News Link
Maybe a warning for all those underground facilities in Colorado and we all know how rodents like to munch on electrical lines.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Ski Secrets: What Resorts Won't Say About Injuries on Slopes
News Link
One guy's sad story of being run over by an out-of-control snowboarder and how the resort did nothing to help him find the culprit.
One guy's sad story of being run over by an out-of-control snowboarder and how the resort did nothing to help him find the culprit.
Friday, April 29, 2016
Congress Votes to Make the Bison Our National Mammal
News Link
This will be good competition for the eagle and should raise the CU Buffaloes to national prominence.
This will be good competition for the eagle and should raise the CU Buffaloes to national prominence.
Remembering the 9 Who Died at Colorado Ski Areas in 2016
News Link
Not mere statistics, this piece has wonderful photos and the story of each person that make you feel like you knew them.
Not mere statistics, this piece has wonderful photos and the story of each person that make you feel like you knew them.
Look Back at Experimental Injection Wells at Rangely in 1969
News Link
An interesting story about 2 USGS researchers looking for a method to induce small earthquakes to relieve pressure and prevent "the big one". What they found is high pressure injection wells can induce lots of earthquakes. The higher the pressure, the more quakes. Turn the injection wells off and the earthquakes go away.
An interesting story about 2 USGS researchers looking for a method to induce small earthquakes to relieve pressure and prevent "the big one". What they found is high pressure injection wells can induce lots of earthquakes. The higher the pressure, the more quakes. Turn the injection wells off and the earthquakes go away.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Bear Cub Spotted Up in Tree in Boulder
News Link
Is it time for a 3-peat? Could be the next bear to be shot with a tranquilizer by the Boulder PD with full video of the unconscious bear cub falling 45 feet to the ground.
Is it time for a 3-peat? Could be the next bear to be shot with a tranquilizer by the Boulder PD with full video of the unconscious bear cub falling 45 feet to the ground.
NASA Map of Expected Range of Mosquitoes That Can Carry Zika Virus
Commercial Airliner Strikes Bird During Takeoff, Damage Forces Return and Landing
News Link
A plane damaged by hitting birds is a very rare occurrence. In this case a huge dent in the nose was not as serious as incidents in which birds are sucked into the jet engine and destroy it. The most famous case was the miracle landing on the Hudson River in 2009 in which all the engines were disabled. Here is a gallery of incredible photos of the rescue.
A plane damaged by hitting birds is a very rare occurrence. In this case a huge dent in the nose was not as serious as incidents in which birds are sucked into the jet engine and destroy it. The most famous case was the miracle landing on the Hudson River in 2009 in which all the engines were disabled. Here is a gallery of incredible photos of the rescue.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Skunk Tests Positive for Rabies in Arvada
News Link
Jefferson County claims this is the first time for a terrestrial animal (ie: not bats) in county history. My guess is that it was quite common prior to the 1970's.
Jefferson County claims this is the first time for a terrestrial animal (ie: not bats) in county history. My guess is that it was quite common prior to the 1970's.
Researchers Seek Public Input via Social Media for Hailstorms
News Link
Specifically they are focusing on this spring and summer for "plowable" hailstorm events. We had one in our neighborhood last summer that dumped 2 feet over an area of just 10 houses that was not reported.
Specifically they are focusing on this spring and summer for "plowable" hailstorm events. We had one in our neighborhood last summer that dumped 2 feet over an area of just 10 houses that was not reported.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
State DPPHS Offers Tips on Preventing Tick Bites
News Link
Prevent tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever, and Colorado tick fever.
Prevent tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever, and Colorado tick fever.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Warnings Did Not Stop Developers on Colorado Springs Landslide
News Link
This has been a recurring problem in Colorado where county officials look the other way. Notice to homeowners: there have been successful class action lawsuits in Colorado that have recovered costs and damages from developers that knowingly build on landslides
This has been a recurring problem in Colorado where county officials look the other way. Notice to homeowners: there have been successful class action lawsuits in Colorado that have recovered costs and damages from developers that knowingly build on landslides
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Steamboat Ski Hill Landslide on the Move Again
News Link
$355,000 spent last year to stabilize the slide apparently ineffective. I could probably solve this one. I used to design drainage plans for open pit mines.
$355,000 spent last year to stabilize the slide apparently ineffective. I could probably solve this one. I used to design drainage plans for open pit mines.
