5/23 Tokul soil, gun laws, Samish kelp research, Seattle trees, wildfire risk, BC climate resilience

 

Tokul soil

Tokul soil
The Tokul soil became the Washington state soil because of its unique volcanic ash cap, and Washington was the first state to recognize Andisols as a state soil. There are many active and non-active volcanoes found in Washington and their eruptions and subsequent ash fall have formed rich, productive soils that are found throughout the state. The Tokul series was named after a small creek and community in King County. (Soil Science Society of America)

How new gun laws might make a difference
New firearms laws addressing banning, waiting and training are aimed at aspects of safety and security. Kai Uyehara reports. (Salish Current)

Within the Salish Sea, Samish divers research kelp forests
Western science and traditional knowledge help them monitor seaweed health, vital to their culture and local ecosystems. Luna Reyna reports. (Crosscut)

Seattle tree protection ordinance, years in the making, is up for a vote
A sweeping tree ordinance up for a vote by the Seattle City Council on Tuesday will protect more of the city’s existing canopy and create new requirements for tree replacement...While rules for a specific tree depend on zoning, whether development is occurring and the tree’s size and species, if passed, the new ordinance will protect 88,100 trees, far more than the 17,7000 protected under the current code. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Wildfire risk goes up where trees and shrubs replace grasses
Across the United States over the past decade, an average of over 61,000 wildfires have burned some 7.2 million acres per year. Once a wildfire starts spreading, the firefighting task is exacerbated by issues like spot fires, where winds carry lofted sparks and start new fires outside of the original fire perimeter. The greater the potential spot fire distance, the more difficult wildfires are to monitor, control, and suppress. The new study finds that as woody plants like shrubs and trees replace herbaceous plants like grasses, spot fires can occur farther away from the original fire perimeter. Kirsten Romaguera reports. (Futurity)

Focus on climate resilience, panel tells B.C. government
The B.C. government needs to spend significantly more money to build climate resiliency and set targets and timelines while shifting its focus away from disaster relief, a provincially appointed advisory board recommends. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  211 AM PDT Tue May 23 2023   TODAY  E wind to 10 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW after midnight. Wind  waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 8 seconds.

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