SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – The pace and hustle and bustle of the Glide Memorial kitchens, deep in the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, accelerated Thursday morning as hundreds of hot meals were prepared for their annual Thanksgiving celebration for those in need.

In recent years, the lines have grown longer, only slowed down by the restrictions put in place during the 2020 COVID outbreak.

CONTINUE READING: Black Friday opening times This year’s rush of customers is just a reminder

This year, Glide put up huge tents to protect everyone from COVID and to be socially distant.

“Right now there are more people living on the streets, there are more people who are hungry, and Glide is providing services every day,” said Glide official George Gundry. “The volunteers are big this year. We made it through much of the pandemic without a group of volunteers. This year they will crave turkey, ham … They will serve meals in the tents. “

The Salvation Army also made changes to their annual Thanksgiving meal present this year. In the second year, the organization’s food delivery program will use socially distant precautions. Hundreds of volunteers will help deliver meals to homes on Thanksgiving morning.

CONTINUE READING: New COVID variant “Omicron” identified; Dow stocks fall more than 900 points

“We are hypersensitive to the way COVID has isolated us all. So when this senior, this house-cuffed person, is welcomed by someone today, someone becomes a family, a friend, “said Salvation Army major David Pierce as he stood in the middle of delivery boxes piled to the ceiling. “To convey a feeling of love, gratitude, gratitude, appreciation and give them a feeling of hope today.”

For volunteer Kalani Isabel, it’s about giving something back – knowing only too well what it means to eat something on Thanksgiving.

“When I was young, my family was in need and the Salvation Army was always there for us,” says Isabel. “We didn’t have a lot of Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving was tough for my mother.”

That year the Salvation Army was supposed to deliver about 4,000 meals.

Mark Hopper brought his daughter with him this morning to volunteer, a reminder to be thankful and give back on Thanksgiving.
“If you’re showing that you want to be compassionate and empathetic towards people, you have to actually do it instead of just telling your kids,” said Hopper.

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The post Charities, Neighborhood Teams Serve Up, Ship Heat Thanksgiving Meals For The Needy – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Brrr, it’s cold out there. However, inside at home it is warm and cozy. At least that’s how it should be.

When the icy winter air hits, turning up the stove is only half the battle when it comes to having a cozy home. You also need to run your heating efficiently and track down hidden weak spots in your home that let the cold in.

If you only follow the first four steps on this checklist, not only will you make your living room more comfortable – you will likely save your energy bills too.

Check your oven

More information can be found in the CNET magazine.

Mark Mann / CNET

Whether your home is heated by a gas stove or an electric heat pump, make sure your system is in good shape before winter hits you hard. While a full hardware inspection is best left to the professionals (at least once a year), you can at least get basic maintenance and a quick test run.

Here’s what you can do by yourself. First, turn off the power to your oven completely. Next, remove the service panel from the side of the device and carefully vacuum any visible dust or dirt particles from the cavities of the fan and burner. Do the same for any dirt you see outside and around the oven.

Set your thermostat to heating mode and increase the target indoor temperature a few degrees above the current value. After a few moments you should hear the stove go into action.

If you don’t feel warm air puffing out of your vents anytime soon, call for professional help. You pay for the service, of course, but an early check saves you a cold store if your heating fails on a bank holiday weekend.

Change your HVAC filters regularly to ensure good airflow.

Tyler Lizenby / CNET

Use a fresh air filter

For a fully heated house, the warm air from your stove needs to flow freely. However, over time, your heater’s air filter can become clogged with dust, dirt, and other particles. Avoid this dilemma by regularly inspecting it for ash-colored dirt.

Most HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems use a single, non-recyclable, disposable filter made from paper or fiberglass. You should replace a disposable filter at least every six months (preferably at the beginning of winter and summer). But every home is different: pet owners, for example, have to change their filters more often. When buying a replacement, you’re not reaching for just one. Instead, buy multiple filters so you always have an extra one on hand when you need it. Disposable filter prices vary widely, but expect between $ 5 and $ 15 per pop.

Make a note of the size of your HVAC filter so that you can get the correct replacement.

Tyler Lizenby / CNET

Permanent filters made of metal and synthetic fibers last about 10 years. What’s the catch? You will need to wash the filter monthly and make sure it dries thoroughly to prevent mold and bacteria growth. These filters are also more expensive, costing $ 30 to $ 50 each.

Isolate, isolate, isolate

Drafty window and door seals are the enemy of a warm home. Prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from entering by making sure your doors and windows are properly insulated. Take a stroll around your home inside and out and look for signs of visible drafts on the door and window frames. Often times, it’s a torn or fading weather seal, not an open void, that is to blame. Apply fresh sealant or sealant to any gaps.

Another option is to contact your utility company. Many utilities offer a free personal assessment of your home’s thermal efficiency. Since it is in your best interest to contain wasteful energy consumption, you should be happy to make a home visit. The technician will typically provide homeowners with a report of problem areas and a plan of action to resolve these issues.

A properly cared for fireplace is a great way to keep rooms warm.

