Posts filed under Science

"If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." - Lyndon B. Johnson

Pollution over Fairbanks in 40 below weather

Environmental Awareness

Do you ever think about the future of the environment and the landscape? What will still be left in 50 years from now? Usually when we talk about long-term change, especially climate change we talk about hundreds of years, in geology thousands of years. The past decades we have seen very distinct changes of the landscape on such a short time scale. Coastal erosion, permafrost thaw, wildfires, sea-ice shrinkage and many other things. Are we already past the tipping point, and is there no return?

Type I and II Errors

As with statistics, I would rather do a type I error than a type II error (when it comes to the environment). If the null hypothesis is that humans have no effect on the climate change, then type I error in this sense would be that we accept (based on statistical testing) that humans actually do have a large impact on the environment when in fact they do not. Whereas a type II error would mean that we accept the null hypothesis, humans don't have an impact on climate change, when in fact they do. A lot of people justify their opinion against climate change (that is they do not believe in climate change, or that it is driven by humans) and then think that we are wasting millions of dollars on something so ridiculous. But really, is it that ridiculous to try and have a working planet for future generations, even if the hypothesis is wrong? Would it be better to just sit here and watch as the planet deteriorate?

The Consciousness Traveler

Sometimes I think about the irony, when people travel far to see the "last" of anything, let it be sea-ice or glaciers, it's ironic but we all do it in one way or another. What is the best approach to mitigate the impact that humans have on the environment, should we all stop traveling? Living in Alaska is like the irony of everything combined. Alaska are seeing the greatest increase in temperatures, and as a result permafrost is thawing, wildfires are burning larger and more frequent. Yet there are occasions when we do not have any potato or other vegetables at the store around the wintertime because a truck broke down, train broke down, a bridge collapsed, a snowstorm happened etc. Alaska is so far away, from everything, and we are not able to produce as much as we would need to feed the whole state within the state. We are dependent on importing groceries into Alaska. You are not environmental friendly when you live in Alaska unfortunately, but there is no other way. Living in a dry cabin at least decreases the amount of water you use, but driving a car to the store when it's 40 below? Ok, I actually used to bike or ski to work so at least i wasn't that bad, but still. Last year the main road to the oilfields thawed/melted.....likely because the temperatures were so warm...how ironic is that???

What is your opinion on climate change and environmental awareness. Do you have any ideas on how to mitigate climate change on a more personal level?

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Recent Science posts

Things I have heard on the news Lately pt. 2

Oct 17, 2020

Out of the Ashes and into the Fire and the aftermath of the White Lion

Jun 9, 2020

May 9, 2019

A Tale of Fires and Ghost Logs - Fieldwork in Yellowstone Pt. 3

Apr 2, 2019

Springtime and the case of Phenological Mismatch

Apr 1, 2019

Mar 20, 2019

Jan 30, 2019

Jan 23, 2019

Where Chambers Street ends and Rockefeller Park Starts

Aug 28, 2018

Apr 13, 2018

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Ann Rumbleinthearctic and filed under Wednesday Thoughts, The great wide open, Science, Nature, Alaska and tagged climate change Alaska Deep Forest change irony ocean Glacier glaciers Wildfire Wilderness 2016_2 Mountains Environment Forest winter sun.

A Pine Needle Fell in the Forest - Bears

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Wednesday thoughts

"A pine needle fell in the forest. The eagle saw it. The deer heard it. The bear smelled it." - Native American Proverb

There are bears in the forest

I am not a bear biologist or researcher so this text is only based on my own observations and experience and not necessarily the reality..

Summertime in the deep boreal forest not only mean mosquitos and fires, but also bear encounters if you are unlucky. Every day we were out in the field we would see tracks of mainly bears but also wolfs in one way or another.

Mostly bear tracks, but of course also scat and markings on trees. Our sole protection is bear spray, which is kind of a concentrated pepper spray which is suppose to deter bears from attacking you, but yeah, you have to use it when the bear is almost right on you.

