6/11 Chert, BC endangered species ruling, coastal low oxygen, BNSF derailment cause

Chert

 

 Chert
Chert is widespread, but not widely known by the public as a distinct rock type. Chert has four diagnostic features: the waxy luster, a conchoidal (shell-shaped) fracture of the silica mineral chalcedony that composes it, a hardness of seven on the Mohs scale, and a smooth (non-clastic) sedimentary texture. Many types of chert fit into this categorization. (ThoughtCo.)

Today's top story in Salish Current: How a tragedy unfolded, step by step

Environment Minister Guilbeault broke the law in stalling potential spotted owl emergency order: court
‘Precedent-setting decision’ finds federal ministers must act with urgency when species face imminent threats to survival or recovery. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

PNW coast suffers from low oxygen, study finds. It’s becoming the norm
About half of the water near the seafloor off the Pacific Northwest coast experienced low-oxygen conditions in 2021, according to a new study. And those hypoxic conditions, which are expected to become common with global warming, threaten the food web, the study found. The study from Oregon State University, published in Nature Scientific Reports, used data from 2021 to map out oxygen levels across the bottom 32 feet of the Pacific Northwest continental shelf. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Federal agency says cause of last week’s BNSF derailment near Custer has been identified
Federal Railroad Administration has determined that the derailment of six Burlington Northern Santa Fe train cars last week was caused by a gap in switch points left by a previous train which had passed through. The train was carrying molten sulfur which did not spill. (Bellingham Herald)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  224 AM PDT Tue Jun 11 2024    
TODAY  S wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to W late this morning,  rising to 15 to 20 kt this afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to  5 to 8 ft this afternoon. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 12 seconds.  Showers early this morning, then a slight chance of showers late  this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to around 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft, subsiding to 5 to 7 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 12 seconds.

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