9/25/2012 ~ Eight-Legged Creepy Crawlies

More news of the effects of the abnormally warm Spring and Summer weather of this year. According to Accuweather.com, the warm weather led to a greater population of flying insects, like mosquitos, beetles, and flies, all of which are the primary food source for spiders. With there being plenty to eat this year, the spider population has increased dramatically.

But what does it mean for us? Well, if you're like me, you may have been feeling paranoid for a while now about the massive infestation of spiders on, or in, everything you keep outside. This answers my own questions as to why, after parking my bike outside my appartment every night this summer, every morning it was covered in spiders and their webs. And not just my bike either. I haven't been able to open my bedroom window since I moved in in the Spring.

Well, this is just one more reason I'm ready for a nice Winter this year. I'm rooting for a white holiday season!

As always, here's a link to the article. Hope you all are having a wonderful week!
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/abundance-of-spiders-weaving-s/77850

Chao!

9/18/2012 ~ Whirling Infernos?

Here in the U.S., we've had our fair share of fire-related problems this summer, especially because of the droughts that dried out a good part of the country. In Australia, they've also been hit hard by wildfires, but they recently got a taste of some other rare weather occurances spawned by the fires.

According to Examiner.com and Accuweather.com, a 100ft fire tornado was born in the middle of one of the wildfires that are currently raging out there in the Outback. A fire tornado occurs when the hot air of a wildfire whirls up and around into a tornado, and sucks up the fire from below. Also called a firenado, fire devil, or firewhirl, this fire tornado spun around the Australian landscape near Alice Springs for over a half an hour.

I feel like these columns of fire are pretty cool to see, but they are also quite deadly. As I read in the article on Examiner.com, the worst recorded killer fire tornado was in Japan, where out of 44,000 people, only 300 survived.

Like I always do, here are the links to the articles and the videos on the whirling infernos:

http://www.examiner.com/article/australian-outback-bushfire-spawns-amazing-fire-tornado

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/100-foot-firenado-in-australia/75219

9/15/2012 ~ The Year of the Allergen

It might come as a surprise, but allergies, having the potential to 'threaten' human society, (even if it just means the sniffles) can be considered Environmental Hazards. And if you're like most of us who live in the U.S., then you've probably noticed that allergies have been particularly bad this year. According to these two articles, the potency of this season is due to last years warm winter, and how dry this summer has been.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/18/allergy-season-stronger-2012_n_1435031.html
http://www.accuweather.com/en/features/fall-allergies/fall-2012-allergies-outlook/69578

Personally, I don't really get affected by seasonal allergies, but my family, friends, and co-workers have been feeling it since March. If you have allergies, I'd watch out for the ragweed this fall!

9/6/2012 ~ An Introduction to Me & This Blog

Hey Everybody,

I'm going to take some time to introduce myself:

I'm currently a senior in college, and I'm making this blog for a geography class I'm taking. Though it is only homework right now, I hope that it can grow and flourish into something more. I will be posting as often as I can throughout this Fall semester, but at the very least 2 times a week. I hope we all can expand our knowledge and take something away from this blog (or at least enjoy the ride).

From here on out, the enviro-posts begin!

~Nick~