1. Weather gone wild
First, a kink in the polar vortex brought record-breaking cold to the Midwest. Then excessive rain brought widespread flooding. That rain continued for weeks, causing massive landslides along Columbia Parkway. While all Midwesterners are used to weather changing at the drop of a hat, it’s safe to say February 2019’s weather was a doozy.
Why does it matter? In a brush of poetic irony, the bizarre weather came right as researchers across the world confirmed that the four hottest years ever recorded were 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As I’ve said a million times, weather and climate are different and no one weather event — no matter how crazy — proves or disproves climate trends. But as the planet warms, the weather will become more volatile. We could see more extreme cold temperatures as the polar vortex weakens and slips down closer to the equator. And our neck of the woods will be subject to flooding and heavy precipitation — according to an assessment by the U.S. Global Change Research Program — which would damage buildings and infrastructure, resulting in more mass wasting events. Climate change is here.
2. Thanks, Oppy
On January 25, 2004, NASA’s Opportunity rover landed on Mars, three weeks after its twin Spirit touched down on the other side of the planet. The mission was scheduled to last 90 days. Instead, the rover operated for almost 15 years, traveling more than 28 miles across the Red Planet. Last June, a planet-wide dust storm likely damaged Opportunity’s solar panels, causing the onboard computer to enter hibernation mode. After over 1,000 attempts to reestablish the connection, NASA concluded the rover’s incredible mission complete on Feb. 13, 2019.
Why does it matter? Aside from the astounding feats of engineering that allowed Opportunity to last 55 times longer than its projected lifespan, the mission gave us a new insight into the history of Mars (check out my interview with NASA engineer Kobie Boykins to learn more). We now know Mars was once a very wet planet, with lakes and oceans similar to the ones here on Earth, meaning that — at one time — Mars had the basic building blocks of life. There’s much left to be learned from NASA’s current Mars missions Curiosity and Insight, as well as the next rover, Mars 2020. But without Opportunity’s success, our understanding of Mars wouldn’t be where it is today.
Pour one out this weekend for the little rover that could.
3. Measles Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control has been tracking three outbreaks of measles in New York City, New York state and Washington state; the latter has seen over 60 confirmed cases of the diseases, with one contaminated fool going to a Portland Trailblazers game. Measles, which was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 due to widespread vaccinations, is a highly contagious disease that can result in brain damage, deafness and, in rare cases, death.
Why does it matter? The anti-vax movement began based on a study that linked childhood vaccinations with autism, which was discredited shortly after it came out. Not vaccinating your kids puts them at risk from preventable diseases, but it also increases the chances that other people will get sick. It’s called herd immunity; when around 90 percent of a population is immune to a communicable disease, it makes it harder for that disease to spread. That’s why universities require students to get their vaccinations updated before moving into their close-quarter dormitories. Do yourself and everyone else a favor: Get your damn shots. I’m looking at you, Arizona.
4. Ohio River rules
After an overwhelming public outcry, the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) will not eliminate its pollution standards for the river. ORSANCO oversees an environmental agreement between eight states whose watersheds drain into the Ohio River. Last year, the Commission proposed to eliminate its pollution standards and instead focus their efforts on water quality and research, but after a public backlash, the proposal was tabled at their February meeting.
Why does it matter? The creation of the EPA and its enforcement of the Clean Water Act in the 1970s cleaned up a lot of waterways around the country. Locally, the Ohio River and Mill Creek — both of which were dangerously contaminated a few decades ago — have made a strong comeback. About 25 million people rely on the Ohio River for drinking water, which makes it one of the most important rivers in the country. The concern is that the river will become polluted once more if ORSANCO does not enforce their pollution standards, given that current EPA top brass may be more interested in helping industries turn a profit than keeping the water clean.
Learn more about the Ohio River’s Ecosystem:
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5. Wandering Pole
The Earth’s magnetic poles — aka the point where the planet’s magnetic field points vertically downwards — have moved yet again. And, this time, at an abnormally fast pace. In the 20th century, the North Pole moved around 1,000 miles, from Northern Canada toward Siberia. Since the late ’90s, it’s moved an additional 1,000 miles. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration even had to update their World Magnetic Model a year earlier than planned.
Why does it matter? The Earth’s powerful magnetic field is essential to life on this planet, as it protects us from solar radiation. But it’s also essential to the navigation systems of ships and airplanes. If changes to the pole’s location happen too quickly, it could have serious effects on how we move around the world. Geologists aren’t really sure why the North Pole has been moving or why it’s been picking up speed. Some theorize that the shift is partially due to a current of liquid iron in the outer core underneath Canada. Every few million years, the North and South poles flip. Though we are due for a change, that process likely takes hundreds to thousands of years, so that’s not the likely culprit.
What to do this month:
Sick of winter? Of course you are. Get your much-needed dose of green and check out the Krohn Conservatory’s Fabulous Foilage every weekend from now until March 10th. Coleus, bromeliads, croton, grasses and succulents are not only beautiful but have really cool adaptations for their environment. Adults are $4, kids are $2. More info: cincinnatiparks.com/krohn/
This article appears in Mar 6-13, 2019.