This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Sunday 29 April 2012
Saturday 28 April 2012
Thursday 26 April 2012
Wednesday 25 April 2012
Tuesday 24 April 2012
Saturday 21 April 2012
Friday 20 April 2012
Seeing the Changes 474
Did a 2nd day with the APT module on plant identification. Part of this involved a trip to the sand dunes on Swansea bay. In that location, observed Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), Marsh hawkbeard (Crepis paludosa) and Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) in flower. We also observed lots of ground nesting bees (Colletes succinctus) operating here. Later, there was a trip to the Swansea Botanical Gardens in Singleton Park where exotic flowers such as orchids were examined. At Westcross, Early scurvy-grass (Cochlearia danica) was in bloom. Blackpill, Small-flowered cranesbill (Geranium pusillum) was in flower.
Thursday 19 April 2012
Wednesday 18 April 2012
Tuesday 17 April 2012
Return of the Frackers?
Somewhat disturbing news that a panel have given a 'clean bill of health' to 'responsible' fracking (the process of extracting gas from shale deposits by forcing water and chemicals into the strata at very high pressure). Extraction ceased after the process was linked to small earthquakes near Blackpool (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17737991). The panel have ruled that the 'mild' earthquakes were no worse than those caused by coal mining in similar locations in the UK. There is a continuing debate, however, about whether the process is, in any sense 'green'. A lot of energy is required to 'liberate' the gas in the strata and there are concerns about what happens to the water and its associated chemicals (there is the possible contamination of water bodies- a particular issue in this time of drought?). I remain concerned, if a similar process is utilised on Swansea Bay, as doing this underwater seems to be adding to the potential complications.
Parchment?
It seems very likely that the drought that is evident over large sections of the UK as a result of 2 successive dry winters, will continue for some time and might well spread (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17726989). The drought will certainly cause anguish to gardeners (hose-pipe bans) and farmers (many crops are 'thirsty'). One should, however, also be concerned about the effects on the natural world. In a situation, where rivers are completely drying over sections of their 'flow', there are not only a powerful impacts on water creatures and vegetation but also on the organisms (e.g. migrating birds and birds of prey) that depend on them. When the waters return, it is likely to be some time before the ecology is re-established.
Monday 16 April 2012
Saturday 14 April 2012
Friday 13 April 2012
Thursday 12 April 2012
Sunday 8 April 2012
Friday 6 April 2012
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