A Hot Day...Without Soccer

Today was the first day without World Cup soccer is two weeks and I didn't know what to do with myself...so, I did some online shopping! And, checked out what's up on the shaky, eruptive planet; and it's still erupting and shaking. Almost 2 dozen volcanoes are fired up with the Galapagos Islands adding 2 to the list. Hawaii's Kilauea is still fountaining and pouring lava into the Pacific but its neighbor Mona Loa is beginning to rumble a bit. Hot times in paradise!! Fuego is still all fired up in Guatemala and the Ring of Fire is in general, happening. Even Krakatoa is back on the list; the world's most famous volcano never disappoints.
No big quakes today, but lots of small ones from Morocco through the Asia/Europe/Africa plate boundary scene and all around the Pacific. And, yes, in the land of fracking, Oklahoma - gotta have that oil, and gas to keep the C02 building and the world warming - oh yea, and for corporate profits.
The heat dome settled over the central US is moving east and will park over us for the foreseeable future - 90 plus heat and humidity that is summer time.
I'm about to venture out onto the hot planet, and see if I can find a large brown, wandering dog. It's hot out there but dress and think cool thoughts and stay hydrated and all will be fine, you're evolved for it, get out there and see your planet, Today on Earth.

Even More Flooding

This blog has slipped farther and farther from "today"on Earth, more like, let's recap the last few days...but, I'm retired and have been out on the big planet and there are changes everywhere.
After the last blog's forecast of heavy rain and flooding: on came the heavy rain, 4 1/4 inches in the early morning of last Friday...and the flooding. Over the last 15-20 years, the South Anna river gets out its banks about once every 3 years; this year, 3 times already with the summer storm and hurricane season yet to come.  The Hersheydog Creek through my land has only been out of its banks once in the 20 years I've been here; twice already this year and this last go round was way out of the banks, waaaaay out. My new bridge was moved about 6 feet, it still works and while you start in about the same spot on the north bank you end up in a new spot on the south bank. Not sure it's worth taking apart and moving it back but I am thinking of anchoring it with rebar - thought about it after the last big rain washed debris over it - too late now.
Farther down stream, the smaller log of the two on the pending middle bridge was moved up against the larger log and the broken, barely crossable east bridge is gone, broken into two large pieces, one 50' downstream and the other wrapped around a tree on the Thomas' property. Their bridge made it, with sand and debris on top of it. The whole bottom has new sand deposits, the creek itself new deep spots and new, monstrous sand and gravel deposits. The creek is also a bit wider than it was, with tree roots dangling out in the air. The power of water...it rules the planet.
The 3rd games of the World Cup group stage continue, Portugal/Iran about to start, the winner moving on so... after a dog stroll with swim, I'll wrap this up and get back to the real football, Today on Earth.
Pickerelweed in the pond

Summer, Starts Like, Well, Summer

Hot and muggy with storms forecast: sounds like Va. summer and it's officially summer...as of 6:07 this morning. And, although that technically means days will now begin to get longer no one will notice for months and if you like daylight, you have almost 15 hours of sunshine here in central Va. today.  In Russia, where the World Cup is going on, they will have closer to 20 hours of sun - the tilted Earth allowing the sun to shine over the top of the planet making summer nights short and far from dark.  For those in the Southern Hemisphere, today marks the start of winter with today being the longest night of the year - just a reminder for those of us sweltering in the north, cool temps are just a plane ride away!
Still no strong quakes on the big, shifting planet with today's list, as now usual, dominated by Hawaii.  Hundreds of small quakes and another 5.3 eruption related shake; lava still pours into the Pacific growing the island state. Guatemala, the US and Russia's Kamchatka peninsula lead the week's list with 3 belching volcanoes each, with Guatemala winning the "not where you want to be" prize with not only 3 erupting volcanoes but lots of lahars from 2 of the volcanoes - rain and eruptions is not a good mix. 12,000+ people remain evacuated with recovery efforts for the 200-ish missing suspended. Almost 600 families are homeless in Hawaii, always a risk when you build on a volcano.
The risks in Va. today will be from high winds, torrential rain, perhaps some hail and the flooding risk associated with stormy weather. Today will only be in the upper 80's but the moisture in the air will make it feel much worse as we are once again are south of the front that is stuck in the mid-Atlantic. Tomorrow's forecast call for the front to once again slide south with a cooler day but with similar chances for storms and a still very muggy air mass. Same for the weekend although it looks like a cool front stuck out on the plains may move the sticky mess out early next week giving us a momentary break from the summer muggies.
But, summer just started and the lagging heat will continue to rise, so settle in for another hot, muggy season here in Virginia. It's not like we can control or change it...so, get out and enjoy the daylight and realize you don't have to worry about an ice storm...for months to come, today on Earth.