Tyler Lizenby / CNET

Don’t forget your fireplace

If you have a working fireplace but have never used it, don’t try to light it yourself. Instead, talk to a chimney sweep or other professional first. Any open flame is dangerous, especially if it burns in a sooty chimney.

When it comes to home repairs, chimney maintenance doesn’t come cheap. Allow $ 100 to $ 350 for a qualified assessment. You should also clean your chimney once a year. But once the green light has officially been given, it is priceless to sit by the crackling fire when the temperature is below zero. (Just avoid using a wood stove if there is an air quality alarm in your area.) When you’re not using your fireplace, keep the smoke outlet and other vents closed.

Add a smart thermostat to improve your HVAC brain.

Chris Monroe / CNET

Install a smart thermostat

A great way to add intelligence to your home and keep it warm would be to upgrade to a smart thermostat. The Nest Learning Thermostat ($ 285 on Amazon) and Ecobee4, both $ 249, are our favorite devices of their kind so far. Amazingly sophisticated, they intelligently control your oven using motion sensors to detect your presence and change the heating accordingly. You can also adjust the temperature remotely via mobile apps, and over time they learn to predict your schedule and even include local weather forecasts in the equation.

Smart thermostats like this Nest E require a “C” or “Common” cable connection.

Chris Monroe / CNET

According to the US Department of Energy, you can also save up to 10 percent per year on heating and cooling costs with smart thermostats. Installing a smart thermostat shouldn’t be too difficult as long as your oven has a “C” or common wire. If you don’t have the right setup or the installation process looks too daunting, consult a professional instead.

This story appears in the Winter 2017 issue of CNET Magazine. Click here for more magazine reports.

CNET smart home: We turned a real house into a test lab for the hottest category of tech.

The post Find out how to hold your own home heat this winter appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

As nighttime temperatures begin to drop, the San Franciscans must remember that turning up the heating should be done safely. While embracing the comforting temperatures that fires, stoves, and space heaters bring into your home, it’s important to remember that these heating measures, if used improperly, can also be sources of deadly carbon monoxide (CO).

CO poisoning affects thousands of people each year, with most incidents occurring during the winter months. Worryingly, each December has an annual national average of more than 50 deaths and more than 2,100 non-fatal exposures, followed by an average of 69 deaths and more than 2,500 non-fatal exposures in January, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC also notes that deaths from accidental vehicle-induced carbon monoxide poisoning are higher during this period.

CO is colorless and odorless, so that humans cannot perceive it. That’s why California lawmakers enacted the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, which requires all existing single-family homes to be equipped with a fossil fuel source or attached garages with CO alarms to provide additional protection from CO poisoning. Compliance with such laws and other safety precautions can help prevent unfortunate accidents and save lives.

Both the CDC and the National Fire Protection Agency recommend installing CO alarms on every floor of a house and near each sleeping area for the best possible protection. First Alert, a leading manufacturer of home improvement products, has some additional suggestions on how to stay safe this winter by heating every room in your home.

kitchen

Rich, home-cooked meals with family and friends are fun, but stoves and ovens can be a potential hazard if not used and maintained properly. A broken stove or the use of foil on the bottom of a gas stove can cause serious CO pollution in the kitchen. And if the stove and oven are being used at the same time, it is advisable to crack a window until all the cooking appliances are no longer in use.

living room

Although a warm fire feels cozy, fireplaces are a potential hazard. Without proper cleaning and maintenance, soot and debris can build up in the chimney and lead to dangerous CO exposure. Have fireplaces professionally cleaned every year – ideally shortly before seasonal use so that the house fire burns safely.

Bedroom / home office

In winter, fuel-powered space heaters are often used to add some extra warmth to colder areas of the house, such as bedrooms and home offices. While these devices are effective, they can be a source of CO if the vents loosen or come loose. Before turning on a space heater, make sure that all parts are intact and safe. And always make sure to turn off or unplug space heaters, heating pads, and other electrical heating devices before going to sleep. Additionally, there are many energy efficient space heaters on the market that do not require fuel and are probably a better choice for your home.

garage

Another common but dangerous practice in winter is to “warm up” a vehicle before leaving the house. Car exhaust contains significant amounts of carbon monoxide, which can be devastating if in an enclosed space or in the main living areas of a house. If you are lucky enough to have a garage, never leave a car or other motorized vehicle running in a garage to keep your family safe.

Chimneys

With proper care and maintenance, you can enjoy the benefits of using your fireplace not only safely but also economically. More than a third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves, and other fuel-powered appliances as the primary sources of heat in their homes. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the fire hazard when heating with wood and solid fuels. House fires from a chimney can often be traced back to creosote deposits in chimneys and stove pipes. All heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently. Have your chimney or stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.

Every time a wood fire burns, tar and creosote form. Creosote consists of unburned wood particles and condensed smoke gases. With every fire, these highly flammable substances accumulate inside the chimney and must be removed to avoid a fire. The Creosot Sweeping Log is widely used and contains a mixture of minerals that are dispersed during firing to coat and adhere the creosote. In the next 14 days, the creosote becomes brittle and breaks off. This patented chimney sweep is an alternative to mechanical cleaning and one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways to clean your chimney. Nevertheless, regular inspection of your chimney by a professional is recommended.

