Monthly Archives: March 2015

Lifeguard drones in action: Quadcopters tested on Chilean beaches to help save lives – Video

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Lifeguard drones in action: Quadcopters tested on Chilean beaches to help save lives
Green Solution is aiming to save lives by testing a lifeguard drone on Chile #39;s sandy beaches, according to an Associated Press report. Video of the drones in use on Algarrobo beach shows...

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Lifeguard drones in action: Quadcopters tested on Chilean beaches to help save lives - Video

Mild winter spares San Diego beaches

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San Diego beaches are 33-50 feet wider than normal due to a lack of strong winter storms, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography says in a report released Tuesday.

The region usually gets large waves out of the north-northwest that cut into the coastline and carry sand offshore, producing bars that are pushed back to the beach in the summer months. But that was mostly missing this winter, which ends on Friday.

"Wave heights at the Scripps Torrey Pines offshore buoy never exceeded 10 feet and only two seven feet for about 40 hours, compared with 190 hours an average winter," Scripps graduate student Sean Crosby said in a statement. "The few high waves that did occur coincided with lower-range neap tides, minimizing shoreline erosion."

Adam Wright, founder and chief forecaster at Solspot.com, noticed the same thing.

"We've been missing that steady north-northwest wind we get in the winter," Wright said. "We've had a lot of Santa Anas, which has sent the winds offshore. And the storms we got in December produced a lot of rain but not a lot of winds that would have moved sand off the beaches."

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Mild winter spares San Diego beaches

Sea lion pups washing ashore in California test capacity of rescue network (+video)

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Los Angeles Once again, sea lion pups in dire straits are washing ashore in record numbers up and down the California coast.

The last time this deluge of pups occurred, in 2013, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration dubbed it a UME, or unusual mortality event. But this year, the numbers are far worse. The number of rescues along the California coast so far this year is already 1,650, compared with some 1,400 for the entire year two years ago.

Individual facilities are being overwhelmed as more pups wash ashore. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) in Laguna Beach has a normal capacity to care for some 125 animals in distress. This winter, 285 have come to them more than twice the 135 seen in 2013. SeaWorld has suspended its sea lion show to aid in rescue efforts. The theme park has constructed two new temporary pools to house some 400 pups taken in since January.

It is not entirely unusual for sea lion pups to wash ashore, but they don't usually start appearing until April and May, and never have they washed up on beaches in such high numbers.

While there are still unanswered questions, scientists point to a few potential reasons for the strandings. Its a perfect storm, says marine biologist Keith Matassa, executive director of the PMMC.

Warmer waters are pushing the natural foods for sea lion mothers farther from shore, forcing the nursing sea lion moms to forage up to eight days away from their offspring, rather than the more normal four days. And pups are pushing into the waters to forage for themselves before they are capable of such independent feeding. On top of that, the currents have shifted, Mr. Matassa says.

We are in defensive mode, he says, ever since January when the pups, most born in mid-2014, began to appear dehydrated and seriously underweight on California shores. The PMMC normally has some four or five volunteers helping out with sick animals, but now has more than a dozen.

As the many facilities up and down Californias coast struggle to feed and restore the young mammals to enable them to care for themselves, many observers suggest such challenges are warning bells, signaling larger crises. While it is not possible to trace a single event to global warming or climate change, the overall trend line is clear, says David Helvarg, environmental activist and author ofThe Golden Shore: California's Love Affair With the Sea.

We are seeing dramatic changes, he says, with warming from Alaska down to southern California's Channel Islands. He points to the largest seabird rookery south of Alaska, where the bird boxes built for study had to be changed because of the heat. They were overheating and killing the birds, he says. Also, the changing ocean temperatures are changing food patterns for the birds.

The larger message of these events, Mr. Helvarg says, is that the oceans are in trouble. California has led the way in responding to global warming, he argues, including placing limits on carbon emissions. But you cant fight a global problem from one state, he says, adding that it will take global action to fight such problems as the acidification and overall warming of the ocean.

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Sea lion pups washing ashore in California test capacity of rescue network (+video)

Sea lion pups washing ashore in California test capacity of rescue network

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Los Angeles Once again, sea lion pups in dire straits are washing ashore in record numbers up and down the California coast.

The last time this deluge of pups occurred, in 2013, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration dubbed it a UME, or unusual mortality event. But this year, the numbers are far worse. The number of rescues along the California coast so far this year is already 1,650, compared with some 1,400 for the entire year two years ago.

Individual facilities are being overwhelmed as more pups wash ashore. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) in Laguna Beach has a normal capacity to care for some 125 animals in distress. This winter, 285 have come to them more than twice the 135 seen in 2013. SeaWorld has suspended its sea lion show to aid in rescue efforts. The theme park has constructed two new temporary pools to house some 400 pups taken in since January.

It is not entirely unusual for sea lion pups to wash ashore, but they don't usually start appearing until April and May, and never have they washed up on beaches in such high numbers.

While there are still unanswered questions, scientists point to a few potential reasons for the strandings. Its a perfect storm, says marine biologist Keith Matassa, executive director of the PMMC.

Warmer waters are pushing the natural foods for sea lion mothers farther from shore, forcing the nursing sea lion moms to forage up to eight days away from their offspring, rather than the more normal four days. And pups are pushing into the waters to forage for themselves before they are capable of such independent feeding. On top of that, the currents have shifted, Mr. Matassa says.

We are in defensive mode, he says, ever since January when the pups, most born in mid-2014, began to appear dehydrated and seriously underweight on California shores. The PMMC normally has some four or five volunteers helping out with sick animals, but now has more than a dozen.