Friday, April 22, 2016
Strong Solar Flare Disrupts Radio Communications
News Link
Hopefully the big blast of energy will warm up what has been a chilly spring.
Hopefully the big blast of energy will warm up what has been a chilly spring.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Swarm of Small Earthquakes in Northern AZ Continues
News Link
It seems that the entire perimeter of the Pacific plate is making some adjustments.
It seems that the entire perimeter of the Pacific plate is making some adjustments.
Dog Gets 20 Stitches Protecting Owners from 3 Bears
News Link
The bears were digging through trash in the Rockrimmon neighborhood of Colorado Springs. This is the same neighborhood that a man shot a bear rummaging through his trash last year. Apparently these people don't get that storing trash bins outside attracts bears.
The bears were digging through trash in the Rockrimmon neighborhood of Colorado Springs. This is the same neighborhood that a man shot a bear rummaging through his trash last year. Apparently these people don't get that storing trash bins outside attracts bears.
Amazing NASA UHD Video of Aurora Borealis from Space
Video
This video is truly stunning. The views from earth just can't compete with this.
This video is truly stunning. The views from earth just can't compete with this.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Rock Slide on Ute Pass Damages 5 Vehicles
News Link
Wet snow spring conditions increases rock fall risk.
Wet snow spring conditions increases rock fall risk.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
If Yellowstone Has A Super Eruption, What Would Happen in Colorado?
With the recent world-wide flurry of volcanic activity and large earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador, some scientists are speculating we could see "the big one" fairly soon. On the list of big ones are the 8+ earthquakes along the San Andres Fault in California, major faults in Seattle and Salt Lake, the New Madrid Fault system along the Mississippi River Valley and volcanic eruptions in the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Yellowstone. 3 previous super eruptions happened at Yellowstone 640,000, 1.3 million and 2.1 million years ago - about every 660,000 - 700,000 years or so. If it were completely linear (it's not) we should be good for a long time but we are certainly within the time span range where anything is possible.
The USGS has modeled the area and thickness of ash fall for a large event similar to the one 640,000 years ago. Link The model results show that there would be measurable ash over the entire United States and that the western US would be devastated.
Denver would be smothered in over a foot of ash, while Colorado would get between 2 inches in the southeastern corner to 3 feet of ash in the northwestern part of the state. How this would unfold would depend on the time of year and weather. The model assumes that the eruption would last for one month. The initial eruption would quickly cover everything in Colorado within a week's time. If there is no warning and evacuation prior to the eruption, there will be no immediate escape because ash in the air will clog the air intake on cars even if the roads were able to be cleared of ash. Survival will be dependent on having filter masks. The movie about Pompeii and the Vesuvius eruption of 79AD is probably as good a way to imagine what will happen as any. Here is a video of an ash cloud descending on a town in Mexico from a relatively small eruption.
The next problem after breathing will be removing the ash accumulation from critical infrastructure. Transformers will have to be cleaned or we will lose the electrical grid. Roofs will have to be cleared or they will collapse. Fossil fuel power plants will struggle to burn the fuel with ash saturated air. Filtration of water supplies will be a major, if not insurmountable challenge, and not possible if the grid is out. Food delivery will not be possible for at least a month and crops throughout much of the US will fail for at least a year after the eruption. The ash plume in the atmosphere will cause temperatures in the US to plummet 20 degrees during the first year Link and without power, heating will not be possible. In the mountains, rain and snow will combine with the accumulated ash to generate massive debris flows that will wipe out everything in their path. A home with solar cells and well water might be survivable but there will still be the problem of food. People will have no income as their jobs will no longer be there after the eruption. Most people in Colorado will lose their homes and become refugees if they survive the first month. I am hard-pressed to visualize how Colorado would recover from a disaster like the Yellowstone super eruption and re-build even though humans have historically shown great tenacity.
There is no way to prepare for this disaster short of moving somewhere far away. I'll take my chances and stay, the odds of it happening in the near future are incredibly low but I will say this. Unless the jet stream at the time of the eruption is flowing directly from Yellowstone to Colorado, there will be a window of about 8 - 16 hours between the initial eruption and when heavy ash would start to rain down in Denver. Upon news of the eruption, I will get my family into the car and head south toward Mexico.
