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Friday, August 31, 2018
50th 90 Degree Day in Denver Is 11th Highest on Record
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2 more will tie for 10th highest in 1978. 2012 had the highest number of 90 degree days at 73.
2 more will tie for 10th highest in 1978. 2012 had the highest number of 90 degree days at 73.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Monday, August 27, 2018
Sunday, August 26, 2018
West Nile Case Confirmed in Clear Creek County
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The first West Nile case in Clear Creek County since 2003, the 12th case in Colorado this year.
NASA Global Map of Wildfires 2000 - 2017 Shows Wildfires Burning All the Time
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Slash and burn fires for agriculture burn in large areas of the Amazon rainforest and sub-Saharan Africa every year. Forest and grass fires happen in Canada, the Steppes of Eurasia, the Serengeti Plains and Pampas during periodic cycles of drought.
Slash and burn fires for agriculture burn in large areas of the Amazon rainforest and sub-Saharan Africa every year. Forest and grass fires happen in Canada, the Steppes of Eurasia, the Serengeti Plains and Pampas during periodic cycles of drought.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Friday, August 24, 2018
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Lightning Strike Starts House Fire in Colorado Springs
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This is the 3rd one in Colorado Springs the past month.
This is the 3rd one in Colorado Springs the past month.
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Typical Tabloid Article About "Near Miss" Asteroid
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Hurtling by at 20,000 mph! As big as a pyramid! Coming within 3 million miles! ( More than 10 times the distance to the moon)
10 Year Study of Mountain Lions to Be Presented in Public Meeting
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The study shows that 99% of the time mountain lions stick to the wild and natural food sources. One cat was tracked for 8 years, which occasionally ate livestock but always returned to elk and deer.
The study shows that 99% of the time mountain lions stick to the wild and natural food sources. One cat was tracked for 8 years, which occasionally ate livestock but always returned to elk and deer.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Monday, August 20, 2018
Smoke in Colorado Seriously Bad for Your Health
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I am in Salida today and the air is downright foul even at high altitude. Rode the Monarch Crest Trail today because I can't wait until October or November for the air quality to improve. Not sure it was worth it. The usually stunning views were smothered in a brown haze. The air was smelly and caused my nose to run, a headache (taken care of with 2 ibuprofen), and seriously irritated my throat, lungs and eyes.
The main source of dangerous smoke levels is the Pacific Northwest - BC, Alberta, California, Washington state and Montana. Smoke plume with air quality monitoring data and fire locations.
I am in Salida today and the air is downright foul even at high altitude. Rode the Monarch Crest Trail today because I can't wait until October or November for the air quality to improve. Not sure it was worth it. The usually stunning views were smothered in a brown haze. The air was smelly and caused my nose to run, a headache (taken care of with 2 ibuprofen), and seriously irritated my throat, lungs and eyes.
The main source of dangerous smoke levels is the Pacific Northwest - BC, Alberta, California, Washington state and Montana. Smoke plume with air quality monitoring data and fire locations.
So Far, Major Earthquakes Below Average
There were 7 major quakes (magnitude 7 or above) in 2017, below the long term average of 12 to 15 major quakes per year. A CU researcher's paper published in Oct, 2017 and posted here predicts that we can expect major quakes to increase to 17 to 20 quakes in one year sometime in the next 5 years. Despite the press hype surrounding the recent quakes in New Guinea and Fiji, 2018 is on track for a below average number of major quakes.
The USGS reports 6 major quakes in 2018 (as of 8/19/2018)
7.5 Honduras
7.1 Peru
7.9 Alaska
7.2 Mexico
7.5 Papua New Guinea
8.2 Fiji
Update: I might have spoken a day too soon. 7.3 Quake Strikes Venezuela 7.1 Quake Hits Peru 8/24
7.8 Quake Fiji 9/6 9/28 7.7. Indonesia
The USGS reports 6 major quakes in 2018 (as of 8/19/2018)
7.5 Honduras
7.1 Peru
7.9 Alaska
7.2 Mexico
7.5 Papua New Guinea
8.2 Fiji
Update: I might have spoken a day too soon. 7.3 Quake Strikes Venezuela 7.1 Quake Hits Peru 8/24
7.8 Quake Fiji 9/6 9/28 7.7. Indonesia
Firefighting Price Tag for 1,585 Colorado Wildfires So Far Is $145 Million
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432,000 acres burned so far is 2nd highest behind 619,000 acres in 2002. 385,000 acres were burned in 2012 with $538 million in property damages.
