Planet Earth

The Overview Effect

April 21, 2019 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

The iconic Earthrise photo was taken in 1968 by NASA astronaut William A. Anders during the Apollo 8 mission, the first manned spaceflight to orbit the Moon. Never before had a human observed the Earth rising, and Anders’ amazing, first-ever color photo of our stunningly beautiful planet emerging from a lunar horizon still takes your breath away.

“We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.” — William A. Anders

To See The Earth As It Truly Is*

It was very, very sobering to see this little blue marble in the middle of all that darkness. Frank Borman

The awe-inspiring effect of seeing the whole Earth from the vantage of space (known as “Earth gazing”) is most often described as an overwhelming sense that Earth is an “interconnected whole with one destiny”. An understanding that’s key to our survival. Of course, we can’t see it and feel it firsthand (only 24 humans out of 7.3 billion world population have had the experience) until space travel becomes practical for the general public, but innovative technology continues to provide us with more and better information and visuals.

The short documentary Overview (from Planetary Collective) explores a cosmic worldview with reflections from “Earth gazing” astronauts and philosophers as well as beautiful space imagery. Watch and be inspired by the “unity and oneness of all life on Earth”.

Earthrise: Remembering Apollo 8. Launched on December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 became the first manned spacecraft to reach the Moon, orbit it and return, and its crew became the first humans to see and photograph the Earth emerging from behind the lunar horizon. Watch as the Griffith Lab All Space Considered team recalls the lead up, events and discoveries of this historic mission in celebration of its 50th anniversary.

*”To see the earth as it truly is, small and blue and beautiful in that eternal silence where it floats, is to see ourselves as riders on the earth together, brothers on that bright loveliness in the eternal cold — brothers who know now they are truly brothers.” Archibald MacLeish (1892 – 1982) American poet

Take a virtual ride on a satellite for awesome views of Earth

Apollo 17 photo taken December 13, 1972 on the lunar surface — Moonwalk (December 13, 1972) NASA

Want to see more of what’s out there in space? The short video documentary, “The Last Steps” will take you to a ‘back to the future’ moment in time with original film footage, photographs and audio recordings from Apollo 17, NASA’s final Apollo program mission, and the last time a human walked on the moon. Watch more “out of this world” videos via the “Cosmos Channel“, free to watch, on-demand.

A retrospective look at discoveries and images of Saturn
captured during the 20 year Cassini Mission, plus some
info on when and how you can see Saturn in 2017

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“The Overview Effect” is an edited version of an article originally published on the “Zblog” by Zeester Media LLC.

Earthrise photo credit: NASA

Among The Trees

March 21, 2019 By Zola Zeester 4 Comments

“No more walks in the wood;
This is the aftermath
Of afternoons in the clover
Fields where we once made love
Then wandered home together
Where the trees arched above,
Where we made our own weather
When branches were the sky.
Now they are gone for good,
And you, for ill, and I
Am only a passer-by.”

— John Hollander, An Old-Fashioned Song

The Life and Loves of a Tree

We start loving trees as children because they are so much fun to climb and offer endless playtime adventures and hiding-out opportunities. As we get older, explore and learn more about trees, we find more to love and cherish.

Trees do many good things for the world — like cleaning the air, providing oxygen, and protecting us against a changing climate (to name just a few), and trees have incredible healing and restorative powers along with an ability to spark creative and spiritual inspiration. Just a short walk in the woods can lift your spirits. And, take a look around along the way. You may be surprised at what’s really going on among the trees.

A forest is actually a lot like a community of social beings. Yes, that’s right — trees in the forest are social, sharing, caring and also smart, having evolved to live in cooperative, interdependent relationships through communication and collective intelligence. And, all this extraordinary interaction among trees is happening underground, just inches below the surface.

Suzanne Simard, a professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences in Vancouver, studies the below-ground fungal networks that connect trees and enable their underground “inter-tree” communication and interaction. In her TED presentation How Trees Talk To Each Other, Suzanne describes her field research (which included some tense moments with a bear) and the exciting discoveries during 30 years of study. [Ted Talk, courtesy of TED, CC BY–NC–ND 4.0 International]

Peter Wohlleben’s international best-seller The Hidden Life of Trees (2015) fascinated readers to the many wonders of the forest. In a new, illustrated edition, beautiful images provide the perfect complement to the original book, with striking close-ups of bark and seeds, panoramas of vast expanses of green, and a unique look at what is believed to be the oldest tree on the planet. [If you purchase a book via the link here to Amazon, Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase

FOREST THERAPY
Go To The Woods – Breathe Deeply – Be At Peace

In Japan, shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), is the practice of spending time within a forest to benefit from its therapeutic powers as well as to enjoy being surrounded by nature. Introduced in the early 1980’s as a Japanese national health program, it has become a popular healing practice throughout Japan and around the world.

Forest bathing activities may include relaxation techniques such as mindful meditation, yogic breathing (yoga deep breathing exercise) and aromatherapy as well as walking or simply standing in a forest absorbing it all through the five senses (sight, touch, smell, sound and taste). For the best experience, participants are encouraged to select a safe, secure forest and relaxation methods that best fit their needs and preferences.

Forest Bathing – Forest Therapy Society (Tokyo, Japan)
Association of Nature & Forest Therapy – find a forest bathing guide, workshops and programs

Technical Recreational Tree-Climbing, a style of tree climbing requiring special equipment and techniques, continues to grow in popularity as an enlightening outdoor experience with therapeutic benefits as climbers ascend into the crowns of tall trees and canopies of forests. Basic training is essential to learning how to use the ropes, saddles, and techniques safe for both the climber and tree.

