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Post by snowmom on Aug 14, 2015 16:38:08 GMT -5
Viewing these on the news, questions rose in my mind too, isn't plastic which remains soaked in water (say, re- used drinking bottles for one thing) blamed for deteriorating and leaving all sort of chemicals behind which are supposedly dangerous- cancer causing and etc. ? If the balls are black, won't they absorb more heat from the sun and raise the temp of the water, thus causing more evaporation? things that make you go "hmmmm" .
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Post by captbob on Aug 14, 2015 17:51:19 GMT -5
...but discovered black balls have been in use since 2008. You are obviously not talking about in the White House.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2015 19:08:01 GMT -5
Black is cheapest way to make polyethylene sun resistant. Duck weed purifies water. Creates a blanket. Spreads like crazy. Does not plug drainage systems. May not do alkaline water though. ![](https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=JN.rS4Ck2hjPJeOWXpPCAn8XQ&pid=15.1&P=0&w=300&h=300) Watch out for rocks ![](https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=JN.UM36MpszsinEb%2bkVdPauVg&pid=15.1&P=0&w=300&h=300) Visiting dogs try to run across it, thinking it is a lawn-not ![](http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/04/73/56/fc/crocs-waiting-to-be-fed.jpg) Those are crocodiles in the last image! Not gators.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2015 19:11:06 GMT -5
Why black? Carbon black cheaper than titanium dioxide. snowmom this has been tested. Greatly reduced surface area even when water is warmer reduces evaporation. In the turtle biz we welded black poly sheets to hula hoops to warm water in winter. Shiny Mylar in summer. Shade reduces algae growth. Definitely reduced evap.
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mrzulu
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Post by mrzulu on Aug 14, 2015 20:55:35 GMT -5
Hmmm...new headline
MUTANT GAMBUSIA SURVIVE SALT WATER WITH PIRANHA LIKE BEHAVIOUR lol
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spiritstone
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Post by spiritstone on Aug 15, 2015 6:59:09 GMT -5
iant, any truth to this. It would fit right in. Scotland's winter snow STILL hasn't melted: Incredible network of tunnels and caves clings to mountains after the cold summer www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3198450/Scotland-s-winter-snow-hasn-t-melted-Incredible-network-tunnels-caves-clings-mountains-cold-summer.htmlA cold summer in Scotland has led to this incredible natural phenomenon - with ice and snow which still hasn't melted forming a network of icy tunnels and caves clinging to the edge of mountains. Experts say an unusual mix of circumstances has produced a stunning world of snow tunnels and bridges towering higher than a double-decker buses in the Cairngorms National Park A range of factors has seen a growing number of snow patches remaining since 2007, but this summer there are more than have been seen for 20 years. The stunning structures are created when the snow begins to melt, and as water begins to flow underneath, a tunnel of air forms, melting the snow from under it. The results are these vast caverns, sometimes so big that people can walk underneath, and decorated with melting patterns that look like choppy waves.
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Post by iant on Aug 15, 2015 12:13:23 GMT -5
Hi, I've not seen these but it certainly wouldn't be unusual. We had snow falls late this year and the summer has not been hot. It has been nice enough for me to swim in the sea several times so I can't complain!
Thanks for bringing the pictures to my attention, they are spectacular.
