Buresh

"Buresh Blog": Dry!... storm chasers killed in Texas - March 29th

March 29, 2017 — We need rain!  Going back to Nov. 1st in Jacksonville, rainfall has been more than half a foot below avg.  Unfortunately we're entering what is typically one of the driest periods of the year for NE Fl./SE Ga. - April & May which coincides with the peak of the wildfire season.  There may be a more active subtropical jet stream setting up the first 10 days or so of April which could offer some hope for at least a little more rainfall.

The last real widespread soaker was the first 10 days of Oct. compliments hurricane "Matthew".  Speaking of which... the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has announced the retirement of "Matthew" from the 2016 list of names.  The hurricane was the deadliest Atlantic Basin storm since "Stan" in the infamous hurricane year of 2005.  Of course, "Matthew" will be remembered locally for being the most damaging hurricane on the First Coast since "Dora", 1964 -- see my online review.  "Otto" was also retired.  A powerful late season (late Nov.) Cat. 3... "Otto" was the farthest south hitting hurricane on Central America & then managed to maintain tropical storm strength after crossing Central America into the far E. Pacific.  So in 2022 (list of names is reused every 6 years), the 'M' will be "Martin" & the 'O' will be "Owen".

Some bad news out of Texas Tue., 03/28..... 3 storm chasers were killed in a nasty automobile accident while trying to intercept a tornado warned storm not far from Lubbock.  At least 2 of the chasers were what The Weather Channel (TWC) termed "contractors".  But let's call it what it was - storm chasers paid by TWC to try to get the most dramatic video of tornadoes as at all possible at all cost.  TWC crews were also involved in a nasty storm chasing incident in Oklahoma in 2013 when a tornado destroyed a TWC vehicle but no TWC employees were killed (other storm chasers were killed).  Speaking from personal experience (I storm chased for several years while a student at Oklahoma University), there is an incredible rush of adrenaline & a true sense of awe when you see Mother Nature in all its "splendor" with the pinnacle seemingly being a powerful tornado develop right before your very eyes.  When I was storm chasing (1980s), cameras & all the chasing "gear" were primitive compared to today.  It was usually true research -- studying, filming & photographing severe supercell storms & tornadoes to try to better understand the process which would one day -- & it has -- lead to better warnings for the public.  It was truly fascinating & often groundbreaking stuff.  There were times you might see as many 20-25 chase vehicles on a single storm but that was the exception.  Today, there might be as many as hundreds(!) of chase vehicles on a single storm.

One has to wonder where the madness ends. The incidents of 4 years ago & again this year should be cause for pause.  First of all.... the storm chaser credo is: "never get wet".  Pretty simple.  If you don't get wet & don't get hailed on, you're usually pretty safe (watch out for lightning!) while chasing a storm.  You'll have generally good visibility, get good video/photos & will be able to maintain a safe distance from the violent vortex.  AND you NEVER chase after dark.  And related to all this - avoid - if at all possible - "plunging the core".  This means don't drive straight into a supercell t'storm because when you come out of the wind, hail & driving rain, you might drive right into the tornado!  Follow the storm chasing "bible", & you likely to be o.k.  But in today's world, there's less research & more flash which is sort of inexplicable.  There are so many easy ways to get video of a tornado.... live stream it...  tweet, Facebook Live or at least upload the video in short order.... that having the edge on getting the video first is almost pointless, especially when you're a national outlet.  Chasers & the TWC will argue public safety.  Ah pshaw!  Tornado warnings are often timely in this day & age (yes - I know - not always perfect) - especially for supercell thunderstorms not to mention there are already plenty of storm chasers "on the storm".  Media research consistently shows that when severe weather is affecting a localized region, local media outlets are still the preferred source for live saving information. This was certainly the case during hurricane "Matthew" in Jacksonville when local t.v. & radio stations far outperformed national networks when it came to ratings.

This isn't a game & TWC should realize it.  Glorifying storm chasing & hyping the weather is no way a "public service" - it sends the wrong message.  Mitigation & respect for Mother Nature are the key messages that need to be drilled into the public mindset which -- in the long run -- will make for a safer world where people are less susceptible to the damage that the weather can cause.  Which could take me to another topic - whether or not our weather today is "more severe than ever".  I argue it's all about the huge explosion of the planet's population & therefore more buildings, more infrastructure... an overall more precarious population as a whole that's more susceptible to the yin & yang that is -- & always will be -- Mother Nature & the chaotic atmosphere.  Our weather is not likely more violent nor more changeable than it used to be.  We simply have more people to to be affected by the weather not to mention more ways to capture & send the video/images than ever before.  It's weather hype in my opinion.  Climate & weather are part of a unique natural balance that's always trying to equalize.  So we have storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, rain, wind, snow, sleet, blizzards, lightning & - yes - even "just" sunny days.  It's always changing & fascinating.  That's why the weather often makes for the perfect "ice breaker" at the water cooler.