Once a year, Tim Kovar, an adventurous arborist and tree climbing instructor, takes a few people on a climb up one of the tallest trees in the world — an 850 year old California redwood called the Grandfather. It’s a summit Tim says less people have attempted than Mt. Everest.

Go Tree Climbing – The Global Organization of Tree Climbers provides information on training, climbing programs, and safety. Tree Climbers Rendezvous 2018 is a tree climbing event open to all levels of experience, scheduled to be held in Costa Rican Cloud Forest August 24-28.
Tree Climbers International – promotes tree climbing as a safe recreational activity for people of all ages, and offers recreational tree climbing courses from basic to advanced.

Information/Resources:

Do Trees Talk to Each Other? by Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine (March 2018)
Alternative Healing, A Walk in the Forest by Catie Liebeck, Pulitzer Center (April 25, 2016)
How Trees Calm Us Down by Alex Hutchinson, The New Yorker (July 23, 2015)
Immerse Yourself in a Forest for Better Health, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

When You Give a Tree an Email Address, by Adrienne LaFrance, Atlantic Monthly (July 10, 2015) The city of Melbourne assigned email addresses to trees so that citizens could report problems with a specific tree. Instead of reporting problems, people wrote thousands of love letters to their favorite trees.

Find a Forest Near You – interactive map & online search tools to help you find forests in US and Puerto Rico
10 Incredible Forest Walks To Add To Your Bucket List by Richard Madden, The Telegraph Travel/Tours (August 7, 2017)

Want to get involved and help trees? Here’s a list of just a few of the organizations dedicated to planting trees and restoring and protecting forests around the world:

National Forest Foundation – Nonprofit partner to the US Forest Service (chartered in 1993) that promotes health and enjoyment of America’s forests with community involvement, tree planting programs, collaborative research, funding grants, and information resources

Arbor Day Foundation – Nonprofit conservation and education organization that provides information and support for the planting of trees in cities and communities and restoring forests around the world. [Search for Arbor Day celebration dates across America and around the world → here]

Trees For the Future – public charity dedicated to planting trees around the world and helping farmers revitalize the soil.

Tree People – A nonprofit organization that inspires and supports the people of Los Angeles, California to plant and care for trees, harvest the rain, and renew depleted landscapes.

Feature photo is courtesy of Spring Fed Images/Unsplash CC0

Gordon Hempton is a ‘sound tracker’, traveling the world in search of vanishing sounds, including silence. He found a quiet spot in the Washington Hoh rainforest, and takes us there in the short video documentary, Preserving One Square Inch of Silence.

Avalanche

March 13, 2019 By Zola Zeester 2 Comments

Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Edward Whymper, Scrambles Amongst the Alps

Avalanches are not rare or random events. Most common during winter and spring, avalanches can occur any time of the year, and they are among the most threatening natural hazards to life and property in mountainous terrain.

Spontaneous avalanches result from either a weakening of a snowpack and gravity or an increased load on it due to precipitation. Avalanches are also triggered by disturbances from skiers, snowmobilers, animals, and seismic activity. A loud noise or shouting, however, is not a trigger as commonly believed unless the sound comes from an explosive device (frequently used to prevent avalanches in at-risk areas by triggering a small avalanche to remove instabilities in a snowpack).

If you ski, board or ride in the backcountry, live in or travel through snow covered mountainous terrain, the threat of avalanches must not be ignored as the dangers are very real.

This too real video by TahoeChappy captures the frightening experience of a backcountry skier as he triggers an avalanche, is buried and miraculously dug out in 4 minutes/28 seconds. He got very lucky. Not everyone gets that kinda luck.

In North America, 42-45 people on average are killed by avalanches (more than 150 worldwide), and hundreds more are injured. Most are snowmobilers, skiers, and snowboarders. Sobering reminders that whether you’re a backcountry expert or newbie, don’t venture out without understanding and preparing for the dangers. The good news — there are many resources available to help you learn how to reduce the risks.

Information/Resources:

Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center – non-profit organization based in Bozeman, Montana USA supporting avalanche awareness and education – find forecast, information and events
Colorado Avalanche Information Center and Utah Avalanche Center – backcountry avalanche forecasts, observations, accident reports, and education
Avalanche Training recommended by American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) for both recreational and professional backcountry adventurers
What You Can Do? – Avalanche Awareness Tutorial
The Power of Training – Avalanche Canada
European Avalanche School
What To Do If You Get Caught in an Avalanche, by Kate Baggaley, Popular Science (May 16, 2017)

EPIC SKIMO – Free-to-watch ski mountaineers take on extreme challenges of the mountain with a world record & personal goals in mind

A Skier’s Journey A free-to-watch, on-demand video series that follows adventure skiers as they travel the world, discovering great beauty and dangers in the mountains.

Feature photo is courtesy of Flickr user, Prasan, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Kīlauea

January 31, 2019 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

During a volcanic eruption, we are reminded that our planet is an ever-changing environment whose basic processes are beyond human control. As much as we have altered the face of the Earth to suit our needs, we can only stand in awe before the power of an eruption.US National Park Service

Hawaiian Ridge - Emperor seamount chain consisting of islands, undersea mountains and volcanoes extends across the Pacific Ocean. — Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, NOAA and ESRI® Data & Maps (Public Domain)

The “Hawaiian – Emperor seamount chain” is a vast undersea mountain range interspersed with islands, underwater mountains (seamounts), atolls (ring shaped coral reefs encircling a lagoon), shallows, banks, reefs and more than 80 volcanoes, that extending across the Pacific Ocean for 3,728 miles (60,000 kilometers) from the Hawaiian islands to Alaska and Siberia. The chain has been forming during the last 70 to 80+ million years by volcano eruptions and movement of the ocean floor (the “Pacific Plate”) over a volcanic region known as the “Hawaii hotspot”. Closest to this hotspot is the Hawaiian archipelago (aka Windward islands) that includes eight main islands: Hawaii (aka ‘the Big Island’, the Island of Hawaii & Hawaii Island to distinguish it from the US state of Hawaii), Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe, a number of small islands, atolls, and seamounts, extending 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from the Kure Atoll to the Big Island, the southernmost point of the Hawaiian – Emperor seamount chain.