Hot & Muggy End to Spring

The last full day of Spring dawns warm and muggy, although a weak front's approach is going to cool things down a little today after two very hot, stormy days here in the Old Dominion. Big storms dumped rain yesterday - everywhere but here in Quail - and more could be in store for this afternoon. The Earth's northern hemisphere will be tilted as much to our local star (it's always tilted 23 1/2ish degrees) as it going to get on this year's orbit around that medium sized, white hot,  ball of plasma tomorrow morning at 6:07.  We're not really close to the sun right now but with the tilt we are getting the full direct light from that star; and it's hot. Sun screen and bug spray are two good choices to include with your wardrobe before venturing out on the big planet these days; as well as storm awareness this afternoon.
Still nothing above 5.5 (Japan) for earthquakes but Hawaii still dominates the list with hundreds of small quakes - HUNDREDS - and a 5.3 quake from another eruption blast; yes, the lava still oozes on the big island. Guatemala had a pretty good quake a few days ago, not sure if that's related to Fuego and its current eruption - there are other volcanoes and quakes are common in Mexico's neighbor to the south.
The moon was at first quarter about 4 hours ago and is in Virgo tonight about half way between Venus and Jupiter, but a little closer to Jupiter and above and right of Spica, the brightest star in Virgo. Check it out if the storms abate. I'm about to go find a large brown, wandering, monster dog before catching a little more World Cup action and then doing a little gold panning with some kids, always plenty to do, Today on Earth.

Chewing Cows, Pretty Birds, Futbol Shockers

The World Cup is underway in Russia and the surprises are already shocking the soccer world. Lots of  one touch passes are lovely to watch but if you don't get the ball headed toward the goal, you can't score and that's what determines the outcome; Spain was fun to watch but Renaldo is so quick and hard not to foul...and deadly on set pieces. And, Iceland, hunker down, play tough defense and let Argentina pass and pass and pass, block the few shots and when Messi had the chances... he didn't get it done. Two shocker draws, what a start to the Copa del Mundo!!
Here in the eastern forest, the temp and humidity are rising and the views are full of bucolic charm. Yesterday's late walk, was quiet after the wild brown dog disappeared, so quiet that when I approached the herd of cows all I could hear was chewing, not one lifted a head, they just kept eating, moving as a herd, all but one facing the same direction, chewing and chewing and chewing; a really cool sound.
Today's midday walk, with the temp rising, had a couple of surprises: a yellow billed cuckoo, normally chatty but seldom seen, staying high up in the trees, flew by me and landed 20' away and sat there. One of his buddies called from across the field and after a little delay he(she?) called back, his whole body shaking as he did his cu, cu, cu, cu, cu, cu, cuckoo thing. Such a cool sound and he put his whole body into it. I did take some pics but...with a phone...tough to pick out of the leaves.
Just 3 minutes later a bright red and black bird landed 20 feet away, a scarlet tananger. He took off before I could get a picture but I thought the tanangers were long gone, just passing through on their way north for the summer.  Another lovely surprise!
Hope your Saturday is full of loveliness and that you get out and adventure, Today on Earth.

Moon & Mercury

To get a look at the western horizon I have to drive 1/2 mile down the road to a clear cut area and it was worth the drive last night. Not only was it a lovely sunset but I was able to spot the moon only 30 hours past new and MERCURY. Glad I brought the binoculars, but after a little bit I was able to see the moon with just my eyes and then, finally, the tiny brightness of Mercury. I liked the look enough I continued the sky tour with dog a mile and a half in the other direction to another good viewing spot and spotted them again. The humidity was down so the air was not bad at 9:00 but mosquitoes made the viewing time short, still, glad I took the drive. If I've ever seen the moon that thin, I couldn't remember when, it was soooooo thin, just a hint of a moon but spectacular. Tonight it will still be very thin and hard to spot until close to 9, but, like it does every night, it will have moved 12 degrees higher in the sky and be easier to spot below the evening star, Venus - which unlike Mercury is not hard to see in the early evening sky. If you wait until 9:30 to venture out you should be able to spot the stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux to the lower right of Venus, above and right of the moon. Mercury will be gone by then but turning not quite 90 degrees left it will be easy to spot bright Jupiter, high up in the south, hanging out with the not so bright stars of Libra. Going out a couple of hours later and Saturn will be up in the east above the teapot of Sagittarius, Mars up a little later still is the red spot in Capricorn. Mars, as we continue to catch up with it, will be both close to the sun and Earth in the later summer and be in position for the best telescope viewing in 15 years (but, no, contrary to what people will post on line, will not be "as big as the full moon" then - or EVER).
It's a coolish, low humidity day here in Virginia, I plan on getting out and enjoying the brief respite from the summer muggies...they will be back with a vengeance by Monday, but without any chance of rain until next Wednesday. Use the clear sky to do some star and planet viewing, Today on Earth.

