distributed sensing of microseisms and teleseisms with submarine dark fibers
Sparse seismic instrumentation in the oceans limits our understanding of deep Earth dynamics and submarine earthquakes. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), an emerging technology that converts optical fiber to seismic sensors, allows us to leverage pre-existing submarine telecommunication cables for seismic monitoring. Here we report observations of microseism, local surface gravity waves, and a teleseismic earthquake along a 4192-sensor ocean-bottom DAS array offshore Belgium. We observe in-situ how opposing groups of ocean surface gravity waves generate double-frequency seismic Scholte waves, as described by the Longuet-Higgins theory of microseism generation. We also extract P- and S-wave phases from the 2018-08-19 𝑀𝑤8.2Mw8.2 Fiji deep earthquake in the 0.01-1 Hz frequency band, though waveform fidelity is low at high frequencies. These results suggest significant potential of DAS in next-generation submarine seismic networks.
One of the greatest outstanding challenges in seismology is the sparsity of instrumentation across Earth’s oceans1,2. Poor spatial coverage results in biases and low-resolution regions in global tomography models as well as significant location uncertainty for offshore seismicity. Modern ocean-bottom seismometers (OBS) generally fall into two categories: short-period instruments (∼∼1–5 Hz), which can record for up to a month or more, and long-period or broadband instruments (BBOBS), which often employ the same sensors as terrestrial broadband seismic stations and can operate for as long as 2 years3. Whereas short-period instruments are primarily used in active-source experiments, BBOBS are ideal for passive-source experiments and have been used for tomographic studies, earthquake location, and ocean wave monitoring among numerous other applications4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12. However, BBOBS are expensive and limited by data telemetry and battery life except in near-shore environments3. Recent work has explored several alternatives to conventional BBOBS for offshore seismic monitoring, including free-floating robots equipped with hydrophones13, moored surface buoys or autonomous surface vehicles for satellite telemetry acoustically linked to BBOBS14,15, and cabled arrays of broadband sensors16. Recently, Marra et al.17 applied laser interferometry to convert long ocean-bottom telecommunications optical fiber links into seismic strainmeters. This work is particularly promising because repurposing the >1 million km of pre-existing trans-oceanic telecommunications cables as seismic sensors would permit rapid detection and location of earthquakes throughout the world’s ocean basins. Unfortunately, the particular technique in Marra et al.17 is limited to measuring propagation delays integrated across an entire cable length, resulting in a single seismograph with equivalent station location uncertainty on the order of 1 km and complicated instrument response.
Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is an emerging technology with strong potential to form the core of next-generation submarine seismic monitoring infrastructure. A DAS interrogator unit probes a fiber optic cable with a coherent laser pulse and measures changes in the phase of the returning optical backscatter time-series. Optical phase shifts between pulses are proportional to longitudinal strain in the fiber and can be mapped into the finite, distributed strain across a fiber segment (termed gauge length) by integration. Applying DAS technology to a fiber optic cable effectively converts the cable into a seismic recording array with thousands of single-component channels, real-time data telemetry, and unlimited deployment duration as long as the DAS unit is powered. For about a decade, DAS has been successfully utilized in boreholes for active-source seismic profiling18,19,20. Recent work with onshore trenched or conduit-installed horizontal fibers has demonstrated the ability of DAS arrays to record earthquakes and other seismic signals at local to teleseismic distances with high waveform fidelity21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28.
In this paper, we demonstrate that submarine horizontal DAS arrays utilizing pre-existing ocean-bottom fiber optic cables are similarly effective for seismological studies and can also record pressure perturbations from ocean wave phenomena. We first examine ocean surface gravity waves and associated seismic modes directly observed on an ocean-bottom DAS array offshore Zeebrugge, Belgium, which we interpret as evidence of in situ microseism generation. We then report our observation of body waves from the 2018-08-19 𝑀𝑤8.2Mw8.2 Fiji deep earthquake. Finally, we discuss implications for future DAS deployments in marine settings.
The Belgium DAS array (BDASA) occupied a pre-existing ocean-bottom fiber optic cable in the Southern Bight of the North Sea offshore Zeebrugge, Belgium (Fig. 1). During August of 2018, the BDASA recorded continuously for nearly a month. Here we analyze the 1-h record containing the principal body wave phases from the 2018-08-19 𝑀𝑤8.2Mw8.2 Fiji deep earthquake, along with ocean wave signals and microseism noise. The fiber optic cable was originally installed to monitor a power cable for the Belwind Offshore Wind Farm (cable and fiber specifications are given in the Supplementary Note 1, Supplementary Fig. 1). Cable geometry is approximately straight over four 10-km segments and is flat or shallowly dipping, except for a steep channel around 10 km and two ∼∼15-m bathymetric ridges at ∼∼30 and 40 km from the coast (Fig. 1a). The cable is buried between 0.5 and 3.5 m below the seafloor in water depths shallower than 40 m. A chirped-pulse DAS system built and installed by the University of Alcala29 continuously interrogated a 42-km near-shore segment of the fiber with channel spacing of 10 m, creating 4192 simultaneously recording seismic sensors (see “Methods”).
In “Separation of coherent signals,” we first decompose the raw BDASA data in the frequency–wavenumber domain, separating and identifying oceanic and seismic signals. In “Microseism generation,” we compare our observations of ocean surface gravity and Scholte waves to the Longuet-Higgins30 theory of double-frequency microseism generation. In “Ocean waves and ocean currents,” we describe sea state and ocean currents across the BDASA, evident from variations in the symmetry of ocean surface gravity wave dispersion. Finally, we discuss the quality of teleseismic body waves from 2018-08-19 𝑀𝑤8.2Mw8.2 Fiji deep earthquake, recovered from the BDASA after filtering out ocean wave and microseism signals.
Separation of coherent signals
In the time domain, raw strain records from the BDASA are complicated by the superposition of several coherent signals with incoherent noise from sources such as temperature drift (Fig. 2a). In the frequency domain, the power spectral density (PSD) of each channel exhibits five distinct peaks, corresponding to different wave modes propagating across the array (Fig. 2b). In order to identify and interpret the wave types comprising each peak, we apply a two-dimensional (2D) Fast Fourier Transform from the raw strain records into the frequency–wavenumber (f–k) domain (Fig. 3). F–k domain analysis of the raw BDASA data is possible here because the chirped-pulse DAS system exhibits negligible fading of sensitivity along the fiber, as is common in conventional DAS and that would require pre-processing at the expense of bandwidth (see “Methods”). Given the quasi-linear geometry of the fiber cable, no corrective algorithms or fiber sectioning methods were applied to compensate cable turns, resulting in slight smearing of energy along the wavenumber axis.
Visualization of BDASA data in the f–k domain allows identification and separation of coherent seismic and oceanic signals in each frequency band based on their characteristic phase velocities (𝑐=𝑓/𝑘c=f/k). Figure 3a shows the complete 4192-channel, 1-h dataset transformed into a single f–k spectrum. Energy in quadrants 1 and 3 corresponds to waves with positive phase velocities. In the coordinate system we adopted, this represents waves propagating landward across the array. Similarly, energy in quadrants 2 and 4 corresponds to waves with negative phase velocities, propagating seaward across the array. There are two distinct groups of energy in the f–k spectrum, which are easily visualized in log–log space (Fig. 3b). Ocean waves appear at low frequencies (<0.3 Hz) with apparent phase velocity slower than ∼∼17 m/s. Seismic waves appear at high frequencies (>0.3 Hz) with apparent phase velocity faster than ∼∼300 m/s. Teleseismic body waves from the 𝑀𝑤8.2Mw8.2 Fiji deep earthquake are not directly visible in the f–k spectrum.
Ocean Surface Gravity Waves
Surface gravity and infragravity waves are excited in oceanic waters by wind–sea interaction. Ocean surface gravity waves follow the dispersion relation 𝜔2=𝑔𝑘tanh(𝑘𝐻)ω2=gktanh(kH), where 𝜔ω is angular frequency, 𝑔g is gravitational acceleration, 𝑘k is angular wavenumber, and 𝐻H is water depth (e.g., ref. 31). F–k analysis of BDASA data shows strong, coherent energy packets in all four quadrants between <0.01 and 0.3 Hz (Fig 4a) with peaks at 0.09 and 0.18 Hz (Fig. 2b). The upper edge of these packets follows the ocean surface gravity wave dispersion relation, corresponding to energy propagating axially along the cable both landward and seaward. Energy appearing below this edge represents surface gravity waves with faster apparent phase velocity that obey the same dispersion relation but are obliquely incident to the cable. For the 20–30-km cable segment shown in Fig. 4a, landward-propagating ocean surface gravity waves are stronger than seaward-propagating waves.
We project the f–k spectrum into frequency–phase velocity space (f–c) using the coordinate transformation 𝑐=𝑓/𝑘c=f/k, permitting better visualization of phase velocity dispersion (Fig. 4b). In f–c space, ocean surface gravity waves exhibit coherent dispersion from faster phase velocity (∼17∼17 m/s) at low frequencies (∼0.01∼0.01 Hz) to slower phase velocity (∼6∼6 m/s) at 0.3 Hz. Ocean wave energy tapers off quickly above 0.3 Hz.
Scholte (Seismic) Waves
Seismic waves propagating faster than 300 m/s are represented in the f–k domain by symmetric fans of energy at frequencies >0.3 Hz (Fig. 5a) with peaks at 0.36 and 1.12 Hz (Fig. 2b). When projected from the f–k domain into f–c space, the high-frequency energy packet exhibits strong dispersion from phase velocities close to the compressional velocity of water (∼∼1500 m/s) at 0.36 Hz to an asymptotic velocity of ∼∼300 m/s above 1 Hz (Fig. 5b). This is consistent with the expected dispersion relation of Scholte waves along the sediment–water interface, which follows the compressional velocity of water at low frequencies and the shear-wave velocity of the shallow sediment layer at high frequencies32. As for ocean waves, the low-velocity edge of the f–k energy packets in each quadrant represents Scholte waves propagating axially along the cable. Energy appearing at faster apparent phase velocities represents Scholte waves obliquely incident to the cable. We note that the 0.3–3.5 Hz Scholte waves are observed in the 550 s of data preceding the arrival of the first P-wave phases from the Fiji earthquake and therefore must be an independent, local phenomenon.
Globally, seismograms record broadband seismic noise with peaks around 14- and 7-s period, termed microseisms, which have long been attributed to ocean wave sources (e.g., ref. 33). The longer period (lower frequency) peak is commonly referred to as primary microseism, while the shorter period (higher frequency) peak is called secondary microseism. Source locations of primary microseism appear to be restricted to coastal areas, with seismic noise excited by direct loading of the seafloor where gravity waves impinge on shallow coastal waters34,35. Source locations of secondary microseism, however, include both near-shore and deep-water environments35,36, and the amplitude of the secondary microseism peak has not been tied directly to coastal ocean wave conditions (e.g., ref. 37). While the relative amplitude and central frequencies of the microseism peaks vary by region and sea state, the double-frequency relationship between primary and secondary microseism is universal and a subject of continued research. Here we argue that ocean surface gravity waves and Scholte waves observed on the BDASA at double-frequency (0.18 and 0.36 Hz, respectively) together represent in situ microseism generation following the theory of Longuet-Higgins30.
PRIMARY MICROSEISM AND ITS DEPTH DEPENDENCE
Based on our f–k analysis above, the 0.18-Hz peak in Fig. 2b corresponds to ocean surface gravity waves propagating across the BDASA. Because the cable is buried at a depth of 0.5–3.5 m, the BDASA is only mechanically coupled to the water body above through the intermediary shallow sediment layer, so ocean waves cannot be observed directly. Instead, ocean waves signals observed on the BDASA are poroelastic strains in the solid earth induced by the pressure field of ocean waves propagating above, hence primary microseism generated in situ by ocean wave loading. Common observations of primary microseism on terrestrial seismic networks (e.g., ref. 35) constitute diffuse seismic energy radiated into the far field, whereas here we observe the primary microseim source directly.
To test this interpretation, we compare the variation in amplitude of the 0.18-Hz peak to the expected seafloor pressure under ocean surface gravity waves along the cable depth profile. The strength of ocean surface gravity waves decays rapidly with depth, which is why source regions of primary microseism are constrained to the coast. Invoking linear wave theory, the magnitude of the pressure perturbations at the seafloor beneath a surface gravity wave scales with angular wavenumber 𝑘k and water depth 𝐻H as 𝑝𝑑∝sech(𝑘𝐻)pd∝sech(kH) (e.g., ref. 31). To evaluate 𝑝𝑑pd, we iteratively solve the implicit dispersion relation for ocean surface gravity waves, 𝜔2=𝑔𝑘tanh(𝑘𝐻)ω2=gktanh(kH), to obtain 𝜔(𝑘)ω(k), and then calculate a theoretical 𝑝𝑑pd as a function of distance and depth using the cable profile. In order to determine a scaling factor between seafloor pressure and fiber strain, we fit the Fourier amplitude observed on the BDASA at 0.18 Hz as a linear function of theoretical 𝑝𝑑pd (see Supplementary Note 2), to produce the model plotted in Fig. 6. We observe a good correspondence between the observed and modeled Fourier amplitude at 0.18 Hz with both water depth and distance along the cable (Fig. 6). To leading order, then 0.18-Hz energy observed on the BDASA is proportional to pressure applied by ocean surface gravity waves at the seafloor, confirming our interpretation of primary microseism generation.
SECONDARY MICROSEISM BY OCEAN WAVE INTERACTION
Longuet-Higgins30 first proposed a mechanism for the double-frequency nature of microseisms, whereby nonlinear interaction of opposing groups of surface gravity waves at one frequency generates a depth-invariant pressure term of second-order magnitude that oscillates at twice the frequency of the surface waves. Hasselmann38 expanded this theory to demonstrate that appreciable microseisms are excited only by components of the ocean pressure field that match the phase velocities of the seismic modes of the coupled water–seabed system. In the simplest case, the phase velocity of Longuet-Higgins’s second-order pressure term scales as 𝑐=2𝜔/∥𝑘→1+𝑘→2∥c=2ω/∥k→1+k→2∥ for two plane surface gravity waves with phase 𝑘→1⋅𝑥→−𝜔𝑡k→1⋅x→−ωt and 𝑘→2⋅𝑥→−𝜔𝑡k→2⋅x→−ωt. Hence, for opposing waves (when 𝑘→1k→1 is close to −𝑘→2−k→2), 𝑐c approaches seismic velocities.
Based on these theories, we assert that the 0.36-Hz Scholte waves discussed above represent secondary microseism associated with the 0.18-Hz opposing surface gravity wave groups. Unlike the 0.18-Hz energy peak, the 0.36-Hz peak observed in the BDASA PSD is almost invariant with depth and is not adequately described by the pressure–depth scaling of ocean surface gravity waves (Fig. 6a). Instead, the Fourier amplitude at 0.36 Hz decreases over the first 12–15 km of the array and then increases gradually with distance out to 40 km (Fig. 6b). Therefore, Scholte waves at 0.36 Hz cannot be the product of direct loading by ocean surface gravity waves.
Longuet-Higgins30 predicts that the amplitude of the secondary pressure term generated by non-linear wave interaction is proportional to the product of the amplitudes of the two opposing ocean wavefield components. Hence, we expect to observe the strongest Scholte waves where seaward- and landward-propagating ocean surface gravity waves are of similar strength and the weakest Scholte waves where seaward- and landward-propagating ocean waves are of significantly different strengths. To test this property, we plot directional spectra for both ocean surface gravity waves and Scholte waves (Fig. 7). For each wave type, theoretical dispersion curves are constructed for waves with different incident azimuths. For each of the four 10-km quasi-linear segments along the fiber, we then take the mean f–k spectral amplitude interpolated along each dispersion curve to form the polar plots in Fig. 7 (see Supplementary Note 3). The cable segment in water depths <10 <10 m is neglected in this analysis, as the PSD of this region is saturated by incoherent energy across a broad band, likely associated with shoaling of ocean waves.
The relative strength of seaward- and landward-propagating ocean surface gravity wavefield components is most similar for the 30–40-km segment, slightly less equal for the 10–20-km segment, and most disparate for the 20–30-km segment (Fig. 7a). As predicted by this scaling, the absolute strength of the Scholte wavefield components (in both quadrants) is greatest for the 30–40-km segment, less for the 10–20-km segment, and smallest for the 20–30-km segment (Fig. 7b). Note that, because Longuet-Higgins’s second-order pressure term does not decay with depth, this result is dependent only on the relative strengths of ocean wavefield components shown in Fig. 7a and not on their absolute strength.
For Scholte (similar to Rayleigh) waves, the theoretical azimuthal sensitivity of DAS is approximately cos2(𝜃)cos2(θ), where 𝜃=0θ=0 is along the axis of the fiber, in the limit that the wavelength is much longer than the gauge length used by the DAS system39. The directional spectra shown in Fig. 8b all approximately follow a 𝑐𝑜𝑠2cos2 shape, suggesting that the azimuthal distribution of Scholte wave energy is relatively diffuse (or isotropically propagating) along most of the fiber. The diffuse nature of the secondary microseism wavefield is further evidence that these waves must be generated in situ and also offers a direct observation of the radiation pattern of secondary microseism at its source.
