China vs. Mother Nature: The Quest for Artificial Weather

Who controls the weather?  This debate, in a round about way, has been taking place for centuries.  When the weather was unbearably dry, ancient Indian nations would come together and perform their “Indian Rain Dance” to try to persuade the Gods to open up the skies–

Step ahead a couple of centuries to the present.  A lengthy article in the Asian Times Online goes into detail about how China has been in the process of manufactoring weather since 1958.  No, this isn’t science fiction.

China has seemingly developed a way to not only make it rain when it wants to, but to also control such things as hail storms. If you are still questioning the validity of all of this, The Chinese Government has stated that their methods have already been used to control the weather for such international events as the 1993 East Asian Games and the 1999 Horti-Expo in Yunnan..and next up on the list?  The 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing.

So How Does This All Work?

It would be alot easier to explain that China just hits a button, but actually it is a rather large scientific process.  To bring it down to scope, the basics of the process involves firing rounds of silver oxide ammunition into the clouds.  The weight of the silver oxide will cling to the water in the clouds and bring it back down to the ground.

This is a pretty interesting and scientifically proven method that just happened to be developed by the United States in the 1940’s and 50’s–but we lost interest in this on the belief that Mother Nature usually wins..

China has went on to take this research and expand significantly on what has been known about weather formation.  Each of the Chinese Provinces now has it’s own Artificial Weather Modification Base.  This is all controlled by the Chinese Government and they say when to enact the weather changing science.

The Artificial Weather Modification Department boasts over 32,000 chinese employees, as well as 7,100 anti-aircraft guns, 4,991 special rocket launchers and 30 specially equipped aircraft to help in this process.  This is a large expenditure, but the thoughts behind it’s development can not be taken lightly.  It was original enacted to help with the issue of drought that plagues a big size chunk of China.

There begs to be a couple of questions asked though…Silver-Oxide is a known polutant and poison in large quantities, how will this affect China in the future?  They do mention that the silver oxide they use is in such small quantities to not have an effect on the environment, yet what happens as it builds up over the years?

Another question?  If China can do this, why has this idea not been exported to the likes of Countries in Africa that could definately use this technology for both water and food, which they are currently suffering a major crisis with?

In a way though, this all seems pretty much amazing to me.  If the United States would seemingly begin to use this technology, perhaps we could gain control of the massive wildfire outbreaks in the West, or they could broadcast a report of Artificial Rain on the news and we would all be guaranteed of knowing just when to bring the ol’ umbrella…

What are your thoughts?

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The Adventurist: A Call to All Outdoor Writers and Photographers!

I have just put the finishing touches on a new “Submit & Contact” Page here at The Adventurist.  I am hoping that this new feature will be accepted and used by all of my great readers.

This page goes into detail about a few things I am looking for here at The Adventurist–and ways you might be able to get involved.

Do you love Adventure Writing or perhaps Great Outdoors Photography?–Help me share your incredible talents with a much bigger audience!

Head on Over to the “Submit & Contact” Page, found on a tab right up above this article, and Share your Adventures with the World!

Also, if you are looking to put me to work, there is info there as well….

Cheers-

J. Alan Hendricks, Editor

Global Warming and Mt. Everest: Is Everest Shrinking?

Global Warming has become a huge subject around the world as of late.  If, indeed the world is in a warming crisis, perhaps the ones that should know are the Climbers.

Today, in the Asian Journal Online, Reggie Pablo speaks out about this current issue and how it relates to Mt. Everest.  He, for one, should know.  Pablo recently summited Mt. Everest on May 17 as a member of the Asian Trekking International Expedition.

Pablo goes in to some detail about why he thinks Mt. Everest is starting to feel the effects of global warming:

“Mt. Everest used to accommodate 45 climbers on its summit. Now, it can accommodate only 15.  I want to confirm that global warming is real.”

Pablo is credited with being the 7th Filipino to ever Summit Mt. Everest.  He feels it is his duty to step up and tell the world what is taking place, and climbing has given him a special advantage.  He can actually see and report on what is going on in the world’s mountains.

The effects of Global Warming on Mt. Everest are not new though.  This season we witnessed quite a few people talking about how the ice was getting softer in places, and completely gone in others–but it remains to be seen if this can be attributed to Global Warming or just the cycles that our Earth has went through for millions of years.

