"Left to Louisiana's Tides, a village fights for time"
The community of Jean Lafitte is located on the coast of Louisiana, at least it is for now. Scientists predict that due to rising sea levels, the community of Jean Lafitte will be submerged under water in fifty years. Although rising sea levels is the main contributor to this problem, there have been other culprits as well. For one, Jean Lafitte's natural defenses have been weakened by the live oak and bald cypress dying off due to saltwater now reaching the land. Feral hogs have also destroyed most of the native grasses and roseau cane. Not to mention, the string of tropical storms that have hit the area have also sped up the erosion process. According to the article, a section of land the size of Delaware has already disappeared since 1932. The Jean Lafitte community also seems to be getting no help from the government. Recently the government built levees to protect New Orleans from tropical storms but excluded the Jean Lafitte area. Now residents of the community are left asking themselves the question of whether Jean Lafitte is worth spending the money to save.
Rising sea levels is an issue that is not only affecting other forms of life, but also humans. Although I can't connect with the problem that Jean Lafitte faces, as I am quite certain the Central Valley is well protected (although it is like a large basin in the middle of California), the issue they face is tragic and not one that will disappear. Rising sea levels will begin to affect many coast lines, and islands such as Hawaii. The worst part is that there is no easy or cheap solution to the issue. With the government being of no help, residents of Jean Lafitte should just sell their homes to whoever is willing to buy the property and move more inland (not to Hawaii). It is up to humans to decide that global warming is a large enough issue that it must be dealt with. As for the community of Jean Lafitte, chances seem slim, but there is always the possibility of Elon Musk finding a way to transfer the water to Mars. |
"Seas will rise for 300 years"
www.scientificamerican.com/article/seas-will-rise-for-300-years/ February 25, 2018
New research has found that sea levels will continue to rise three hundred years from now even if green-house emissions were cut by the end of the century. One of the major effects of global warming is the rising sea levels due to the warmer climate melting glaciers that have been frozen for thousands of years. According to the new study published by Nature Communications not only will sea levels continue to rise for 300 years, but the longer it takes to reduce green-house emissions the longer the ocean will continue to rise. The study claims that for every additional five years of green-house gas emissions sea levels will rise an additional 8 inches.
Global warming continues to alter the landscape of the Earth in unimaginable ways. Increased sea levels would not only mean more land being submerged, but also habitats being drastically changed. Ecosystems that are in locations such as the tundra will be ruined with warmer climates. Although there is evidence for the need to reduce green-house emissions now, it will take many decades for agreements to be made for nations to join the effort. With environmentalists losing patience and many people not liking change, the only way to solve the issue of global warming is through continued collaborations and gradual implementations of new environmental policies. |
"Plastic straws could be banned in the UK"
www.bbc.com/news/uk-43169004 February 24, 2018
Recently the environmental secretary of the UK, Michael Gove has suggested that the UK may begin to take measures to ban plastic straws. The reason for this movement is due to the environmental percussions that plastic straws are having on the environment. According to the article, the UK uses about 8.5 billion plastic straws each year, and plastic straws are one of the top ten items found on beach cleanups. Not to mention, environmental interest groups are finding that plastic straws can take up to 200 years to fully break down. Some restaurants in the UK are already taking measures to reduce their usage of straws. The prime minister of the UK, Theresa May has also expressed interests to eliminate all avoidable plastics by the year 2043.
The fight to reduce plastic has continued to grow and reach political debate. The fight to ban plastic straws is evidence of this. Plastic straws are indeed more of a hazard than a benefit as once they are disposed of, they can often find their way into the ocean or on the ground where birds or fish may ingest the harmful plastic. However, the argument against the ban comes from interest groups advocating for the need of plastic straws for people with disabilities who cannot use metal or paper straws. Plastic straws will not completely disappear, but if the quantity being produced could be reduced drastically it would be a win for both sides. |
"Rewetting the Swamp: Indonesia's bold plan"
www.scientificamerican.com/article/rewetting-the-swamp-indonesia-rsquo-s-bold-plan/ January 26, 2018
Recently Indonesia has been trying to undo the damage it has done. In the 90s Indonesia used canals to dry tons of peatlands. They then used the land for oil palm and pulpwood plantations. This had huge effects on the environment. The wet peatlands were absorbing large amounts of carbon and keeping it out of the atmosphere. So when the lands became dry tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide was being released into the environment, the land also became very combustible. In fact, in 2015 there was more than 100,000 peatland fires in Indonesia. More than 500,000 people were hospitalized from the fires. Studies have shown that drained peatlands are responsible for 5 to 8 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Indonesia is now trying to reverse its actions by blocking off 250,000 kilometers of canals in hopes that the land will reabsorb the water and become wet again. Although it seems to be functioning thus far, many people are being forced to relocate and find new jobs as they were previously employed by the plantations.