Rifle Anyone?

Of course you can carry a rifle if you need to. In Alaska almost every person has a gun of some sort. Mostly to hunt, but you also definitely see the people at the grocery store with a handgun tucked in their pants or a holster hanging on their side, sometimes concealed sometimes not, what I think about that is a whole different story. Going back to the use of a rifle as bear protection, well if you have a rifle and intend to use it for protection, you need to practice with it on a regular basis. I don't know how you feel when you encounter a bear or at least see a bear, I get nervous. Imagine trying to aim at a Grizzly at the same time as it is charging you, fast. Grizzlies can run up to 30 miles per hr....that is about 48 km per hr.

I have definitely had sketchy situations out in the field, where I have failed to make enough noise, or had other issues where my, and/or the other animals awareness has been reduced. When I grew up in Sweden I learned to be quiet in the forest, don't scream to loud while playing. In Alaska on the other hand its very different. A lot of people who have had a bear encounter says they thought they were being loud enough, so try your best at being loud, and then be a bit louder than that.

Bear Encounters

I once attended a lecture given by a wildlife biologist, an expert on bears, and he said you can do everything you can possibly do WRONG when it comes to bears, and yet you'll get out alive at least 90% of the time. So even if you do everything wrong, for instance throwing food at the bear, you still (statistically) have a very good chance to get out alive.

"The bear retreated for a moment but then came back and began circling Jones-Robinson, who took her pack off and threw a package of macaroni and cheese at the bear hoping to distract it."

http://www.newsminer.com/north-pole-woman-uses-insect-repellent-to-fend-off-granite/article_cddf6c53-3e9b-5ccb-9d49-593713fb8dec.html

"While playing dead is the proper technique once a bear has already made contact or contact is imminent, playing dead too early can cause the bear to become curious, according to information from the park."

http://www.newsminer.com/news/alaska_news/grizzly-bites-hiker-at-denali-national-park/article_9a60c0ea-40bd-11e6-a4d6-b782070bf083.html

Bears with cubs is a whole different story, you do not want to come between a mama bear and her cubs, but being attacked by the same bear twice, in one day after deploying bearspray seems a bit odd to me, and could probably be put in the category below, of bears that are just not right. But I am no expert in bear behavior.

"During the first attack, he yelled, deployed bear spray as the sow charged him from about 25 feet, and rolled into a ball to play dead. The bear repeatedly chewed and jumped on him as he tried to protect his head." "He did everything he was supposed to do," said Madison County Sheriff Roger Thompson.

Playing dead once you are already attacked is the best way to survive, if its a territorial grizzly.

"Out of nowhere, the bear attacked him again and did the same thing to him," "She just seemed to lose interest because he was playing dead," said Thompson. "Then she just wandered off. Bears can be that way when they have their babies with them."

http://mtstandard.com/news/local/survivor-of-grizzly-attack-tells-harrowing-tale/article_c8a7c60b-596f-5deb-a970-127e07dc7a37.htm

Now then there is another percentage, a small percentage of bears that are just not right. Their bear behavior do not follow the natural bear behavior, now if you meet that bear you can do everything completely right and still might not get out alive. You can also run into that bear as a large group of people and the bear will still come at you, which is rare. A group of people being attacked by a bear is far less common than a single person. They say, if you are being attacked by a predatory black bear you need to fight, fight for your life.

"Despite Kitchen's bravery, McConnell was mauled to death in front of the eyes of her 13-year-old son, Kelly, who was also attacked while bravely trying to save his mother. Witnesses say the bear turned on Kitchen, attacking him and killing him while witnesses tried in vain to save him. According to a police report, a kick made the bear withdraw into the bush. It then came upon four university students who turned and ran. A 20-year-old Calgary student slipped and was attacked. Police said the bear was shot while in the midst of this attack."

https://www.nnsl.com/archives/1997-08/aug22_97bear.html

Camping in Bear Country

Am I scared when I camp in bear country? I wasn't at first, in Alaska, I don't know why, but I just wasn't. Now I am absolutely terrified for no good reason. Sure, there are situations where people have been attacked in their tent, but those situations are far rare compared to the people who are not. Yes, it can happen, but you can also get hit by a car while walking across the street. The best thing you can do is to be cautious. Keep your food (including tooth paste) in specific bear proof container. In some places (like in a forest) where there are trees you can also hang up your food items.