The formation of the Big Island is the result of sequential and simultaneous eruptions of five ‘shield’ volcanoes (low profile, circular, slopping shield shaped volcanoes) over a period of about 300,000 – 600,000 years, and at 93 miles (150 km) across and a land area of 4,028 sq. miles (10,430 km²), it’s the largest of the Hawaiian islands and still growing because of the lava flow from currently active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kīlauea.

In accordance with beliefs and practices of the traditional Hawaiian religion, summits of the five Big Island volcanoes are revered by native Hawaiians as sacred mountains, and the powerful, passionate Fire Goddess, Pele, is believed to live within the Halema’uma’u crater located at the summit of Kīlauea. Pele’s domain, however, includes all volcanic activity on the Big Island, and she has the ability to cause lava to erupt from the ground at any time. She’s been a very busy goddess.

Kilauea volcano is still active on the Island of Hawaii, and NASA-led scientists are studying the effects and hazards. — Kilauea at Night, NASA photo

The Kīlauea Volcano

The name ‘Kīlauea’ is translated to ‘spewing’ or ‘much spreading’, referring to frequent lava flows originating from the volcano. The name is well-deserved as there have been 61 separate eruptions from Kīlauea since 1823, making it one of the most active volcanoes on planet Earth. Most of these eruptions have been relatively moderate and have occurred within one of its ‘rift zones’ with lava flows moving downslope. [A rift zone is an area of ruptures on the surface that allows lava to erupt and flow from the flank of a volcano instead of its summit.] However, Pele does periodically create havoc with explosive and sometimes deadly eruptions that expel molten rock and gases across the landscape.

Kīlauea’s most recent major eruption (dating back to January 3. 1983) is the longest period of volcanic activity in its documented history with lava flowing almost continuously for 35 years from the volcanic cone, Puʻu ʻŌʻō (‘high point on the skyline’) located within Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone. [Volcanic cones like Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō are formed by the ejected magma rocks piling up around a vent.] The collapse of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on April 30, 2018, resulted in the iconic eruption site and surrounding lava flow fields becoming devoid of lava during the rest of 2018. The absence of surface activity for such a long period of time makes it unlikely that lava activity will resume within Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō; therefore, scientists have determined the eruption has concluded. It’s important, however, to remember that Kīlauea remains an active volcano that will erupt in the future, and hazards have not changed as a new eruption can quickly cause dangerous conditions. For status updates, check out the Report from USGS – Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (daily updates and warnings).

Video: Story of Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake, and the eruptive history of Halema‘uma‘u. Credit: US Geological Survey

In the video documentary 100 Days: 2018 Kilauea Eruption, photojournalist Andrew Richard Hara chronicles his emotional observations of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.

Also, see lava flow from Kīlauea up-close in HD. Two short videos, Dawn of Fire and River of Fire, (filmed and produced by Tyler Hulett) capture flowing molten lava as it moves toward the Pacific Ocean from Puʻu ʻŌʻō during daylight and night. It’s an incredible sight to see.

Visiting Kīlauea

A spectacle, sublime and even appalling, presented itself before us. We stopped and trembled. Astonishment and awe for some moments rendered us mute, and, like statues, we stood fixed to the spot, with our eyes riveted on the abyss below.William Ellis (1794-1872), describing the first sight of Kīlauea

The first western visitors to Kīlauea were two missionaries in 1823, William Ellis, an Englishman, and American, Asa Thurston, and after the building of hotels on its rim in the 1840’s, Kīlauea became a tourist attraction. Today, it’s protected within the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and visited by 2.6 million people annually. The park offers visitors dramatic volcanic landscapes of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, archeological sites, historical places, and a look at rare flora, fauna and wildlife as well as hiking, biking, touring and camping. Popular stops are the Kilauea Visitor Center and the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum & observation deck.

References/Information Sources:
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Find Kīlauea vistor information, including eruption/emission/lava flow updates, hiking & safety tips, photos & video
USGS – Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Kīlauea history, status reports, updates & information
Wikipedia: Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii (Island), Kīlauea, List of volcanoes in the Hawaiian – Emperor seamount chain, Hawaiian religion, Pele

Scientific Study: In January 2017, a NASA-led science team began exploring Kīlauea and Mauna Loa from the air, ground and space to better understand volcanic processes and find ways to mitigate the hazards.

US National Parks: There are more than 400 US national parks available to everyone, every day. Most are free to enjoy, and the 117 that charge an entry fee (e.g., Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park) offer fee-free days throughout the year.
Find Your Park ← Use the search tools on this website to find the perfect place to visit.

Feature photo credit: Puʻu ʻŌʻō, courtesy of GE Ulrich, USGS (Public Domain). [Note: Puʻu ʻŌʻō is a volcanic cone that allows lava flow eruptions from the eastern flank of the Kīlauea summit. It has been erupting since January 3, 1983.]
Image: Map of Hawaiian Islands, United States Geological Survey, Public Domain
Image: Simplified map of Kīlauea Volcano (2000) by J. Johnson, USGS, Public Domain
Photo: Kīlauea at Night is courtesy of NASA

Monarchs on the Move

September 27, 2018 By Zola Zeester 1 Comment

A UNA MARIPOSA MONARCA (To a Monarch Butterfly)
by Homero Aridjis (translated by George McWhirter)

Tu que vas por el día
como un tigre alado
quemándote en tu vuelo
dime qué vida sobrenatural
está pintada en tus alas
para que después de esta vida
pueda verte en mi noche

You who go through the day
like a winged tiger
burning as you fly
tell me what supernatural life
is painted on your wings
so that after this life
I may see you in my night

Don’t know why exactly, but there is something special about a monarch sighting. Maybe it’s the mystery of where it’s going, where it’s been, or the mystical legend of monarchs as returning spirits of deceased loved ones. But, to watch thousands of monarchs flying en masse………..well, you just have to see it!