Knowing how CO can get into your home is an important first step in preventing problems, but without a carbon monoxide alarm no one is really safe from harm. Make sure these are installed along with fire alarms or combined CO / fire alarms throughout your home.

The post Marina Occasions – Heat up winter safely appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Oct. 2, 2019Updated: Oct. 2, 2019 7:44 a.m.

1of29Cool, crisp fall weather is in the forecast for the San Francisco Bay Area Wednesday.Matteo Colombo/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less

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4of29Buy PhotoKing tides: This non-scientific term is commonly used to describe exceptionally high tides. “Tides are long-period waves that roll around the planet as the ocean is “pulled” back and forth by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun as these bodies interact with the Earth in their monthly and yearly orbits,” according to NOAA. In the Bay Area, king tides occur in the winter. Paul Chinn/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less

5of29Diablo winds: The offshore winds blowing hot air from the interior to the coast are commonly called the Diablo winds in the San Francisco Bay Area. (They’re known as the Santa Ana winds in Southern California.) They most often kick up in the spring and fall. These are the same winds that howled wildly on the night of Oct. 8, spreading flames and embers across Northern California’s Wine Country and amplifying fire conditions. On that night and in days after, gusts reached up to 70 miles per hour. George Rose/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less6of29

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Atmospheric river: These supercharged storm systems are known for delivering massive amounts of snow and rainfall in a matter of days on the West Coast of the United States. The long plumes of water vapor in the atmosphere are like rivers in the sky—250 to 375 miles wide, on average. On the West Coast, they most often originate in the South Pacific, and, as they travel from the tropics across the ocean, they collect incredible amounts of moisture. The rain is funneled into cities like San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland, and Seattle, where the runoff systems are often unequipped to deal with the days-long deluge. When an atmospheric river hits land, water vapor rises and cools, unleashing precipitation. The amount that falls is dependent upon the strength of the storm and its moisture content. An atmospheric river carrying moisture from as far away as Hawaii to the West Coast is what’s known as a “pineapple express.”

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8of29Tule fog: This thick ground fog settles in the San Joaquin Valley and the Sacramento Valley when the skies are clear and the temperatures are cool. The season runs late fall through early spring and usually starts after the first rain. Sometimes winds sweep the fog into the San Francisco Bay Area. This differs from our summer fog pattern, which typically moves inland from the Pacific. Anthony DunnShow MoreShow Less9of29

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Fallstreak cloud: These stunning formations are also sometimes called hole punch clouds because it literally looks as if something punched the sky with cloud puffs dissipating from a large elliptical gap. The National Weather Service explains fallstreaks occur when the water temperature in a cloud is below freezing, but the tiny water droplets forming the cloud have yet to freeze.

“These ‘supercooled’ water droplets need a ‘reason’ to freeze, which usually comes in the form of ice crystals,” NWS explains. “Planes passing through the cloud layer can bring these ice crystals. Once the ice crystals are introduced, the water droplet quickly freeze, grow and start to fall. A hole is left behind, which will start to expand outward as neighboring droplets start to freeze.” See photos from Sept. 14, 2018, when fallstreak clouds were spotted all over the Bay Area.

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11of29Sun dogs: When the sun’s rays pass through ice crystals in the atmosphere, mini-suns can appear at its sides, as in this photo from Fairbanks Alaska, Legend has it that the ancient Greeks figured Zeus was out walking his pooches. Actually, Apollo was the sun god, but who wants to ruin a good story?John Wagner/Fairbanks Daily News-MinerShow MoreShow Less12of29

13of29High-pressure ridge: Elongated ridges of high pressure can move into California at any time of the year, and they’re commonly associated with dry conditions. Air in a high-pressure area compresses and warms as it descends. The warming prevents the formation of clouds, meaning the sky is normally sunny in high-pressure areas. What’s more, when a high-pressure ridge is off the West Coast, it blocks incoming storms from the Pacific Ocean and weakens those that successfully pass through.National Weather Service Show MoreShow Less

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Ridiculously resilient ridge: Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, coined the term “ridiculously resilient ridge,” sometimes shortened to “RRR,” to describe the phenomenon when a ridge of high-pressure persists for an extended period of time over the father northeastern Pacific Ocean. The ridge blocks storms from reaching the West Coast, resulting in abnormally warm and dry conditions in California.

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Virga: This weather phenomenon occurs when the clouds are thick and dark but don’t drop rain to the ground. It’s because a pocket of dry air in the upper atmosphere evaporates the water droplets before they can hit the ground.

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Open storm door: This metaphorical term refers to a weather pattern when low-pressure is overhead, allowing for storms from the Pacific to move into California.

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El Niño: The inverse of La Niña, El Niño, is a warming of the equatorial waters in the center and eastern Pacific Ocean. This warm zone pumps heat and moisture into the atmosphere, releasing energy that impacts the high-altitude jet streams circling the planet. While El Niño is associated with above-normal precipitation in California, a number of different outcomes are possible.

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La Niña: The cousin of better-known El Niño is a cooling of equatorial waters in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean and can impact atmospheric conditions worldwide. In California, the La Niña weather pattern is known for bringing above-average precipitation to the far northern reaches of the state near the Oregon border and delivering below-average precipitation to the central part of Northern California and even drier conditions into Southern California. Historical data, however, reveals that a number of outcomes are possible.