Some people even like to change clothes, into clothes that have not been close to food. So you'll eat and cook food, and once that's done you change clothes and put those clothes away, farther away from the tent. Is this extreme? Yeah! Have I done it? Heck yeah!

Is this a Zoo?

When we were driving from Alaska down to Montana, and then farther to Wisconsin we saw so many bears. All bears but two were spotted in Canadaland. Canada is so big, I mean so is the US, but Canada also has the Yukon and if you think Alaska is big, think bigger. We encountered these adorable bear cubs and their mama along the way in Canada, right by the road. These were the first of many many bears we saw along the road, but the only grizzlies until we left Yellowstone out in Wyoming.

Mama bear of course were keeping an eye out on these little rascals.

What is your opinion/experience with bears?

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Other Posts about the wilderness and fieldwork:

Who Dealt these Cards?

The Land God Forgot - ANWR

Dirty Paws and Furry Coat, and the Forest of Talking Trees pt.1

Fieldwork in Yellowstone National Park

To outrun a Bear?

Fall.

Loss of Inspiration and Midsummer

Friday Theme - Six Month Checkup

I think we are in a Wolf den..

Summertime Sadness

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Ann Rumbleinthearctic and filed under The great wide open, Photography, Alaska, Wednesday Thoughts, Science and tagged Alaska Canada Yukon Yukon Territory Canadaland bear tracks bear cubs Deep Forest Boreal Forest brown bear 2016_2 Science Bears Summer Adventures Summer days Forest.

The Sound of Aurora Borealis - Have you ever heard it?

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Flashback Friday

Aurora Borealis - Norrsken

A few years back we were coming back from a backcountry ski trip in Alaska. A friend of ours told us that tonight will be a spectacular night for Auroras. It's so funny, if there is a big chance for aurora, the whole town will now about it (or so it seems) at least all your friends will now about it. One of the great things about having an outhouse is that it actually forces you out, sometimes in the middle of the night, and a lot of those times you end up stargazing and watching the Aurora as it flares in the sky above you. Either way, I was ready for Aurora that night. It's really a hit or miss. Sometimes the conditions for Aurora are optimal, and yet nothing happens. Sometimes the forecast is low and you witness a show out of this world just because you had to pee in the middle of the night.

This night I was out for several hours taking pictures. I hadn't been doing much aurora photography back then so the quality is not great, but I think you get the picture.

IMG_1178 - 2013-03-17 at 01-42-50 (1).jpg

IMG_1190 - 2013-03-17 at 01-47-32 (1).jpg

IMG_1204 - 2013-03-17 at 01-51-18 (1).jpg

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The Sound of Aurora Borealis

This is also the one and only time that the Aurora made me scared, I don't know of what or how, but It just made me so scared. Like this really uncomfortable feeling, and it happened along with the sparkling sound I heard. It was almost like too overwhelming, and I felt as if the sky would fall down, or at least the Aurora, because the light was so intense. I remember that my cats were freaking out too, because I was outside and they were inside. It was a debate before if you could actually hear the Aurora or not, but it's confirmed, you can, or something.

"A recording produced Sept. 9, 2011 during a geomagnetic storm by using three microphones and a VLF antenna picked up 20 similar clap sounds," Laine reported last week on his website. "Some of them were close enough in order to be detected by all three microphones. The collected data allowed the estimation of the location of the sound source. The sound source was the open sky." - ADN

Isn't it amazing, that there are so many things we still don't know about. We have only discovered a tiny little percentage of all the universe, and we keep finding more and more species on earth, almost at the same rate as others go extinct :( .

Have you ever heard the Aurora?

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