The Wings of Life – Monarch Butterflies is a short video from Disneynature studio that captures in spectacular time-lapse/high speed/macro cinematography many thousands of monarchs wintering in Mexico, with close-up views of these amazing butterflies in action. The video documentary was directed by award-winning nature filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg, and narrated by Meryl Streep.

Monarch Migration
–One of the most remarkable natural phenomena on Earth–

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an iconic pollinator species native to the New World where it can be found from southern Canada to northern South America. Monarchs can also be found hanging out in other parts of the world: Caribbean, Hawaii, Cook Islands, the Solomons, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, the Philippines and North Africa, and they make an occasional visit to the UK as an ‘accidental migrant’ (displacement is caused by storms, high winds, swift currents). Bright orange coloring with black and white markings make monarchs easy to spot, but they are commonly misidentified as the smaller viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus), another North American butterfly with similar pattern and coloring.

A monarch’s life is spent on the move, and it’s complicated. Each year in late summer to early autumn, millions of monarchs migrate thousands of miles south from central and northern US states and southern Canada to Mexico, Florida and the coastal areas of southern and central California where they make a winter home in large clusters of colonies high within trees. Taking advantage of air currents and thermals and traveling only during daylight hours (roosting in clusters to stay warm at night), the trip takes about two months, covering 50-100 miles a day at a flight speed of about 5.5 mph (9 km/hr). In spring, they make the journey back north.

During the spring migration northward, the travel itinerary is quite different as monarchs mate and produce four generations along the way. The first three generations have life spans of only 2 – 6 weeks, but each continues mating and moving north. The fourth generation lives 6 – 8, sometimes 9 months, and is the generation of monarchs that will migrate south for the winter. No one really knows how these later generation monarchs navigate their way to a winter home they have never before visited. Clearly, they must rely on instincts rather than learning as the last generation with knowledge of the route is long dead. Some experts have determined that monarchs must be genetically programmed to migrate long distances and use some sort of biological sun and magnetic compasses as orienting tools.

No other butterfly is known to make an epic round-trip migration as the monarch does every year. While this makes the monarch extraordinarily unique, the long journeys also cause monarchs to be particularly vulnerable to climate conditions and human activities that disrupt and destroy their habitat. Consequently, their numbers have decreased significantly during the last 20 years (a decline of more than 80 percent over the past two decades), and there is great concern that monarch migration is at high risk of failure. Conservationists, scientists, and federal, state and local organizations in the United States, Mexico and Canada have begun efforts to stop the destruction before it’s too late, and yes— everyone can do something to help monarchs and have fun doing it!

• Create a Monarch Habitat Make a special spot for monarchs. Maybe it’s just a small pot on your front steps, patio or balcony, a backyard garden, pasture, farm or ranch land. Plant milkweed and nectar plants that are native to your area and free of pesticides, insecticides and neonicotinoids.

• Help Scientists Study Monarchs

• Get Involved as a Community Join forces with friends, neighbors and colleagues to develop ‘monarch friendly’ landscaping at schools, businesses, community parks and gardens, and urban green spaces with native plants and wildflowers for monarchs.

• Garden Organically Using organic methods in your garden will reduce your impact on monarchs, their food plants and other pollinators.

• Support Conservation Efforts

• Spread the Word about Pollinators, Conservation, and How to Help It’s easy to get started with this one — Share this article with your friends!

Monarch travel many miles in migration, and there are things each of us can do to help monarchs survive the journey — Monarch on a Thistle, Lake of the Ozarks, by Sean Stratton/Unsplash CC0

References/Information Sources [To learn more about helping monarchs, check out these selected resources]:

Monarch Butterfly Basic Facts, Defenders of Wildlife website

Monarch Migration, University of Minnesota website, Biology & Research

Migration and Overwintering, USDA Forest Service website

Monarch Butterfly Migration Interactive Map It’s fun to keep track of monarch migration. This interactive map has the best up-to-date info on Spring 2017 first sightings (January – July). Check it out, and report your sightings, too.

Monarch Migration Could Collapse as Population Remains Low, Center for Biological Diversity (March 5, 2018) More milkweed needed! The count of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico (released 3/5/18), shows a decrease from last year’s count, and “confirms the iconic orange and black butterfly is still very much at risk”.

The Monarch Butterfly is in Trouble —You Can Help! US Fish and Wildlife Service

“Monarchs Still Need Your Help” (Open Spaces, US Fish & Wildlife blog, 2/14/2017)

How to Build a Butterfly/Pollinator Garden in 7 Steps, US Fish and Wildlife Service (May 18, 2016). Regional Milkweed Planting Guide –The Xerces Society website

Study Monarchs: Citizen Science Opportunities. How to help scientists count and track monarchs.

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Located within rugged forested mountains about 64 miles (100 km) northwest of Mexico City, researchers first discovered monarchs overwintering within the area in 1975. It was designated a federal reserve in 1980 by presidential decree and a World Heritage Site in 2008.

WWF Monarch Butterfly Tours – Ecotours of central Mexico provide an opportunity to observe and photograph large colonies of monarchs at their remote winter roosting sites in the highlands of central Mexico. “The Kingdom of the Monarchs” 2018 tour dates are scheduled January thru March.

