Monthly Archives: May 2012

South Bay beaches earn above average water quality scores

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Most beaches from Marina del Rey to San Pedro aced water quality tests last year during the dry summer season, although several sites along the South Bay coastline earned failing scores during rain events, a new report has found.

The 2011-12 Beach Report Card - released annually by the group Heal the Bay before Memorial Day weekend - is based on water sampling for fecal bacteria pollution conducted by health agencies and dischargers along the West Coast.

This year's report analyzed 650 sites for summer dry-weather water quality and more than 300 locations year-round, grading them on an A-F scale. Samples were collected from April 2011 to March 2012.

The higher the grade, the lower the risk of swimmers getting ill with the stomach flu, skin rashes and ear and upper respiratory infections.

In many areas, wet-weather grades drag behind dry-weather scores. During rainy periods, stormwater runoff can flow untreated toward the coast, carrying contaminants such as trash, animal waste and pesticides.

Locally, several sites earned A's during the summer (dry) monitoring period but got F's for wet-weather scores. They include the Imperial Highway storm drain near Los Angeles International Airport, Grand Avenue at El Segundo's beach, 28th Street in Manhattan Beach and the Herondo Street storm drain on the Hermosa/Redondo Beach border.

Heal the Bay is drawing attention to low wet weather scores in hopes of encouraging infrastructure

"There's still a lot of F's that we're dealing with in the wet weather," she said. "We've had some success."

James said she believes government agencies will have to take a "multipronged approach" to solving the problem by pursuing new projects and low-impact development rules.

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South Bay beaches earn above average water quality scores

Presenting: US's best beaches

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San Diego CVB

Coronado Beach in San Diego tops this year's list of best beaches, compiled annually by "Dr. Beach" Stephen Leatherman.

By Rob Lovitt, msnbc.com contributor

According to Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach, there are approximately 650 major public recreational beaches in the United States. Only one, though, can be No. 1.

What strand of sand earns that designation? This year, the honor goes to Coronado Beach near San Diego, which tops Leathermans 2012 annual list of the Top 10 Beaches in the country. Released on Friday, the full list includes:

The annual list, which Leatherman has compiled since 1991, is based on 50 criteria, ranging from natural conditions (sand softness, water temperature, wave size) to human-related factors (for example, noise, trash or public safety).

Stretching from the iconic Hotel del Coronado to Silver Strand State Beach, this years winner rose from second place in 2011 and third place in 2010.

Its flat and hundreds of yards wide so its great for walking and playing, said Leatherman, who has spent much of his career researching and monitoring beaches as director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University in Miami.

It has a fantastic Mediterranean climate. The water quality is excellent, and theres a great lifeguarding program so its safe for families, he told msnbc.com.

For Leatherman, the annual list is part of a lifelong passion for coastal environments, an interest that stretches from his childhood in Charlotte, N.C., where his parents built him a backyard sandbox, to the publication of his latest book, Field Guide to the Waters Edge (National Geographic Books, $21.95), earlier this month.

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Presenting: US's best beaches

Local beaches get mostly good grades in 'Heal the Bay' report

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The Bay Area's beaches got a mostly clean bill of health in a report released Thursday by an environmental group that monitors water quality at beaches along the West Coast, although bayside beaches scored less well.

The nonprofit group Heal the Bay analyzed weekly bacterial pollution from hundreds of beaches statewide, including 69 beaches in San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa and Marin counties.

Of those, 54 Bay Area beaches received "A" grades on the A-to-F scale based on levels of weekly bacterial pollution tracked from April to October of last year.

Bay Area beaches along the Pacific Ocean fared better in the ratings than ones along the Bay, with 98 percent of oceanside spots receiving "A" or "B" grades compared to 88 percent of bayside beaches, said Amanda Griesbach, a beach water quality scientist with Heal the Bay.

The group also released a "Beach Bummer List" of the top 10 most polluted beaches in California, and no Bay Area beaches were on this year's list.

Of the 10 beaches on that list, seven were in Los Angeles County and two were in Orange County.

Santa Cruz County's Cowell Beach, ranked second-most polluted, was closest on the list to the Bay Area.

Poor grades, such as Cowell Beach's "F," indicate that beachgoers face an increased risk of contracting illnesses -- including the stomach flu, ear infections and skin rashes -- compared to those visiting cleaner beaches.

Baker Beach at Lobos Creek, where a news conference was held Thursday to announce the report's release, was No. 8 on last year's "Beach Bummer" list but has improved to a "B" grade this year, Griesbach said.

