skinny whale what?!?

a quick reference to distinguishing gray whales from other species ... click for a larger image

according to the urban dictionary, there is such a thing as “dolphin whale syndrome” … that made me chuckle …

according to biologists, however, there is also such as thing as “skinny whale syndrome” … this one’s not so funny …

skinny whale syndrome is a recent phenomenon that is being observed in pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) by fishermen, local people living near marine environments, and marine biologists … the migration, feeding, and breeding behaviours of these magnificent mammals are changing … more…

exposed bedrock in the gulf of maine, usa

well, if injecting CO2 supercritical gas into bedrock is loaded with caveats, imagine how much worse it is to inject CO2 gas into the ocean — a living ecosystem teeming with biota (albeit i am not averse to Buddhist teachings and the contemporary Gaeia hypothesis, which contend that all matter has life) …

i’m especially bothered by any anthropogenic perturbations to oceans, largely because my training and schooling as a marine biologist made me shockingly aware of the enormity and extent of issues plaguing marine ecosystems as well as the (often unappreciated) importance that oceans play in global ecosystems …

so what may happen as a result of our attempts to store excess atmospheric CO2 gas in oceans? more…

to help put into context this series of blog posts on water issues, i think it’s important to review aquifers … an aquifer is essentially a ‘gateway’ to accessing deep ground water that flows beneath the Earth’s surface … tapping into an underground aquifer by drilling or digging a well is one of the primary sources of freshwater worldwide … therefore, threats and risks to aquifer resources directly impact billions of people, as well as wildlife and ecosystems …

the global importance of aquifers is impressive when you consider that collectively, the world’s aquifers contain 100 times the volume of superficial fresh water … more…

you’ve likely heard of the term “ecological footprint” … the concept helps people to quantify and appreciate how lifestyle habits impact the environment … while the calculations are not always accurate (largely because there are innumerable variables that cannot always be factored into the equations and mathematical models), i think it’s very helpful for people to use this resource …

recently, the concept of a “water footprint” has been promoted on a similar premise but with a focus on water use … more…

more suggestions on how to save water outdoors … see my previous blog for more outdoor tips …

gardens — herbs, fruit trees, vegetables, & other edibles …

* select plants that are native to your area or at least adapted to your growing zone … if in doubt, consult with your local nursery for information on plant selection and placement for optimum outdoor water savings …

* organize your garden using the principles of companion planting … for more tips, see this and this website … more…

this post is about saving water outdoors … if you’re interested in more suggestions, i’ve already posted water-saving tips for general, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry habits … i’ll split the outdoor water-saving tips into 2 posts to keep the entries relatively short but comprehensive …

most important tip:

* collect rain water …  this is becoming increasingly vital in areas all around the world … you can either purchase a rain barrel or use your own buckets and pails to harvest celestial down pours, then use this water to hydrate your indoor and outdoor garden plants, including grasses … you can also use this water for doing laundry, cleaning surfaces, washing dishes, bathing your pets, or washing your car … alternatively, you can direct water from rain gutters and HVAC systems toward water-loving plants and trees in your garden or landscape … more…

already covered in previous posts: general water saving tips, saving water in the kitchen, and saving water in the bathroom … today, i discuss:

how to do laundry … (and save water) …

general washing tips …

* i think the most important tip i can give straight away is that clothes can be worn more than once … even more than 2x or 3x … if clothing is stained or odouriferous, then it is understandably ready for a washing … however, the majority of people avoid re-wearing clothing due to purely aesthetic reasons … if your clothes aren’t dirty, fight the urge to throw them into the laundry pile … cutting back on the number of times you do laundry and the size of your loads is the best way to cut back on water use … also, the more you wash your clothes, the faster they wear … more…

so far, i’ve covered general water saving tips + saving-water-in-the-kitchen tips … now:

suggestions for saving water in the bathroom …

toilets …

* minimize the amount of toilet paper you use and flush down the toilet … better yet, dispose of used toilet paper in a trash bin …

* avoid flushing garbage (including pads, tampons, and diapers) down the toilet … water systems are not the equivalent of landfills … more…

in my previous post (wednesday june 24), i provided some general recommendations for how to cut down on your water use …. now, here are:

tips on how to save water in the kitchen ….

washing dishes …

* fill a tub or sink with water and dish soap to wash dishes rather than running
water down the drain while you scrub …

* when possible, fill a tub or sink with rinse water as well, so dishes can be dipped instead of soaked under a running stream … alternatively, rinse quickly under a low-pressure stream or warm or cool water … avoid using piping hot water, which won’t (at this point) make your dishes any cleaner … it will only help them dry faster … more…

here are some ideas for how you can become more aware of your water usage and how you can decrease your water consumption … you can learn more about the water cycle in my previous post (mon june 22nd) …

general recommendations …

* avoid leaving a running tap unattended … you will waste more water than you need …

* use the minimal amount of water pressure needed — often times, a modest trickle of water will suffice … rarely, if ever, is a deluge of water necessary …

* avoid using hot water when warm or cool water will suffice …

* close the water tap any time you are not using the water that pours out of it …  for example, close the water tap while: more…