Dr. Masters put this up to show the variance of temperatures around the world in July 2009. If you don’t live in North America East of the Rockies, the southern half of South America, European Russia, near the Sea Okhotsk, or on the Chukotski Peninsula, you would call it Global Warming, because for most of the planet, that’s what is happening.

The fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains has now burned over 7,200 acres and is 80% contained at a current cost of $14.8 million.

The Santa Cruz Sentinel reports that the Lockheed Fire nears containment as damage assessments begin, showing the shift in emphasis, and then reports some good news about the the effects of the fire: Recent flames could prompt explosion of manzanita species found nowhere else

SANTA CRUZ — For rare plant biologists, the Lockheed Fire burning in the Santa Cruz mountains is like a long, drawn-out Christmas Eve.

In just a few weeks, fresh manzanita shoots are expected to poke up from many places in the blackened soil. Biologists like Grey Hayes, a Bonny Doon resident for the past 23 years, hope that many of them will germinate from a large, previously dormant seed bank — collected over the past 60 years — that is chock full of fresh starts for species now considered biologically rare and endangered.

The plants have taken so long to come forward, Hayes said, because they require flames to pass over before they can sprout. The last fire burned that area in 1948.

The natural environment has adapted to fire, and even occasionally requires it. Man always wants to adapt the environment to his preferences.

Currently there are 221 engines, 46 crews, 16 dozers, 28 water tenders, 6 helicopters, 6 air tankers, and 2,213 personnel assigned to the fire.

Links: Cal Fire Lockheed Fire page, the Enplan Wildfire Viewer, the Santa Cruz Sentinel local news page, and their map of the Lockheed Fire.

[For more information go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Fires” for all of the posts related to wildfires on this site.]

The fire in the San Rafael Wilderness area has now burned about 89,000 acres and is 75% contained. The emphasis has shifted to the steady, manual, job of dealing with hot spots and finishing off the containment of the fire which is expected in the next couple of days.

There have been 2 minor injuries fighting the fire which has already cost $23 million.

Currently there are 126 engines, 56 crews, 30 dozers, 5 air tankers, 12 helicopters, 59 water tenders and 1,505 total personnel assigned to the fire. Which is a reduction in engines but more crews to finish off the hand work ahead.

Links: The KEYT La Brea Fire article, the Santa Barbara Independent La Brea Fire page, InciWeb La Brea page with a map, KSBY has videos and the Enplan Wildfire Viewer, which used satellite sensors to spot fires.

[For more information go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Fires” for all of the posts related to wildfires on this site.]

Position: 20.7 N 58.9 W [10 PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: Northwest [305°] near 17 mph [28 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 135 mph [210 kph].
Wind Gusts: 160 mph [255 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 230 miles [370 km].
Hurricane Wind Radius: 85 miles [140 km].
Minimum central pressure: 945 mb ↓.

It is 880 miles [1415 km] South-Southeast of Bermuda. Bill is a Category 4 storm.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]