Within this framework, we are unable to describe the 1.12-Hz peak (Fig. 2b) and associated high-frequency Scholte wave energy observed up to 3.5 Hz (Fig. 5a). The 1.12-Hz peak likely does not represent secondary microseism associated with a pair of opposing surface gravity wave groups with a dominant frequency of 0.55 Hz, as no 0.55-Hz peak is observed in our data. However, the strength of ocean waves observed at the seafloor attenuates strongly with decreasing wavelength, so it is possible that 0.55-Hz ocean waves do exist. The 1.12-Hz peak could also correspond to external environmental noise from an unknown (potentially anthropogenic) source. Alternatively, it could represent a resonant mode of the coupled sediment–water system.
Ocean waves and ocean currents
Beyond their implications for microseism generation, ocean surface gravity waves observed on the BDASA demonstrate the potential of ocean-bottom DAS for investigations in physical oceanography. Computing f–k spectra across different segments of the cable, we can distinguish spatial variations in the intensity of landward-propagating versus seaward-propagating ocean surface gravity waves in order to interpret sea state. For example, on the 20–30-km segment (Fig. 4a) landward-propagating waves are stronger than the seaward-propagating waves, while on the 30–40-km segment (Fig. 8a) landward- and seaward-propagating waves are of similar strength (see also Fig. 7a). Because the strength of seaward-propagating waves is greater on the outermost segment of the cable than on the next segment closer to shore, we infer that some of the seaward-propagating waves must be local reflections from the bathymetric ridge at 30 km. Inboard of the 30-km ridge, we observe that the ratio of seaward- to landward-propagating wave energy decreases systematically, which is consistent with the expectation that all seaward-propagating ocean waves observed on the BDASA are generated by reflection from the sloping seabed approaching the coast. While the extent of our interpretation is limited by the 1-h record length of BDASA data, the framework for ocean wave analysis demonstrated here would be easily applicable to monitor temporal variations in sea state over tidal to annual scales.
Because of the large number of channels and high-sample rate on the BDASA, f–k domain resolution is sufficiently fine to distinguish small perturbations in surface gravity wave dispersion associated with ocean currents. For example, the f–k spectrum of the last 10-km segment (30–40 km) is asymmetrical and evolves over the 1-h record (only the last 10-min window is shown in Fig. 8). On this segment, landward-propagating waves appear faster than seaward-propagating waves, as the result of an ocean current with a component of flow in the landward direction along the array (Fig. 8b, c). We fit the dispersion asymmetry with a mean flow correction to the dispersion relation (𝜔−𝑈𝑘)2=𝑔𝑘tanh(𝑘𝐻)(ω−Uk)2=gktanh(kH), which describes the first-order effect of surface gravity waves propagating in a current, where 𝑈U is the apparent velocity of the current along the cable (as above, 𝜔ω is angular frequency, 𝑘k is angular wavenumber, 𝑔g is gravitational acceleration, and 𝐻H is water depth). Over the 1-h record, the strength of the observed current increases gradually from 0.1 to 0.5 m/s apparent velocity in the landward direction. Contemporary methods of ocean current measurement are largely limited to either high-frequency radio observation of surface currents40,41 or in situ observation of current depth profiles using spatially sparse moorings, drifters, or ship-board instruments42,43,44. Our observation of spatio-temporal variations in current speed is significant because it suggests potential application of ocean-bottom DAS to in situ measurement and monitoring of ocean currents by exploiting models of wave interaction with heterogeneous currents (e.g., ref. 45) to recover high-resolution spatial variations in current speed along an array.
2018-08-19 𝑀𝑤8.2Mw8.2 Fiji deep earthquake
Rapid, accurate measurement of body wave travel times is an essential goal of next-generation broadband marine seismology1 and has motivated many recent advances in ocean-bottom seismic instrumentation (e.g., ref. 13). Ocean-bottom DAS arrays are an ideal technological solution because they offer real-time telemetry and are intrinsically synchronized (all channels are interrogated with the same unit, thus avoiding any differential clock drift across the array), neither of which are easily achievable features of OBS networks. Northern Europe is a seismically quiescent area, so no local or regional seismic events were recorded. However, the BDASA captured teleseismic body waves from a 𝑀𝑤8.2Mw8.2 deep earthquake in the Fiji-Tonga area on August 19, 2018 (Fig. 1b). Teleseisms arrived from an epicentral distance of 146.7° (>16,300 km), at a back azimuth of 358.5° (27.6° oblique to the mean fiber azimuth of 330.9°). Because the 2018-08-19 Fiji event occurred at a depth of 600 km, only weak surface waves were excited and hence could not be analyzed.
Teleseismic body waves from the Fiji earthquake are close to vertically incident and expected to arrive almost simultaneously along the array, hence appearing at wavenumbers lower than can be resolved across a few kilometers aperture. In order to isolate teleseisms from ocean surface gravity and Scholte waves, we apply a 2D band-pass filter in the f–k domain between 0.001 and 1 Hz and between 0 and 0.002 m−1m−1 in the first and third quadrants (corresponding to energy propagating landward across the array from the north/west; Supplementary Fig. 2), stack waveforms across a 5-km array segment to form a beam trace, and finally apply a range of bandpass filters to the beam trace to produce the BDASA waveforms shown in Fig. 9 (see Supplementary Note 4). We compare the BDASA beam trace to nearby broadband seismometer BOST (30–50 km south of BDASA), after rotating the horizontal channels into the mean azimuth of the BDASA and bandpass filtering.
At high frequencies (>0.1 Hz), we recover the PKP phase (∼∼550 s) and its associated pPKP + sPKP depth phases (∼∼690 s), the travel times of which correspond well to those recorded on BOST (Fig. 9). The envelopes of the recovered P-phases (not shown) are similar to those from BOST, although the they show low-to-moderate waveform fidelity (mean correlation coefficient of 0.25; Supplementary Fig. 3, Supplementary Note 4). Hence, the polarity of the first P-wave arrival recovered from the BDASA is not reliable across parts of the array. Spatially variable P-waveforms may be physical, however, as high frequency waves can be strongly affected by near-surface structures and the water layer. At low frequencies (<0.15 Hz), the background noise is substantially stronger, but we still recover a complex S-wavetrain, which exhibits moderate-to-high waveform fidelity when compared with BOST (mean correlation coefficient of 0.6; Supplementary Fig. 4). Recovered P- and S-waveforms are both coherent along the length of the array (Supplementary Fig. 5).
Because the BDASA measures strain across a 10-m gauge length, whereas BOST measures particle velocity at a single point, theoretical amplitudes are approximately proportional by a factor of the apparent horizontal slowness for wavelengths longer than twice the gauge length26. For the Fiji earthquake, the ratio of BDASA strain amplitude to BOST particle velocity amplitude does not yield reasonable apparent velocities for the observed phases across any band. Hence, we infer that strain-transfer coupling between the solid earth and the BDASA fiber, a consequence of the fiber casing and installation, is complex (see Supplementary Note 1, Supplementary Fig. 1).
While a 𝑀𝑤8.2Mw8.2 deep earthquake is a rare and particularly large event, body wave energy observed in Belgium at 146.7° epicentral distance is lower in spectral amplitude than would be expected for regional earthquakes (<1° epicentral distance) greater than ∼𝑀3.5∼M3.5 (see Supplementary Note 6; Supplementary Fig. 6). Hence, BDASA clearly exhibits teleseismic and regional seismic monitoring capability, as both P-wave and S-wave travel times can be recovered across a broad band, and S-wave polarity is robust over the frequencies of interest to global seismology.
We have presented and analyzed our observations of seismic and ocean waves on an ocean-bottom DAS array offshore Belgium, demonstrating that DAS arrays utilizing existing ocean-bottom fiber optic installations can offer high-value seismographic and oceanographic data products. In particular, we recovered both P- and S-phases from the 2018-08-19 Fiji deep earthquake, though only S-waves exhibited moderate-to-high waveform fidelity. While we were unable to recover robust polarity of high-frequency P-phases, we can expect that ocean-bottom DAS arrays in deep water would have much lower detection thresholds for seismic signals than observed here, as has been demonstrated for OBS (e.g., ref. 46). For an ocean-bottom DAS array, the noise floor can be considered as the superposition of instrumental noise from the DAS interrogator unit and fiber, temperature noise from variations in pore fluid temperature, pressure noise from ocean waves, and seismic noise. The aggressive filtering procedure we applied to recover teleseismic waveforms was necessitated to remove environmental signal, not instrument noise, as coherent signals of physical origin were observed across the full band of interest (0.01–5 Hz). Onshore studies with DAS arrays have found that instrument noise is approximately inversely proportional to frequency with a noise floor no higher than 1 μεμε/Hz1/21/2 at 1 Hz47. Laboratory experiments show that, in a stable temperature environment, DAS systems can exhibit a noise floor <100 pεε/Hz1/21/2 at 1 Hz48. On a DAS array, a temperature perturbation of 1 mK is indistinguishable from a 10-nεε strain, so high-frequency temperature fluctuations along the fiber can contribute spurious signals. Water-bottom temperatures may vary on the order of 1 K at tidal periods in the near-shore environment; however, such variability attenuates strongly with depth and is inversely correlated to frequency (e.g., refs. 49,50). Consequently, instrumental and temperature noise are not limiting factors for most seismological applications, as seen here. In deep water settings, the magnitude of pressure oscillations beneath ocean surface gravity waves, the primary environmental noise that dominates BDASA data between 0.01 and 0.26 Hz, decays exponentially with depth. Therefore, the shallow-water setting of the BDASA actually represents a “worst case” environment for recording teleseismic events46,51, and thus our ability to recover both P- and S-phase is particularly significant.
Compared to traditional OBS deployments, another advantage of DAS is the number and density of stations. Utilizing hundreds of stations from any segment of the array, we were able to apply array-based processing in order to distinguish seismic and ocean signals based on their phase information. So-called “large N” deployments permit low detection thresholds for small earthquakes, precise location of earthquakes, low uncertainty in travel time measurements, and high-resolution imaging studies25,52,53. Further, we have demonstrated that large-N ocean-bottom networks open up new possibilities in studying ocean wave phenomena and microseism generation. The vast majority of studies examining the physics of ocean microseism generation have been limited to remote observation of radiated energy on terrestrial broadband networks33,37,54,55. The few studies utilizing ocean-bottom instrumentation to correlate ocean-wave phenomena with microseism in situ have been restricted by small network size, effectively resulting in measurements of microseism direction and intensity at a single point with or without simultaneous ocean wave information, and have had mixed success in validating theoretical models36,56,57,58,59,60. Simultaneous observation of ocean pressure variations and seismic noise across several thousand channels on ocean-bottom DAS arrays of arbitrary geometry permits reconstruction of the full surface gravity wave and Scholte wave fields, as shown here, and, with the addition of a time-lapse component to future surveys, offers a leap forward in our ability to study microseism and its source processes.
However, several technological challenges still remain before DAS systems can complement or even replace BBOBS on a global scale. Foremost is the axial (single-component) directional sensitivity of DAS. Though work with helically wound optical fibers offering multi-component DAS sensitivity is underway61, modern BBOBS already provide four-component (three-component + pressure) recording capability with the same state-of-the-art instruments used in terrestrial networks. We noted that teleseismic waveforms recovered from the BDASA did not exhibit coherent strain amplitude when compared with particle velocity at BOST, suggesting that the mechanics of strain transfer from the solid earth across the cable housing and into the optical fiber are complex and deserve further study62. In the laboratory, DAS exhibits a linear frequency response, resulting in correct amplitude and distortion-free waves24,28,63, hence amplitude preservation may be currently limited by installation conditions and not by the DAS technology itself. Finally, ocean-bottom DAS deployments are not presently possible in remote oceanic locations. Most commercial DAS systems and laboratory measurements claim operation across up to 50 km of fiber, with sensitivity decreasing along the fiber due to optical attenuation. With the use of more complex pulse formats or distributed amplification, the sensing range can be extended to 70–100 km64,65,66 with a more even distribution of sensitivity along the fiber, while still using a standard telecom fiber installation. In principle, longer distances can be achieved with complex dedicated fiber installations and power supply along the fiber link (via use of optical repeaters67,68 and/or multiple stage distributed amplification65,69), but the impact on the cost and DAS sensitivity means that such systems are not currently practical.
A chirped-pulse DAS29 was used for the interrogator system, assisted by first-order co-propagating Raman amplification66. In comparison with conventional DAS systems, chirped-pulse DAS offers high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and low variations in sensitivity along the fiber48,66,70. The key of its performance lies in the use of a linearly chirped probe pulse for the time domain interrogation. Temperature or strain perturbations around the fiber affect its refractive index, which in turn slightly alters the central wavelength of the propagating light. An appropriately high linear chirp in the probe pulse (i.e., that inducing a spectral content much higher than the spectral content of the transform limited pulse) induces a local wavelength-to-time mapping arising from the temporal far-field condition71. Hence, variations in the central wavelength of the propagating light translate into temporal shifts in the trace at the particular location of the perturbation. The perturbation is then quantified by a time-delay estimation process via local trace-to-trace correlations over temporal windows similar to the probe pulse width.
The principle of operation of chirped-pulse DAS substantially improves the performance of the sensor over conventional DAS schemes. First, strain perturbations can be properly quantified by simply using direct detection. This contrasts with the conventional case, in which it is necessary to detect the trace optical phase for that purpose. Avoiding phase detection brings important advantages. Coherent detection imposes stringent requirement in the coherence length of the laser source, as it limits the DAS operation range due to the need for beating with a local oscillator. In chirped-pulse DAS, the coherence length of the probe laser can be relaxed, in principle simply requiring it to be substantially higher than the pulse width, with almost no detrimental effect on the acoustic SNR72. Polarization fading is not observed in chirped-pulse DAS (due to the use of direct detection). More importantly, sensitivity of conventional DAS completely fades in certain points along the fiber (acoustic SNR < 1 in up to 6% of fiber locations considering a healthy SNR optical trace) due to the impossibility of maintaining the phase reference in low intensity trace regions caused by its interferometric nature73. Those blind spots need to be corrected using complex post-processing techniques or multi-wavelength measurements74, typically at the expense of sensing bandwidth and higher measurements times. Chirped-pulse DAS, however, shows no fading sensitivity, enabling the raw strain signal as measured by the DAS to be directly processed without using any denoising/smoothing algorithm. This steady sensitivity is particularly beneficial for the subsequent 2D processing applied to isolate seismic events from other sources, since all points are captured with similar noise/sensitivity along the whole fiber length (>40 km)70.
In addition, signal attenuation due to fiber loss is greatly mitigated in our scheme with the use of distributed Raman amplification. Note that in Pastor-Graells et al.66, the fiber trace optical power fluctuation along a 75-km link is kept <7 dB, as opposed to the ∼∼28.5-dB attenuation expected without distributed amplification (28.5 dB == 75 km ×× 2 ×× 0.19 dB, using 0.19 dB/km as typical standard single-mode fiber loss; note that roundtrip DAS attenuation is twice that of the fiber transmission losses). In this study, we observed DAS trace power fluctuations <3 dB along the 42-km fiber. This is in contrast with the optical signal attenuation of ∼∼16 dB (=42=42 km ×× 2×× 0.19 dB/km) expected without distributed amplification.
The optical resolution (or gauge length) and channel spacing of the employed sensor were both 10 m (equivalent to one seismometer placed every 10 m, measuring distributed strain over a length of 10 m), totaling 4192 channels over 42 km. Each channel was sampled at 1 kHz and later downsampled to 10 Hz in order to reduce the dataset size.
The original article and publication, together with all other information, can be found here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-13262-7
By Roel Vanthillo Posted January 13, 2020 In Innovation, Publications
Ethan F. Williams,
María R. Fernández-Ruiz,
Roel Vanthillo (Founder & CEO of Marlinks)
Miguel González-Herráez &
Hugo F. Martins
Nature Communications volume 10, Article number: 5778 (2019)


The Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) has hauled five mining syndicates to court over contamination of water sources as well as destruction of houses and buildings arising from mining activities.
In the High Court application filed by MURRA, Lions Mining Syndicate, Lions2 Mining Syndicate, Bossro Mining Syndicate, Edward Arthur Hill and Great Zimbabwe Syndicate are listed as respondents.
The provincial Mining Director for Masvingo Province, the Masvingo City Council and the Zimbabwe Republic Police Officer Commanding Masvingo province are also listed as respondents in the High Court application by MURRA.
In an interview, MURRA Spokesperson, Godfrey Mtimba said they were seeking an order stopping mining activities at Target Kopje. He said the mining activities were a huge hazard to residents.
“The mining activities are threatening the collapse of houses in Hillside and Target Kopje residential areas as houses are developing cracks due to blasting in the mines.
“The miners are also excavating gold beneath the city water tanks situated in the hills. The miners also use poisonous chemicals like cyanide that can contaminate water,” said Mtimba.


Rosewood CottageTender Leaf
The cutest woodland cottage you ever did see! With a rose-colored gabled roof, opening front doors and a removable back panel, this little house can be carried about and played with anywhere. Decorated on all sides with beautiful wild flowers, and two cut out windows which allow the flower stems to run through creating a magical meadow look. The back panel lies flat to become a garden, onto which can be placed a pretty swing, 2 flowers, and a toadstool. Also includes a cozy wood-burning stove, flower table, 2 button stools, a toadstool lamp and a side table; plus the entire Rosewood Family: Mum Flora, Daddy Joey, Little Corny and Baby Bud (who can be tucked inside his leaf bed). An incredible play value that they will enjoy for years to come.
See all wooden figurines HERE.
See our full selection of Doll Play.
Tender Leaf understands our responsibilities to our planet and only uses sustainable and recyclable wood to make their enchanting toys. They are committed to a program to protect our natural resources and replant 100% of the trees they use.
- Ages: 3 to 8 years
- Materials: FSC-certified reclaimed rubberwood, cotton cloth, non-toxic stains, recycled paper and cardboard packaging
- Dimensions: 15 pieces; 16.5in x 15.7in x 12.2in
- Origin: Indonesia
- Safety: Complies with EN71, ASTM F963 and AS/NZS ISO; made in an ICTI-certified factory