There are as many skeptics as there are believers and this is sure to be a hot topic around the world in the coming years.  People are starting to speak out.  They want confirmed evidence of rising temperatures–Proof that we are destroying our own world.

What are your thoughts?  Click the headline and post a comment.

Bald Eagle Delistment and Subsequent Controversy: A Look at the Facts

The American Bald Eagle–the majestic and stately symbol of our nation–has been delisted from the Endangered Species List. 

This is being looked at as both a triumph for some in conservation circles, as well as being questioned by many others that feel that the Bald Eagle along with the Golden Eagle still deserve to be protected. 

Have the Eagle numbers really rebounded or is this just some governmental short talk to save a few bucks on conservation efferts in order to put the money in other places?

First off, I will take a look at a couple of statistics. 

Beginning in 1963, most of the lower 48 states began running independent Bald Eagle population reports each year.  These reports are widely available on the internet. 

In 1963, it was reported that there were 487 existing breeding pairs in the lower 48 states.  Jump ahead to 2000, the last year that these numbers were reported, and you will find that there were 9,789 pairs.  That is a pretty good increase and shows that there is definately a growing population that can sustain itself in the wild–while being protected.

Taking a step back now, when the Bald Eagle was originally placed on the Endangered Species list, many people believed that pesticides, particularly DDT, were playing a significant factor in the decline of the Eagle populations.  The chemicals were contributing to the Bald Eagle’s egg shells becoming to brittle to sustain life.  Since that time, DDT as well as many other pesticides, are now strictly outlawed or controlled.

On July 2, 1999 The American Eagle Foundation along with their Bald Eagle mascot “Challenger” met with then President Bill Clinton and it was at this time that the proposal to delist the Bald Eagle was announced and the wheels began turning to make this a reality. 

This first proposal was seemingly held up by government officials until a clear way to protect Eagle habitat which would no longer be under the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

Without knowing the entire story regarding the Bald and Golden Eagles, many people are jumping to conclusions thinking that these magnificent creatures will no longer be protected in the wild, and this is just simply not the case.

In fact, the controls placed on protecting the Bald Eagle and it’s habitat are still in place.  The delisting of the Eagles from the Endangered Species list has seemingly been transferred to a new act:  The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA).  This act prohibits “disturbance” of Bald and Golden Eagles in the wild.  What was not mentioned though was what “Disturb” actually meant.  There were no clear cut guidelines.  This is now in motion to get a definate definition that will be more understood to both government and the public.  The Fish and Wildlife Department is pushing for the following classification:

Disturb means to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to the degree that causes (i) injury or death to an eagle (including chicks and eggs) due to interference with breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or (ii) nest abandonment.” Injury would be defined as, “a wound or other physical harm, including loss of biological fitness significant enough to pose a discernible risk to an eagle’s survival or productivity.”

This description will pretty much make the Eagles as protected as ever in the wild.

The Delisting of the Bald and Golden Eagles should not hamper current efforts in Eagle Conservation, and perhaps more-so will garner more attention across the nation to this very issue.

I mentioned a couple of days ago that I had been camping in Tennessee for the week and one of the true highlights of this experience was my first Golden Eagle sighting.  When I began to see reports of the Eagle delisting, it just got me curious as to what was really going on.

If you would like to read alittle bit more about this issue, my good friends Mon@arch and Ralph Maugham of Ralph Maugham’s Wildlife News have both been covering these issues for their respective states of New York and Idaho.  Both of these sites are well worth Bookmarking if you stop by.  Take the time to check out some of their past posts, and I think you will agree.

Well I hope I have been able to clear this issue up a bit for those of you that were like me, and just wanted to know ..why?

By the way, one more thing, here is an interesting fact:  Did you know that the Eagles are actually a member of the Hawk Family?  You might need that bit of info in your next game of Trivial Pursuit..

                

Topic of the Day: Piranhas (Yes, those ever-deadly man-eating fish)

Scouring through the latest news today and a couple of blogs, I have ran in to quite a few articles discussing of all things–Piranhas.  So that has become the topic of the day.

It seems that perhaps those old horror stories of the evil Piranha could be wrong.  I think I will speak for all of us when I say our first thoughts are of 1000’s of  schooling Piranhas annihilating a the flesh of our bodies with those hundreds of knifelike teeth–but now new research into this species from the University of St. Andrews in the UK, may be shedding a little more light on this species and making them perhaps not seem as bad as their reputation suggests.