Ian
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spiritstone
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Post by spiritstone on Aug 15, 2015 19:33:01 GMT -5
SUPER COLD, SLEW OF SNOW IN OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC FORECAST:2015-2016 Just when you thought you had gotten over last winter, be warned: The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts it will be super cold with a slew of snow for much of the country, even in places that don't usually see too much of it, like the Pacific Northwest. Otherwise, look for above-normal snow and below-normal temperatures for much of New England; icy conditions in parts of the South; and frigid weather in the Midwest. The snowiest periods in the Pacific Northwest will be in mid-December, early to mid-January and mid- to late February, the almanac predicts. The almanac says there will be above normal-rainfall in the first half of the winter in California, but then that will dry up and the drought is expected to continue. "We don't expect a whole lot of relief," Stillman said "Just about everybody who gets snow will have a White Christmas in one capacity or another," editor Janice Stillman said from Dublin, New Hampshire, where the almanac is compiled. It's due out in the coming week. hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OLD_FARMERS_ALMANAC?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-08-15-12-01-46
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2015 20:16:29 GMT -5
SUPER COLD, SLEW OF SNOW IN OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC FORECAST:2015-2016 Just when you thought you had gotten over last winter, be warned: The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts it will be super cold with a slew of snow for much of the country, even in places that don't usually see too much of it, like the Pacific Northwest. Otherwise, look for above-normal snow and below-normal temperatures for much of New England; icy conditions in parts of the South; and frigid weather in the Midwest. The snowiest periods in the Pacific Northwest will be in mid-December, early to mid-January and mid- to late February, the almanac predicts. The almanac says there will be above normal-rainfall in the first half of the winter in California, but then that will dry up and the drought is expected to continue. "We don't expect a whole lot of relief," Stillman said "Just about everybody who gets snow will have a White Christmas in one capacity or another," editor Janice Stillman said from Dublin, New Hampshire, where the almanac is compiled. It's due out in the coming week. hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OLD_FARMERS_ALMANAC?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-08-15-12-01-46You got my curiosity up so I went to Wikipedia for the answer. That almanac has been in print since 1792. I don't know where they get their information but they make some damn good predictions. My dad, a farmer, always had the newest copy of the Farmers Almanac which has been in print since 1818. I was really surprised that one almanac has been in print since the 1400s. Interesting post. Thanks Jim
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Post by captbob on Aug 21, 2015 9:22:49 GMT -5
Way to go California!Black balls on water reservoir to reduce evaporation fail. Turn reservoir in bacterial Petri dish. Ya just can't make this stuff up... LA's scheme to cover a reservoir under 96 million "shade balls" may not be all it is touted to be, experts told FoxNews.com, with some critics going so far as to refer to the plan as a "potential disaster."www.foxnews.com/science/2015/08/20/la-black-ball-scheme-disaster-in-making-say-experts/?intcmp=hpbt4"Black spheres resting in the hot sun will form a thermal blanket speeding evaporation as well as providing a huge amount of new surface area for the hot water to breed bacteria," said Matt MacLeod, founder of the California biotech firm Modern Moon Farms. "Disaster. It’s going to be a bacterial nightmare.”
The city made national headlines last week when Mayor Eric Garcetti and Department of Water officials dumped $34.5 million worth of the tiny, black plastic balls into the city's 175-acre Van Norman Complex reservoir in the Sylmar section.
Experts differed over the best color for the tiny plastic balls, with one telling FoxNews.com they should have been white and another saying a chrome color would be optimal. But all agreed that the worst color for the job is the one LA chose.
"Bacteria required a few things to grow a dark, warm and moist environment," he said. "The balls will give them the perfect environment to live in.![](http://members.ij.net/captbob2112/clap.gif) Well played California, well played! So, what is it gonna cost this "broke" State to have the balls removed now? Bet ya can get a really good deal on up to 96 MILLION black balls if you're in the market. Freakin' morons... Edited to add: Did ANYONE not see this coming?
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rockpickerforever
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Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 21, 2015 11:38:15 GMT -5
A story on Natl Geog website link from August 12 says the balls inhibit microorganism growth, and can save the city money (up to $250 million over time) in reduced treatment costs. From the same article: "Ed Osann, a senior policy analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Council told Bloomberg that the shade balls probably won't release any toxic materials into the water supply." Probably?? How comforting! Glad I don't get my water from there!! They covered the Ivanhoe reservoir with black balls in 2008, how did that work out? I haven't been able to find anything on that..
