This year has been off the charts hot. Lots of graphics to that point: The February heat anomaly this year [as charted by NOAA] is scary to me. Already we are in the fifth year of drought, which has only slightly lessened, and not at all in central SoCal. And now models pointed are callingContinue reading “Here comes the super-hot summer of 2016”
Category Archives: Ventura County
Bee-loving in Ojai — for good reason
To report now and again for a small town newspaper means documenting something that happened or is happening in a small town, but sometimes what at first seems purely local turns out to be much bigger — even international in scope. From the Ojai Valley News: A move is under way in Ojai to loosen restrictionsContinue reading “Bee-loving in Ojai — for good reason”
“Ominous” news: CA faces megadrought
In a major study released today by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, scientists identify a climactic mechanism that increasingly appears to be blocking the kinds of storms that carry the most rain and snow from reaching California and the Southwest. From NCAR’s press release: “For the study, the researchers analyzed 35 years of dataContinue reading ““Ominous” news: CA faces megadrought”
The birds of the Americas, passing thru
From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a map of the migration of 118 species of birds in the Western hemisphere: [On this map none of these species have reached Southern California yet; actually, a few have reached Ventura County, I think. Saw some chickadee like birds on a walk. Though I read that this hasContinue reading “The birds of the Americas, passing thru”
Waiting for El Nino in SoCal in January 2015
Although we have had a reported 69% of normal rainfall in Los Angeles, to date in this year of an alleged El Nino has been on the dry side in Ventura County: with a modest 4.74 inches to date in Upper Ojai area. But not to worry, say the experts, speaking in this case aboutContinue reading “Waiting for El Nino in SoCal in January 2015”
El Niño to come late to SoCal, experts say
Here’s a story that ran almost two weeks ago in the Ojai Valley News, but remains relevant, says me. A team of scientists from Columbia University presenting climate research last week estimated that the El Niño warming event currently building in the Pacific Ocean will bring above-average rainfall to Southern California but later in theContinue reading “El Niño to come late to SoCal, experts say”
The hazardous truth: Santa Clara Waste Water
My old friends at the Ventura County Reporter ran my latest obsession/story, which I’ve been working on for the last six months or so, off and on, and did a nice job with the lay-out, may I say. Here’s the crux of the matter: What really happened when Santa Clara Waste Water (in Santa Paula area)Continue reading “The hazardous truth: Santa Clara Waste Water”
Scenes from an Explosion: the chemical fire totes
From a picture taken at Santa Clara Waste Water the day after the explosion, fire, and toxic plume:
Santa Clara Waste Water: 1 year after the explosion
Will publish a story on the Scenes from an Explosion story I have been recently slightly obsessed with soon, but for now:
FORECAST: GODZILLA
Here’s the image that inspired scientist Bill Patzert to call a particularly epic El Niño “Godzilla.” See that monster lurking off Central America? With the jagged jaws and the beady little green eye? Here’s the story that explains whyContinue reading “FORECAST: GODZILLA”
Kit Stolz 