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22of29Inside slider: This type of storm drops directly down from the north and moves north to south as opposed to the more common Pacific storms that move from the west to east and come off the Pacific Ocean.

A storm known as an “inside slider” is bringing icy temperatures and a light dusting of snow to the northern Sierra Nevada Monday.

This type of storm drops directly down from the north and moves north to south as opposed to the more common Pacific storms that move from the west to east and come off the Pacific Ocean.

“It’s a completely different trajectory and usually we have different characteristics with it,” explains Dawn Johnson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Reno office. “As a general rule, inside sliders tend to bring in colder air masses. Because these come from an inland trajectory, they don’t have that Pacific moisture feed going into them and they tend to be drier.”Northstar California ResortShow MoreShow Less

23of29Buy PhotoFlood stage: The level at which a river rises enough to cause sufficient inundation of areas that are not normally covered by water, causing an inconvenience or a threat to life and/or property. When the water rises to this level, it is considered a flood event. In this photo, the Merced River rises to just below Swinging Bridge in Yosemite National Park, which was under a flash flood watch, on Sunday Jan. 8, 2017.Michael Macor/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less24of29Buy Photo

25of29Buy PhotoDebris flow: A geological phenomenon when water rushes down a mountainside carrying soil and fragmented rock. These often occur in areas that were recently burned by wildfire, as the ground is loose. In this photo, a mud and debris flow led to the closure of Santa Rosa Avenue in Guerneville, Calif. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017. Paul Chinn/The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less

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22 degree halo: These rings of light occur around the sun or moon when light is refracted by ice crystals associated with high-level clouds known as cirrostratus.

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28of29Earthquake weather: An infrequent hot and muggy San Francisco day is called earthquake weather after the meteorological conditions on April 18, 1906 and October 17, 1989 (pictured). It’s meteor-illogical to assume the next big quake will be on this kind of day, there is just no evidence to support the conditions causing quakes, but it’s a good reminder to check the bottled water and canned food supply. Show MoreShow Less29of29

Bay Area residents woke to cool, crisp, clear weather typical of fall Wednesday morning, and on Thursday temperatures are forecast to dip lower, according to the National Weather Service. But the chill won’t last long, as Friday marks the start of a warming trend that will continue through the weekend.

Temperatures Wednesday morning were in the 40s in inland areas and 50s along the bay and coast. With clear, sunny skies in the forecast all day, the mercury is expected to rise into the 70s in most areas by lunch time.

A dry system is expected to sweep the Bay Area on Thursday, delivering a blast of chilly air and pushing temperatures back down. The fog will likely return and the NWS suspects coastal areas will see drizzly conditions Thursday morning. Measurable rain is unlikely.

“Main impact for Thursday will be a few degrees of cooling with increasing onshore winds Thursday afternoon and evening, especially along the coast and in the coastal hills that will make things feel blustery as the main upper trough axis and associated cold pool aloft passes overhead,” according to the NWS report.

On Friday as high pressure builds and blocks activity off the Pacific Ocean, temperatures will rebound and are forecast to push into the mid- to high-70s region wide. The warm weather is expected to persist through the weekend.

“For the time being our forecast trends look good with Sunday looking to be the hottest day of the weekend with lots of mid and upper 80s,” the NWS reports.

Amy Graff is a digital editor for SFGATE. Email her weather photos and story tips at agraff@sfgate.com.

Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. She’s a Bay Area native and got her start in news at the Daily Californian newspaper at UC Berkeley where she majored in English literature. She has been with SFGATE for 12 years. You can email her at agraff@sfgate.com.

The post This is when it’s going to heat up appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

On November 3rd and 4th, the Sarasota Youth Opera is presenting a revival of its acclaimed production of Benjamin Britten’s charming opera The Little Sweep, which was last seen in 2013. The opera will be preceded by a prologue specially created for the Sarasota Youth Opera by the conductor and Youth Opera, music director Jesse Martins and director Martha Collins (Rootabaga Country, The Secret World of Og).

The Little Sweep – a moral story with a relevant message for today’s world

Set in early 19th century Boston, The Little Sweep is an enchanting story with a positive message about inclusion and collaboration. The little chimney sweep Sammy is put into service by his impoverished family and bullied by the mean old sweeper. Little Sammy is endangered in his dangerous and dirty work when he is cleaning the chimneys in the home of a wealthy family. In the end, a group of friendly and resourceful children – supported by their young governess – save the day. The opera will be performed in English, with English titles displayed above the stage. The running time including the prologue is approx. 70 minutes and is therefore perfect for families with children.

There are 90 children in the cast of The Little Sweep, with three of the adult roles being played by members of the Sarasota Opera Studio Artist and Apprentice Artist programs. All aspects of production – including lighting, costumes, sets, sets, props, wigs, and makeup – are provided by the professional Sarasota Opera’s staff, giving youth opera members a remarkable opportunity to work with seasoned experts.

