Friday, May 8, 2020

Cerro Pedernal

Regional Haze - It covers the entire West. The sign outside the museum at the South Rim Grand Canyon blames it on particulates that've floated over from China. BASTARDS!!



Back in 2010 when I was in the Yukon, I was amazed at the clarity. You could see 30 miles as if it were two here in The States. Now that Phoebe's rebuilt, I'm thinking of going back.

4 comments:

  1. Plus there are the dusty and windy areas from Lordsburg to Las Cruces to White Sands.

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  2. Do you think that's true (the China thing)? How can it do that when China is waayyyy on the other side of the globe and the globe rotates? If it ain't them, then WTF IZZIT?

    I blame THIS TIME OF YEAR and the spring winds, and in summer, sometimes - those fuckin' HABOOBS that we always usta call DUST STORMS. It gets that way here in northern AZ/the VERDE Valley, but only this season or if there are forest fires or wood-stove season. I ain't like it's humid much. We in the Verde Valley are in what I call a bowl, surrounded by mountains, so shit settles in here. Most days it's CLEAR BLUE, so that blows that bullshit China theory all to Hell. Whatever sign you read was on acid, because, this: 
    https://www.nps.gov/articles/airprofiles-grca.htm 
    "Most visitors expect clean air and clear views in parks. Grand Canyon National Park (NP), Arizona, world-renowned for its breathtakingly iconic views, is downwind of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in the Four Corners region, nearby mining, and urban and industrial pollutants from Mexico and California. Air pollutants carried into the park can harm natural and scenic resources such as forests, soils, streams, fish, and visibility. The National Park Service works to address air pollution effects at Grand Canyon NP, and in parks across the U.S., through science, policy and planning, and by doing our part." 
    Al Christensen is right, too - I usta live in Cruces AND in Alamogordo.

    In my research just now I found this, which proves me correct (neener-neener): 
    https://azdeq.gov/RegionalHaze 
    "Air pollutants come from a variety of natural and manmade sources. Natural sources can include dust from dust storms, and soot from wildfires. Manmade sources can include motor vehicles, electric utility and industrial fuel burning, and manufacturing operations. Particulate matter pollution is the major cause of reduced visibility (haze). Find out more about particulate pollution " 

    I also found this, which you will find interesting: 
    https://q13fox.com/2020/01/14/the-purple-haze-over-arizona-was-caused-by-a-marijuana-farm-but-its-not-what-you-think/   
    Go the the (purple) light, my friend!

    Hope you're feeling better now that you "broke out" (from 4 walls).

    Safe Travels!

    Love,

    Rie

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    Replies
    1. You know, by goddess, iffen hit war ennybody else thet wuz th'owin down the gauntlet, I'd say, "Bring hit on!" But ah nose when ah iz ass-whupped! An when Calamity Rie sez hits so, HITS SO!!! (an' ah ain't EVEN gonna try an' dispute her! So there!)

      Ah Luvz u too!!

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  3. I first heard about Regional Haze as "a concern" when I read of Gale Norton being appointed head of the Dept of the Interior by George W. Bush (1st Bush Administration). She served from 2001-2006. In 2004 "The Bush administration proposed the Clear Skies Initiative that will improve air quality in our national parks. In April 2004, the Administration proposed a new rule on Regional Haze that will help improve visibility in parks by requiring the installation of best available retrofit technology on older facilities emitting harmful pollution."

    See: https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/ask/20040709.html (about the 4th question-answer down)


    I first hiked across the Grand Canyon in 1968 (I was 16) heading for the Idaho wilderness along the Salmon River, now known as the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Walking across was easier than hitch-hiking around it and there were girls (young women!) on the trail and I usually hit it off with one...or two. In any case, in those days you could see across...it was perfectly clear. Now, even the closest monuments are obscured by smog. It's been about four years since I saw the sign outside the museum at the South Rim. By now, in the interests of foreign policy, they may have changed the wording. I'll have to go check.

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