Our "swirl" could become a tropical cyclone this weekend as it moves toward the Carolina's. By late Fri. evening the low had become a tropical depression, & it'll be a close call on whether or not it can become a tropical storm because of its proximity to land. Either way, the effects on the First Coast will be minimal -- some heavy showers Fri. evening,
offshore winds for the weekend, & that's pretty much it. More significant impacts will be confined to the Carolina's including some much-needed rainfall.
As usual....the tropics will be updated throughout the weekend at "Talking the Tropics With Mike".
The local weather story this weekend will end up being the return of the heat. High temperatures will soar to the mid 90s with heat indices near or even a little above 100. Thunderstorms will occur each afternoon but will be scattered. Where the storms occur, expect frequent lightning & blinding downpours.
Earth Gauge: UV-Aware
July is UV Awareness Month! Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun causes sunburn and other health effects, including skin cancer and cataracts. Everyone should protect themselves from the sun, and some groups can be particularly susceptible to health effects from sun exposure:
Kids: About 25 percent of a person's lifetime exposure to UV radiation occurs before the age of 18, meaning that it is especially important to protect children - who may not know how to properly protect themselves - from sun exposure.
Gardeners and Farmers: The National Gardening Association found that the average gardener spends 2.8 hours per week in the garden. Because they spend lots of time outside, gardeners and farmers can be more at-risk for skin cancer.
Older Individuals: Older people's skin cells are less able to repair DNA damage caused by exposure to the sun. There is also evidence that UV-B radiation from the sun puts older people at increased risk of developing cataracts.
Tip: When possible, work and play outside during the cooler parts of the day - before 10:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. - and remember that it is possible to burn on a cloudy day, even when the sun doesn't seem bright. Use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen liberally and often, and wear protective clothing - hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirt, and pants.
Added Bonus: Gardening in the early morning or evening is better for your plants, too! Water evaporates more quickly in the sun, so watering during the cooler parts of the day means your plants retain more water. Transplants will also fare better if performed during cooler parts of the day, when there is less stress from the sun's heat.
(Sources: The Skin Cancer Foundation. "Sage Advice." ; Fosdick, Dean (Associated Press), July 9, 2008. "A Growing Problem." The Washington Post Express; U.S. EPA Aging Initiative. "UV Radiation and Health Effects."; U.S. EPA Office of Air and Radiation. September 2006. "The Sun, UV, and You: A Guide to Sunwise Behavior."
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Climate Fact: Looming Lake Loss
Most of the Arctic has warmed considerably over the last 30 years, and parts of Alaska have warmed by 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite an increase in precipitation during this same period, the region is losing its lakes. In Alaska, for example, the total area of the region's lakes has shrunk by between 14 and 30 percent. In Siberia, there has been a six percent decrease in total lake surface area. This decrease would be greater if it were not offset by an increase in lakes at the most northern regions. Both the increases and decreases are part of the same process. As the ground warms, pockets in the soil collapse and depressions in the surface form. At first, water flows into these depressions and creates lakes. This water, however, facilitates warming of deeper layers of the soil. These layers then become permeable, and the lake water drains into the subsurface and the lakes disappear. Because waterfowl inhabit these lakes in the summer, the lake losses threaten the hunting opportunities that the region's inhabitants have enjoyed for generations.
(Source: Smith, LC et al. "Disappearing Arctic Lakes." Science 308 (2005): 1429-1430 and Lovett, Richard. "Warming May Be Drying Up Alaska's Lakes, Photo Study Says." National Geographic News: 17 October 2006. Accessed online 14 July 2008
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Climate in the News – "Intensified Ice Sheet Movements Do Not Affect Rising Sea Levels." – Science Daily, July 11, 2008 ......While meltwater is rapidly increasing the pace of ice sheet movement in Greenland, new research suggests that this process is not likely to be a major contributing factor to rising sea levels.
Have a great & safe weekend...stay cool!
