Rain for the Urban Forest

Here we are in the last week of May 2010 and the forecast again shows rain this week in Oakland. If it does rain again, it probably will be a light sprinkling. California certainly could use more rain.

I'm wondering if the climate change models I saw at a few California Climate Change conferences ago in Sacramento are proving correct -- that higher temperatures will lead to more ocean humidity dumping more water and snow on us. Even my father believes CC is "real" now. That says a lot, to me, on the state of average people's consciousness around water and energy issues. The two are very linked and very necessary for comfortable human living.

The most memorable concept I remember from the Sacramento conference was the "Pineapple Express." This weather system takes warm weather from south of Hawai'i and shoots it up diagonally northeast into California and Oregon. This isn't part of the PE model but if California were to receive rain year round as many Asian countries do, that would lead to increased agricultural productivity and a stronger local economy.

In any case, the forecast continues to show rain this week. Our air quality is looking good too, with Air Quality and PM2.5 pollution registering as "good" under USEPA guidelines. Of course, Canada's air quality standards are more strict that USEPA standards but we'll take what we can get.


Until next time -- help us out by donating to Urban Releaf the way Chicago voters vote -- early and often!

Cheers,
Ken Ott