Category Archives: the land

According to Dr. Jeff Masters’ Wunderblog, the same jet stream pattern that helped bring record-breaking storms to the East Coast will probably break up potential hurricanes along the Gulf Coast. This jet stream pattern should act to keep wind shear high over the main breeding grounds for July tropical cyclones–the Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, andContinue reading “It’s an Ill Wind…”

I’m embarrassed: I forgot to mark the solstice on this blog. Fortunately, the wonderful Earth & Sky radio program, which works closely with many wonderful scientists, and thankfully posts its reports, did not overlook this blessed day.

In a first-rate column today in the Washington Post, E.J. Dionne highlighted a legal conflict between the "humility" of conservative Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who in a recent speech called for the broadest possible agreement among justices on cases, even if on the narrowest of grounds…and Antonin Scalia, who places great faith inContinue reading “West v. East Divide In Supreme Court Wetland Ruling”

A couple of friends have been asking questions about where to go in the Sierras. It’s great fun to attempt to answer such questions, although it arouses my own desires to visit again, even if along a popular well-trod trail, and even if I won’t have enough time to lose myself properly. Who knows; maybeContinue reading “Sunday Morning on the Planet”

From Editor & Publisher’s Photo of the Week. By Joshua Gunter, of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer:

"China is generating such enormous quantities of pollution [from coal plants] that the effects are felt farther downwind than usual. Sulfur and ash that make breathing a hazard are being carried by the wind to South Korea, Japan and beyond." "Not enough of the Chinese emissions reach the United States to have an appreciable effectContinue reading “Chinese Coal Pollution Reaches the Sierras”

Not all the news from this election in California is good. Much-loathed anti-environmentalist Congressman Richard Pombo easily defeated GOP legend Pete McCloskey, and now looks to be on a glide path to re-election. But the news from little Santa Paula is incredible. For the third time in recent years, the not-rich voters in this old-fashionedContinue reading “Money Can’t Buy You Love; Or, in Santa Paula, Development”

Much news tomorrow, including about a thousand takes on "An Inconvenient Truth," including mine, but on this holiday weekend let us enjoy our day of rest, and the new life the new season has brought us.

A little poem on the growth of redwoods (such as this) can be found below the virtual fold by Jane Hirschfield, who is one of America’s best, if not best known, poets.

But isn’t the green of this new growth in itself a little touching? Hope is not just "the thing with feathers that perches in the soul," as Emily said; it’s literally a part of all us, plants included.

Per Andrew Sullivan’s request.

Lots of sites (such as the Weather Underground) offer amazing amounts of weather data these days, tailored to your personal zipcode, but to my eyes they tend to be clogged by distracting ads. Here’s a "mash-up" (via Metafilter) that puts a Google Map function together with NOAA weather forecasts for your area. It gives youContinue reading “Weather Without Ads”