Humidity Going Down, Volcanoes Blowing Up

The heat of June continues here in central Va. but a cold front (but not really cold) passing through today will change the wind direction and drop the humidity for a few days. Then the HOT air that is baking the southwest creeps this way for next week and we move back into the 90's with humidity. Shouldn't be too surprising as a week from today is the summer solstice; this week and next will be the longest days of the year. Yesterday afternoon was the New Moon and tonight with clear skies and a good look west you might catch the one day old, waxing crescent just left of Mercury, just after sunset. A better moon view will be tomorrow when the still tiny crescent is below bright Venus. The first official weekend of summer will showcase the now gibbous moon hanging out with Jupiter high up in the south.
The Ring of Fire is living up to it's name this week with almost 2 dozen volcanoes on the active list. Fuego and Kilauea are still the wildest - 600+ homes destroyed in Hawaii and the state still increasing in size as lava pours into the Pacific and lahars, nasty volcanic mudflows, continue to stifle rescue/recovery efforts in Guatemala where the death toll stands at 110 but with more than that missing. Neither volcano shows much in the way of backing off with eruptions. Indonesia and Papua New Guinea top the week's list with 4 exploding mountains each but eruptions are ongoing from New Zealand, through the islands of Vanuatu, Japan, Russia's Kamchatka, the Aleutians of Alaska and into Mexico where Popo still rumbles, Fuego and Pacaya in Guatemala and two more in Ecuador. Other than a 5.3 magnitude quake with an eruption in Hawaii, the variety of quakes around the Ring and into the Asian/Indian subcontinent collision zone don't relate to the eruptions...that we in our limited insight know of. Plenty of action to go and see if volcano chasing is your thing.
Today's morning dog walk stirred up a doe and her fawn; mom coughing/screeching at us before taking off. The large brown dog gave chase but only enough to let them know he's around, he's more of a bird dog than deer, if it has feathers, he's after it. The mosquitoes and flies weren't too bad today, but I'm wearing a long sleeve hoodie - very light weight - to keep the bloodsuckers at bay. A northwest breeze and drier air is turning it into a lovely couple of days, get out and enjoy the pleasant air, today on Earth.

Cool June Here, Volcano Hot Elsewhere

A cool June day here in central Va., we are north of the front that romped through yesterday and the rain is back and likely to be around off and on all day. The large brown dog has returned from his morning romp session...ahead of this shower, our walk likely delayed until there's a break in the rain-if that even happens.
I just did a "quick" count on Hawaiian earthquakes today... a little over 200, so far. So, Kilauea is still pumping out the new basalt. Fuego has calmed in Guatemala but not really; a new pyroclastic flow has caused more evacuations and a break in recovery efforts. The death toll is up over 110 and likely to go higher. Volcanoes make fickle neighbors.
I'm including another shot of yesterday's rampaging creek, I'd walked up the creek Saturday and not even come close to getting knees wet. The only safe place to cross yesterday was the one intact bridge, and it, covered in debris, had not been safe for long before we arrived. Be careful, but enjoy the cool, Today on Earth.