The Asian Hornet (vespa velutina) is an invasive, non-native hornet to the UK. They are highly aggressive predators of our native insects and pose a real threat to honey bees and pollinators. Originally from Asia, they were accidentally introduced to France in 2004 and spread rapidly. A number of sightings have been recorded in the UK since 2016. It’s important that any new sightings are reported immediately.
How to spot an Asian Hornet:
- They have a dark brown or black velvety body;
- They have a yellow or orange band on fourth segment of abdomen;
- They have yellow tipped legs;
- They are smaller than the native European Hornet; and
- They are not active at night.
Can you recognise an Asian Hornet?
It is important for people to be able to recognise the difference between the native European Hornet, which lives reasonably happily with honey bees, and the Asian Hornet which can easily devastate colonies in a very short time. The Non Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) guides below show the key ID features of Asian Hornets and similar species that could be wrongly identified as Asian Hornets.
- Asian Hornet – Alert Information
- Asian Hornet – Similar Species
- Asian Hornet – What does it look like?
To find out more, view this useful video on Youtube from Martyn Hocking:
What to do if you spot an Asian Hornet
Report all sightings, preferably with a photo, to firstname.lastname@example.org.
You can also use the Asian Hornet Watch mobile phone app to report sightings with a GPS location and identify different species easily confused with the hornet such as the European Hornet, Giant Wood Wasp and the Hornet Hoverfly.
Download the Asian Hornet Watch app:


Zero Waste Club
Natural Bottle Cleaning Brush
WHAT IT IS: A natural bristle brush, specially designed to reach into bottles and hard-to-clean areas.
WHY WE LOVE IT: As ever, the right tool makes any job so much easier. This long-bristled brush makes short work of cleaning bottles and champagne flutes.
HOW TO USE IT: Wet the brush with warm water and squirt Dish Soap onto it, before inserting it in your reusable bottles or other containers. Scrub until clean, remove brush, and rinse. Hang to dry.
GOOD TO KNOW: This is a fully sustainable and recyclable brush because all of the materials are sourced from the waste of other industries like coconut harvesting.
DETAILS: 100% biodegradable. When the brush is done, just cut away the coconut bristles and handle, and place them in your compost. The metal wires are safe for recycling, too.
MATERIALS: Made from waste coconut coir, waste rubberwood, and cotton string.


Large hearth in California dampened by rains
California firefighters have efficiently introduced a big wildfire below management close to Los Angeles after a tropical storm introduced rain and cooler temperatures. The Fairview hearth, which killed two individuals, was 40% contained on Saturday.
It broke out on Monday amid a warmth wave that affects the southwestern United States, burning 11,300 hectares and destroying greater than 20 buildings, hearth officers mentioned.
The remnants of Storm Kay, which made landfall in Mexico Thursday as a hurricane earlier than shifting north on the Pacific coast, introduced rains that helped calm the hearth.
“Fireplace depth has been considerably decreased because of humidity from Tropical Storm Kay,” an announcement from Cal Fireplace, the California Division of Forestry and Fireplace Safety, mentioned.
Floods and mudslides
Authorities have warned, nonetheless, that the rains pose a danger of flash flooding and mudslides in areas the place scorched soil can’t soak up extra water.
“We may go from a hearth suppression occasion to heavy rain with water rescues and mudslides,” a hearth official mentioned Friday.
The western United States has been experiencing a historic drought for greater than 20 years, which scientists say is made worse by human-induced local weather change. A lot of the territory is parched and overgrown, creating the situations for wildfires.
#Large #hearth #California #dampened #rains


TAlgae growth is a common issue that many homeowners face with their roofs. It can be unsightly, and if left unchecked, can cause damage to the roof over time. In this article, we will explore why algae grows on roofs and what steps homeowners can take to prevent it from happening.
The main reason that algae grows on roofs is due to the combination of moisture and heat. Roofs that are in areas with high humidity or frequent rainfall provide the ideal environment for algae to thrive. The warm, humid conditions allow algae spores to germinate and grow into the dark, black stains that are commonly seen on roofs.
In addition to moisture and heat, the presence of organic matter can also contribute to the growth of algae on roofs. Leaves, twigs, and other debris that accumulate on the roof can provide a food source for the algae. Over time, this organic matter can break down and create a layer of nutrients that encourages the growth of algae.
While algae growth on roofs is typically not harmful to the roof itself, it can cause aesthetic problems and impact the overall appearance of the home. In addition, if left unchecked, algae growth can eventually lead to the growth of moss or other types of plant life, which can cause damage to the roof over time.
To prevent algae growth on your roof, there are several steps that you can take. First, make sure that your roof is properly maintained and free from debris. Regular cleaning of the roof can help to prevent the buildup of organic matter and reduce the risk of algae growth.
In addition, there are several roofing materials that are specifically designed to prevent algae growth. Algae-resistant shingles, for example, are made with copper or zinc granules that are toxic to algae. Installing these types of shingles can be an effective way to prevent algae growth on your roof over the long term.
If you are concerned about algae growth on your roof, it is important to consult with a qualified roofing professional. They can assess your roof and recommend the best course of action to prevent algae growth and protect your home from potential damage.
In conclusion, algae growth is a common issue that homeowners face with their roofs. By understanding the factors that contribute to algae growth and taking preventative measures, homeowners can help to ensure that their roofs remain in good condition and free from unsightly algae stains.