As the many facilities up and down Californias coast struggle to feed and restore the young mammals to enable them to care for themselves, many observers suggest such challenges are warning bells, signaling larger crises. While it is not possible to trace a single event to global warming or climate change, the overall trend line is clear, says David Helvarg, environmental activist and author ofThe Golden Shore: California's Love Affair With the Sea.

We are seeing dramatic changes, he says, with warming from Alaska down to southern California's Channel Islands. He points to the largest seabird rookery south of Alaska, where the bird boxes built for study had to be changed because of the heat. They were overheating and killing the birds, he says. Also, the changing ocean temperatures are changing food patterns for the birds.

The larger message of these events, Mr. Helvarg says, is that the oceans are in trouble. California has led the way in responding to global warming, he argues, including placing limits on carbon emissions. But you cant fight a global problem from one state, he says, adding that it will take global action to fight such problems as the acidification and overall warming of the ocean.

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Sea lion pups washing ashore in California test capacity of rescue network

Things to Know about California's sea lion crisis

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LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) More than 1,800 starving sea lion pups have washed up on California beaches since Jan. 1 and 750 are being treated in rescue centers across the state, according to updated numbers released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Scientists with the federal agency believe the crisis hasn't reached its peak and sea lions could continue to arrive on beaches sick and starving for at least two more months.

Here are a few things to know about the sea lion crisis unfolding in California:

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Things to Know about California's sea lion crisis

Astronomy For Everyone – Episode 46 – Spring Deep Sky Objects March 2013 – Video

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Astronomy For Everyone - Episode 46 - Spring Deep Sky Objects March 2013
Astronomy For Everyone is a TV series of monthly TV shows developed by members of the Ford Amateur Astronomy Club (FAAC) targeted to beginner and intermediat...

By: Astronomy For Everyone

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Astronomy For Everyone - Episode 46 - Spring Deep Sky Objects March 2013 - Video

Astronomy – Ch. 8: Origin of the Solar System (1 of 19) Composition of the Solar System – Video

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Astronomy - Ch. 8: Origin of the Solar System (1 of 19) Composition of the Solar System
Visit http://ilectureonline.com for more math and science lectures! In this video I will introduce the origin and compositions of our Solar System. Next video in this series can be seen at:...

By: Michel van Biezen

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Astronomy - Ch. 8: Origin of the Solar System (1 of 19) Composition of the Solar System - Video

Astronomers to shed light on space discoveries to mark spectacular solar eclipse

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Space scientists at the University of Leicester will be taking part in a spectacular event to mark a rare astronomical phenomenon by demonstrating some of their out-of-this-world research including how they located and identified Beagle 2 on Mars. To coincide with Stargazing Live returning to BBC Two, BBC Learning is holding a one-off spectacular live event, open to the general public, on Friday 20 March at Leicester racecourse to coincide with the solar eclipse that will affect the whole nation, the most spectacular in the UK for 16 years. The University of Leicesters Department of Physics and Astronomy will be participating in the event by providing a variety of activities aimed at schoolchildren during the day and for members of the public from 6pm to 9pm. Researchers will be on hand to explain how Leicester has been at the heart of many exciting discoveries, including tracking down the presumed lost Beagle 2 lander. The Stargazing Live event will be open to the general public from 9am until 3pm and from 6pm until 9pm, and will encourage astronomers old and new to look towards the sky. Special guests will include The European Space Agency [ESA] astronaut PaoloNespoli, who spent a total of 174 days on The International Space Station; Paul Franklin, who was the Visual Effects Supervisor from the recent blockbuster Interstellar; and Robin Ince from Radio 4's Infinite Monkey Cage. Professor Paul OBrien, organiser of the University of Leicester activities, said: The BBCs main public event for 2015 is being held in Leicester for the first time. This is a great opportunity for the University to highlight our expertise, particularly in astronomy and space science, to the public.

At Leicester we study objects throughout the Universe, from the Earth out to the most distant objects known. I hope that visitors to the event will leave with a better understanding of how we use facilities on the ground and in space, including many built in Leicester, to explore the Universe.

We will reveal how Beagle 2 was found, what we think it looks like on the surface of Mars as well as show our involvement in current and future Mars missions, such as Exomars. We will show how several of the largest and most powerful astronomy facilities have Leicester-built hardware inside them and what they have told us about the Universe. We will explain how observations from ground and space reveal the interaction between the Earth and the Sun, including what happens during an eclipse. And we will explain how planets have been found around other stars using planetary eclipses. Professor Martin Barstow, Head of the Universitys College of Science and Engineering, and President of the Royal Astronomical Society said: Stargazing Live has been a fantastic success in generating wide interest in astronomy and science in general. I am very pleased that the BBC has again invited the University to contribute. Sinead Rocks, Head of BBC Learning, says: Its wonderful to be able to build on our longstanding relationship with Stargazing. Over the years, weve worked with partners and astronomy groups across the UK to capitalise on the interest that the TV shows create by giving thousands of people opportunities to get actively involved with astronomy. This March, weve got the added bonus of a solar eclipse to kick-start our flagship event in Leicester as well as an ambitious nationwide project to get schools involved in a live science experiment. And of course, well have plenty of extra content online to inspire any armchair stargazers out there to get up and give it a go.

This family-friendly day will be split into zones including Eclipse Central - eclipse-related experiments and explanations; Launch Pad - hands on 'train to be an astronaut' activities; Mission Control - coding meets the cosmos with a Dr Who coding game, science demos and telescope feeds from across the planet; and Astro Academy - where you can quiz the experts who are passionate about the mysteries of the universe.

Admission is free, but the Astro Academy has a limited capacity and so is available on a first-come-first-served basis. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

More details atbbc.co.uk/stargazing

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Astronomers to shed light on space discoveries to mark spectacular solar eclipse