Then Came the Deluge

After several days in the storm doughnut hole, the hole closed upon the tirehouse today and on came the deluge. Almost 3" of rain in well less than an hour and then it was mostly gone.  Still, I seemed to dodge the worst of today's wild weather, the 60+ mph wind and golf ball size hail that folks were warned of to the west and south.  Today's rain pushes the total to date for 2018 ahead of the total for all of 2017; more rain fell here today than in all of June and July last summer - 'tis a world full of surprises. None of the wildness should come as a surprise on the planet of change.
In my summer vacation/retirement mentality, I'm doing quite a bit of reading, or re-reading, spurred both by my enjoyment of reading and PBS's, Great American Read. After Vonnegut's, Sirens of Titan, I dove into another SciFi classic: Dune. Reading about a desert planet and a people sealed up to preserve all body fluids is quite a contrast when my adventures outside require being sealed up to prevent having my body fluids sucked dry by mosquitoes and flies and ticks. I like the desert but prefer the temperate forests - less the blood sucking bugs... Adapt, Migrate...Die; still the only option on any planet.
It's looking like another unsettled week here in the mid-latitudes, today's storms ahead of a front pushing to the south for a couple of days (cooler) before the southern air moves the boundary back north of us (warmer) later in the week. All days will offer another shot at storms. But, no volcano here...and we haven't had an aftershock for quite awhile.  The moon is nearing new and hard to spot in clear skies but clouds will cut out most any night sky viewing here this week. If you have clear skies and no flooding concerns, the late spring sky is full of fun constellations with planets scattered about most of the night.
Below is a look at the HersheyDog Creek ripping along today after the rain...

The debris on the bridge was washed up before I got there (or dared go outside during the deluge). Never seen water over the bridge before... glad it didn't wash away!!
Watch out, out there, but get out and check out the wild planet, Today on Earth.

Fuego, Kilauea & An End to Lovely Weather

After Sunday's big eruption, Fuego is still blasting lots of tephra and apparently sulfurous compounds into the air of Guatemala (and the rest of the planet-effects yet to be determined)hampering any rescue/recovery efforts and making western Guatemala a less than fun place to be. West of there about 3000 miles, Kilauea continues to blast and ooze and increase the size of the island of Hawaii. A lava delta now extends a kilometer into the Pacific; new island!! Old vents are still oozing and lots of action in the main crater and several quakes in the magnitude 5 range - with dozens and dozens of smaller quakes- make the big island the place to be if you're a volcanologist... or seismologist. Anyone that thinks geology is slow moving, would be both right and wrong. It's a wild planet!!
After 5 lovely days here in central Va., change is coming. My first wander outside - very lazy early in retirement- and the humidity is back. The center of the high is over Va. today but will drift east as the day progresses and with that the air will be coming up from the south and that means not only moisture in the air but higher temps - more like things should be in early June. It's looking like a warm, humid, afternoon stormy weekend (will the 3rd leg of the triple crown be in the mud like the first two??) but behind that front more lovely weather is forecast for next week.
The moon is a rapidly thinning crescent only visible in the wee hours of the morning - or with good eyes in the daylight morning sky. In the evening sky tonight, Venus will make a nice curved line with the twins, Castor and Pollux. Jupiter is bright and in the south after dark. Clouds may affect viewing here, maybe it's clear for you. Check it out.
Congrats go out to the Washington Capitals for winning the Stanley Cup last night over the upstart (literally) LasVegas Golden Knights. In other sports news, Golden State, with Kevin Durant going off  Wednesday night, are up 3-0 in the NBA finals and Rafe Nadal is currently in cruise mode in the semis of the French Open. I'm picking Justify to hold off all comers and win the Triple Crown Saturday afternoon; he just seems to have the "you just can't catch me" attitude with the way he finished the Preakness.
Here at the re-tire-house, the bear seems to have moved on, and the black snakes are in charge. I spotted the 4th different one yesterday as I was heading out on a walk - smaller than the others but just as feisty but all are welcome, eat all the rodents you want and thanks for keeping the copperheads away. I appreciate your help. Time for a little more tennis and then a walk into the forest on freshly trimmed trails and paths. Get out and check out your planet, Today On Earth.

Some Volcanos Ooze, Some Go Boom!!