Myth and Mystery in Mexico’s Monarch Kingdom, Good Nature Travel (October, 2009)

“Migration: The Biology of Life on the Move” by Hugh Dingle (Oxford University Press, 2014)

Nature is full of extraordinary sights to experience and explore, and talented photographers bring it all to life on your screen. You’ll be amazed!

Watch and discover Natural Beauty via On2In2™ selected videos.
Free to Watch – On Demand

Feature photo of monarch butterfly is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

The Endangered

September 4, 2018 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

‘Why should we care?’ With everything going on in the world, it’s a fair question.

All living things (including humans) are part of what is called the ‘biosphere’ (aka the zone where life dwells on Earth). It’s the name used to describe the entire network of countless ‘ecosystems’ around the world. Each ecosystem is a community of all the living and non-living things within a specific geographic area, and there are two major types, terrestrial (forests, mountains, deserts, grasslands) and aquatic (marine and freshwater), also many sub-ecosystems of all sizes and variety.

An example of a terrestrial ecosystem is the Amazon Rainforest in South America with 427 mammals, 1,300 birds, 378 reptiles, more than 400 amphibians, and around 3,000 freshwater fish (to name a few!), and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is an example of an aquatic ecosystem (one of the 7 natural wonders of the world with 1,625 species of fish, more than 600 hard & soft coral, 215 species of birds, 30 species of whales & dolphins, 6 of 7 species of turtles, 133 varieties of sharks & rays, and 14 species of sea snakes). Located within the northern Rocky Mountains, northwestern Wyoming, southwestern Montana, and including Yellowstone National Park, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is “one of the last remaining large, nearly intact” ecosystems in the northern temperate zone of planet Earth.

The reintroduction of the Gray Wolf into Yellowstone National Park has had beneficial effects on the ecosystem and other species. — Gray Wolf photo: M Zanderling/Unsplash CC0

The Effect of Species Extinction

No one knows exactly how a species extinction will affect the other life within its ecosystem, but it’s clear that the elimination of just a single species can set off a chain reaction that is harmful to other species. This is especially true for what is known as a ‘keystone’ species as its loss can dramatically change the species composition of an ecosystem or destroy it altogether. An example of a keystone species is the Gray Wolf.

In the late 1800’s, wolf packs roamed Yellowstone National Park, but by the end of the 1920’s, they had been hunted down and eliminated. At the time, people considered the Gray Wolf a dangerous menace, and were happy to be rid of them. However, there was an explosion in the elk population without the Gray Wolf in Yellowstone, which in turn caused severe soil erosion and damage to brush and trees because such large numbers of elk were grazing within the park. In 1974 the Gray Wolf was added to the list of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, and in early 1995, the first wolves were brought to Yellowstone from Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. Since that time, the vegetation and trees have recovered, creating much needed habits for beaver, migratory birds, moose and other species, and the bear population has also been positively affected as bear as well as other species scavenge off wolf kills. But, it will take decades more research to understand the full extent of the Gray Wolf ripple effect in Yellowstone.

Sea Turtles have been living on Earth for 110 million years, and today they are listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. — Turtle Undercover, Delfi de la Rua/Unsplash CC0

Protecting Endangered Species

“Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man.”
— Stewart Udall (1920-2010), 37th US Secretary of the Interior

Although extinctions of a species are a natural occurrence, the trouble we’ve got now is the rate of extinction is much higher than in the past, and there’s nothing ‘natural’ about it. A natural rate is about one in five species lost every year, but some estimates show the world is losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times that rate, with dozens going extinct each day. If that doesn’t scare you, think about this — as many as 30-50% of all species are thought to be heading toward extinction by mid-century. Doesn’t leave much for future generations.

Compared to other countries, the United States has probably the greatest diversity of ecosystems within its borders, including more than 200,000 species. However, approximately one-third of its plants and animals are considered at risk today, and biologists have estimated that since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, more than 500 species, subspecies, and varieties of America’s plants and animals have become extinct. If you think back to your childhood, these numbers should not be surprising. I have happy memories of watching fireflies (we called them ‘lightning bugs’) blinking away on summer evenings, migrating Monarch butterflies returning in the spring, and the prehistoric-looking horny toads running about the backyard, and it’s disheartening to know there’s little chance to see these creatures again in such abundance, lucky to spot just one.

Recognizing the threats to the nation’s wildlife and plants, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (‘ESA’) was passed with bipartisan support, and it’s become America’s “first line of defense against extinction” as well as “one of the world’s most effective laws for preventing and reversing the decline of endangered and threatened wildlife”.

ESA allows individuals and organizations to petition the federal government for a species to be listed as endangered (in danger of extinction) or threatened (likely to become endangered). These petitions are examined and evaluated based “solely on the best scientific and commercial data available” to determine whether a species should be protected. (Currently, there are about 2,300 species listed as endangered or threatened.) If listed, the law requires the development and implementation of a species recovery plan and protection of critical habitat areas. Populations are monitored, and the species is removed from the list when it is considered recovered.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries and the US Fish and Wildlife Service share responsibility for implementing ESA. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for endangered and threatened marine and anadromous species (fish born in fresh water, but live in the sea and return to spawn in freshwater, e.g. salmon, striped bass) while the US Fish and Wildlife Service handles terrestrial and freshwater species as well as several marine mammal like walrus, sea otters, manatees, and polar bears. The two agencies share jurisdiction over several other species such as sea turtles and Atlantic salmon.