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Post by captbob on Aug 21, 2015 11:45:45 GMT -5
Nat Geo = left wing propaganda - global warming - the sky is falling
good for the animal shows only - which still say all the animals are gonna die off (tomorrow!) due to climate change
watch Nat Geo with the sound off
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chassroc
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Post by chassroc on Aug 21, 2015 14:37:03 GMT -5
Blackballs seem counterintutive but they do seem to be working. If not, 34.5mm for a giant play pit, seems about right. Blueballs would have made for better jokes.
I would let the experts fight this one out. You have to have some doubt when the experts cited by Fox include: 1) the founder of Modern Moon farms, Hmmm 2) principal hydrologist for the Sacramento-based environmental consultant, sounds reasonable I think he sounds like me when he says the obvious, matte black is less likely to reflect sunlight than chrome colored balls. 3) a professor of health science at Bryant & Stratton College in Milwaukee, Hmmm 4) a risk analyst for Torrance-based Total Bank Solutions, Hmmm
In the last paragraph, one of the Builders gives his explanation for the Blackballs: "Sydney Chase, president of XavierC, one of the shade ball supply companies behind the project, said the color is a result of pure black carbon being added to the high density polyethylene plastic to take in ultra-violet rays and subsequently stop sunlight from penetrating the plastic. Any other color would have required dyes, said Rodriguez, which could have then leached into the water while the carbon black does not." I would have more faith in this if not for Carbon Black being used. I once went to a financial luncheon hosted by Carbon Black; they seemed reasonable then too.
About twenty years ago, the MWRA buried the Nurembaga reservoir in Massachusetts. I think the final straw was pollution by birds, maybe seagulls maybe Canadian Geese. It seems to have worked; I thought it was crazy at the time. I would have used some predators to thwart the birds "naturally", ha ha!
Charlie
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mrzulu
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Post by mrzulu on Aug 29, 2015 4:32:06 GMT -5
OMG...it's raining!!!:thumbup:
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Post by snowmom on Aug 31, 2015 7:57:50 GMT -5
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 31, 2015 9:11:16 GMT -5
snowmom Larger limbs from 2007-2009 drought falling like crazy around here. Old damage to tree limbs are rotting and falling. Takes a while. Some droughts have long term effects. Often recharge takes a long time, especially if plant life and surface mulch has dried and blown away. Tree fungus, borers, blights, weakened roots etc had an impact here. Not sure what impacts out west. Drought damage sneaks up, but running out of water happens quickly. Cold reality. Warm winters do not have an impact in the east like it does out west that relies on cold winter snowpack. Some of the longer non-El Nino cycles caused in the Pacific worry me.
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Post by snowmom on Aug 31, 2015 12:02:34 GMT -5
think that is what happened to our 2 huge maples in our front yard, gonna have to take them down. Limited area between the house and walk/street to absorb what water did make itself available the past couple of years, there was a drought going on here for a year or 2 before we moved in, would have gone bankrupt to water them and try to keep them going. Biggest and oldest trees on the street. Both over mature and badly pruned in their youth, dying from the top down, just like you describe... ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png)
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 31, 2015 15:07:16 GMT -5
think that is what happened to our 2 huge maples in our front yard, gonna have to take them down. Limited area between the house and walk/street to absorb what water did make itself available the past couple of years, there was a drought going on here for a year or 2 before we moved in, would have gone bankrupt to water them and try to keep them going. Biggest and oldest trees on the street. Both over mature and badly pruned in their youth, dying from the top down, just like you describe... ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png) Laughing at the kid next door. He is 40 now, grew up next door and owns a heavy equipment company. He recently bought a house on 12 acres with 2 acres of large bamboo. He wants to get rid of it. He said it is the worst plant he has ever removed. It stops his giant Cat bulldozer. He has to do a lot by hand. On the other hand, two big maples would be fun to cut up. They saw like butter. Sorry to hear they are not healthy. Big trees are a bunch of work. Long as they are not too close to the house...
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Post by snowmom on Aug 31, 2015 15:38:55 GMT -5
I've heard that about bamboo...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 15:44:18 GMT -5
That neighbor kid is just a pussy. Jamesp doesn't have a problem with his bamboo forests.
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