May the storm chasers killed in Texas, Rest in Peace.

..... & to "stay above table" here.... CBS47 & Fox30 owns & operates a "First Alert Storm Tracker".  I spend many a day telling & showing videographers & reporters how to avoid unsafe weather situations.  The goal of our vehicle is primarily to bring the story to our viewers & listeners after the storm though there have been -- & will be -- exceptions (again - see "Matthew").  But even when the First Alert Storm Tracker is near or in the storm, personal safety is the utmost priority.

EARTH GAUGE (NEEF):

Spring Gardening, Sarah Blount.....

Spring is in the air! Grasses are growing and flowers are blooming, and whether you’re new to the gardening game or your thumb has long been green, you’re invited to be part of this bountiful season.  

Get involved by installing plant species that are native to the ecoregion around your home, loosely called “native plants.” Native plants are those species of vegetation that have evolved for hundreds or thousands of years under your local growing conditions, including soil type, precipitation frequency, nutrient availability, and native pest communities. This long evolutionary history with your local climate means that native plants have adapted to flourish with the amount of light, water, and nutrients typically available in your area, and require little additional input from you. Their predisposition to flourish in your region helps them provide ecosystem services, such as soil stabilization with their root systems, water filtration in marshy and damp environments, and air quality improvement by reducing windswept sediment. In areas where water is scarce, native plants can help mitigate the impacts of drought by helping water infiltrate the soil, trap moisture in the ground, and reduce erosion.

These native species don’t just benefit the environment on the larger scale—individual gardeners can realize benefits from using native plants as well. Compared to non-native species, native plants are less susceptible to disease, and once established, need less watering and fertilizer than their counterparts, saving you time and money. There is a wide variety of vegetation types that fall under the umbrella of native species—depending on your area, this can include an array of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses.

Lower-maintenance blooms and greenery aren't the only the only benefits native plants bring to the yard. This flora is vital for native animals, providing food, breeding ground, and shelter for wildlife in your area. Many species of animals, including some pollinators, are host-dependent, meaning that they require a specific species of plant to survive. By picking host plants that are native to your area, you can help support important populations of birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, and enjoy watching these animals all season long. Learn about creating a native pollinator garden(link is external).

Ready to start planting? Check out the resources below to learn more about how to select native plants and get ideas for starting your own garden.

Sources:

University of Maryland Extension. 2016. “Home & Garden Information Center: Why Include Native Plants in Your Garden?” University of Maryland. Accessed March 18. 

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    • Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "The nation that destroys its soils destroys itself."
    • Leonardo Da Vinci once said, "We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot."
    • Wildfires have the potential to heat soil to a level that alters its physical, chemical, and biological properties.
    • Extreme precipitation events may erode soils into nearby water bodies and make them no longer available to support crop growth.
    • Droughts reduce the amount of water available in soil to sustain life in the ecosystem.
    • Earlier springs many not allow the soil to supply nutrients at required rates for faster growing plants. In turn, plants may be smaller and have reduced yields.
    • Extreme heat increases the rate of decomposition of organic matter in soil, which increases the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
    • Pick up some tips from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and learn how you can maintain healthy soil(link is external) by disturbing soil less, increasing plant diversity, keeping living roots in the ground throughout the year, and keeping soil covered as much as possible.
    • Check out this infographic(link is external) from the USDA to learn more about the beneficial characteristics of soil.
    • Neary, D., Ryan, K.,  DeBano, L., et al. 2005. (revised 2008). "Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on soils and water." Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol.4. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Pg. 21.(link is external)
    • Nation Climate Assessment. 2014. "Agriculture." Accessed March 22, 2016. (link is external)
    • Nation Climate Assessment. 2014. "http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/sectors/biogeochemical-cyclesBiogeochemical Cycles." Accessed March 22, 2016. (link is external)
    • Nation Climate Assessment. 2014. "Ecosystems." Accessed March 22, 2016. (link is external)
    • USDA. 2016. "NRCS: Soil Health." Accessed March 22. (link is external)
    • USDA. 2016. "NRCS: Soil Quotations." Accessed March 22.