The worst marks received by Bay Area beaches were at San Mateo County bayside beaches that experience limited circulation, including Pillar Point Harbor, Oyster Point, Aquatic Park and Lakeshore Park, which received D's and F's for their summer conditions.

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Local beaches get mostly good grades in 'Heal the Bay' report

SoCal beaches get mixed grades on water quality

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Most beaches from Marina del Rey to San Pedro aced water quality tests last year during the dry summer season, although several sites along the South Bay coastline earned failing scores during rain events, a new report has found.

The 2011-12 Beach Report Card - released annually by the group Heal the Bay before Memorial Day weekend - is based on water sampling for fecal bacteria pollution conducted by health agencies and dischargers along the West Coast.

This year's report analyzed 650 sites for summer dry-weather water quality and more than 300 locations year-round, grading them on an A-F scale. Samples were collected from April 2011 to March 2012.

The higher the grade, the lower the risk of swimmers getting ill with the stomach flu, skin rashes and ear and upper respiratory infections.

In many areas, wet-weather grades drag behind dry-weather scores. During rainy periods, stormwater runoff can flow untreated toward the coast, carrying contaminants such as trash, animal waste and pesticides.

Locally, several sites earned A's during the summer (dry) monitoring period but got F's for wet-weather scores. They include the Imperial Highway storm drain near Los Angeles International Airport, Grand Avenue at El Segundo's beach, 28th Street in Manhattan Beach and the Herondo Street storm drain on the Hermosa/Redondo Beach border.

Heal the Bay is drawing attention to low wet weather scores in hopes of encouraging infrastructure

"There's still a lot of F's that we're dealing with in the wet weather," she said. "We've had some success."

James said she believes government agencies will have to take a "multipronged approach" to solving the problem by pursuing new projects and low-impact development rules.

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SoCal beaches get mixed grades on water quality

Blue Flag record for NI beaches

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24 May 2012 Last updated at 09:30 ET

Northern Ireland has achieved its highest ever number of blue flag awards for its beaches and marinas.

Twenty-three beaches have been given blue flag status, which recognises good standards in water quality, safety, and beach facilities.

The 2012 figure is a significant improvement on last year, when only eight beaches were awarded blue flags.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood said the beach summits he called last year seemed to be "bearing fruit".

The minister presented the awards at Crawfordsburn Country Park in County Down on Thursday.

Crawfordsburn beach was among the winners, receiving its first blue flag.

Mr Attwood said: "Today's increase in blue flag and seaside awards is great news for Northern Ireland's beach users and seaside towns as they know they can expect the best when they see a blue flag or a seaside award symbol."

Eleven beaches were awarded the international blue flag. Three resort and eight rural beaches received seaside awards and two blue flags were presented to marinas.

The minister said: "Good water quality and the safety of beaches are key to our economy and tourism and we must strive to achieve highest quality standards for the enjoyment of Northern Ireland's entire world famous coastline."

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Blue Flag record for NI beaches

Water quality at L.A. County beaches improves

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Heal the Bay credits the gains to a drier winter and construction of more facilities to capture, treat and divert tainted storm water. But the county still has seven of the state's top 10 most polluted beaches. The water at 82% of Los Angeles County's beaches earned solid A or B grades in Heal the Bay's annual Beach Report Card, but many of the state's most polluted shores continue to be in the ...

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Water quality at L.A. County beaches improves

Water at California beaches cleanest in years

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Michael Short

Angella Miller of Chicago walks out into the water to skip rocks at Baker Beach, one of two beaches in San Francisco that received top honors in the annual water-quality survey. The other is Ocean Beach.

Dry weather and stricter regulations have boosted water quality at Bay Area beaches to their cleanest level in years, a report released Thursday found.

Nearly every beach in the Bay Area, and throughout the state, had dramatically lower levels of bacteria and pollution than last year, according to an annual survey of 650 West Coast beaches by Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica environmental group.

"This is one of our best years yet," said Amanda Griesbach, a water-quality scientist at Heal the Bay, which compiled its data from weekly water-quality checks throughout the year along the California coast. "Especially with summer coming, people should be happy that beaches in California are clean."

Six local beaches earned top honors, including four in San Mateo County and two in San Francisco: Sharp Park and Rockaway beaches in Pacifica, Montara State Beach, Dunes Beach in Half Moon Bay, and Baker and Ocean beaches in San Francisco.

Nearly all beaches in the Bay Area earned "good" or "excellent" grades, including some in the past that have been among the most polluted, such as Baker Beach.