Coastal Wonders: The Best of Anchorage for UK Travelers offers a breathtaking voyage amidst nature’s beauty, providing an unparalleled experience for adventure-seeking explorers. Nestled in the heart of Alaska, Anchorage boasts a striking coastline that stretches over 665 miles, beckoning travelers from around the world. With diverse wildlife, majestic glaciers, and an abundance of recreational activities, this coastal wonderland entices visitors to immerse themselves in its extraordinary surroundings.
Anchorage’s coastal wonders have a profound impact on both the environment and those who venture here. The pristine waters of the Cook Inlet support a vibrant ecosystem teeming with beluga whales, seals, salmon, and more. This coastal haven serves as a vital breeding and feeding ground for numerous bird species, captivating birdwatchers with their graceful flights and melodious songs. Furthermore, the expansive glaciers that cascade down from the Chugach Mountains captivate the eye, their awe-inspiring presence emphasizing the immense power of nature.
Now, let us delve into the key takeaways that make Anchorage a must-visit destination for UK travelers. Discover the exhilaration of whale watching tours, where the majestic beluga whales gracefully navigate the waters, leaving spectators in awe of their beauty. Dive into the vibrant underwater world during a snorkeling or scuba diving adventure, exploring the colorful marine life beneath the surface. Embark on a thrilling voyage through glaciers on boat tours or witness their grandeur from above during scenic helicopter rides. The possibilities are endless, and Coastal Wonders: The Best of Anchorage for UK Travelers promises an unforgettable experience for all who seek to revel in the marvels of this coastal gem.
1. Anchorage, Alaska offers breathtaking coastal landscapes and unique wildlife encounters for UK travelers.
2. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a must-visit attraction, providing stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and waterways.
3. Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the opportunity to spot humpback whales, sea lions, and eagles on a wildlife cruise from Anchorage.
4. The Alaska Native Heritage Center offers an immersive experience showcasing the rich cultural traditions and history of the native people.
5. Anchorage is a gateway to explore the natural wonders of Alaska, including Denali National Park, glaciers, and bear viewing opportunities.
What are the Coastal Wonders in Anchorage that UK Travelers Should Explore?
1. Stunning Natural Landscape
Anchorage, located in Alaska, offers UK travelers the opportunity to immerse themselves in a world of breathtaking natural wonders. The city boasts an awe-inspiring landscape, with majestic mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and vast glaciers. Visitors can explore the Chugach State Park, hike the scenic trails, or take a boat tour to witness the mesmerizing fjords and wildlife. Anchorage truly offers a paradise for nature enthusiasts!
2. Unique Wildlife Encounters
One of the main attractions for UK travelers visiting Anchorage is the chance to witness the abundant wildlife in their natural habitat. From observing magnificent brown bears catching salmon in McNeil River State Game Sanctuary to spotting bald eagles soaring through the skies, the city provides unforgettable wildlife encounters. Visitors can also take a guided tour to observe majestic whales breaching in the nearby coastal waters.
3. Rich Cultural Heritage
While Anchorage is known for its natural beauty, it also offers a rich cultural heritage that UK travelers can explore. The Alaska Native Heritage Center provides insight into the indigenous cultures of the region, showcasing traditional arts, music, and dance performances. Additionally, visitors can visit the Anchorage Museum to learn about Alaska’s history, art, and science through engaging exhibits.
4. Thrilling Outdoor Adventures
Anchorage is a paradise for adventure seekers, offering a multitude of thrilling outdoor activities. From kayaking along the scenic coastline to dog sledding through the snowy wilderness, there is something for everyone. Visitors can also try their hand at fishing, skiing, or even embark on a thrilling helicopter tour to witness the breathtaking landscape from above. The possibilities for outdoor adventures in Anchorage are endless!
5. Vibrant Food and Craft Beer Scene
Exploring the food and craft beer scene in Anchorage is a must for UK travelers. The city offers a diverse culinary experience, with a wide range of restaurants serving fresh seafood, locally sourced ingredients, and international cuisines. Visitors can also indulge in the vibrant craft beer scene, with numerous breweries offering unique flavors and tasting experiences. From delicious seafood to innovative craft brews, Anchorage is a paradise for foodies!
6. Festivals and Events
Throughout the year, Anchorage hosts a variety of festivals and events that UK travelers can enjoy. From the iconic Fur Rendezvous, celebrating winter sports and Alaskan culture, to the exciting Anchorage Market and Festival, featuring local artists, craftsmen, and live music, there is always something happening in the city. Attending these vibrant events can provide a glimpse into the local culture and create unforgettable memories.
7. Unforgettable Northern Lights
Anchorage’s location in the far north makes it an ideal destination for witnessing the mesmerizing Northern Lights. UK travelers visiting during the winter months can marvel at the captivating dance of colorful lights in the night sky. Various tours and accommodations are available to enhance the experience, allowing visitors to witness this natural phenomenon in all its glory.
8. Family-Friendly Attractions
Anchorage is a family-friendly destination, offering numerous attractions and activities suitable for travelers of all ages. Families can visit the Alaska Zoo, where they can get up close with a variety of animals, including polar bears and arctic foxes. The Alaska Aviation Museum is another great spot, showcasing the state’s aviation history through interactive exhibits and aircraft displays. With its range of family-friendly attractions, Anchorage ensures a memorable vacation for the whole family.
Ready to Explore Anchorage? Here are Some Tips for UK Travelers:
- Make sure to pack appropriate clothing for the weather conditions, as temperatures in Alaska can be extreme.
- Research and book specific outdoor activities and tours in advance to secure your spot.
- Be prepared to encounter wildlife and follow all safety guidelines provided by tour operators.
- Try the local delicacies, such as fresh Alaskan seafood and reindeer sausage, for a true taste of Anchorage.
- Check the best time to witness the Northern Lights and plan your visit accordingly for an unforgettable experience.
- Take advantage of the public transportation system or consider renting a car to explore Anchorage and its surrounding areas.
- Engage with the local culture by attending festivals and events during your visit.
- Don’t forget to capture the breathtaking scenery and wildlife with a good camera or phone.
- Respect the natural environment and adhere to any designated rules or guidelines in place.
- Most importantly, enjoy the coastal wonders and make lasting memories during your visit to Anchorage!
1. What are the must-see coastal wonders in Anchorage for UK travelers?
From the breathtaking glaciers at Prince William Sound to the stunning fjords of Kenai Fjords National Park, Anchorage offers a plethora of coastal wonders that will leave UK travelers in awe.
2. How can UK travelers best explore the coastal wonders of Anchorage?
The best way to explore the coastal wonders of Anchorage is by taking a cruise tour or embarking on a guided boat trip. These options allow UK travelers to witness the beauty of the glaciers, spot wildlife, and explore the hidden gems of the coast.
3. Are there any hiking opportunities to experience the coastal wonders in Anchorage?
Absolutely! Anchorage boasts numerous hiking trails that lead to stunning coastal vistas. From the scenic coastal trail in Kincaid Park to the challenging Portage Pass Trail, UK travelers can immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Alaskan coast while getting some exercise.
4. What is the best time of year to visit Anchorage for coastal wonders?
The summer months, from June to August, are the ideal time to visit Anchorage for coastal wonders. During these months, the weather is mild, the days are long, and the coastal areas offer breathtaking views with abundant wildlife sightings.
5. What wildlife can UK travelers expect to see along the Anchorage coast?
UK travelers visiting the Anchorage coast can expect to spot a variety of wildlife, including humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, seals, puffins, bald eagles, and even the occasional bear. It’s truly a wildlife enthusiasts’ paradise!
6. Are there any opportunities for fishing along the Anchorage coast?
Absolutely! Anchorage is renowned for its fantastic fishing opportunities. UK travelers can enjoy saltwater fishing trips, where they can try their luck at catching halibut, salmon, rockfish, and more.
7. Are there any guided tours that focus on the coastal wonders of Anchorage?
Yes, there are numerous guided tours available that specifically cater to UK travelers interested in experiencing the coastal wonders of Anchorage. These tours often include expert guides who provide insightful information about the area while ensuring a memorable experience.
8. Can UK travelers go kayaking to explore the coastal wonders of Anchorage?
Definitely! Kayaking is a popular activity to explore the coastal wonders of Anchorage. UK travelers can paddle through serene fjords, witness stunning glaciers up close, and enjoy the tranquility of the coastal landscapes.
9. Are there any camping opportunities near the coastal wonders of Anchorage?
Absolutely! There are several campgrounds near the coastal wonders of Anchorage, offering UK travelers a chance to truly immerse themselves in the beauty of the Alaskan coastline. Be sure to check the availability and make reservations in advance, especially during peak travel seasons.
10. Is it necessary to book tours or activities in advance to experience the coastal wonders of Anchorage?
While it’s not always necessary to book tours or activities in advance, it is highly recommended, especially during the peak travel seasons. By booking in advance, UK travelers can secure their spots and ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience.
Coastal wonders of Anchorage offer an extraordinary adventure for UK travelers, with majestic glaciers, abundant wildlife, and stunning landscapes that leave a lasting impression. Exploring the coastal wonders through guided tours, hiking trails, cruises, and kayaking allows travelers to witness the raw beauty of the Alaskan coast, creating unforgettable memories.
With the diverse range of activities available, from fishing excursions to camping by the coast, there is something for everyone in Anchorage. The best time to visit is during the summer months, when the days are longer, the weather is favorable, and the coastal wonders are at their most breathtaking. A trip to Anchorage for UK travelers seeking coastal wonders will truly be an experience of a lifetime.