Once again the environment is disrupted by human actions. Of course environmental disruption is happening on a daily basis, yet people are unaware of this until something detrimental happens such as the fires in Indonesia. The sad thing is that not all actions can be reversed. As humans we can try to reverse the effects that we have had on the environment, but it is never guaranteed to work. Scientists continue to discover the way Earth is changing due to human activity. Only time and desperate measures to fix our mistakes will tell if the Earth will remain a sustainable place to live for all forms of life. |
"Gassy farm soils are a shockingly large source of these air pollutants"
www.sciencenews.org/article/gassy-farm-soils-are-shockingly-large-source-these-air-pollutants. January 27, 2018
New studies from California's Central Valley now show that nitrogen present in the soil of many croplands contribute from 20 to 51 percent of the region's nitrogen oxide gas emissions. Fertilizers in the soil of crops are to blame. These gases are contributing factors of acid rain, air pollutants and ozone. Matters are worse with increasingly warming temperature in California, which also warm the nitrogen oxide gases producing tropospheric ozone. This type of ozone can cause respiratory problems in humans. Solutions that scientists suggest to decrease the amount of nitrogen oxide being released is for farmers to grow cover crops. Cover crops help absorb the excess nitrogen from the top of the soil. Limiting the use of nitrogen fertilizers can also greatly help reduce the amount of nitrogen in the soil.
California's Central Valley is a major producer of food in the United States. Although most of the food in the Central Valley is exported, farming still plays a major role in the economy. That is why the study of agriculture contributing to pollution in the atmosphere is such important news. Farmers already face scrutiny for using chemical pesticides and large amounts of water. Environmentalists and residents of California that believe that the solution to reducing California's ecological footprint is to reduce the amount of farmland are wrong. Sure farming only accounts for a small percent of California's economy, but it is a key reason why food is so cheap in the US. Instead, the solution to the problem is for environmentalists and farmers to work together to form a compromise that benefits both sides. |
"Why wave power may be the next big thing in green energy"
A new source of renewable energy is being tested right now. The next step in green technology may be wave power, gathering energy through the movement in waves. Several different prototypes of the device that captures the energy is currently being tested out. Some prototypes look like a large ring and contain an electric generator, others look like a giant snake floating in the water and generate energy through a hydraulic system. Unlike other green energy sources such as solar power and wind turbines, wave power functions 24/7. According to scientists, wave power has the possibility of producing about one third of the country's energy usage. The difficulty scientists are facing with wave energy devices is making models that fit well into the ecosystem of marine life while also facing the strong waves and winds at sea. Funds continue to be invested in perfecting this new source of renewable energy. Fossil fuels continue to become a thing of the past. As technology evolves so does the potential for new and much needed renewable energy sources. The breakthrough in wave power is huge. The fact that it can be used 24/7 makes it go beyond solar energy and wind power. Pollution will no longer have to be a present issue if humans keep on looking to the future to protect our environment and making our way of life sustainable. |
"The World's largest organism is dying"
www.livescience.com/61116-mule-deer-are-eating-pando.html December 6, 2017
The World's largest organism and perhaps the oldest is not an animal, it is a plant. It is the Pando to be exact, found in South-central Utah. The Pando looks like a forest of trees, however, these trees are all genetically identical and connected by a common root system. Therefore, they are all essentially one tree. The problem the Pando is facing is deer eating the genetically identical sprouts before they can mature into plants. With no young parts, the Pando is aging with no way of sustaining itself. Some may wonder how this concerns humans. Due to humans hunting predators of deer, the deer population has increased substantially, increasing the amount of Pando sprouts consumed.