The report looked at bacteria and pollution seeping into coastal waters from sewage plants, industry and urban runoff. Tougher state and federal standards on water treatment and pollution have led to fewer beach closures and generally cleaner water, according to the report.

Over the past few years, the State Water Resources Control Board and its regional offices have tightened controls and increased enforcement on water treatment plants, refineries, factories and sewage treatment facilities, said Tim Moran, spokesman for the state water board.

"It's a continual process. But we try to identify the problems and take action when we can," he said.

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Water at California beaches cleanest in years

OK, one more eclipse shot | Bad Astronomy

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Ive posted a lot of stuff about Sundays annular eclipse (see Related Links below), and I figured I was done but then I got a pretty remarkable picture sent to me.

During the eclipse, in northern California, two men sent a small (6 cubic meter) helium-filled balloon up to 90,000 feet (roughly 27 km). Equipped with a camera and an ingenious system that used puffs of gas to orient the payload, they took this pretty amazing shot of the eclipse:

[Click to penumbrenate.]

Thats the Earth on the left (duh), and on the upper right you can see the eclipsed Sun! They used a solar filter to cover half the cameras view so that they could get the correct exposure for both the Earth and the much brighter Sun.

I really enjoyed reading their story on how they set this up and executed it. I especially liked how they launched, sat around to watch the eclipse itself, then set off to find the balloon once it came back down (shredded after it popped at its lofty apex).

I love stuff like this! Basic equipment, clever people, and a can-do attitude results in something remarkable. Well done!

P.S. My friend and fellow Boulder astronomer Stuart Robbins posted a series of lovely timed sequences from the eclipse that he took in Albuquerque. Its well worth a click!

Related Posts:

- A fake and a real view of the solar eclipse FROM SPACE! - Gallery: When the Moon ate (most of) the Sun - The May 20, 2012 annular solar eclipse in motion - Followup: Supereclipse

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OK, one more eclipse shot | Bad Astronomy

SpaceX Dragon capsule buzzed the space station | Bad Astronomy

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Early this morning, the SpaceX Dragon capsule passed just 2.4 kilometers below the International Space Station, completing another critical step in its mission profile thatll lead to it docking with the orbiting station Friday morning.

From the station, astronauts captured video as the capsule cruised by:

[You may need to refresh this page to see the video load.]

Very, very cool. You can see the Dragon capsule in this video frame grab: its in the lower left corner, silhouetted against the Earth. The extended solar panels are obvious, and you can just make out the shape of the capsule itself.

This flyby was an important milestone, since it showed that the capsule could approach the station and also abort the approach if needed. Other key elements it demonstrated were that it could float freely (as it will have to when it docks with ISS), that its proximity sensors worked, and that its GPS was operational as well. Astronauts on the ISS were also able to command a strobe light remotely, confirming they could link to the capsule.

All this leads up to the big show on Friday: docking. At about 09:00 UTC (05:00 Eastern US time), NASA will decide if the capsule is ready to approach. If so, over the course of an hour or two it will come with 250 meters of the station. It will then perform some last maneuvers to prove its ready to go, and then it will make its final approach.

Then, around 13:00 UTC, it will come within just a few meters of ISS, and astronauts on board will grab it with the robotic arm, bringing it in to mate. After that, there will be quite a few checks done which will take some time, leading up to the hatch being opened Saturday morning, scheduled to happen around 11:00 UTC.

All the fun stuff so far has been happening in the middle of the night for me in Boulder, but the approach tomorrow morning isnt too bad. Ill get up a little early to watch it live (06:00? Well see). Ill live-tweet the events as they happen.

This is all very exciting! The capsule has been performing essentially flawlessly since launch, so I have high hopes for the next few days.

Image credit: NASA

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SpaceX Dragon capsule buzzed the space station | Bad Astronomy

Update: the Dragon capsule as seen by the ISS | Bad Astronomy

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Just a quick update: a new series of pictures of the Dragon capsule as seen by astronauts aboard the International Space Station has just been released, and they’re way cool. Here’s one: [Click to embiggen.] Earlier today , Dragon passed just 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the station, performing a series of tasks to make sure it was ready to dock with ISS tomorrow. I’m sure the folks at SpaceX ...

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Update: the Dragon capsule as seen by the ISS | Bad Astronomy

Small asteroid to buzz Earth on May 28 | Bad Astronomy

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Asteroid 2012 KP 24, a smallish rock about 25 meters (80 feet) across, will pass pretty close to the Earth on May 28, buzzing us at a distance of about 30,000 kilometers (18,000 miles). Thats close as passes go, but still a clean miss.