The USGS has modeled the area and thickness of ash fall for a large event similar to the one 640,000 years ago. Link The model results show that there would be measurable ash over the entire United States and that the western US would be devastated.
Denver would be smothered in over a foot of ash, while Colorado would get between 2 inches in the southeastern corner to 3 feet of ash in the northwestern part of the state. How this would unfold would depend on the time of year and weather. The model assumes that the eruption would last for one month. The initial eruption would quickly cover everything in Colorado within a week's time. If there is no warning and evacuation prior to the eruption, there will be no immediate escape because ash in the air will clog the air intake on cars even if the roads were able to be cleared of ash. Survival will be dependent on having filter masks. The movie about Pompeii and the Vesuvius eruption of 79AD is probably as good a way to imagine what will happen as any. Here is a video of an ash cloud descending on a town in Mexico from a relatively small eruption.
The next problem after breathing will be removing the ash accumulation from critical infrastructure. Transformers will have to be cleaned or we will lose the electrical grid. Roofs will have to be cleared or they will collapse. Fossil fuel power plants will struggle to burn the fuel with ash saturated air. Filtration of water supplies will be a major, if not insurmountable challenge, and not possible if the grid is out. Food delivery will not be possible for at least a month and crops throughout much of the US will fail for at least a year after the eruption. The ash plume in the atmosphere will cause temperatures in the US to plummet 20 degrees during the first year Link and without power, heating will not be possible. In the mountains, rain and snow will combine with the accumulated ash to generate massive debris flows that will wipe out everything in their path. A home with solar cells and well water might be survivable but there will still be the problem of food. People will have no income as their jobs will no longer be there after the eruption. Most people in Colorado will lose their homes and become refugees if they survive the first month. I am hard-pressed to visualize how Colorado would recover from a disaster like the Yellowstone super eruption and re-build even though humans have historically shown great tenacity.
There is no way to prepare for this disaster short of moving somewhere far away. I'll take my chances and stay, the odds of it happening in the near future are incredibly low but I will say this. Unless the jet stream at the time of the eruption is flowing directly from Yellowstone to Colorado, there will be a window of about 8 - 16 hours between the initial eruption and when heavy ash would start to rain down in Denver. Upon news of the eruption, I will get my family into the car and head south toward Mexico.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Roads and Airports Closed as Colorado Gets Socked with 12" of Snow
News Link
Up to 4 feet of fresh powder in the mountains!
Up to 4 feet of fresh powder in the mountains!
Friday, April 15, 2016
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
USGS Map of "Fracking:" Related Quakes
Most people have the impression that quakes that can be felt are caused by fracking but generally they are not. Fracking is performed by injecting a sand-water mixture at very high pressure for a short period of time into the oil and gas formation. The contaminated water is pumped out as the well is developed and the contaminated wastewater from the thousands of individual fracking operations is hauled to disposal well sites and pumped into a deep formation. The near continuous pressure pumping into deep disposal wells is what causes most of the earthquakes. In Colorado, the fracking related quakes are located at wastewater injection well sites in Trinidad, Greeley, Paradox Valley, Rangely and the former Rocky Mountain Arsenal wells operated in the 60's. The Arsenal wells were shut down after a series of damaging Magnitude 5 earthquakes.
Dog Survives 300 Foot Fall Off Cliff at Gooseberry Mesa
News Link
One tough dog, a compelling rescue story. Gooseberry Mesa is one of my favorite places to mountain bike.
One tough dog, a compelling rescue story. Gooseberry Mesa is one of my favorite places to mountain bike.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Rock Climber Injured in Fall at Red Rock Canyon
News Link
The 2nd incident in 3 days in the Colorado Springs area.
The 2nd incident in 3 days in the Colorado Springs area.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Monday, April 4, 2016
Video of Wildlife Using New Wildlife Bridge on Hwy 9 in Kremmling
Video
This is the first land bridge of it's type in Colorado and appears to be working. The Canadians have successfully used this type of land bridge in many locations for the past 15 years.
This is the first land bridge of it's type in Colorado and appears to be working. The Canadians have successfully used this type of land bridge in many locations for the past 15 years.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Bear Browsing Garbage in Estes Park
News Link
Looks like a trend - the bears are out early this year and natural foods aren't available yet.
Looks like a trend - the bears are out early this year and natural foods aren't available yet.
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