Human interaction with other ecosystems has more often than not resulted in an unbalanced food chain. This leads to overpopulation of some species and possible extinction for others. A solution to the Pando issue would be to control the deer population by bringing in the deer's respective predators. However, by doing this it needs to be made sure that the predators do not increase too dramatically in population, resulting in a deer shortage. A balanced and stable food chain is hard to obtain. Sadly, as humans we have not seen the results of our actions until recently when other species are put in danger, species that have survived for thousands of years. |
"'Super-spreader' coral could restore trashed Great Barrier Reef"
www.newscientist.com/article/super-spreader-coral-restore-trashed-great-barrier-reef/ November 29, 2017
The Great Barrier Coral Reef is just one of many coral reefs that is being constantly damaged and dying. The decline of these coral reefs is due to ocean pollution from sludge and other human pollutants. Cyclones and coral eating fish are also partly to blame. Another beautiful habitat, home to vast marine life being destroyed and facing disappearance. However, there is still hope. According to Peter Mumby from the University of Queensland in Australia, about 112 out of 3800 coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef are safe from destruction. There is optimism that these surviving reefs will spread their larvae via ocean currents and help regenerate the dying coral.
The direct effects of pollution on marine life are not often seen by humans on a daily basis. Therefore the severity of the issue is often not completely understood. It is usually not until after it is too late that people begin to take interest and show concern. As awareness slowly begins to grow, there is for once a bit of good news concerning habitats affected by pollution. This hope of restoring the Great Barrier Reef is exciting, but it must not be the end of concerns. Instead, it must motivate further research and ideas on how to reduce the human footprint and reverse the damage that has already been done. |
"Should we try to fix global warming with fake volcanic eruptions? TBD."
www.popsci.com/geoengineering-volcanic-eruption-climate-change November 15, 2017
Scientists have found a new possible solution to cooling the heating Earth. The prospective solution: fake volcanic eruptions. Volcanic eruptions naturally cool the Earth by releasing aerosol particles into the atmosphere. These particles reflect incoming sunlight back out into space, allowing the Earth to absorb less sunlight. The idea of synthetic volcanic eruptions is being recognized as solar geoengineering. Scientists plan on recreating such aerosol particles that reflect sunlight by using sulfur dioxide, which expands when reacting with water and other chemicals in the atmosphere. The problem with solar geoengineering so far is the effects it produces on the weather. Through studies, scientists have found that sulfuric aerosols cause hurricanes and droughts to occur in different locations than usual. Ethical questioning of solar geoengineering also places doubt on this solution.
There is no doubt that the Earth is warming. Global warming is the main cause for this increase in temperature. However, with little improvement, scientists are turning away from humans and looking towards other solutions. The possible defects of solar geoengineering should be enough to worry humans about having to use alternative solutions if humans do not improve their own habits. Although conditions continue to grow worse, the point of no return has still not been hit. There is still time to change human nature's disastrous habits, and avoid the necessity for synthetic volcanic eruptions. |
"Environmental groups suing over Willamette dams"
www.modbee.com/news/business/article183034111.html November 9, 2017
The native salmon and steelhead of Salem, Oregon have been in decline year after year. They are primarily found in the Willamette River Basin. The numbers this year have been particularly bad with biologists concerned of possible extinction for the steelhead and the continuation of the chinook salmon as being listed as "threatened". Environmental groups are shifting the majority of the blame on to dams. Three environmental groups will be suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the failure to improve passage for fish in dams. The Native Fish Society claims the Corps of Engineers have pushed back deadlines and have taken too long on efforts. The environmental groups suing are calling this "a last resort" as to them it is an issue that cannot wait much longer.
The depletion of the native salmon and steelhead population is another reminder of the symbiotic relationship that humans and other forms of life do not have. Of course, this creates a large dilemma that as the Corps of Engineers has demonstrated, is difficult to solve. Dams are necessary for agriculture and water for humans, however, they are very harmful to fish. Both concern sustaining a way of life, just for two different entities. It is the job of future generations and present generations to figure out a means to turn the relationship between animal populations and humans into a symbiotic one. |
"Pollution killed 9 million people in 2015"
www.sciencenews.org/article/pollution-killed-9-million-people-2015?mode=topic&context=60 November 2, 2017
According to a report by the Lancelet commission on public health, 9 million people died in 2015 from pollution. Many of these deaths occurred in poorer countries with terrible air quality. Half of the 9 million deaths occurred in China and India. In addition, a quarter of premature deaths in the most severely polluted countries were found to be a result of air pollution. Dirty water, air, and soil are all factors to this rising rate. It was estimated that pollution put a $4.6 trillion strain on the globe. To top it off 90% of major cities did not meet the World Organization's air standards for acceptable air quality. If little is done to correct the issue pollution will continue to be a larger killer than all types of violence, and malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis combined.