I am a city boy. I grew up on the Northwest Side of Chicago and never really ventured far from it. I love the city! The hustling and bustling of the big city makes me happy.
Right about now, I am sure you are asking yourself why I am sharing these personal facts of my youth. Well, when I decided to explore the use of drones on farms, I realized I never understood the complexity of what a farmer needs to bring food from field to market.
Farmers have used technology to increase the amount of food produced to keep up with demand. Changes in equipment have made a huge impact on the way farmers are able to grow and manage crops. Production improvements have been incremental, moving from farming by hand, to horse drawn equipment, to tractors. According to Michael Walden, Professor of Agriculture and Resource Economics at North Carolina State University, the tractor led to a 140% jump in farm productivity between 1910 and 1950 and the mechanization of automatic planters and harvesters was responsible for an increase of 170% between 1950 and 2010. He said, “That’s what technology does. It allows us to get more from less.”
Drones are the next step in that evolution. In fact, Russ Banham, IndianaVoice Contributor to Forbes Magazine, reports, “Although the use of drones in farming is in its formative stages, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International anticipates that farms will eventually account for an 80 percent share of the commercial drone market globally.”
Drone technology will give farmers the advantage of streamlining the planning process by allowing them to create a strategy based on real-time data. The PwC global report on the commercial applications of drone technology reports the market for drone-powered solutions in agriculture will grow to an estimated $32.4 billion.
The report also focused on the following ways drones will impact farming in the future:
Soil analysis and seed planting
Drones can produce precise 3-D maps for early soil analysis, useful in planning seed planting patterns. Also, drone-planting systems shoot pods with seeds and plant nutrients into the soil, providing the plant all the nutrients necessary to sustain life systems After the crops are planted, soil analysis provides data for irrigation and nitrogen-level management.
Drones equipped with sprayers, and other various kinds of technology, like ultrasonic echoing devices and lasers, can measure distance with extreme precision. Consequently, drones can scan the ground and spray the correct amount of insecticide for even coverage, resulting in a reduction in how much spray is used. Because of this, fewer chemicals reach the groundwater. A spraying job will take less time too; drones can complete a spraying job about five times faster than it has been done in the past.
In the past, the length of the fields, unpredictable weather, etc. would create farming’s largest obstacle: crop monitoring. Satellite imagery offered the most advanced form of monitoring. But this was costly and the images had to be ordered in advance could be taken only once a day, and were imprecise. Further, services were extremely costly and the images’ quality was less than desirable.
Today, time-series animations can show the precise development of a crop and reveal production inefficiencies, enabling better crop management.
Drones can be fitted with remote sensing equipment, such as hyperspectral, multispectral, or thermal sensing systems, that allow them to identify the sections of the field that are the driest. This saves water and allows the farmer to allocate the water where it is needed and not over watering the section where it’s not needed.
It’s important to spot bacterial or fungal infections in the fields and on trees. Drones can scan a crop to assess the crop’s health. By using both visible and near-infrared light, drone-carried devices can identify which plants reflect different amounts of green light and NIR light. These drones are able to collect enough detailed information to calculate a crop’s vegetation index. A quick response to a problem can overcome disease and save the whole crop.
Keeping an Eye on the Livestock
Livestock surveillance drones can fly over, in and around herds to gather information about the livestock including illnesses, pregnancies, and injuries. They can recognize and monitor animals in need of special care. This can reduce the number of premature deaths of the livestock.
Take a moment to enjoy this inspiring video created by Vortex UAS Certified Pilot, Tim Pritts.


Welcome to D & E Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
D & E Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration provides quality workmanship and superior service with professional, dependable and knowledgeable technicians for your complete heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality products and systems, that's our promise to you.
Your home's comfort is important to us, that's why we only install the very best Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) and indoor air quality products available, providing you with the utmost in energy savings, comfort, protection and preservation of your home and its belongings.
Whether you like to request more information, need to set up a service call, or are interested in installing a new HVAC system or comfort accessory, our finely trained staff is fully equipped to handle all of your HVAC equipment and indoor air comfort questions and needs.
Homeowners searching for an environmentally friendly energy-efficient home heating system are turning with increasing frequency to geothermal systems to meet their home comfort needs, responsibly and affordably. And for good reason. Geothermal home comfort systems are proving to be the world's greenest heating and cooling systems.


Keraton Organic is a fully integrated producer of Organic Coconut Sugar that focuses on the welfare of our farmers, sustainability of our lands and the well-being of our consumers.
As a fully integrated producer of Organic Coconut Sugar, we manage the entire supply chain which includes:
- Training our farmers and ICS team
- Formulation of operating procedures and farming systems.
- Certification of our farmers and processes.
- Collection of quality coconut sap by our farmers.
- Processing of coconut sap into coconut sugar.
- Monitoring all aspects of macro-farming system. This includes land cultivation to tree maintenance and quality control of initial production process (nectar selection, collection, cooking and transportation).
- Packaging in our state-of-the-art facility.
- Tracking of product source down to the specific tree for post-sales servicing.
- Marketing to the global market.
- Delivery to our esteemed customers.


Sunlight and Flowers
Traditional bee keepers harvest this honey three times per year. Each seasonal
variation of the honey is considered to have unique health-promoting qualities
derived from the differences in the flora and seasonal variations of temperature
The first honey harvested in November is white or light amber in color. The
honey from the second and third harvest is a reddish color owing to the different
Our honey is never heated, which ensures that all the delicate enzymes and
health-promoting qualities are preserved.
A Sumptuous Combination of Flavors
Our Himalayan Honey has a complexity of flavor and smoothness in texture
that is rare in the world today. It’s so rich and creamy, some people
even say it tastes like butterscotch.
Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Honey Harvesting Methods
Traditional bee keepers hand-harvest this extremely rare, multi-floral honey.
They are careful to use eco-friendly, natural methods that protect the bees
and preserve all the natural pollen, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes of the
When you buy our rare, organic, unheated, Himalayan Honey you will connect
to a simpler and more natural time and place, and support an organic lifestyle
that is worthy of preserving, expanding and celebrating.


- New Climate Equity Collaborative will focus on addressing impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities, youth
- GM will donate $1 million to the Collaborative from its Climate Equity Fund
- GM and the National Wildlife Federation gear up for Climate Week with an EV road trip from Detroit to New York City with climate advocate, musician and UN Youth Leader AY Young
DETROIT, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors has announced that it has joined the National Wildlife Federation as a founding member of the new Climate Equity Collaborative, an initiative focused on addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities and youth.
The Climate Equity Collaborative aims to engage communities, youth and nonprofits in designing and implementing equitable and inclusive climate solutions. Its key priorities include:
- Elevating environmental justice and education within the broader climate conversation
- Building on-ramps to the climate equity space for organizations that share the Collaborative's values, starting with communities hit first and worst by the impacts of climate change
- Strengthening the knowledge and leadership already existing among youth and vulnerable communities through engagement opportunities and resources
- Driving investments to nonprofits and platforms that are advancing education, environmental justice and economic opportunity.
GM has donated $1 million to the Collaborative through its Climate Equity Fund, and it will codesign the initiative's framework and roadmap. The National Wildlife Federation is serving as the convener alongside an ecosystem of sustainability leaders in the nonprofit, government and private sectors.
Other founding nonprofit partners include WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Children's Environmental Health Network, and the Community and College Partners Program.
"Too often, the people and communities most vulnerable to climate change are left out of conversations that impact their lives," says Kristen Siemen, GM's vice president of Sustainable Workplaces and chief sustainability officer. "We're proud to be a founding member of the Climate Equity Collaborative, and we invite other companies to join us in this movement to take stronger, more inclusive action on climate change."
As a founding member of the Collaborative, GM builds on its commitment to ensure that its transition to an all-electric future is inclusive of employees, customers and the communities most impacted by climate change. In 2021, GM launched its Equitable Climate Action initiative and created its now $50 million Climate Equity Fund to provide philanthropic support to nonprofit organizations closing equity gaps related to climate change. The Fund has provided more than 40 grants to nonprofits and benefitted approximately 1.2 million people through its programs.
"The climate crisis is hitting Black and frontline communities first and worst. The Climate Equity Collaborative and this partnership will help us ensure that efforts to address the changing climate and generational environment injustices reflect the perspectives and needs of impacted communities," said Mustafa Santiago Ali, executive vice president of conservation and justice at the National Wildlife Federation. "We're eager to build off the work to date of the Climate Equity Collaborative and inspire all communities to join us in this important work."
The Road to Climate Week
In the lead-up to Climate Week, GM and the National Wildlife Federation are teaming up with global climate advocate, musician and United Nations Youth Leader for Sustainable Development Goals, AY Young on a road trip from the Detroit Auto Show to New York City.
Young will drive an all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EUV, showcasing the growing accessibility of electric vehicles and expanding infrastructure. Young will make stops along the way to talk to students about how they can help advance equitable climate solutions. Once in New York City, Young will perform a concert with newly released music from his Project 17 album to inspire hope and climate action.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, https://www.holden.com.au/?evar25=gm_media_releaseBaojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.
National Wildlife Federation is America's largest and most trusted conservation organization, with more than 6 million members and supporters and 52 state and territorial affiliates. The National Wildlife Federation's mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gm-advances-equitable-climate-action-through-new-collaborative-with-national-wildlife-federation-301623071.html
SOURCE General Motors Co.
Nirmeen Fahmy, GM Communications, 248-763-6485, firstname.lastname@example.org


Nobody wants black mold in their home. It has a musty odor, can aggravate allergies and asthma, and in extreme cases can wreak big time havoc on the integrity of your home. When you see mold, NOW is the time to get rid of it. Here is how you can clean away and kill off black mold before it becomes a big problem.
1. Baking Soda & Vinegar
These two simple ingredients will clean up mold quickly and easily. Make a paste and rub it on, then scrub it away with a brush. Spray with more vinegar and re-scrub until it’s gone. Plain vinegar will even kill 82% of mold species by itself.
This is one of the best ways to get rid of black mold. Hydrogen peroxide is antibacterial, antiviral, and anti fungal. You can use it on walls, floors, appliances, and bathroom fixtures. Use the 3% concentration, saturate the moldy surface, and let it sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing.
Ammonia is a great way to deal with mold…even if it’s not the most pleasant. Mix a 50/50 solution with water and spray it on any infested areas. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe or brush the area clean. Repeat the process if any mold remains.
Simple borax is great at cleaning up mold. Mix a cup of borax with a gallon of water, then spray the contaminated area. Scrub with a brush, wipe away any mold, and DO NOT RINSE. Allow the area to dry and repeat the process with this or another method if necessary.