Closest approach is at about 15:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. Eastern US time) on May 28. Itll actually pass Earth closer than our geosynchronous satellites! At closest approach, itll whiz by at about 13 km/sec (30,000 mph). Ill note I calculated most of these numbers based on the JPL site linked above, and they may be refined over the next day or two. It was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey (as so many near-Earth asteroids are) on the evening of May 23/24.

Let me stress, as always, that there is essentially zero chance of impact here. A miss like this is still miss, so dont fret over what will no doubt be a slew of panicky doomsday sites and videos that will pop up about this rock that happens every single time we get a near-Earth pass of an asteroid, and yet were still here! If we see one really and truly on its way to an impact, trust me, Ill let you know.

And actually, things like this make me feel safer: were looking and finding these asteroids! The fact is there are a lot of eyes on the skies right now, scanning the heavens and looking for potential impactors. And note that the JPL page for this rock has all the relevant info there.

Tip o the Whipple shield to BABloggee Terry Hash. Image credit: ESA/Rosetta, NASA/NEAR I photoshopped asteroid Mathilde onto an image of the Earth, so this is not KP24!

Related Posts:

- A brief bit about asteroid 2012 DA14 - No, asteroid 2012 DA14 will not hit us next year - Asteroid 2011 AG5: a football-stadium-sized rock to watch carefully - Updated movie of asteroid YU55, plus bonus SCIENCE - Asteroid 2007 TU24: No Danger to Earth

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Small asteroid to buzz Earth on May 28 | Bad Astronomy

Australia to share in world's largest telescope

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Public release date: 25-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kirsten Gottschalk kirsten.gottschalk@icrar.org 61-438-361-876 International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research

Researchers at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) are celebrating today after hearing that Australia will share in hosting the world's largest telescope the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). ICRAR a joint venture between Curtin University and The University of Western Australia has been working towards the $2 billion SKA since its launch in 2009.

"We've been working very hard to make SKA a reality and we're glad to see the project reach this major milestone. ICRAR is looking forward to taking part in the next stage of the SKA through our expertise in Engineering, Information Technology and Astronomy," says ICRAR Director Professor Peter Quinn.

Two candidate sites have been bidding to host the SKA, one in Southern Africa and one in Australia and New Zealand, since 2005. It was announced earlier today by the International SKA Organisation that the SKA would be split between both sites.

Professor Quinn said sharing the SKA between Africa and Australia allows the project to benefit from the best of both sites, building on the substantial investment in infrastructure and expertise that already exists in both locations.

The new plan to share the SKA will see Australia's Mid West hosting two key components of the telescope a group of dishes equipped with Australian-designed multi-pixel radio cameras and the 'Aperture Array' portion, made up of innovative non-moving antennas designed to collect lower frequency radio waves from the whole sky.

This part of the SKA will be optimised to survey large portions of the sky quickly, a particular strength of Australian astronomy.

South Africa will host a complementary group of dish-shaped telescopes designed to observe smaller sections of the sky in more detail, following up on regions of interest discovered using the survey portion.

"This model for splitting the SKA closely follows the workings of other observatories around the world; often separate instruments will survey the sky and inform where another telescope should look closer," says Professor Quinn.

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Australia to share in world's largest telescope

When a Dragon mated the space station | Bad Astronomy

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At 16:02 UTC, Friday, May 25, 2012, the SpaceX Dragon officially became the first privately-owned commercial spacecraft to be captured by and berthed at the International Space Station. It is (if I’ve done the math correctly) the 114th spacecraft to dock with ISS, including the missions sent up to build the station. It is the first privately-owned commercial spacecraft in history to do so. You ...

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When a Dragon mated the space station | Bad Astronomy

Astronomy program planned in Nahant

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A NASA-sponsored astronomy program for 9-14 year-olds will be held this summer at the Nahant Public Library and at East Point Solar Observatory.

The program will begin the week of Monday, July 9, and run for six weeks, through the week of Monday, August 13. Two approximately 1 1 hour sessions will be offered each week; one for each of two age groups. The exact dates and times will be decided after registration.

The program will feature several lessons and hands-on projects covering the Earth, Solar System, the Milky Way, and other galaxies.

The activities will be supervised by Mary Ann Szatkowski, science teacher at the Swampscott Middle School, assisted by high-school aged student aides. Program staff also includes Dr. Luke Conlin of Tufts University. The program is free to Nahant and Swampscott residents.

