Northwest scientists scramble to keep deadly bat syndrome at bay

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Northwest scientists scramble to keep deadly bat syndrome at bay

"White-nose was first discovered in New York state in 2006 when large numbers of bats started turning up dead. At the time, no one had seen anything like it. Researchers soon discovered that a mysterious fungus was attacking the bats while they hibernated. The disease associated with the fungus became known as white-nose syndrome for the color that it turns bats’ muzzles.

“White-nose syndrome was really challenging when we first discovered it because it was not known to science,” said Jeremy Coleman, national white-nose syndrome coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The fungus that causes white-nose was not even named at that time.”

Since it was discovered, the disease has raced across the country spreading all the way to Oklahoma and Nebraska in just a few years. But the disease had never been found west of the Rocky Mountains and the idea that it could have jumped more than 1,300 miles seemed far-fetched."

Other Greenhouse games – Carbon Monoxide

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Other Greenhouse games – Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide unlike carbon dioxide doesn't directly cause climate change, but it does have impacts on the atmosphere which can slow down the breaking down of climate changes gases, especially methane.

Carbon monoxide is more of a danger to urban areas, as it causes heart attacks -- and in high concentrations in enclosed location -- headaches and death.

April 11, 2017 Evening

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Good evening! Partly cloudy with haze and 85 degrees in Albany. There is a southwest breeze at 9 mph. The dew point is 49 degrees. Once the front passes through, everything will change fot the foreseeable future. Enjoy it while you still can. 

Talk about a nice, warm afternoon. You can’t complain about 86 degree weather in Albany on April 11th. It’s not unheard of warmth, and the ground is pretty wet, reducing the wildfire risk. I know walking around at the Town Park last night on the grass, it felt like I was walking in a swamp. The ground is well saturated by the recent rain and snow melt. Surprisingly enough, there is still a foot plus of snow in some parts of the Adirondacks, and I’m not convinced it will be gone next week. That said with the front coming through, we will have thunderstorms and heavy rain later. Frigid as all heck on the bus. 

The sun will set at 7:33 pm with dusk around 8:02 pm, which is one minute and 8 seconds later than yesterday. At sunset, look for mostly cloudy conditions and 75 degrees. The dew point will be 53 degrees. There will be a west-southwest breeze at 8 mph.

Waning Gibbous Moon tonight with 94% illuminated. The moon will rise around 7:25 pm. The Last Quarter Moon is on Wednesday, April 19th with partly cloudy skies expected. The Full “Flower” Moon is on Wednesday, May 10th. The sun will rise at 6:18 am with the first light at 5:49 am, which is one minute and 40 seconds earlier than yesterday. Tonight will have 10 hours and 43 minutes of darkness, a decrease of 2 minutes and 47 seconds over last night.

Tonight will have scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low of 59 degrees at 4am. 21 degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 56 at 10pm. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. In 2016, it got down to 36 degrees with periods of rain. The record low of 13 occurred back in 1874.

At week from now I will be leaving for vacation, assuming that I leave after work and not on Wednesday morning. I’m officially undecided on what my plans are, or if I will spend an overnight in the Southern Adirondacks on Tuesday or just leave Wednesday morning. I kind of would prefer to miss the rush hour traffic, and not have to rush to get set up in the dark, just so I have one more night of camping — I will still have four nights to camp even if I don’t go out Tuesday. If I head north on Tuesday, I would end up camping on NY 8 on the East Branch, because I doubt I will have time to get much farther north, and most of the back country roads are still closed for mud season or snow at this point. It’s a bit out of the way, so you know how I’m thinking.

I could go directly north to the Deer River State Forest or Walter Pratt Camping area in Brasher Falls via Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Northway, but I’m increasingly thinking about heading north via NY 30 and spending at least one night at Horseshoe Lake, Jones Pond, or maybe Mountain Pond in the Tupper Lake area. I think Lows Lake would be fun to explore in April when nobody is around. I think the blacktop NY 421 is open year round, but I’m sure it’s not plowed. Then head north to Deer River/Walter Pratt. Or maybe stop other places. I’m really interested in exploring the Northwestern Adirondacks, while flat, have a lot of vast, remote areas. I’m going to bring my kayak, and may try to get out on some lakes to go fishing or maybe even try paddling on a bit of the St. Lawrence River along the shore.

It should be a nice four or five nights, assuming the weather cooperates. April can be tough for cold and wet weather. It does look like the cold air will be pushing back in for next week, and it will be cold and rainy. I’ll have to watch the forecast, but if it looks to crappy I will have to plan a shorter trip to the Adirondacks for camping. I do want to get out next week at least sometime during my time off, and I can’t imagine it will be cold or rainy the whole time. Indeed, I do got to watch for snow in places — despite the warm, the places with a deeper snow pack are still holding it as a wet sloppy mess. Which can certainly impact camping plans if I can’t get back to where I want to camp with the truck. I guess I should bring the tent just to be safe. The tent might be good to have in cold, wet weather with the heater.

In the mean time, we have a picture perfect weekend ahead. Saturday, a chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Maximum dew point of 45 at 9pm. Sunday, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Maximum dew point of 56 at 4pm.  Can’t complain about that. I definitely try to get out hiking and finishing wiring up my truck. Hit up some trout streams maybe too? Maybe even get the solar panel measured out on the roof. Typical average high for the weekend is 58 degrees.

In four weeks on May 9 the sun will be setting at 8:04 pm, which is 31 minutes and 36 seconds later then today. In 2016 on that day, we had mostly sunny skies and temperatures between 61 and 39 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 67 and 45 degrees. The record high of 93 degrees was set back in 1979.

Looking ahead, Tax Day is Next Tuesday, Average High is 70 is in 5 weeks, Independence Day is in 12 weeks, Election Day 2018 is in 82 weeks and Election Day 2020 is in 186 weeks.