"Surprise, I'm the volcano in your backyard, and I'm back...", said Fuego to nearby Guatemalans on Sunday with a monstrous eruption and the ever deadly, pyroclastic flow. Dozens are dead and many more are missing.  At over 12,000 feet, Fuego dominates the surrounding countryside and while not in a constant state of eruption like Kilauea, it is rare for much time to go by when it's not on the weekly active list. Rich soil is the volcano trade off, Sunday is the problem. And, yes, Kilauea is still belching and spewing on the big island. Plate tectonics and a still hot core (and mantle) will keep this lovely little planet volcanically active for billions more years, be careful out there.
The May monsoon has taken a break and high pressure and cool Canadian air has moved into the mid-Atlantic with morning lows in the 50's and afternoon temps barely to 80.  I'm sure if Canada could, they would have withheld the cool air after being hit with the capricious tariffs on steel and aluminum that the moron, Donnie Jonnie the Chump imposed on our neighbor and trade partner to the north.  Thanks for the respite from the muggies, Canada; sorry we put a tweeting idiot in charge.
The daily earthquake list is dominated with dozens of quakes on the big island. Quakes happen when rock moves and while lava is not quite technically rock, yet, is certainly is moving and causing lots of quakes on the big island - dozens and dozens every day now. A 5.2 quake along the middle America trench just offshore of Guatemala may or may not be related to the volcano, Fuego  - are we ever really sure of what's happening within this wild planet?? There are plenty of 4+ quakes scattered around the planet - several on the archipelago between Madagascar and mainland Africa...not sure what's going on there - another pending volcanic event??  Piton de la Fournaise, on Reunion Island northeast of Madagascar, is belching basalt into the Indian Ocean these days, connection there??? I don't know but there is so much, as mentioned we are still figuring out. And, all seems connected and influenced by everything else. (Sadly we are likely to find out what petty tariffs on random countries does for us - costs jobs and raises prices - thanks Chumpy.)
So, connect with your planet today!! I know it's not cool and dry everywhere but get out and wander about and realize what a lovely little world we've got here, Today on Earth.

Noachian...Well, Not Quite

Calling any rain Noachian is both a fantasy and incorrect, but it has rained 10+ inches in the last 3 1/2 weeks (I know, waaay more in other places nearby) and there has been some crazy flooding. But, Noachian; if all the water on earth were liquid the land masses would not be covered, not now, not a few thousand or million years ago - not enough water for the Noah story or Waterworld. But, the warming of the planet that is happening right now is going to allow the next few generations to find out just what Noachian rain/flooding and a new coastline will look like (water will show where level is). Or, we can deal with it...unlikely with the current bozo in chief.
I am finding it harder and harder to not just comment on the Earth events that many are in denial of but to poke fun at, lash out at, goad the moron(s) that think just because they don't like something that it isn't true, or because he says it, it is true. Same reminder of the rules on Earth: Adapt, Migrate or Die. Deny, deny, deny... the Earth doesn't care, not now, not in a million years...still just a planet orbiting a star. We need to deal with a changing Earth, not the other way.
There is a lull in the rain for the moment, but the dark sky portends more to come before a cold front passes and we get a change to dry northern air and are done with the summer muggies, hopefully, later, Today on Earth.

Muggies & Volcanoes in Paradise

The flow of moisture from the south continues into the mid-Atlantic although today seems a bit cooler than yesterday, but still it's muggy out there. Showers are likely pretty much any time today but my bet is mid to late afternoon will be the time to be ready for more downpours. Welcome to June (although May was quite June-like), but...cooler drier weather is in the forecast for next week.
After a quick glance at the daily, weekly and monthly earthquake list it's been a pretty quiet month on the shaky planet; only 2 +6 magnitude quakes and one of those was a large belch from Kilauea. Lots in the 5 range but no big quakes but we all know, that will change, it always does.
On Kilauea, vent #24 opened up and 2 subdivisions are either burnt up or cut off and/or burnt up. The risk of the cheaper land in paradise...and why the town nearby is called Volcano. The world's hottest hot spot is showing no signs of slowing down with old fissures still active and new ones opening; lots of fountaining and blasts from the main crater, too. What a cool planet!🌋
For early risers in places with clear skies, the waning gibbous moon was equidistance between Mars and Saturn this morning and will be just above Mars tomorrow morning (or late tonight - Mars is rising about midnight). Jupiter and Venus rule the evening sky - I know they are there even though I haven't seen them in days - clouds. Cooler, clearer skies next week should make for some nice sky gazing, even with limited dark as we close in on the summer solstice.
The recent rains have at least cleaned up the HersheyDog creek flowing through my place and the rock in the stream bed is lovely right now. It's old metamorphic stuff, current ideas have it as both igneous flows for pre-Pangaea island arcs and the sediment from said island arcs. It has been wild to watch it weather slowly for the past 20 years, quartz "eyes" appearing and slowly eroding away, the chunks tumbling downstream in the persistence of the water cycle in charge of the planet. My plans today include checking out today's look, when a wandering dog returns and hopefully before the rains. Put on some clothes you don't mind sweating in and check out your part of the planet, Today on Earth.