The British composer Benjamin Britten wrote the opera especially for children’s voices. The composer devoted himself to the idea of ​​educating young people in the musical arts and in another of his works – The Young People’s Guide to the Orchestra – introduced millions of young audiences to classical music and the distinctive sound of every orchestral instrument.

In addition to the opera, the production includes a prologue that explains how an opera is conceived and produced, as well as supporting content related to The Little Sweep. The audience sees the sets change before their eyes. Every member of Sarasota Youth Opera takes part in this prologue, created by Music Director and Conductor of Youth Opera Jesse Martins and Director of Sarasota Youth Opera, Martha Collins.

Sarasota Opera is proud to partner with Embracing Our Differences to bring students and teachers from Sarasota and Manatee Counties to a special school matinee from The Little Sweep on Monday, November 5th at 10:30 am. Participants are invited to sing along to the last music number of the show. Materials to prepare students for their debut at Sarasota Opera are included in a teaching material handbook distributed to teachers. This special matinee is provided to schools for free (transportation courtesy of Embracing Our Differences & Tickets courtesy of Sarasota Opera).

Benjamin Britten’s little swing

Sung in English with English titles over the stage?

November 3, 2018 at 5.30 p.m. and November 4, 2018 at 12.30 p.m.

A Sarasota Youth Opera production

Ticket information

Family Pack tickets (up to 2 adults and 4 children) are only $ 65 and are available by calling (941) 328-1300 or the Sarasota Opera Box Office at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.

Single tickets are $ 15 for children and $ 30 for adults, and can be purchased at sarasotaopera.org and at the Sarasota Opera box office. For more information, contact the box office at (941) 328-1300.

ABOUT THE YOUTH OPERA SARASOTA

Since 1984, Sarasota Youth Opera has given thousands of young people the opportunity to experience opera firsthand by participating in extra-curricular choirs, Sarasota Opera’s main stage productions, summer workshops, and fully staged Youth Opera productions. As the only program in the United States that pledges to present full annual opera productions for young voices willing to include anyone who wants to participate regardless of skill level or ability to pay, Sarasota Youth Opera is a national model for opera education .

Youth opera choirs: From the age of 8, singers are divided into one of two choir levels. Each choir provides a framework for everyone to participate and advance at their own level as they gain greater skills and experience. The selection listed consists of classical music that includes operatic and choral pieces in various languages. The choirs perform in formal concerts and outreach events throughout the community.

Opera’s main stage season: Members of the youth opera are selected to participate in the Sarasota Opera’s winter festival season to perform in the main stage children’s choir, as extras (extras who play non-singing roles) and for special roles by the composer for children’s voices. In the last few seasons these have been roles in La bohème, Tosca, Carmen and – at the coming Winter Festival 2019 – in the Magic Flute and in Turandot. Singers are involved in the entire production process – from early music to dramatic rehearsals and performances with opera professionals.

Youth Opera Productions: Part of Sarasota Opera’s commitment to young people includes commissioning new opera works for children and young adults. Six new works were presented as part of this mission: Deadline (1989), Polly Pens Her Lightness (1993), Tom Sutas Eye of Ra (1998), John Kennedy’s The Language of Birds (2004), Daron Hagens Little Nemo in Slumberland (2012 ) and Rachel J. Peters’ Rootabaga Country (2017). Members are involved in the creation of each opera, complete with professional staging, costumes, lighting, sound, and orchestral accompaniment.

The post Sarasota Youth Opera Will Heat Hearts With Benjamin Britten’s THE LITTLE SWEEP appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

As winters get warmer, tropical mosquitoes like Aedes aegypti move north, potentially increasing the spread of diseases like dengue, yellow fever, and zika. Photo by Muhammad Mahdi Karim Photo.

Notwithstanding the February cold snap in Texas and Louisiana, climate change is causing warmer winter weather across the southern United States, which is a golden opportunity for many tropical plants and animals to move north, according to a new study in the journal Global Change Biology.

Some of these species are welcome, such as sea turtles and the Florida manatee, which expand northward along the Atlantic coast.

Others, like the invasive Burmese python – in the Florida Everglades, the largest measured 18 feet, end-to-end – maybe less.

Insects, including mosquitoes, which transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika, dengue and yellow fever, and beetles, which destroy native trees, are equally undesirable and among the fastest-spreading in warming areas.

“Quite a few mosquito species are expanding northward, as are forestry pests: bark beetles, the southern mountain pine beetle,” said Caroline Williams, associate professor of integrative biology at the University of California at Berkeley, and co-author of the paper. “In our study, we really focused on the US border where we are seeing this rapid transition from tropical to temperate. Changes in winter conditions are one of the main drivers, if not the main drivers, of the shift in distributions.”

That transition zone, north of which freezes occur every winter, has always been a barrier to species that evolved at more stable temperatures, said Williams, who specializes in insect metabolism – specifically, how winter freezes and snow affect species survival .

