the land – Page 43

Seeing the Ice Melt — And Remembering It

A great graphic from ABC News. Don’t know if the idea came from the scientists or from the reporter Clayton Sandell, but the resulting story was excellent. And look at that pic! Er, image. (h/t: Sierra Club Compass)

Temp: Hot! Outlook: Cooler (says soils forecast)

Southern California has been baking in a nasty heat wave for the last five days; it’s expected to last another day. Yet the experimental NOAA temperature outlook says it’s going to be cooler than usual this September, if the blue squares along the California coast can be trusted. In fact, earlier this year NOAA forecasterContinue reading “Temp: Hot! Outlook: Cooler (says soils forecast)”

Zaca Fire, Still Burning

Although fire lines are holding, and Ojai has been declared out of danger, the Zaca fire grew 2700 acres last night, and isn’t expected to be contained for two weeks. But there are compensations: This photo was taken from the air on the fire’s 45th day, a week ago. (Licensed.)

The Green Flash

The last of the sunset, just before the top of the sun is about to wink out before being swallowed up by the horizon, that last few seconds in which the light changes — below Brad offers some tips on how to see the famous green flash, and mentions it’s a fairly subtle effect. SinceContinue reading “The Green Flash”

A Fiery Gift

In a nice piece in the Ventura County Star by Zeke Barlow, the oceanographer and climatologist Bill Patzert points out a good aspect of the Zaca Fire: some of the sunsets we’ve been seeing. He explains why they look the way they do: The bright color is light bouncing off smoke and ash particles. TheContinue reading “A Fiery Gift”

California’s Drought Today

Thanks to the U.S. Drought Monitor. It’s even worse in the Southeast:

A Cloudland We Can Only Dream About, and…

–Another midday cloudland, displaying power and beauty that one never wearies in beholding, but hopelessly unsketchable and untellable. What can poor mortals say about clouds? While a description of their huge glowing domes and ridges, shadowy gulfs and cañons, and feather-edged ravines is being tried, they vanish, leaving no visible ruins. Nevertheless, these fleeting skyContinue reading “A Cloudland We Can Only Dream About, and…”

Half-Dome: A New Photographic Classic

In Aperture magazine can be found a fascinating interview and a great picture of Half-Dome by a young German photographer named Florian Maier-Aichen. He calls his picture "The Best General View," which is both a reference to a classic photograph from the 19th-century by Carleton Atkins, and also a sly nod to his method, whichContinue reading “Half-Dome: A New Photographic Classic”

Good News on SoCal Temps for July?

That’s according to the official one-month outlook forecast for July from the National Weather Service, as shown below, which says we in SoCal have a better than average chance of below normal temps. Of course, before we get too excited, we have to remember the heat wave in July we just survived.

How To Avoid Becoming a Victim of Global Warming

Extreme heat is the prediction for the weather in the Ojai Valley this July 4th and for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service. Cooling is expected on the weekend, but not before. On Friday… the forecast calls for a few degrees of cooling in mostareas… but it will still be hot…Continue reading “How To Avoid Becoming a Victim of Global Warming”