Tsunami Was More Powerful Than Originally Thought.

This animation shows a model simulation of the major tsunami generated by the March 11, 2011 Tōhoku-Oki earthquake off the coast of northeastern Japan. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/GSFC/Ohio State University.

Data from NASA and European radar satellites captured at least two wave fronts that day. The fronts merged to form a single, double-high wave far out at sea. This wave was capable of traveling long distances without losing power. Ocean ridges and undersea mountain chains pushed the waves together along certain directions from the tsunami’s origin. (more…)

How was your summer weather?

Been a rough week, no rain to speak of, just hotter than all getout and lots of wind, but we made it so far….
How about you?

We have had so far approx. 75 straight days of over 100 degree weather since June 1, 2011. Approximately 30 days of over 105 degrees. I know that the southwest region is used to these type of temperatures but Texas only has this during August.

Needless to say, it has been a very long, hot summer. For all other parts of the country that has had rain, please remember that sound as we here have not heard it in a while. The weathermen are predicting that the rain is coming, possibly this weekend. Oh yeah, a possible cold front to move through here on Monday.

Whether we like it or not, there is a climate change going on. Look at hurricane Irene. She was huge over water until she hit land and started to down size but there was damage along the east coast and is still being felt in the northeast.

As we move on into the fall season, we will most likely experience a warm winter. I could be wrong but with all of the indicators of this summer, who knows.

Weather … as the green future unfolds.

All counties in Texas are in burn ban mode due to heat wave!

It has been so hot here in Texas, that all heat records are being broken. Not only day by day but consecutive days over 100 degrees! Currently, in East Texas, we have had 41 consecutive days of over 100 degrees and still counting. The hottest has been 112 and let me tell ya, this little RV’s a/c cannot handle that level of heat!

This heat is also affecting every facet of life on this state. The electric companies are starting up old power stations to handle the load on the grid. Many pleas are going out over the news networks to shut down everything that is not essential during the hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (i.e. lights, tvs, etc.). No watering of lawns which are dead anyway. Those who are trying to save their lawns may be burning them up by watering in the afternoon which is like placing a magnifying glass on each blade thus the burn mode. There are so many water pipes breaking across the state that until they are fixed folks need to boil their water.

The animals are suffering. For instance, deer are abandoning their young due to not being able to produce milk and/or keep themselves hydrated. Racoons look pretty scrawny and are raiding dog and cat dishes to keep themselves alive.

(Nacogdoches PD)

NASA has confirmed that a spherical artifact found in a drying lake in Nacogdoches (Lake Nacogdoches) was part of space shuttle Columbia, which broke up over Texas in 2003 when its heat shield failed.

The tank was part of the shuttle’s electrical power system which as the name suggests consists of the equipment and reactants that produce electrical power for distribution throughout the orbiter.

Speaking of lakes… Most boat launches are closed due to the drying up of the lakes. They tend to drop off past the concrete. Not good.

The firefighters are really busy for the grass fires that were accidently started or some idiot decided he needed to burn his trash and created an out of control grass fire. Needless to say, he got fined.

A drought has left the OC Fisher Reservoir in San Angelo State Park in West Texas almost entirely dry. The water that is left is stagnant, full of dead fish — and a deep, opaque red.

So, is it bad? Yes! Hopefully, doing a rain dance here locally will bring thunder storms or just plain ol rain! We need it!

Latest saying – Satan called and he wants his weather back! … as the green future unfolds.

Surrounding and interlaced with New Green City are the ‘hubs’ of new residential communities. From hubs for people that favor futuristic domes and modernistic abodes with geometric flare, to folks who prefer the quaint country comfort of historically inspired homes.

Herbert K. Lau

Each hub supports ‘wheels’ of up to 16 homes, allowing each home a large backyard and that cul-de-sac feel. Each wheel has 4 avenues to enter and exit, one to the ‘Hub Heart’, one to a major thoroughfare outside the hub, and two for connecting to the wheels on either side.

Image Credit: Tom Curtis

Strategically located between each wheel are raingardens, artificial depressions in the landscape that collects and stores storm water runoff preventing flooding and erosion. Raingardens slow run-off and allows the water to soak into the ground, where the water filters through soil layers before entering the groundwater system. Planted with native vegetation that is hardy and attractive and gives color to the landscape at all times of the year. The plants are a selection of wetland edge vegetation, such as wildflowers, sedges (any of numerous grass-like plants), rushes, ferns, shrubs and small trees, all taking up excess water flowing into the raingarden. Root systems enhance infiltration, moisture redistribution, and diverse microbial populations involved in biofiltration. (more…)

Dear Germany, When You Get To The Green Future, Please Throw The Rest Of Us A Rope!

Hailing from Freiburg, Germany, Rolf Disch is a renowned architect that has put his little city front and center on the eco-map. Literally transforming Freiburg into Germany’s eco-capital where about 35% of residents don’t own a car and new homes routinely incorporate photovoltaic panels. And now, a popular destination for tourist world-wide seeking the reality of sustainable architecture and the inspiration for better eco-friendly housing options for their future. (more…)

The Government handed out some big bucks this week. How does 338 million in grants sound? Well, this is in an effort to get the development of geothermal energy on a fast track.

Some of the companies that got the grants were:

Ormat Technologies
AltaRock Energy
City government of Raleigh, NC
County government of Hattiesburg, MS

Companies that are putting the grants into their projects ranging from putting geothermal heat pump into a waste water processing center to putting heat pumps in to keep prisoners comfortable. (more…)

Cool-N-Save can instantly save you up to 30% on your Air Conditioning costs!

Unless you are getting rain, which I am NOT, the temperatures have been hitting the high 90′s or low 100′s. I know that the air conditioning is really working hard to keep your place cool. So, I would like to introduce
the following to you to help reduce that cost!

Cool-n-Save is an amazing new, patented product, that is actually based on the same scientific Principles that large corporations have used to save themselves money for years. (more…)