For more about the details of this study, head on over to the New Scientist Environment Blog.  This is where I was originally tipped off to this interesting piece.  They are also featuring a pretty nice video perspective of the Piranha…not sure if I would still go swimming with them or not though. 

Sometimes Instinct should be trusted a little bit more than University theory.

Another interesting piece of note–not really a scientific study, but it does involve a Piranha—and unfortunately a fishing hook–A man in North Carolina, fishing for his Catfish supper…ended up realing in a 1 pound 4 oz. Piranha.  This was verified by local authorities and is believed to be the result of an exotic pet dumping in the Catawba River.  This is becoming an ever-growing problem with more and more exotic pets falling into the wrong hands and not knowing what to do with them…You can read this interesting article by stopping by HERE…

Sir Edmund Hillary: Your Thoughts, Your Prayers

It is being widely reported today that Sir Edmund Hillary has been injured in a fall.  Sir Hillary was the first person, along with his climbing sherpa Tenzing Norgay, to summit Mt. Everest.  It has been noted that Hillary is not suffering “Life-Threatening” injuries and that his progress is going well.

Hillary is 87 years old and has recently taken up walking with a cane.  It is also being reported that Sir Edmund Hillary has been suffering from High Altitude Sickness for a number of years now.

In due respect for what Sir Edmund Hillary has come to mean and represent in the climbing community, I thought that it would be a good time for all of my loyal readers here at The Adventurist to wish Sir Edmund Hillary the best.  Today we keep you in all of our thoughts and prayers! 

You, the reader, may post your thoughts, prayers, and good wishes upon Sir Edmund Hillary here, as we all come together to wish him a fast recovery

The Complete Coverage! Everest 2007!

The Complete Coverage!  Everest 2007!  Click here!

As many of you might know, a couple of months back I mentioned that I would be setting up a Page on The Adventurist for the Everest 2007 Climbing season.

This page will be similar to the page covering the Mt. Hood Tragedy I covered in 2006 offering up all the links and stories as we publish them in one easily located space.

What this does is it allows all of my loyal readers an easier way to follow along with the Everest 2007 season as it happens, as well as lets you keep track of what HAS happened up to the latest story.  At the top of this site, you will now see a headline that reads “The Complete Coverage!  Everest 2007!  Click Here!”, by clicking this, you will now have access to every story concerning the 2007 Everest Climbing season.

I hope you enjoy this convenient way of staying on track with the happenings on Everest this season.  It is really shaping up to be a great season with many stories breaking daily.  You will now find them all here!

AMAZING! Boy Finds Amundsen Watch Buried at North Pole

An 11 year old Norwegian Boy spotted a black box on the beach near his home in Denmark–this in itself is not remarkable, but what was inside could only be called amazing.

Three years ago Joergen Amundsen buried a watch at the North Pole in Commemoration of his late ancestor Roald Amundsen, Discoverer of the North Pole.

Since that time, the watch had been trapped beneath the pole in ice..but as the arctic goes, it is always breaking apart, drifting, and reforming itself.  Through all of the arctic cycles, somehow this watch showed up in Norway.

Along with the watch was a letter left by Joergen stating that it was buried at the North Pole and the date.  And the most amazing part–The watch was still working….

Got an Adventure to Tell? Tell Your Story Here!

Once in awhile I like to open up a post to let you, my readers, have a voice….I want to know YOUR Personal Adventure Story.  This is your chance to let the world know how cool you are and at the same time, maybe it will influence others to go out there and live that Adventure they have been dreaming about!

You may post ANY adventure, not just climbing…I am looking for hiking, kayaking, extreme sports, hunting, fishing,…anything outdoors that you had a great time doing and discovering… Read more

The Laneo Phenom

Editor’s Note:  I came across Laneo through another site–actually the reason I “clicked” was because of the very unique look of their ads…and since I run an “Adventure” website, well it was natural for me to check out what it was about.  Folks, this is a great company trying to do something for this World.  There is no money involved–I do not support advertising on this site–but, to me, this is not advertising as they are not selling a product.  This is one way you can help change the world without spending a dime!  Something that I think all of us have an issue with is making sure that this planet is around for quite a few more generations, and by joining this site and placing an “ad”, you too can be a part of making a difference. Now about the company. Read more

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