What's Happening To Lake Mead? Not Aviation Related.

[thor]

http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user3303/imageroot/2015/05-overflow/20150524_mead.jpg

[Guest]

Lake Mead says reading showing 8-foot drop was an error

Reported by: Marvin Clemons

Email: mclemons@mynews3.com

Updated: 5/24 6:22 pm

UPDATE: Lake Mead sent a news release Sunday evening, several hours after News 3 inquired about the readings. In part, it says: "An overnight report, indicating that Lake Mead’s water elevation declined nine feet in one hour was incorrect. Lake Mead’s elevation has remained steady around 1,077 feet for the past 24 hours, as it has for the past several days.

"The Bureau of Reclamation of the Lower Colorado River Region measures lake elevation hourly. Data at 11 p.m. May 23 showed the lake dropped from 1,077.22 feet to 1,068.75 feet and then rose back up to 1,076.76 feet an hour later.

According to the Reclamation’s River Operations Group Manager, the reading Saturday night was incorrect. Officials are aware of the faulty reading and are measuring the elevation manually to correct erroneous values. Due to the holiday weekend, online data may not reflect the corrections immediately."

BOULDER CITY (KSNV News3LV) -- We all know Lake Mead is dropping, but a decline of 8 feet in just two days?

How is that possible?

That's what some Southern Nevada water watchers wondered Sunday as one water level reading on an official government daily chart showed Lake Mead's water level had dropped 8 feet in 48 hours -- from 1,076.78 feet on Thursday down to 1,075.13 feet on Friday and down to 1,068.75 feet on Saturday.

The chart shows a drop of 1.65 feet from Thursday to Friday and a whopping 6.38 feet drop from Friday to Saturday.

Check the chart on this website: http://lakemead.water-data.com/

News 3 staffers scratched their heads Sunday when they received multiple emails about the decline. Surely, a lake filled with boaters would have been literally screaming about such a drastic drop, especially on one of the busiest boating weekends of the summer.

So what was going on? We made some calls. The Bureau of Reclamation, which manages the lake, didn't answer and hasn't returned a call. Neither has the National Park Service.

But Las Vegas Valley Water District spokesman Bronson Mack suggested we check another website. We did.

The hourly chart shows just numbers, no fancy graphics. But it shows the lake level at 1,077.50 as of 2 p.m. Sunday. No decline of 8 feet in two days (an actual inch rise from Sunday at midnight) but the gradual drop that has been going on for days, weeks, months and years continues.

Check this: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/hourly.html.

Given there was no large outcry from boaters or officials at the lake that the world's most infamous bathtub ring grew by more than the length of a bathtub -- overnight, we're believing that the daily level chart is somehow out of whack. Is a gauge someplace simply faulty? Did Friday's earthquake cause some problem with it?

Until officials investigate their equipment and get back to us, we believe one chart is simply faulty. But when you look at the gradual decline punctuated by a "drop off the cliff" on the far right (first website above), it does give one reason to wonder.

It's worth noting the formula on lake levels and possible water restrictions, as explained by LVVWD's Mack. Las Vegas' allotment of Lake Mead Water (which is where we get 90 percent of our water) is 300,000 acre feet. Nevada is pulling roughly 225,000 acre feet. Once the lake falls below 1,075 (as measured on Jan. 1) water restrictions will mean Nevada can draw 287,000 acre feet. That amount is well above what we use now. Conservation practices have worked.

As the level continues to decline, officials are slowly engaging in talks on how to perhaps reallocate the precious water resource. The quicker it drops, perhaps the quicker they will react.

http://www.news3lv.com/mostpopular/story/Lake-Mead-says-reading-showing-8-foot-drop-was-an/6qKnDtRdLkW45_pJhjTPkw.cspx

[Don Hudson]

Caution: the following public post may be offensive to some.
It is intended for those with
a) a sense of humour or irony,
b ) a developed conception of mirth or,
c) a belief that not everything on earth should be taken
i) seriously or,
ii) personally, or,
iii) as a marketing, political, religious or scientific statement
Investment is not suggested or implied.
Any statements made are personal conjecture and are not intended as and shall not be taken as forward-looking statement of opportunity

The business to be in isn't fighting huge and powerful sectors of the population building oil pipelines through seismically-active or sacred areas, mountains, forests, streams and animal trails to coasts for shipping.

The new, coming drought isn't oil; the business to be in is building water pipelines.

Just think of the side-benefit: A pipeline burst causes growth of plants and water for animals instead of death and stench to the local environment. NIMBY disappears - approval through vast farms, native lands and millions of backyards would be a cinch. It would shift the geopolitical landscape dramatically, increase jobs, protect the environment, ease tensions between interest groups, (and create others...).