Study Looks At Environmental Impacts of Increasing Moose Population in the Rocky Mountains
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Moose were not a native species in Colorado, introduced in 1978 the current moose population is approaching 3,000.
Hiker in Ireland Struck and Injured by Leaping Mountain Sheep
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To my knowledge, this type of incident has not happened in Colorado but is definitely a possibility with the ever increasing number of people in the backcountry.
To my knowledge, this type of incident has not happened in Colorado but is definitely a possibility with the ever increasing number of people in the backcountry.
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Hail Damage Is Increasing in Colorado Because There Are More People Here
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In 1960, Colorado's population was 1,750,000. By 1990 it had increased to 3,300,000 and currently is approaching 6,000,000. The migration to Colorado started after WWII when the federal government established the Federal Center in Lakewood that housed offices for the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Geological Survey and currently hosts 28 different agencies.
Credit:US Census Bureau
Friday, August 17, 2018
Thursday, August 16, 2018
NASA Compilation of Smoke Travelling in the Jet Stream From 2017 Wildfires
Link
Similar to what is currently happening, smoke from Pacific NW wildfires travels through Wyoming and through to the east coast with some dipping southward along the Front Range. My casual observations the last few days are that smoke is travelling along low terrain in river drainages. Probably because air with a high concentration of smoke particles is more dense than clean air.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Monday, August 13, 2018
Thick Wildfire Haze Over Front Range, Lot of Smoke Coming From Canada
You can see it, taste it, smell it. Burning eyes and headache all day.
Here is a smoke plume map. There are a lot of fires in British Columbia that aren't getting any press.
Firefighters Rescue Dog From Rocky Ledge in Deer Creek Canyon
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Jefferson County has an ordinance that requires dogs be on-leash. Will this dog owner be fined for letting his dog off-leash and will he be required to pay for the West Metro rescue?
Jefferson County has an ordinance that requires dogs be on-leash. Will this dog owner be fined for letting his dog off-leash and will he be required to pay for the West Metro rescue?
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Mountain Lion Breaks Into Boulder House, Eats Cat
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Very, very unusual. The cat looks like a yearling and there must have been an easily accessible entrance.
Very, very unusual. The cat looks like a yearling and there must have been an easily accessible entrance.
Friday, August 10, 2018
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Monday, August 6, 2018
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Cache Creek Fire Near Rifle Was Started by Lightning
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A recent article stated that 90% of wildfires in the US are human-caused. Articles I researched 5 years ago stated that 90% of wildfires in Colorado are started by lightning, burn less than 40 acres and generally quickly put out. The large wildfires are usually human-caused. The Hayman wildfire in 2002, the largest in Colorado history, was started deliberately by an arsonist.
Friday, August 3, 2018
Beaver in RMNP Tests Positive for Tularemia
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First time I have seen a beaver reported. Beavers are rodents, so it's not too surprising.
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Hailstorms Are More Dangerous in Colorado Than Other Parts of the Country
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A combination of faster hailstone speed at altitude, and high storm frequency over populated areas.
20 People Hospitalized by Large Hailstones and Tornado in Brush Last Week
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Some pictures of large cuts and bruises suffered by a family in a car that had the windshields blown out. Baseball-sized hail can break bones and grapefruit-sized hail killed n infant in Fort Collins in 1979.
Largest Colorado Wildfires Mostly Contained But Smoke Is Thick Over the Front Range
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My unscientific observation is that the smoke today is the worst ever. More than 2002 or 2012.
Durango Man Caught Feeding Bears for 3rd Time, Fined $1000
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Someone should tell this guy about the woman in Ouray that fed bears. She was killed and eaten by a bear in 2009.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
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