Here's the info. straight from the zoo:
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is proud to announce the birth of a healthy male giraffe. The calf was born on January 26, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. to Zawadi. The calf first stood 36 minutes after birth and first nursed at 1 hour and 54 minutes after birth. He is 5’7” and 142 pounds, and after a neonatal exam by Zoo staff, appears to be very healthy. The mother is also doing very well and has demonstrated excellent maternal skills, including licking the calf to clean and stimulate it immediately following the birth. This is Zawadi and Duke, the father’s, third offspring. The calf, whose name will be determined at the Zoo’s premier annual fundraiser, ExZOOberation, will be on exhibit this weekend.
The gestation period for a giraffe is about fifteen months. In the wild, calves spend much of their first week lying down and hiding, while the mother remains alert and prepared to defend her calf against predators such as lions and hyenas. At birth, calves are approximately six-feet tall and weigh between 104 and 155 lbs. Giraffes are the tallest animals and can reach up to eighteen feet in height and 1,200-4,000 lbs. in weight. Giraffes have been part of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens collection since 1957.
Have a great & safe weekend!