“For the vast majority of organisms, they die when they freeze,” she said. “Cold snap like the recent one in Texas might not happen for 30, 50, or even 100 years, and then you see these widespread mortality events where tropical species crawling north are suddenly repelled. But as return times get longer and longer for these extreme cold events, it enables tropical species to gain a foothold, and perhaps even for local populations to adapt so that they can tolerate more cold extremes in the future. “

The study, conducted by a team of 16 scientists led by the US Geological Survey (USGS), focused on the effects of winter warming on the movement of a wide range of cold-sensitive tropical plants and animals in the southern United States, in particular to the south The eight subtropical mainland US states: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Williams and Katie Marshall of the University of British Columbia at Vancouver jointly wrote the insect section for the study.

The team found that a number of tropical species, including insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, grasses, shrubs, and trees, are expanding their range to the north. Among them are species native to the United States such as mangroves, which are tropical salt tolerant trees; and snook, a sport fish on the coast with warm water; and invasive species such as Burmese pythons, Cuban tree frogs, Brazilian pepper trees, and buffalo grass.

“We don’t expect a continuous process,” said USGS research ecologist Michael Osland, the study’s lead author. “There will be an expansion north, then a contraction with extremely cold events like the one that just happened in Texas, and then movement again. However, we expect tropization by the end of this century. ”

The authors document decades worth of changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme cold snaps in San Francisco, Tucson, New Orleans, and Tampa – all cities with temperature records dating back to at least 1948. In every city, they found, winter means temperatures have risen over time, the coldest winter temperatures have gotten warmer, and there are fewer days each winter when mercury drops below freezing.

For example, temperature records from San Francisco International Airport show that prior to 1980, each winter was typically several days below freezing. In the last 20 years there has only been one day with temperatures below freezing.

Changes already ongoing or anticipated in the home areas of 22 species of plants and animals from California to Florida include:

– Continuous displacement of temperate salt marsh plants by mangrove forests that are sensitive to the cold along the Gulf and South Atlantic coast. While this encroachment has occurred over the past 30 years with sea level rise, mangroves can also move inland, displacing temperate and freshwater forests.
Buffalo grass and other annual grasses that migrate to southwestern deserts and cause wildfire in native plant communities that have not evolved in association with frequent fire.
– The likelihood that tropical mosquitoes, which can transmit encephalitis, West Nile virus, and other diseases, will continue to expand, putting millions of people and wildlife at risk for these diseases.
– Likely southern pine beetle moving north with warming winters, a pest that can damage commercially valuable pine forests in the southeast.
– Disruption of recreational and commercial fishing due to changes in migration patterns and the movement of inshore fish to the north.

The changes are expected to result in the replacement of some of the temperate plant and animal communities found today in the southern United States with tropical communities.

“Unfortunately, the general story is that the species that do really well are the more general species – their hosts or food sources are very diverse or widespread, and they have a relatively large thermal tolerance so they can tolerate a wide range the terms, “said Williams. “And by definition, these are usually the pest species – that’s why they are pests: They are adaptable, widespread, and relatively undisturbed by changing conditions, while the more specialized or boutique species tend to decline when driven out of their relatively narrow niche. “

She warned that insect populations around the world are declining overall.

“We are seeing an alarming decline in total numbers in natural areas, managed areas, national parks and tropical rainforests – worldwide,” she said. “While we are seeing some common pest species increasing, the overall pattern is that insects are declining extremely quickly.”

The authors suggest in-depth laboratory studies to learn how tropical species can adapt to extreme conditions and to show how extended intervals between cold spells affect plant and animal communities.

“It is hopeful that as climates, including winter climates, change, we must prepare for sweeping changes in the distribution of biodiversity as the climates, including winter climates, change, rather than heading towards the extinction of absolutely everything,” Williams said. “The actions we take over the next 20 years will be critical to determining our trajectory. In addition to obvious changes like reducing our carbon footprint, we need to protect and restore habitat for insects. Individuals can have their own habitat create backyards for insects by growing native plants that aid pollinators and other native insects – these are little things that humans can do that can be important in creating corridors for species to move through our highly fragmented habitats. “

Robert Sanders writes for the UC Berkeley News Center.

The post Lake County Information,California – Tropical species are shifting northward as winters heat appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Despite last month’s cold snap in Texas and Louisiana, climate change is leading to warmer winter weather throughout the southern United States and providing a unique opportunity for many tropical plants and animals to migrate north. That’s according to a new study published this week in the journal Global Change Biology.

Some of these species are welcome, such as sea turtles and the Florida manatee, which expand northward along the Atlantic coast. Others, like the invasive Burmese python – in the Florida Everglades, the largest at 18 feet (end-to-end) in length – may be less affected.

Insects, including mosquitoes, which transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika, dengue and yellow fever, and beetles that destroy native trees, are equally undesirable and among the fastest-spreading in warming areas.

“Quite a few mosquito species are expanding northward, as are forestry pests: bark beetles, the southern mountain pine beetle,” said Caroline Williams, associate professor of integrative biology at the University of California at Berkeley, and co-author of the paper. “In our study, we really focused on the border in the US where we get this rapid transition from tropical to temperate. Changes in winter conditions are one of the main drivers, if not the main driver, of shifting distributions. “

This transition zone, north of which freezes occur every winter, has always been a barrier to species that evolved at more stable temperatures, said Williams, who specializes in insect metabolism – specifically, how winter freezes and snow affect species survival .