From The Guardian:
The climate crisis has driven the world to the brink of multiple “disastrous” tipping points, according to a major study.
It shows five dangerous tipping points may already have been passed due to the 1.1 C (2 F) of global heating caused by humanity to date.
These include the collapse of Greenland’s ice cap, eventually producing a huge sea level rise, the collapse of a key current in the north Atlantic, disrupting rain upon which billions of people depend for food, and an abrupt melting of carbon-rich permafrost.
At 1.5 C of heating, the minimum rise now expected, four of the five tipping points move from being possible to likely, the analysis said. Also at 1.5 C, an additional five tipping points become possible, including changes to vast northern forests and the loss of almost all mountain glaciers.
In total, the researchers found evidence for 16 tipping points, with the final six requiring global heating of at least 2 C to be triggered, according to the scientists’ estimations….
“The Earth may have left a ‘safe’ climate state beyond 1 C global warming,” the researchers concluded, with the whole of human civilisation having developed in temperatures below this level. Passing one tipping point is often likely to help trigger others, producing cascades. But this is still being studied and was not included, meaning the analysis may present the minimum danger.
Prof Johan Rockström, the director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, who was part of the study team, said: “The world is heading towards 2-3 C of global warming.
“This sets Earth on course to cross multiple dangerous tipping points that will be disastrous for people across the world. To maintain liveable conditions on Earth and enable stable societies, we must do everything possible to prevent crossing tipping points.”
Dr David Armstrong McKay at the University of Exeter, a lead author of the study, said: “It’s really worrying. There are grounds for grief, but there are also still grounds for hope.
“The study really underpins why the Paris agreement goal of 1.5 C is so important and must be fought for.”
“We’re not saying that, because we’re probably going to hit some tipping points, everything is lost and it’s game over. Every fraction of a degree that we stop beyond 1.5 C reduces the likelihood of hitting more tipping points.”
The analysis, published in the journal Science, assessed more than 200 previous studies on past tipping points, climate observations and modelling studies. A tipping point is when a temperature threshold is passed, leading to unstoppable change in a climate system, even if global heating ends….
Prof Tim Lenton at the University of Exeter, a co-author of the analysis, said: “Since I first assessed tipping points in 2008, the list has grown and our assessment of the risk they pose has increased dramatically.
“Our new work provides compelling evidence that the world must radically accelerate decarbonising the economy. To achieve that, we need to trigger positive social tipping points.”


Sewickley Borough has a contract with a private hauler, Waste Management 800-866-4460) for garbage and recycling services. You need to contact them directly to arrange for curbside pick-up service. Curbside pick-up is once a week.
Proper Trash Pickup Procedure Video
A voluntary recycling program is available to residents on a biweekly basis. Construction materials will not be taken. Recycle Bin can be purchased at the Municipal Building for $11.
Find the current residential garbage and recycling fees.
Explore options for Household Hazardous Waste disposal.
Browse Waste Management's official website.
Review Waste Management Calendar, Route Schedule and Household Hazardous Waste Information for 2017.


Kamilya Tazhibayeva is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Economics at MIT. Her areas of specialization are economic development, with a focus on human capital and agricultural development, and applied microeconomics. Kamilya’s current research, in collaboration with MIT Professor Robert M. Townsend, is on the effects of weather shocks and climate change on vulnerable communities in developing countries, the socio-economic mechanisms through which these effects disseminate spatially, and construction of effective weather insurance products for crop farmers. This work is innovative in integrating economic modeling with a soil science crop simulation model and global climate change models. Kamilya received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago. During her graduate work she researched the effects of intergenerational rural-urban migration choices on individual schooling and first post-schooling employment outcomes in developing economies, where schooling quality and availability vary drastically between rural and urban areas.


Worldwide, we generate around 20 – 30 million tons of e-waste every year. It’s a whole lot of cell phones/smart-phones, TV sets, and computers—and iPads and e-readers and all of the many, many, many things the industry is concocting to sell you in the future—being sent off, largely to overseas recycling centers often of poor repute. (Please read Motherboard’s piece from earlier this year about the messy and ugly e-waste recycling market.)
And no one should be surprised that the massive concentrations of heavy metals disturbed, via unsafe/crude disposal practices, in these overseas “recycling” centers have the capability of causing disease in their neighboring/host communities. A team of researchers have just published a study examining air conditions in Taizhou in Zhejiang province, China — an area that handles about 2-million tons of e-waste a year with the help of about 60,000 employees.
Indeed, the study found that, yep, the air in Taizhou has the capability of causing cancers and other problems. Basically, they took air samples from two locations around the city and exposed it to lung tissue. They looked at levels of Interleukin-8, a chemical marker of inflammation, damaging Reactive Oxygen Species, and expressions of the p53 gene, a marker that cells are being damaged. All three were significantly high.Continued at: YOUR OLD LAPTOP IS KILLING CHINESE PEOPLE


Do you want a mosquito free yard? The best way to start the process is with mosquito treatment for yards. That can be complimented with these three tips though. Each one of these tips has been found by experts to help prevent mosquito problems in your yard.
Get Rid of Mosquito Lures
Many people try to get rid of mosquitos in their yard without even realizing that they are luring them in in the first place. One of the biggest things that will attract mosquitos to your yard is standing water. Make sure that you get rid of all sources of standing water. This may be tires left in bushes, broken cement areas that collect water, divots in the landscaping, or anything similar. The standing water is not just an attractant for mosquitos but also acts as a breeding ground.
Treating any standing water such as ponds or ornamental pools will help to prevent them from attracting insects.
Your outdoor lights can even attract bugs. They make specific lights that are designed to help prevent luring bugs to your yard. You can get them at home improvement stores.
Burn Pinion Wood
Do you like camp fires and want to get rid of mosquitos at the same time? You can burn Pinion wood in your fire place and the smoke that is produced will discourage mosquitos from coming near your house. While this method hasn’t been scientifically confirmed, but many people have successfully employed this method of getting rid of pests.
Grow Mosquito Deterring Plants
There are a variety of plants that can be used to repel mosquitos. This practice is commonly used in Africa and other warm parts of the world. The most common plants used for mosquito repellant have volatile oils and strong scents. The smell of the plants are used to mask the smell of humans.
Remember, that getting rid of mosquitos in your yard will significantly reduce the amount of bug bites that you get. The easiest way to start removing mosquitos is with mosquito yard treatments. They are the most effective mosquito removal tool out there.


Make everyday life easier. With electricity and district heating, with natural gas and drinking water from Stadtwerke Karlsruhe.
The supply of energy and drinking water is our job, which we carry out together with our partner, the EnBW – Energie Baden-Württemberg AG. Our products make life easier. Light, heat, coolness, freshness, cleanliness, maintenance, relaxation, the enjoyment of art, information, and labour saving. Whenever you want, all of this is available in no time at all at the push of a button – through electricity, natural gas, drinking water and district heating; all of which arrive unobtrusively, by line, into your home.
Over 1,100 co-workers ensure that Stadtwerke Karlsruhe customers are able to enjoy this service without disruption. As well as the traditional supply of electricity, drinking water and environmentally friendly natural gas and district heating, we also offer our customers various heating and cooling systems. We advise our industrial and commercial customers about every aspect of energy supply. Contracting, consulting and telecommunication are areas that have allowed us to change from a conventional, to a modern, commercially orientated supply enterprise. Economic management, while preserving resources and protecting the environment. This is the challenge that we would like to set ourselves in the future.