Regarding the "loss" of 8ft of Lake Mead in a day...it isn't boaters who would first notice that where they moored their boats in the morning was eight feet above them in the evening...it's the folks living downstream wherever Mead drains because that much water movement through a canyon in a river in a day would be visible from space and heard in Los Angeles, unless of course it was used to fill fracking fissures overnight or, (more plausible) an earthquake momentarily opened the plug in the bathtub...

[Guest]

Caution: the following public post may be offensive to some.

It is intended for those with

a) a sense of humour or irony,

b ) a developed conception of mirth or,

c) a belief that not everything on earth should be taken

i) seriously or,

ii) personally, or,

III) as a marketing, political, religious or scientific statement

Investment is not suggested or implied.

Any statements made are personal conjecture and are not intended as and shall not be taken as forward-looking statement of opportunity

The business to be in isn't fighting huge and powerful sectors of the population building oil pipelines through seismically-active or sacred areas, mountains, forests, streams and animal trails to coasts for shipping.

The new, coming drought isn't oil; the business to be in is building water pipelines.

Just think of the side-benefit: A pipeline burst causes growth of plants and water for animals instead of death and stench to the local environment. NIMBY disappears - approval through vast farms, native lands and millions of backyards would be a cinch. It would shift the geopolitical landscape dramatically, increase jobs, protect the environment, ease tensions between interest groups, (and create others...),

And on the down side, the water pipeline would divert water from it's natural path with an adverse effect on wildlife / fish etc. and allow increased population growth / pollution in areas that were and perhaps should remain arid. Perhaps time to slow down the growth/spread of the Human Animal.

[Don Hudson]

Re, "in areas that were and perhaps should remain arid. Perhaps time to slow down the growth/spread of the Human Animal."

Oh, nature can't be fooled, so Richard Feynman & George Carlin have reminded us; ...and there is no such thing as "should", in nature, ed to add: ...meaning notions that have anything to do with, or are qualitative, specifying, predictive, referential (comparative), experimental, anticipatory, prescriptive, illusory or historical do not exist in nature; they are not a part of the natural world.

The climate change arguments are being held on the deck of the...well, you know. ;-) and science is increasingly restricted while we in Canada get an Office of Religious Freedom. Sorry, way OT, but there it is.

The greatest illusion is that humans are special. There is no "special" in the natual world, there is just "is".

The above realizations regarding nature, and the climate change (along with science and religion) issues are intimately tied together.

I think our survival depends upon understanding this fundamental truth - that our world view and absolutely everything we "re-cognize" is a construct the independent reference for which does not exist in the natural world, despite what the analytical philosophers, including Plato, said.

[mo32a]

First we need to stop companies like Nestle that take 265 million litres of water out of a well in the Fraser valley each year for free, to sell back to us at huge profit as bottled water.

Don H, I posited that same idea (water pipeline) some time ago, but suggested we start with the flood waters that hit certain areas each year, collect and pipe the water to where it is needed. When you look at places like Winnipeg that built a great canal around itself to protect from the Red River floods, wouldn't it be better to have it fed into a 10' diameter water pipe and shipped from where it isn't wanted to where it is needed?

For the life of me I can't figure out why oil pipelines are not double hulled. As soon as you lose pressure in the oil line, which should be recognized very quickly, you stop the flow of oil, isolate the leak, pump the outer hull out, repair the leak and you're back in business. I realize there is a cost factor but surely one large spill into the environment would cover that cost.

[Guest]

[J.O.]

Most of that trash was made out of petroleum bi-products.

[Guest]

Most of that trash was made out of petroleum bi-products.

So are the following or am I missing your point?