Registration forms are available at the library, or from Peter Foukal at pvfoukal@comcast.net. Limited enrollment will be necessary on a first-come, first-served basis, given the space limitations at the library.

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Astronomy program planned in Nahant

Area astronomy club opens its time capsule

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S PERRY - Last Saturday, eager members of the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club opened up a 9-inch-by-3-foot metal box stuffed with 25 years of memories.

The time capsule was caulked, bolted shut and placed inside the John H. Witte Observatory classroom when the facility was completed in 1987, and astronomy club members finally opened the box Saturday night to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the observatory and the adjoining classroom.

"The highlights were 'The Hawk Eye' newspaper clippings," said founding astronomy club member Jim Hilkin. "All in all, there weren't a lot of juicy things in there."

The clippings detailed the two-year construction process of the observatory, as well as the passing of Halley's Comet. The comet last appeared in the sky in 1986 and isn't due to come back until 2061.

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The one thing Hilkin didn't find was an action figure from his 30-year-old son, John Hilkin. Though Jim thought the action figure was in there, his son (who was 5 years old when the capsule was placed) didn't want to give up one of his toys for the next 25 years.

Hilkin said new items will be added to the box so it can be sealed away for another quarter of a century, though some members want to wait until December to do that.

"We want to see if the world is going to end," said Hilkin.

According to many interpretations of the Mayan Calendar, the world is supposed to end in December of this year. However, recently discovered Mayan wall writings found in Guatemala show calendars that go well past 2012.

Though attendance was sparse at the observatory Saturday night because of cloudy skies, the astronomy club got together again Sunday evening to watch a rare annular solar eclipse, which was best viewed in the southwestern portion of the U.S. Though the sun went down before the local astronomers were able to view the ring around it, Hilkin still was pleased with what he saw.

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Area astronomy club opens its time capsule

Gravity Rush review

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Our brains seem obsessed with the laws of gravity everyones had terrifying dreams where theyre plummeting from great heights, or uplifting dreams of taking flight while on foot. Gravity Rush, from Sonys Japan Studio, combines these two sensations with such a wonderful, vivid approach that its worth playing for its physics-warping mechanics alone. But as luck would have it, the gravity powers are only one piece of the pleasing puzzle GR also brings a lively setting, charming characters, and wonderful music and graphics to the palm of your hands. As of this moment, its the best reason to own - or consider buying - a Vita.

You play as Kat, an endearing super-heroine-in-the-making who cant remember how she arrived in the quaint, open-world city of Hekseville. Things go from quiet to chaotic when the Nevi start to appear; these are giant monsters that look like Salvador Dali creatures sculpted from strawbelly jelly. Right in the nick of time, ethereal astro-cat Dusty grants Kat domain over the forces of gravity, bestowing her with the powers to better the city and help its gentle folk by squashing the Nevi menace.

Youll be eager to save the townsfolk, too the cel-shaded cast of characters is full of lovable anime archetypes who exchange pleasant banter or grimace menacingly as needed. Kat herself steals the show as the nave but well-meaning peoples champ, but youll also encounter memorable secondary characters, like a God-like figure named Gade or the inept young detective Syd.

When playing as Kat, jumping to your would-be death isnt a problem. With a tap of a button, shell suspend herself in midair, floating aimlessly for as long as your depleting gravity gauge will allow. Tapping the button again will direct gravity in the chosen direction, letting you plummet skyward or walk on walls with ease. GR makes great use of the Vitas gyro sensor: tilting the Vita around will intuitively guide Kats gravity-aiming reticule (though you can use the right analog stick if you prefer). Youll also use touchscreen swipes and taps to evade attacks, cover ground with gravity slides, and unleash flashy, rainbow-charged finishing moves.

It initially takes some time to come to grips with the bizarre z-axis movement that Kat employs, but it wont be long before youre soaring through the air or gliding across ceilings at a whim. Things never get exasperating during this learning period, either Kats completely immune to fall damage (though youll feel guilty when she crashes to the pavement), and failing a mission sends you right back to a checkpoint in a jiffy.

The combat also emphasizes bending gravity to your advantage: though you can string together some decent kick combos on the ground, your main source of damage comes from rushing skyward, taking aim at a Nevi, then plunging foot-first into their heads at Mach 3 speed. The targeting can be a little spotty from time to time, but the guttural satisfaction of nailing a gravity-driven flying kick will make you forget all the times you sailed past your intended mark. Youll also get to bust out some great special moves, like a spinning drill attack or a miniature black hole.

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Gravity Rush review