Since its enactment, the ESA has helped dozens of species avoid extinction, and has an impressive 99 percent success rate. Under the protection of the ESA, the California Condor, Grizzly Bear, Okaloosa Darter, Whooping Crane, and Black-Footed Ferret have been brought back from the brink of extinction. Many other ESA protected species were removed from the list of endangered and threatened species after successful recoveries, including the Brown Pelican and the Bald Eagle — the bird chosen as the national symbol in 1782.

The Recovery of the Bald Eagle

“It’s just always an exciting sight to behold.” — Michael Pappone (Massachusetts birder)

From an estimated 300,000 – 500,000 in the 1700’s, Bald Eagle numbers got as low as 500 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states of US. In 1978, the Bald Eagle was listed for protection under ESA, and that triggered the bird’s remarkable recovery. By the late 1990’s, breeding populations could be found throughout North America, and the Bald Eagle was removed from the endangered and threatened species list in 2007. Recent estimates: 5,000 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states, and approximately 70,000 Bald Eagles in the whole of North America (Including Alaska and Canada).

Can we prevent extinction? No, not entirely. But, we can slow it down — get back to a ‘natural’ rate, and help preserve and protect life on this planet, including our own and the lives of our descendants. So, maybe the better question is — ‘Why wouldn’t we care?’

Photographing Endangered Big Animals Above and Underwater: Amos Nachoum from Big Animals Global Expeditions shares his inspiring adventures along with photography tips for capturing images of endangered wildlife. This includes Polar Bears underwater; Leopard Seals in Antarctica, Great White Sharks, and Nile Crocodiles. To watch the presentation, just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media player below ↓

Resources/Information:
The Extinction Crisis, The Center for Biological Diversity
Endangered Species Conservation, NOAA Fisheries
ESA Implementation Overview, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Boxscore – Summary of listed species populations and recovery plans, Environmental Conservation Online System (as of March 19, 2018, US Fish and Wildlife Service)
Animal Fact Sheets, Defenders of Wildlife
Wildlife Guide, The National Wildlife Federation (get to know the wildlife in your backyard and beyond)
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Species List, The World Wildlife Fund (endangered, vulnerable and threatened animals)
Species and Ecosystems, Nature Serve Network (where rare, threatened, and vulnerable species and ecosystems are found)
So What Is the Biosphere? Young People’s Trust For the Environment
Types of Ecosystem, ecosystem.org
Wolf Restoration, Yellowstone National Park
The Bald Eagle Population is Soaring, by Elizabeth Gillis (WBUR News, February 16, 2018)
The Future of Birds in Our National Parks, National Audubon Society (“New research underscores the need to safeguard and manage protected lands for birds and wildlife in a changing world”.)
Article by Alejandro E. Camacho and Michael Robinson-Dorn (The Conversation, January 11, 2018) Why turning power over to the States won’t improve protection for endangered species

Bald Eagle feature photo is courtesy of Patrick Brinksma/Unsplash CC0

Chasing the Light

August 27, 2018 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

Zaria Forman video courtesy of Ted Conferences LLC, CC BY-NC-ND

While most glacial ice is located in Antarctica and Greenland, there are glaciers on almost every continental landmass, covering approximately 15 million square kilometers (5.8 million square miles), 10% of Earth’s land surface. About 75% of the world’s fresh water supply is stored within glaciers.

There are two primary types of glaciers:

Continental: These are enormous masses of glacial ice and snow, known as “ice sheets”, that flow away from a central region and are mostly unaffected by underlying topography. Found only in Greenland and Antarctica.

Alpine or Valley: Glaciers in mountains that flow down valleys. When two glaciers meet and merge at the base of mountains, the new glacier is called a piedmont glacier. If the piedmont glacier flows into the sea, it’s called a tidewater glacier. A cirque glacier is confined by a valley forming in a “cirque” (semicircular bowl-like basin at the head of a valley). Valley glaciers (aka alpine glaciers) form in a mountain valley when more snow falls on mountain peaks during a year than melts during the summer, creating a snow pack that builds up, thickens, compresses, turns into ice, grows and moves slowing downhill (Mer de Glace and Exit Glacier are examples of a valley glacier). An Ice Field (also spelled ‘icefield’) is an extensive area of ice and interconnected valley glaciers that usually form over high altitude basins and atop plateaus. Ice caps cover mountain tops.

Glacial ice is formed by the accumulation and compression of snow and ice over a period of years, often 100 years or more. It’s not quite as dense as ice formed by freezing water because of tiny air bubbles trapped inside, and this unique composition allows light reflecting as white to be absorbed while blue light is transmitted and scattered, resulting in the distinctive blue color of a glacier.

Formation and survival of a glacier are affected by environmental and geological factors such as the slope of the land, amount of snowfall, temperature and winds. The surface area of a healthy glacier is covered more than 60% by snow at the end of a melting season and produces good flow. This requires a delicate balance of variable circumstances, and that’s been continually disrupted in recent history.

NASA comparison photos show the disappearing Muir Glacier — Muir Glacier, 1941 – 2004, NASA Climate 365

Since the early 20^th century, glacier retreat and mass loss have accelerated and become more prevalent. In fact, several glaciers, ice caps and ice shelves have completely disappeared, and approximately 400 billion tons of glacial ice were lost each year since 1994. Many other glaciers are shrinking so rapidly they’ll likely vanish in a few more decades. Just one example is Muir Glacier in Alaska. From 1941 to 2004, it receded about seven miles and lost more than 2,625 feet in depth.

