Topic/Overview Dynamic Ocean Topography (DOT), also known as Mean Dynamic Topography Assumed background understanding of ocean geophysics, including tides and currents, and understanding of geodesy, especially difference between ellipsoid and geoid representations of earth Lesson Objectives Students will be able to… Explain what DOT is, and the driving forces of DOT Derive DOT from tidal …
Dynamic Ocean Topography in a Flat Earth Perspective
Beware the certain science. I am as bad as many (even in this series of posts) of taking the shorthand of describing a scientific theory in certain terms despite the fact that all theories have some degree of uncertainty (even if relatively small). For our mutual benefit let me state that scientific theory isn’t just …
What is new in dynamic ocean topography?
Dynamic ocean topography (DOT) seems fairly observed, understood, and modeled. There are several satellites observing DOT in real time (OSTM/Jason-2 and Jason 3). There are numerous models (see several listed in the introductory post) for understanding long term trends and near real time DOT. So what does this leave for improvement and future work? One …
Researchers Haven’t Found A Single Endangered Right Whale Calf Yet This Season
Researchers Haven’t Found A Single Endangered Right Whale Calf Yet This Season “The right whales are at a point where more are dying than are being born,” biologist Clay George says. “That’s just not sustainable long-term.” cross-posted on Facebook
A Model of Dynamic Ocean Topography
In the last few posts I’ve introduced you to the concept of dynamic ocean topography (DOT) and what causes it. In this post I’d like to introduce you to one of the global models or estimates of mean DOT and explain a little about how it was made. DOT can change daily which makes it …
Inverse Barometric Effect: A Contribution to Dynamic Ocean Topography
One of the topics I omitted in the first post of this series was the inverse barometric (IB) effect. Think of someone jumping on the side of a waterbed, their mass adds pressure to the water which in turn causes it to flow to places where there is less pressure, like the other side of …
Dynamic Ocean Topography: An Introduction
We generally think of the average height of the ocean as being a height of zero. This is because it can be useful to know how far something is above or below sea level, which is a vertical datum. It is a convenient reference height that is easy to access on the ocean or near …
GGE6022 – Advanced Topics in Ocean Mapping
Over the next few months I will be making several post about an advanced topic in the ocean mapping domain for a course with the University of New Brunswick. To follow along the category label GGE6022 can be used. Other Posts in the Series GGE6022 – Advanced Topics in Ocean Mapping (this post) Dynamic Ocean …
Stop Drinking Bottled Water
There are few things on this planet I hate more than bottled water. Just the crinkling sound of someone wrapping their mouth around one of those squeaky garbage accordions fills me with rage. I stopped drinking it a long time ago—and you should stop drinking it, too. Read more on Gizmodo – Stop Drinking Bottled …
Bellingham poet Robert Lashley awarded writing honor
Robert Lashley is awesome.Bellingham poet Robert Lashley awarded writing honor Bellingham poet Robert Lashley was recently appointed a Jack Straw Writing Fellow, and shares his work May 6 at the Jack Straw Cultural Center in Seattle. cross-posted on Facebook
The 1704 French and Indian Raid on Deerfield – A Personal Connection
I have been doing a lot of genealogical research recently. I’ve always been interested, but recently I’ve had lots of inspiration after attending the dedication of a historical marker for my 3rd great grandfather, Joel Perkins, on the 17th of April in the town he founded, Lafayette, Oregon. Joel has his own interesting story. Today …
Ted Cruz domain hilariously wrong
Someone got the the tedcruz.com domain before the presidential hopeful… Ted Cruz supports Obama? cross-posted on Facebook
Racist Mystery Tortillas
Recently on the local radio talk show The Joe Show Rosalinda Guillen and Edgar Franx from Community to Community Development (C2C) were interviewed about recent issues of diversity, racism and response in the Bellingham and Whatcom County communities. It was a great interview and I encourage you to go listen to the podcast. During the interview …
The power of vulnerability
Amazing talk. The power of vulnerability Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share. (Filmed at TEDxHouston.) …
Response to Op-Ed in the Badger Herald: ‘Rape culture’ does not exist
I would welcome a legitimate debate on a concept well established and defined in the peer reviewed literature. But don’t bother reading this piece from the Badger Herald which tries to refute the whole discussion with 629 words. If the comments section is to be believed the piece’s aim is to prompt lively debate. The piece of …
On Germany’s new intersex law and the dangers of our gender-obsessed culture
Just a few good snippets from the article On Germany’s new intersex law and the dangers of our gender-obsessed culture: Germany has become the first European country to pass a law that lets a birth certificate to be left blank in cases where the child is neither obviously male nor female, but it will take …
Women Battle Online Hate From the ‘Manosphere’
ABC’s “20/20” has a special this Friday titled, “Women Battle Online Hate From the ‘Manosphere’” Stomach turning at best, watch Paul Elam, from A Voice for Men, state the obvious and miss the subtext: “There has been a change in the world, especially in the last 50 years. Women’s roles have changed drastically,” he told …
The problem with millennials
There is no problem. The term and the dialog are symptomatic of the human experience. Labels and stereotypes are what we do best. In popular culture the term millennials is a new label for a dated trope. In the scientific literature, which is so happily referenced but not actually analyzed, the term has only the narrowest of …
Why I took my clothes off on national television
My friend Denise Jolly has prompted a really amazing and wonderful dialogue about body image across the world. She has had several interviews about her project, but I really appreciated this interview. The host and crew of The Morning Show participate in the conversation by taking their clothes off and talking about the experience. Why …
Republicans block science laureate vote over climate change stance fear | theguardian.com
This is so ridiculous I just have to laugh. It seemed entirely harmless: the creation of an honorary and unpaid position of science laureate of the United States to travel around the country and inspire children to be future scientists. But Republicans in Congress last week quashed the initiative, which had gained rare bipartisan support, …