It is evident the effects that pollution has had on the environment. Such effects especially hit home when human deaths are accounted for. Yet even with this information, fossil fuels continue to burn and the Earth continues to warm. Pollution is by no means a problem with an overnight solution, but it does have a solution. With other sustainable energy sources the millions of people in large cities can stop having to breathe in the same polluted air. Premature death rates can be lowered substantially as well. Pollution may be an issue that some pass off as a problem for another time, another generation, but that is false. Rather pollution is an issue affecting the present and the future. There is no way around this silent killer, it must be confronted at its source. |
"Right whales could be extinct in less than 25 years, scientists warn after spate of deaths"
www.pressherald.com/2017/10/25/right-whales-could-become-extinct-in-less-than-quarter-century-scientists-warn-after-spate-of-deaths/ October 25, 2017
The right whale is an already endangered species, with a population of 450. However, due to the recent amount of right whale deaths scientists predict the whale will be extinct by 2040 if greater measures are not taken to preserve the species. Scientists recently recorded the worst die off of right whales, with 16 whales dying since June. Although there are measures in place to ensure the safety of the whale, most of the whale deaths are occurring in areas where right whales are seldom found. A total of 6 whales have been killed by speeding boats in areas where the whale is not anticipated to be. Scientists predict one of the reasons for the whale migration is changes in food sources. The place where right whales frequent, the Gulf Maine is also warming. This may also be contributing to the whales relocating. Fishing nets also pose a great risk to the whales as they can often become entangled in the nets. Scientists say that the best way to save the species is find an alternate way for fisher to fish without having to use nets.
The right whale population is another species that is being affected by the lack of care of the human race. Although some of the whale deaths were accidental due to the unexpected migration of many of the whales, most of the deaths have a preventable cause. With increased measures to protect the whale population the fate of the right whales can be changed. It is time for humans to stop being the cause of destruction of our environment, and instead the stewards of the Earth. Awareness is always a good first step. |
"Scientists begin a bold conservation effort to save the vaquita porpoise from extinction"
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171012103704.htm October 18, 2017
At the moment there are fewer than 30 vaquita porpoise remaining in the wild. The vaquita is considered the most endangered marine species; it is found in the upper gulf of California. Luckily, conservation efforts headed by the Mexican government are being put into effect to restore the vaquita porpoise population. CPR as the conservation efforts are named, include transferring the vaquita population to an area off the coast of Mexico, protected by the Mexican government. The biggest issue being faced by the scientists on the project is finding a way to locate where the vaquitas are currently at. Recent technology, will help with this issue; an acoustic monitoring system has been created to track the vaquitas. Mexico is also reimbursing fishermen for not fishing in the area where the vaquita population will be moved.
The vaquita porpoise is just one species of animal falling to the effects of the human population. Humans alter the habitats of the diverse life around them. The cause for such tragic losses can continue to be examined, however it is efforts like the CPR that continue to deliver hope. Humans may be the reason for extinction, but they are also the solution. If national government continue to make an effort to provide aid for endangered species, a turn around can yet be obtained. |
"Judge lets Dakota Access pipeline operate during environmental study"
www.pressherald.com/2017/10/11/judge-lets-dakota-access-pipeline-operate-during-environmental-impact-study/ October 12, 2017
The Dakota Access pipeline that started construction in 2016 has been a constant battle for the Standing Rock Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes, who must deal with the pipeline being built on their native land. Recently a U.S. judge has ruled that the pipeline may continue to drill oil even amidst an ongoing environmental review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering. The judge supported his decision by explaining that he found no reason to believe that the Corps of Engineering would find any new results varying from their previous findings. The reason for this new study is the judge's ruling that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering had not follow the National Environmental Policy Act guidelines when it determined that the pipeline did not have a significant impact on the environment. For environmental protesters and the native tribes affected by the pipeline, this ruling came as a hard blow to their protests. The main argument behind protests is the risk the pipeline imposes to the tribes. Concerns also include the impact the pipeline may cause if oil leaks into the Missouri River.