Information/Resources:
Wikipedia (Glacier, Glacier mass balance)
“All About Glaciers“, National Snow and Ice Data Center
Glaciers (terminology, notes and comments), Eastern Illinois University
Some of the Oldest Ice in the Arctic is Now Breaking Apart by Christopher Joyce, NPR Science (August 23, 2018)
“NASA Mission Takes Stock of Earth’s Melting Land Ice” (February 8, 2012) Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA Global Climate Change (Glaciers) – Interactive Global Ice Viewer
Common Questions and Myths About Glaciers, US National Park Service
“Steps to Prevent Glaciers from Melting” (February 19, 2016) The New Ecologist
Artist bio, works, shows and exhibitions, Zaria Forman on Artsy

Crossing the Mer de Glace on foot (1902-1904) — Mer de Glace Crossing, 1902 – 1904

The history and exploration of France’s Mer de Glace (‘Sea of Ice’) is fascinating, and it’s become an important fresh water source as well as a popular tourist destination. Sadly, it’s also disappearing.

·Feature photo is a still shot taken from the Zaria Forman Ted Talk video
·Glacier Map, courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory, is a visual depiction of world glacier study and catalog by the Randolph Glacier Inventory (2014)
·Graphic: Dramatic Glacier Melt (Muir Glacier, 1941/2004), NASA Climate 365

Saving Our Ocean

June 5, 2018 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

The global Ocean covers 72% of the Earth surface, and it does more than its share to sustain life on Planet Earth. It feeds us, and is the source of the water we drink and the air we breathe. It provides precious minerals, metals and energy resources, and generates revenues and jobs in marine-related industries. Yet, we have failed miserably in protecting the Ocean from harm.

In fact, for too long, humans have exploited natural resources and misused the environment in such disdainful, foolhardy ways that as much as 40% of the world oceans have been severely affected by pollution, depleted fisheries, and loss of coastal habitats, and the escalating damage now threatens the survival of future generations. *Some sad facts:

6.5 million tons of litter enters the world’s oceans each year, and 50% is long-lasting plastic that will drift for hundreds of years before it is degraded.
80% of marine pollution comes from land-based sources.
Human health suffers from the contamination of coastal waters. [250 million/year cases of gastroenteritis and respiratory disease; 50,000-100,000/year deaths caused by eating infected shellfish]
60% of the Pacific and 35% of the Atlantic coast shorelines are eroding at a rate of one meter each year.
About 30% of the world’s reefs are seriously damaged and 60% could be lost by 2030.
75% of fisheries worldwide are fully exploited or overexploited. If habitat destruction and over fishing continue, the world’s seafood populations could collapse by 2048.

BIG, powerful (sometimes dangerous), and a beautiful BLUE, humans have a strong affinity for the Ocean. We love to play and explore at, in and near ocean waters as well as sit, walk and drive on a beach for hours. The sounds, smells and just the feel of the sea air seem to trigger a sense of peace and calm in the human brain, and there are also feelings of awe and joy in being so close to nature and wildlife. Unfortunately, the Ocean and sea life are suffering after many decades of human abuse and neglect, and there won’t be much left for future generations unless we stop the destruction and make big changes in how we live and care for this critical life force.

RIGHT NOW 💙 LET’S DO BETTER

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact in the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. —Dame Jane Morris Goodall

♥ Each and every day, Be Mindful about energy consumption at work and at home. Teach children about the importance of energy saving alternatives, and enact eco-friendly company polices.

♥ Choose seafood that is sustainable. Express your concern should you notice a threatened species offered by a seafood supplier, on a restaurant menu, or at a grocery seafood counter.

♥ Try to reduce/eliminate plastic containers, straws and bags from your life. Reuse and Recycle when possible. If you live or work in an area that does not provide recycling pick-up services and/or has not yet adopted a plastic bag ban ordinance, get things going by voicing your concern and the community’s needs. [Check out Emma Nelson’s 5 clever ideas to reduce the plastic in your life]

♥ Appreciate and Respect the Beach. Don’t litter. Clean up after yourself. Don’t interfere with wildlife. Don’t remove rocks or coral.

♥ Be Responsible when enjoying water sports and recreation. Brush up on ‘Ocean Etiquette’, and follow water and boating safety rules. Never throw anything into the Ocean. If you’re planning a cruise holiday, research to find the most eco-friendly options.

♥ Don’t sell or purchase products made of materials that harm marine life, such as coral, tortoiseshell, sharkskin.

♥ Be an ‘Ocean-Friendly’ pet owner. Look for sustainable seafood ingredients on pet food labels. Allow your dog only on designated dog beaches, never leave your dog unattended at the beach (keep on leash or under voice control), and if there is an accident, clean up the doggie poop. Never flush cat litter down a toilet. Avoid stocking aquariums with wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release aquarium fish into the Ocean or any other body of water.

♥ Support organizations working to protect the Ocean by giving financial support, joining campaign efforts, and/or volunteering Ocean Conservancy The World Ocean Network Green Peace The Ocean Project World Wildlife Fund O’Neill Sea Odyssey Sea Shepherd Sea Legacy

♥ Influence Change in Government. Research the ocean protection policies and voting records of public officials and platforms of political candidates before you vote, and let your representatives know you support laws that protect our oceans, beaches and sea life.