“For the vast majority of organisms, they die when they freeze,” she said. “Cold spells like the recent one in Texas might not happen for 30, 50, or even 100 years, and then you see these widespread mortality events where tropical species crawling north are suddenly pushed back. However, as the return times for these extreme cold events become longer, tropical species can gain a foothold and local populations may be able to adapt to tolerate more cold extremes in the future. “

The study, conducted by a team of 16 scientists led by the US Geological Survey (USGS), focused on the effects of winter warming on the movement of a wide range of cold-sensitive tropical plants and animals in the southern United States, in particular to the south The eight subtropical mainland US states: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Williams and Katie Marshall of the University of British Columbia at Vancouver jointly wrote the insect section for the study.

The team found that a number of tropical species, including insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, grasses, shrubs, and trees, are expanding their range to the north. Among them are species native to the United States such as mangroves, which are tropical salt tolerant trees; and snook, a hot water sport fish on the coast; and invasive species such as Burmese pythons, Cuban tree frogs, Brazilian pepper trees, and buffalo grass.

“We don’t expect a continuous process,” said USGS research ecologist Michael Osland, the study’s lead author. “There will be an expansion north, then a contraction with extremely cold events like the one that just happened in Texas, and then movement again. However, we expect tropization by the end of this century. “

The authors document decades worth of changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme cold snaps in San Francisco, Tucson, New Orleans, and Tampa – all cities with temperature records dating back to at least 1948. In every city, they found, winter means temperatures have risen over time, the coldest winter temperatures have gotten warmer, and there are fewer days each winter when mercury drops below freezing.

For example, temperature records from San Francisco International Airport show that prior to 1980, each winter was typically several days below freezing. In the last 20 years there has only been one day with temperatures below freezing.

Changes already ongoing or anticipated in the home areas of 22 species of plants and animals from California to Florida include:

• Continuous displacement of temperate salt marsh plants by cold-sensitive mangrove forests along the Gulf and South Atlantic coast. While this encroachment has occurred over the past 30 years with sea level rise, mangroves can also move inland, displacing temperate and freshwater forests.
• Buffalo grass and other annual grasses that migrate to southwestern deserts and cause wildfire in native plant communities that have not evolved in association with frequent fire.
• The likelihood that tropical mosquitoes, which can transmit encephalitis, West Nile virus, and other diseases, will continue to expand, putting millions of people and wildlife at risk for these diseases.
• Likely northern pine beetle movement with warming winters, a pest that can damage commercially valuable pine forests in the southeast.
• Disruption of recreational and commercial fishing due to changes in migration patterns and the movement of inshore fish to the north.

The changes are expected to result in the replacement of some of the temperate plant and animal communities found today in the southern United States with tropical communities.

“Unfortunately, the general story is that the species that do really well are the more general species – their hosts or food sources are very different or widespread, and they have a relatively large thermal tolerance so they can tolerate a wide variety Conditions, ”said Williams. “And by definition, these are usually the pest species – that’s why they are pests: They are adaptable, widespread, and relatively undisturbed by changing conditions, while the more specialized or boutique species tend to decline when driven out of their relatively narrow niche. “

She warned that overall insect populations are falling worldwide.

“We’re seeing an alarming decline in total numbers in natural areas, managed areas, national parks and tropical rainforests – worldwide,” she said. “While we are seeing some common pest species increasing, the overall pattern is that insects are declining extremely quickly.”

The authors suggest in-depth laboratory studies to learn how tropical species can adapt to extreme conditions and to show how extended intervals between cold spells affect plant and animal communities.

“It is hopeful that as climates, including winter climates, change, we must prepare for sweeping changes in the distribution of biodiversity as the climate changes, including winter climates,” said Williams. “The actions we take over the next 20 years will be critical to determining our trajectory. In addition to obvious changes like reducing our carbon footprint, we need to protect and restore habitat for insects. Individuals can create habitat for insects in their own backyards by cultivating native plants that aid pollinators and other native insects. These are little things that humans can do that can be important in creating corridors for species to move through our very fragmented habitats. “

The post Tropical Species Are Shifting Northward In US As Winters Heat appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Despite last month’s cold snap in Texas and Louisiana, climate change is leading to warmer winter weather throughout the southern United States and providing a unique opportunity for many tropical plants and animals to migrate north. That’s according to a new study published this week in the journal Global Change Biology.

Some of these species are welcome, such as sea turtles and the Florida manatee, which expand northward along the Atlantic coast. Others, like the invasive Burmese python – in the Florida Everglades, the largest at 18 feet (end-to-end) in length – may be less affected.

Insects, including mosquitoes, which transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika, dengue and yellow fever, and beetles that destroy native trees, are equally undesirable and among the fastest-spreading in warming areas.

“Quite a few mosquito species are expanding northward, as are forestry pests: bark beetles, the southern mountain pine beetle,” said Caroline Williams, associate professor of integrative biology at the University of California at Berkeley, and co-author of the paper. “In our study, we really focused on the border in the US where we get this rapid transition from tropical to temperate. Changes in winter conditions are one of the main drivers, if not the main driver, of shifting distributions. “

This transition zone, north of which freezes occur every winter, has always been a barrier to species that evolved at more stable temperatures, said Williams, who specializes in insect metabolism – specifically, how winter freezes and snow affect species survival .

