We took a drive today out south of town to the Vulture Mountains to view the lovely springtime desert vegetation. I took this shot on the roadside a little north of Vulture Peak. Click on the image to enlarge.
Environment
Javelina Sighting
I was on the patio earlier this evening and saw a javelina up in the wash behind the house. It disappeared behind the vegetation and I dismissed it as another distant sighting. Cabela started barking and carrying on in the front room. I went to see what was up and there were a family of six javelinas foraging across the road. I ran to get my camera and got this photo of the last one heading up the road. Click on the image to see the non-cropped version.
Saguaro and Rock Squirrel
We took a scenic drive today up the Hassayampa river. We saw beautiful scenery and an occasional critter. This rock squirrel climbed up a fifteen foot saguaro cactus to feast on some of the fruit. Click on the image to see the full context.
A Secondary Consequence of Solar Minima
I browsed through my copy of QST magazine yesterday. QST is the publication of the American Radio Relay League, an amateur radio (ham radio) organization. In it, I read an interesting scientific hypothesis explaining the dearth of sunspots we have seen over the past several years. The theory holds that plasma currents deep inside the sun may have interfered with the formation of sunspots and prolonged the solar minimum.
Later in the article, there is mention of a secondary consequence of the minimum in that “space junk” can remain in low Earth orbit due to the upper atmosphere collapsing. You can read this very interesting article at this link.
NASA-sponsored research has resulted in the first computer model that explains the recent period of decreased solar activity during the sun’s 11-year cycle.
This recent solar minimum, a period characterized by a lower frequency of sunspots and solar storms, was the deepest observed in almost 100 years. The solar minimum has repercussions on the safety of space travel and the amount of orbital debris our planet accumulates.
. . .
During this deep solar minimum, the sun’s magnetic field weakened, allowing cosmic rays to penetrate the solar system in record numbers, making space a more dangerous place to travel. At the same time, the decrease in ultraviolet radiation caused Earth’s upper atmosphere to cool and collapse.
As a consequence space debris stopped decaying and started accumulating in Earth orbit due to decreased atmospheric drag. These effects demonstrate the importance of understanding the entire solar cycle, during both minimum and maximum.
Emphasis added.
Spring Sunset
The sun set at about 7 PM for us this evening. There were some nice clouds, so we waited on the patio after sundown until the sky looked like this. Our weather warmed up today and it was still about 75° when I took the photo. Click on the image to enlarge.
Solar Activity Then and Now
Old Sol continues to increase in activity, moving toward the eleven-year peak. Solar activity affects climate, auroras, (possibly) the electric power grid and radio propagation. For an impressive animation of this comparison, play the video below. To view the full-sized video, click here.
From SOHO Pick of the Week:
A side-by-side comparison of the Sun from precisely two years ago (left, from SOHO) to the present (right, from Solar Dynamics Observatory) dramatically illustrates just how active the Sun has become (Mar. 27-28, 2011). Viewed in two similar wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light, the Sun now sports numerous active regions that appear as lighter areas that are capable of producing solar storms. Two years ago the Sun was in a very quiet period (solar minimum). The Sun?s maximum period of activity is predicted to be around 2013, so we still have quite a ways to go.
Nocturnal Neighbor – The Great Horned Owl
This beautiful Great Horned Owl perched herself on the corner of the garage last evening while I was on the patio. I called to Cap’n to bring my camera so I could get this photo before she took off.
I conclude that this is a female from the description of the owl’s call in a WikiPedia article:
Their call is a low-pitched but loud ho-ho-hoo hoo hoo; sometimes it is only four syllables instead of five. The female’s call is higher and rises in pitch at the end of the call.
This highly adaptable bird ranges all over the Americas, so it’s no surprise to see them here in the high Arizona desert. Some of the species they prey upon are snakes and lizards, so I’m very glad that they are here. Desert reptiles creep me out. 😮
After I clicked off the first shot with my camera, she turned to look at me while I clicked off several more images before she decided to fly away, this being the best one of them. Click on the image to enlarge.