American voters: Click here to view environmental record of all members of Congress → National Environmental Scorecard Contact your state and federal representatives to let them know you support ocean conservation projects, and ask them to do the same (find your US congressional representatives → HERE

Australian voters: The Open Australia Foundation – Did I really vote for that? Discover voting records of politicians in federal parliament and official register of interests

Canadian voters: Keeping Tabs on Parliament – Find your MP, see what your representative is saying and what laws they are proposing

UK voters: They Work For You Search Parliament and Assemblies by name, party, position, and topics of debate

You’ll be surprised to see what lies
beneath the waves – Art Underwater

The “Underwater Discoveries” On2In2™ video collection
allows you to swim through the unique beauty of sea life,
without the dive gear. FREE to watch, on-demand

Notes

“Saving our Ocean” is an edited version of an article originally published on the “Zblog” by Zeester Media LLC

*Information/Statistical Sources: Ocean Conservancy, The World Ocean Network, and The United Nations (World Oceans Day)

⇒ June 8 is World Oceans Day Find an event & join the celebration of the world’s oceans→ HERE

⇒ International Coastal Cleanup Day is celebrated annually the third Saturday in September.
(Save the Date: September 15, 2018)

Nearly 800,000 volunteers collected more than 18 million pounds of trash during the 2015 International Coastal Cleanup project. (In 2016, 18.4 million pounds were collected). This graphic from Ocean Conservancy lists the top ten category items collected in 2015. Top of the list– at #1 is cigarette butts. Then, it’s plastic, glass and some metal: 2) plastic beverage bottles; 3) food wrappers; 4) plastic bottle caps; 5) straws/stirrers; 6) other plastic bags; 7) glass beverage bottles; 8) plastic grocery bags; 9) metal bottle caps; 10) plastic lids

How to turn plastic trash found on the beach
into a work of art → Art Transforming Trash

•The beautiful blue Ocean wave photo is courtesy of Emiliano Arano/Pexels CC0
•Ocean Heart photo is courtesy of Jeremy Bishop/Unsplash CC0

Art Underwater

March 8, 2018 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

For Art may err, but Nature cannot missJohn Dryden, The Cock and the Fox, Line 452

Underwater public arts projects created by the visionary Jason deCaires Taylor are not just unique exhibition spaces for divers and snorkelers to enjoy. They’re also examples of successful marine conservation efforts as the sculptures serve as habitats for all sorts of sea life which transform Taylor’s work into living, constantly evolving art that inspires an appreciation for the natural beauty of the mysterious world underwater. This video takes you there.

He had a very big idea — create giant cement sculptures and place them on the ocean floor in areas with barren sea beds. Then, in 2006, Jason deCaires Taylor founded and created the world’s first underwater sculpture park off the west coast of Grenada in the West Indies. It was a great success, and has been listed as one of the Top 25 Wonders of the World by National Geographic. In 2009, he co-founded an underwater sculpture museum, Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA), that includes a collection of over 500 of his art works in the waters of Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Punta Nizuc, Mexico. More underwater sculpture gardens followed in the Bahamas and Spain, and he’s currently working on a new project in the Maldives. In this TED Talk, Taylor shares his story and breathtakingly beautiful photography.

Jason DeCaires Taylor talk is courtesy of TED, CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International

Information/Resources:
Gallery: The sculpture garden at the bottom of the sea, by Kate Torgovnick May, Ted.com blog article (December 23, 2015)
Locations Map of the underwater sculpture exhibits around the world (Jason DeCaires Taylor Projects)

Underwater Sculpture Park – Granada, West Indies, Molinere Beauséjour Marine Protected Area

(listed as one of the Top 25 Wonders of the World by National Geographic)
Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation (BREEF) Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden (Included in the sculpture garden is, Ocean Atlas, a young Bahamian girl who appears to be holding up the ocean, and at 60 tons/18 ft tall, it’s the largest underwater sculpture in the world.)

Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA), Museum of art under the waters of Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Punta Nizuc (Viewing via glass bottom boat, scuba and snorkeling)
Museo Atlántico, Located near the south coast of Lanzarote, in the Bahía de Las Coloradas, Spain
Alluvia, Sculpture lies at bottom of the river Stour running through city of Canterbury in Kent, UK
Pemuteran Temple Garden (statues of Buddha, Ganesha, Turtles behind an ornate Balinese gateway, constructed as one of three Bali Reef Foundation/Australian Aid funded projects)

Dive In2 deep waters and explore the otherworldly beauty of ocean life Watch: Underwater Discoveries, an On2In2™ collection of short videos, Free-to-Watch, On-Demand

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Feature photo is a screen shot taken from the Jason DeCaires Taylor Ted Talk video

Earth from Space

March 1, 2018 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

When Earth is viewed from the vantage of space, the experience is awe-inspiring. It’s called “The Overview Effect”, described by astronauts as an overwhelming feeling and realization that our planet is beautiful, fragile and an “interconnected whole with one destiny”. Seeing Earth from space is also the best place for scientists to learn about our planet, and the ability to fly into space satellites that continuously gather data and images has provided an important tool to our understanding of the Earth and its environment. Watch these videos for a short ride above the the Earth and see for yourself.

Time-Lapse Earth is a short video produced by Bruce W. Berry Jr. using sequences taken from the International Space Station (ISS) as it orbited Earth. ISS makes the trip about once every 90 mins at a speed of 27,600kmh/17,150mph and altitude of 400km/250mi.

NASA’s The Earth: 4K Extended Edition offers ultra high definition views of Earth captured in 2016 by NASA astronaut Jeff Williams during an ISS mission. You’ll see the French Riviera and the Sahara Desert, cross North America from Texas up to Canada, and more as the camera orbits Earth from 250 miles up.

In this December 6, 2017 Gravity Assist podcast, Jim Green, Director of Planetary Science at NASA, is joined by Tom Wagner of NASA’s Earth Science Division, to talk about the Earth, it’s sea ice and volcanoes, and how studying planets like Venus and Mars helps provide clues about the future of our home planet. Just click/tap the play button ▶ to listen to the audio recording.

Want to see more from outer space?
It’s free to watch the Cosmos video on demand channel,
a collection of On2In2™ selected ‘out-of-this-world’ short
videos.

Take a look at these incredible views of the Universe
—- Mysteries of a Galaxy

Feature photo courtesy of NASA, sourced from Unsplash CC0

Planet Earth

The Overview Effect

Among The Trees

Avalanche