A 2017 photo of USGS researchers handling a Burmese python in the Florida Everglades. The snake has decimated communities of mammals, birds, and other animal communities in the Everglades. (Courtesy photo of USGS)

“For the vast majority of organisms, they die when they freeze,” she said. “Cold spells like the recent one in Texas might not happen for 30, 50, or even 100 years, and then you see these widespread mortality events where tropical species crawling north are suddenly pushed back. However, as the return times for these extreme cold events become longer, tropical species can gain a foothold and local populations may be able to adapt to tolerate more cold extremes in the future. “

Fewer days below freezing enable tropical invasions

The study, conducted by a team of 16 scientists led by the US Geological Survey (USGS), focused on the effects of winter warming on the movement of a wide range of cold-sensitive tropical plants and animals in the southern United States, in particular to the south The eight subtropical mainland US states: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Williams and Katie Marshall of the University of British Columbia at Vancouver jointly wrote the insect section for the study.

A monarch caterpillar. Monarchs cannot tolerate freezing weather and usually winter in Mexico. Thanks to milder winter temperatures, they now hibernate in California. (UC Berkeley photo by Noah Whiteman)

The team found that a number of tropical species, including insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, grasses, shrubs, and trees, are expanding their range to the north. Among them are species native to the United States such as mangroves, which are tropical salt tolerant trees; and snook, a hot water sport fish on the coast; and invasive species such as Burmese pythons, Cuban tree frogs, Brazilian pepper trees, and buffalo grass.

“We don’t expect a continuous process,” said USGS research ecologist Michael Osland, the study’s lead author. “There will be an expansion north, then a contraction with extremely cold events like the one that just happened in Texas, and then movement again. However, we expect tropization by the end of this century. ”

The authors document decades worth of changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme cold snaps in San Francisco, Tucson, New Orleans, and Tampa – all cities with temperature records dating back to at least 1948. In every city, they found, winter means temperatures have risen over time, the coldest winter temperatures have gotten warmer, and there are fewer days each winter when mercury drops below freezing.

For example, temperature records from San Francisco International Airport show that prior to 1980, each winter was typically several days below freezing. In the last 20 years there has only been one day with temperatures below freezing.

A map showing North America’s transition zone from tropical to temperate. Red, orange, and yellow represent the more tropical zones, and blue indicates the more temperate zones, based on the coldest recorded temperature for each area between 1980 and 2009. Photos show some cold-sensitive plants and animals with northern range limits determined by winter cold temperature extremes. (Map courtesy of USGS)

Changes already ongoing or anticipated in the home areas of 22 species of plants and animals from California to Florida include:

• Continuous displacement of temperate salt marsh plants by cold-sensitive mangrove forests along the Gulf and South Atlantic coast. While this encroachment has occurred over the past 30 years with sea level rise, mangroves can also move inland, displacing temperate and freshwater forests.
• Buffalo grass and other annual grasses that migrate to southwestern deserts and cause wildfire in native plant communities that have not evolved in association with frequent fire.
• The likelihood that tropical mosquitoes, which can transmit encephalitis, West Nile virus, and other diseases, will continue to expand, putting millions of people and wildlife at risk for these diseases.
• Likely northern pine beetle movement with warming winters, a pest that can damage commercially valuable pine forests in the southeast.
• Disruption of recreational and commercial fishing due to changes in migration patterns and the movement of inshore fish to the north.

Tropical species can displace natives

The changes are expected to result in the replacement of some of the temperate plant and animal communities found today in the southern United States with tropical communities.

The southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis), native to the forests of the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America, continues to move north as winter temperatures rise with climate change. The bark beetles leave behind destroyed pine forests.

“Unfortunately, the general story is that the species that do really well are the more general species – their hosts or food sources are very different or widespread, and they have a relatively large thermal tolerance so they can tolerate a wide variety Conditions, ”said Williams. “And by definition, these are usually the pest species – that’s why they are pests: They are adaptable, widespread, and relatively undisturbed by changing conditions, while the more specialized or boutique species tend to decline when driven out of their relatively narrow niche. “

She warned that overall insect populations are falling worldwide.

“We’re seeing an alarming decline in total numbers in natural areas, managed areas, national parks and tropical rainforests – worldwide,” she said. “While we are seeing some common pest species increasing, the overall pattern is that insects are declining extremely quickly.”

The authors suggest in-depth laboratory studies to learn how tropical species can adapt to extreme conditions and to show how extended intervals between cold spells affect plant and animal communities.

“It is hopeful that as climates, including winter climates, change, we must prepare for sweeping changes in the distribution of biodiversity as the climate changes, including winter climates,” said Williams. “The actions we take over the next 20 years will be critical to determining our trajectory. In addition to obvious changes like reducing our carbon footprint, we need to protect and restore habitat for insects. Individuals can create habitat for insects in their own backyards by cultivating native plants that aid pollinators and other native insects. These are little things that humans can do that can be important in creating corridors for species to move through our very fragmented habitats. “

The post Tropical species are transferring northward as winters heat appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.