Non-renewable energy sources continue to be the norm in today's society, as does the need for more resources to satisfy the demand. The Sioux tribes are just among some of the people being affected by such new additions. However, the biggest victim of projects such as the Dakota pipeline, is the Earth. By continuing to deplete unsustainable resources from the Earth that cannot regenerate quick enough to supply the demand in which it is being used, resources thousands of years old are disappearing. Ecosystems are also falling victim to oil spills. The solution to the issue is making the switch to renewable energy found in methods such as solar power and wind power. |
"Not so sweet: 75 percent of honey samples had key pesticide"
www.nydailynews.com/newswires/news/business/not-sweet-75-percent-honey-samples-key-pesticide-article-1.3543504 October 5, 2017
A recent study found that 75 percent of honey samples around the world contain a key pesticide. The results also found that 86 percent of honey in North America contains a key pesticide, 80 percent in Asia, and Europe 79 percent. Although the pesticide does not harm humans when consumed in such miniscule amounts, the pesticide is likely attributing to the decline of the bee population. Many pollinators have been declining in population, and with animals and humans relying on a plant based diet, worries have surfaced. Scientists found that the key pesticide, neonics works by attacking an insect's central nervous system. The bee receives the pesticide by feeding off of fields grown from treated seeds. Many companies that produce neonics deny such harmful effects on bees.
Humans continue to have a negative effect on the environment and the living things within it. By focusing so much on coming up with new technology to produce more food and other products, business people are usually not considerate of the environment they are harming in the process. It is important to make sure that environmental regulations are put in place to ensure that depleting animals and greenery do not continue to be the norm. In reality the greater production of food through technology is only temporary, as resources continue to become scarce. How is honey supposed to be made when the bee population becomes extinct? |
"Large iceberg breaks off Pine Island Glacier"
phys.org/news/2017-09-large-iceberg-island-glacier.html September 27, 2017
On September 26, 2017 images from the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica revealed a new iceberg forming as part of the glacier begins to break off. The size of this newly formed iceberg is about 103 square miles. Pine Island is the fastest melting glacier in Antarctica, and as a result of this breakoff, scientists are more concerned about rising sea levels. Concerns have also been formed, as the Pine Island Glacier normally recedes at a rate where the glacier grows again during the winter, meaning there is no retreat in the amount of ice. However, the Pine Island Glacier is now retreating as more of the glacier continues to calve.
As the number of glaciers receding increases due to warmer temperatures, there is an increase of water in the ocean. The main cause for this climate change can be found in human pollution. For some ice melting may not seem like much of a concern, however, this is ice that has been frozen for thousands of years that is now melting at a rapid pace. With the rise in ocean levels, land below sea level will face worse effects from natural disasters, not to mention more land will be covered by water. Therefore, it is important for actions to be taken to reduce greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, and for people to minimize their ecological footprint. |
"Seagrasses boost ecosystem health by fighting bad bacteria"
www.sciencenews.org/article/seagrasses-boost-ecosystem-health-fighting-bad-bacteria?mode=topic&context=60 September 20, 2017
With pollution still on the rise harmful chemicals and levels of carbon dioxide are finding their way to the ocean, as well as contaminants from humans being dumped into the sea. Such pollutants effect much of the marine life found within the ocean. However, scientists have discovered a possible way to reduce these terrible effects. Scientists performed research near the waters of Indonesia, where raw sewage was being dumped. As a result scientists found that there was less bad bacteria in the waters where seagrass populated. Not only does seagrass seem to possibly trap bacteria as it passes through it, but seagrass also helps in removing excess nitrogen and phosphorous from coastal waters.
Humans are the main cause of pollution. Most humans are unaware of the consequences of their actions and continue to cut down forests, burn fossil fuels, and drive to the ends of the earth. It is our responsibility to stop the destruction we are causing and reduce our ecological footprint on the environment. The capabilities of seagrass is one possible way to change the fate of the Earth. Although it is not the solution, it is one of many ways to begin restoring our planet. |
"Scientists hope to restore extinct Galapagos tortoise"
abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/scientists-hope-restore-extinct-galapagos-turtle-species-49828649 September 14, 2017
The tortoises of the Galapagos islands are no longer history. Scientists are planning a comeback. It has been discovered that about 80 turtles on the Galapagos islands today have traces of ancestral blood in their DNA. Scientists have therefore decided to round up 20 turtles with the most ancestral blood present and attempt to mate the turtles. By mating the turtles together, scientists are hopeful that the offspring will grow more and more similar to the extinct species of Galapagos tortoise. The offspring of the first generation, will then be mated again to produce an offspring even more like the Galapagos tortoise. Scientists realize they will not reach an offspring exactly like the extinct Galapagos tortoise, but they are willing to try their best.