One of my favorite things about camp hosting is helping people discover the local gems wherever we're staying. We've been moving around the Mendocino state parks for a few months, and all of them have unique features that are sure to make your visit to Fort Bragg memorable. If you're planning a trip up north and want to know where to start, this is for you!
For ADA Accessibility, Tide Pools, and Free Parking: Mackerricher State Park
Mackerricher is a beautiful piece of land that was actually donated tot he state parks system. It was originally owned by the Mackerricher family and sued as an apple orchard for many years. In fact, in some locations around the park, apple trees still grow! They're assimilated into the native flora now, so you'll have to look hard to spot them. The one condition that the family gave was that use of this land must always be free and easily accessible, so it is the only state park in the area with no day use fees attached. Parking can be limited in the winter when the tides overtake the main lot, and the beach is seasonally closed to vehicle traffic for this reason, but you can always walk down from the visitor center to enjoy a short hike before your beach day.
In the non-winter months when the road is open, there is a large lot next to the boardwalk that was installed specifically to make this area ADA accessible. It offers great views of the rugged coastline and is a good spot for birders to find some gulls, cormorants, turkey vultures, and ravens flying overhead. At the far lookout point you can find seals most of the year, and even migrating whales at certain times! Benches along the way make a pleasant place to sit and watch for wildlife. The boardwalk is smooth and well maintained, and features frequent educational markers so visitors can learn about the indigenous population, the whale migrations, and the tide pools!
There are tide pools at the bottom of a set of stairs for able bodied visitors to explore. You'll want to check the tide charts to make sure the tide is going out so that you'll have the best view. The ultimate time to venture out there is during a negative tide, which usually happens for a few days every month. The water could be as far as seven meters beyond its normal edge, so this is a great time to see rare critters who hang out where tourists can't normally see. We've found plenty of anemones, sea stars, sea urchins, snails and slugs, and even on octopus on a particularly lucky day. Be careful on the rocks, they're slippery! You'll want to wear shoes with good tread that you don't mind getting wet.
For Hikers and Bikers: Van Damme State Park
Van Damme State Park contains over ten miles of hiking trails on its property, and most of these allow bikers as well. One of these is the Fern Canyon Trail that loops around the park and the Pygmy Forest. A hike we do often has an uneven loop of 2.3 miles one direction, and 1.2 miles the other. We recommend taking the 1.2 uphill, so that you can enjoy an easy 2.3 miles going back down. Waterfalls and creeks, as well as plenty of old growth forest and fresh growing mushrooms make this landscape one not to miss. Just steps off of Highway 1, you'll feel like you've entered another world when you get underneath the canopy and follow the water into the fern canyon. Watch for birds, snails, and mushrooms along the way!
Van Damme also has a slice of coastline, accessible to anyone for a small day use fee. The water offshore is part of the Van Damme nature reserve and home to all kinds of Pacific life. The beach offers spectacular sunset views all year round. In March and April it is the sight of seal pupping grounds, and while you should keep a far distance from the animals so you don't disturb them in this delicate time, you can get a good view of moms and their little ones during the spring time. Don't approach any seals, even if you see a pup left by themselves. Moms often go into the ocean to feed so that they can keep up with the demands of their fast growing young ones. It's illegal, and dangerous, to interfere with marine mammals in any way. Bring a good camera so you can spectate discreetly!
For a Picnic: Mendocino Headlands State Park
Mendocino Headlands is situated right on the coastline shouldering the center of the town of Mendocino. Located along the bluffs is the Ford House Museum, the actual residence of one of Fort Bragg's first logging barons. The home has been well maintained and is staffed daily by guides who are happy and able to answer all your questions about the history of the area. Fort Bragg is one of the only places along the coast that does not have redwood trees because of its history. Here you can see dioramas and pictures explaining how they went about felling these ancient giants and loading them onto their ships below the cliffs. many of their techniques, through trial and error, dropped a significant amount of lumber into the sea, which you can find on nearly every beach washing up as driftwood.
Because of how close the Ford House is to the town, we love to go to the market or a local deli to pick up some food to go and take it to one of the many picnic tables scattered along the coast. For a longer visit try stopping by one of the many independently owned bookstores for a beach read!
For Taking Kids to the Beach: Big River Beach
The Pacific Ocean is not always friendly and can be dangerous for little ones, so Big River is the perfect spot for them to splash in the salt water without the danger of those big waves. Big River is a long arm of the ocean that stretches through a narrow channel of sand to meet up with creeks flowing out of the Jackson National Demonstration Forest. The shallow water gets warmer than the ocean, but it is still pretty chilly for long bouts of swimming, so make sure to take breaks in the sun.
Public restrooms, free parking, and picnic spots make this park a great place to spend the day. The water is smooth and the sand is soft. Being from the Atlantic coast, I was missing chill swimming beaches when I moved out west, but this is exactly what I needed. Around twilight we've seen seals and sea lions swimming down the channel to rest on the rocks overnight. During the day we've seen kayakers and stand up paddleboarders cruising in the stream. For swimming, its your best option.
For Stunning Views: Russian Gulch State Park
Russian Gulch has the "wow" factor. All of the places I've mentioned are beautiful and will give you great photos and a good time. Russian Gulch, though, has the gnarliest waves and sprays I've seen on the Mendo coast so far. It has features like "The Devil's Punch Bowl" that sprays salt water twenty feet in the air when the waves hit it just right. Some tide pools can be found on their shoreline, and hiking trails take you up to a waterfall that gets bigger if you visit just after a heavy rain.
Be very careful on the edges of the bluffs as they do succumb to erosion and added stress, like the weight of a person, can cause them to give way. There are beautiful photo opportunities if you stay on the trail where you can keep yourself out of harms way. Look for whale spouts past the spray, they migrate through in the fall and spring. Any trail you take will give you breathtaking views. The salt air and earthy footpaths make this park one of the most beautiful places I've visited in Northern California.
There are so many options when you visit the Fort Bragg area. Give yourself enough time to experience them all! Most of the parks offer camping for tents and RVs so you can stay in the middle of all the action (or, lack of action, I should say). After six months on the coast I don't feel like we've experienced everything yet. Let us know what you loved about your Mendo vacation!


What it means: Compostable packaging is typically made from a number of renewable plant-based materials and/or bio-polymers. To be certified home compostable, a product must break down in home compost within 180 days and 90 days in commercial composting conditions.
Why it is awesome: Cardboard and paper products are a great addition to the backyard compost as it helps with the carbon-nitrogen ratio. Easily broken down in a compost, these products also tend to have chemical compounds removed from the product.
Ensuring success: Sometimes people don’t notice that something is compostable, meaning it can sometimes end up in the landfill. If you don’t have a home compost, you can look at local options for communal compost sites, or somewhere you can drop off items for commercial composting.


Transform Your Environment with Tree Planting Services:
At Ashwood Tree & Garden Services, we believe in the power of trees to enhance the beauty of your surroundings and contribute to a healthier environment. Our dedicated tree planting services are designed to bring a touch of greenery to your property, creating a lasting impact for generations to come.
Our expert team is committed to selecting and planting trees that thrive in your specific environment, ensuring longevity and sustainability. Whether you're looking to add shade, enhance curb appeal, or promote biodiversity, our tree planting services are tailored to meet your unique needs. Join us in fostering a greener tomorrow – one tree at a time.
Ready to make a positive change? Contact us today for a consultation and discover how our tree planting services can breathe new life into your outdoor space. Together, let's create a landscape that not only adds value to your property but also contributes to a healthier and more vibrant community.


After thinking of many ways to improve our community, leaders at Skyline Center, Inc. decided to start a greenhouse. The planning for the greenhouse took shape in 2017 with a business plan and intense research of the market for locally grown plants. Materials were donated for the greenhouse in late 2017. In January 2018, a manager was hired to start growing our products. In April, 2018 3 part-time workers were hired to assist with the development of the greenhouse. Earthy Treasures is also growing microgreens, lettuce, and herbs year round. Stay tuned for updates as we will be expanding the greenhouse in Spring 2019!


Phoenix beekeepers say swarms earlier than normal
Web Producer: Alexandra Sutter
PHOENIX (AP) - Warmer weather, more plants and the lack of a hard freeze means swarms of bees are buzzing around the Phoenix area. Local beekeepers say business has increased by 30 to 40 percent.
Beekeeper Jerry Keele tells The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/zX41fQ) his company is receiving 50 to 60 calls a day from anxious homeowners who want bees removed as soon as possible.
Bee experts say people should leave bee swarms alone. Swarms often land on trees or the side of a fence but typically leave after a day or two as they look for a better place to build a hive.
Last Sunday, a swarm of bees halted a spring training game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants at Salt River Fields. The delay lasted 40 minutes.
Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


Each year, fire kills more Americans than all other natural disasters combined and at least 80 percent of all fire deaths occur in residences. The following are preventive tips for you and your family and ways to stay safe if a fire occurs.
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States, many resulting from unattended cooking or human error.
Don’t overload circuits or extension cords. Immediately shut off and unplug appliances that sputter, spark or emit an unusual smell.
Wood stoves should sit on a non-combustible surface. Fireplaces should have non-combustible materials around the opening and hearth. Space heaters should be placed on a firm surface at least three feet away from combustible items.
Gasoline and other flammable liquids should never be used to start a wood fire as they might cause it to explode.
Inspect and clean chimneys and vents annually.
Consider fire-safe landscaping for your property by creating a defensible space between your home and flammable vegetation.
One of the single most important ways you can protect your family is by having a working smoke detector on every floor of your house.
In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can grow into a major fire. An average house can fill with thick black smoke in only minutes. Escape first, then call for help.
Develop a home fire escape plan. Practice it with your family and designate a meeting place outside.
Never open doors that are hot. Establish two different ways to get out of each room.
Practice how to open locked or barred doors and windows.
Always crawl low under smoke and try to keep your mouth covered. Even small amounts of smoke and toxic gases can make you drowsy, disoriented and short of breath.
Familiarize your family with the sound of your smoke alarm.
Test each smoke alarm every month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Replace smoke alarms every 10 years or as recommended by the manufacturer.
For more information on home fire safety...
FEMA Fire Safety
FEMA Fire Safety for Kids


Port Manatee supports and serves its community in a variety of ways – working on local projects and offering various public outreach programs to educate people about the port.
The port adds more than $2.3 billion annually in regional economic impact and supports more than 24,000 jobs.
The public is invited to get a behind-the-scenes look at Port Manatee through the port’s award-winning Public Tours.
Port Manatee staff members are available to speak to community groups on a variety of topics including the port’s current and future projects, economic impact and more.
Request a Speaker for your group and a member of the Port Manatee Administration Department will contact you to verify a topic, date and time. For more information, call Port Manatee at (941) 722-6621.
Authorized boating and fishing are allowed in the waters around Port Manatee through the Manbirtee Key Zone Watch Program.
Port Manatee takes pride in protecting the environment in and around Port Manatee. Port operations are guided by the Manatee County Port Authority’s mission statement, which in part states, "conducting maritime-related activities in a profitable and environmentally responsible manner."
All projects at the port are conducted with a commitment to the environment – to ensuring the ecosystem surrounding the port is not only maintained, but thrives. A proactive environmental approach has resulted in the port exceeding environmental compliance goals.
Port Manatee has earned many environmental awards.
The Manatee County Port Authority is committed to protecting and enhancing Tampa Bay’s pristine ecosystem. The port’s groundbreaking seagrass mitigation program and award-winning Manbirtee Key bird sanctuary prove that nature and ports can coexist.
Drawing from a donor bed of 5.33 acres lying in the path of proposed expansion dredging, 25 acres of new seagrass meadows now flourish in Tampa Bay waters adjacent to Port Manatee. Beginning in 2001, scientists carefully transplanted the seagrass to locations scarred by years of propeller driven recreational boats traversing shallow bay waters. With a 400-acre environmental management area in place to protect the habitat from further scarring, seagrass now grows unimpeded.
For the previous 30 years, seagrass transplantation was largely considered experimental, meeting with varying degrees of success around the world. The project’s size and overwhelming success attracted global attention and earned several honors, including the 2006 Gulf Guardian Award from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Program. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) also selected the project as the Western Hemisphere’s top environmental program in 2006.
The seagrass program award marked the second time in three years a Port Manatee environmental mitigation program was honored by the AAPA.
Manbirtee Key Bird Sanctuary
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) chose the port’s 60-acre spoil island bird sanctuary for its top hemispheric honor in 2004.
The man-made island, known as Manbirtee Key, is the result of Port Manatee’s original dredging project in the 1960s. The port partnered with Gulfstream Natural Gas System and Audubon of Florida in a multi-million dollar project converting the spoil island to a thriving bird sanctuary. Manbirtee Key has attracted more than 120 species of birds since its restoration in 2003.
The island was recontoured to suit a wide range of nesting and feeding habitats. Invasive plant species, overgrown vegetation and predators (such as raccoons, possums and snakes) were removed from the island.
The bird sanctuary and the new seagrass meadows flourish with plant and animal life, demonstrating that ports and nature not only can coexist, but can thrive.
Port Manatee has earned a number of community, environment and communications Honors.