A huge fear in the 21st century in terms of animals, has always been extinction. With so many endangered species caused by animals being poached and habitat destruction, it is no wonder that some species of animals are depleting quickly. Of course humans are mostly responsible for this change, meaning it is also our job to reverse our destruction. Most often than not, the action never gets reversed. It is nice for once for a change to be able to be implemented and hopefully a species will be restored instead of destroyed. It is the job of the people to be stewards of the Earth and do their part to support species at risk of extinction so then a miracle comeback won't need to be made in the first place. |
"As one fire near Yosemite grows, another is contained"
www.modbee.com/news/article168958327.html. August 23, 2017
Yosemite has been threatened by fires before.The most recent threat for the national park is the South Fork Fire near Wawona. Firefighters have been working to keep back the flames from reaching historical structures in Yosemite such as the Big Trees Lodge. After evacuations, residents and employees were finally able to return to the area on Wednesday, August 23, thanks to the efforts of numerous firefighters. So far the fire has consumed 4,012 acres and is 22 percent contained.
Yosemite has been only one of several areas hit by recent fires across the United States. California recently experienced the Mariposa Detwiler Fire for starts, and the ongoing Lolo Peak Fire continues to affect Montana. During such a season fires are bound to break out, but it is important to prevent as many fires started by careless actions as possible. Preventing such fires as best as possible will ensure that the beauty of national parks such as Yosemite remains preserved, and that residential areas are not threatened.
Yosemite has been only one of several areas hit by recent fires across the United States. California recently experienced the Mariposa Detwiler Fire for starts, and the ongoing Lolo Peak Fire continues to affect Montana. During such a season fires are bound to break out, but it is important to prevent as many fires started by careless actions as possible. Preventing such fires as best as possible will ensure that the beauty of national parks such as Yosemite remains preserved, and that residential areas are not threatened.
"'No Way to prevent' potential chemical plant explosion near Houston, Arkema CEO says"
abcnews.go.com/US/risk-chemical-plant-explosion-houston-prompts-evacuation-harvey/story?id=49521170 August 30, 2017
Recently Houston, Texas has been hit hard with torrential rains and flooding due to Hurricane Harvey. Such flooding has caused the Arkema chemical plant in Houston to have 6 feet of water at the site. The amounts of water have caused power outages at the plant and failure of two backup power systems. In effect certain materials are no longer able to be kept refrigerated, creating the possibility of an explosion or fire. People within a 1.5 mile radius of the plant have been told to evacuate as a safety precaution. The Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board are aware of the situation and helping local agencies deal with the issue. With the possible release of such chemicals, there could be dire effects on the surrounding environment. Chemical releases could cause harmful effects to people and nature in the area. Such effects may come from water or food sources being contaminated. Ultimately a chemical plant explosion may cause the intake of harmful chemicals, that can prove hazardous to the environment. |
"Record heat wave brings lightning, brush fires and intense rain to Southern California"
www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-brush-fire-lighting-castaic-20170831-story.html September 6, 2017
Southern California has been facing record breaking heats this summer. This past labor day week was no exception. With temperatures reaching up to 111 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, the heat wave was deeply felt by the people. Along with heat came many lightning strikes in Los Angeles and Ventura counties with about 3,400 lightning strikes being reported. As a result, several brush fires popped up in LA. Meanwhile, residents were advised to stay indoors in the midst of thunderstorms going through San Bernardino county. To top it off 11,000 residents in Boyle Heights were without power as a high demand for power overloaded the equipment.
With California's only recent recovery from the drought, rainfall would be a great aid in keeping areas moist and preventing the heat from drying them out. The demand for water definitely has not ceased. It has been a smoldering summer with poor air quality often following the heat. Children with asthma or other medical conditions face many health risks when performing physical activities outdoors. Pollution is a factor that has definitely contributed to such conditions. The heat wave shall continue to produce countless effects on the golden state, as Californians continue to await much anticipated rainfall. |