Things Made From Oil That We Use Daily (a partial list) Agriculture • plastic ties • row cover • irrigation piping • polyethylene • polypropylene • bags and packaging • pesticides and herbicides • food preservatives • fertilizers Clothing and Textiles • ballet tights • nylon cord • everything polyester: blouses, pants, pajamas etc. • everything permanent press: shirts, dresses etc. • beads • bracelets • pantyhose • nylon zippers • plastic hangers • purses • thongs and flip flops • earrings • ribbons • fake fur • windbreakers • sandals • garment bags • shoe laces • rain coats • iron-on patches • sneakers • sweaters • sofa pillow material • tote bags • umbrellas Around the Office • ball point pens • diskettes • thermometer • Ink • computers • business card holders • copiers • waste baskets • calculators • printer cartridges • microfilm • name tags • binders • erasers • rulers • scotch tape • magic markers • telephones Sports, Hobbies and Games • backpacks • fishing lures • air mattresses • cameras • beach balls • fishing poles • hang gliders • vinyl cases • footballs • glue containers • puzzles • darts • Frisbees • golf ball and golf bags • shotgun shells • ear plugs • knitting needles • waterproof clothing • stadium cushions • earphones • yarn • kites • tennis racquets • fabric dye • decoys • lifejackets • nylon strings • face protectors • volley balls • model cars • plastic water guns • fishing bobbers • soccer balls • oil paints • parachutes • fishing cylume • light sticks • earphones • playing cards • photographs • monofilament fishing lines • diving boards • poker chips • goggles • rollerskate and skateboard wheels • whistles • guitar strings • picks • rafts • ice chests • tents • sleeping bags • pole vaulting poles • motorcycle helmets • skis, water skis • rubber cement • plastic flowerpots • hot tub covers • sails • snorkels • monkey bars • photo albums • wet suits • flippers • tennis balls • boats • insulated boots Infants and Children • acrylic toys • baby oil • laundry baskets • waterproof pants • baby aspirin • bath soap • mittens • pacifiers • baby blankets • bibs • rattles • doubleknit shirts • baby bottles • disposable diapers • baby shoes • teething rings • nipples and binkies • dolls • stuffed animals • baby lotion Sports, Hobbies and Games • allergy medication • cotton-tipped swabs • inhalers • liquid Pepto-Bismol • aspirin • first aid cream • lancets • pill cases • band aids • first aid kits • latex gloves • prescription bottles • burn lotion • glycerin • mosquito spray • rubbing alcohol • chap stick • heart valve replacement • nasal decongestant • surgical tape • syringes • Vaseline • antiseptics • hearing aids • anesthetics • artificial limbs • eyeglasses and sunglasses • antihistamines • cortisone • vaporizers • denture adhesives • laxatives • Bactine • oxygen masks • stethoscopes • prescription glasses • cough syrup • hearing aids Kitchen and Household • vinegar bottles • egg cartons • meat trays • trash bags • breadboxes • freezer containers • melamine dishware • tumblers • cake decorations • jars • microwave dishes • utensils • candles • freezer bags • milk jugs • vacuum bottles • coasters • gelatin molds • nylon spatulas • wax paper • coffee pots • ice cream scoops • oven bags • mops • drinking cups • ice trays • plastic containers • fabric softener • detergent bottles • plastic table service • drain stoppers • dish drainers • lunch boxes • pudding molds • sponges • dish scrubbers • brushes • baggies • drinking straws • Styrofoam • paper cup dispensers • measuring cups • Teflon coated pans • table cloths • refrigerator shelves Beauty • cologne • hair brushes • lipstick • permanent wave curlers • perfume • hair color • mascara • petroleum jelly • comb • foam rubber curlers • shampoo • contact lenses and cases • hair spray • hand lotion • shaving foam • hair dryers • shoe inserts • dentures • body lotion • face masks • skin cleanser • deodorants • moisturizing cream • soap holders • disposable razors • leather conditioner • mouthwash • sunglasses • facial toner • lens cleanser • nail polish • sunscreen • tooth brushes • toothpaste tubes • vitamins • synthetic wigs • bubble bath • soap capsules

ETC: http://www-tc.pbs.org/independentlens/classroom/wwo/petroleum.pdf

[J.O.]

Yes I guess you are missing the point.

[Guest]

It's people who cause the pollution, not the products.....

[DEFCON]

That little photo series makes a number of interesting points.

[Don Hudson]

From Aviation Week & Space Technology - "Grace" is the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (Grace) spacecraft.

Mr Harper has so damaged both the reputation and the actuality of "science in Canada" that puffy media statements and showcase visits to technical plants are stark against such realities. One suspects that there are a lot of people in Canada who actually concur with such treatment of science under the hand of government funding. Suspicion and superstition always flourish when ideology trumps the scientific method and where evidence becomes inconvenient to manufactured truth and consent.

Grace Gives Another Reason To Support Earth Science
Jun 24, 2015 Frank Morring, Jr. | Aviation Week & Space Technology


It appears that some U.S. senators understand what some of their colleagues in the House of Representatives don’t get—science is facts, not opinions.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has voted to restore the funds chopped out of NASA’s fiscal 2016 budget request for space-based Earth science by a bunch of ideologues on the House Science Committee. Those lawmakers, who play an important role in setting U.S. space policy, appear to have decided that the stark consensus of Earth scientists worldwide on the causes of global warming is a left-wing plot.

The Senate action, which sets up an interesting debate as the two Republican-led chambers try to reconcile their differences, comes as a matched pair of NASA-funded spacecraft that has been in Earth orbit long enough to track some changes below has generated yet another disturbing trend about the planet’s environment.

In the decade 2003-13, the twin Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (Grace) spacecraft found significant depletion in about a third of the world’s major aquifers, as cities and farmers pumped them down. The scary part, according to a paper published June 16 in Water Resources Research, is there are no measurements that show how much water is left underground.

Source: UC Irvine/NASA/JPL-Caltech

The Grace mission audits changes in the gravity below its orbital track by precisely measuring the distance between the two satellites, which varies with changes in the gravitational field. Scientists can then calculate the bounds of aquifers with the data, and over time gauge whether there is more or less water in them. But those figures are only relative, and not a measure of total volume.

“We don’t actually know how much is stored in each of the aquifers,” states Alexandra Richey of the University of California at Irvine, lead author on the two Grace-based studies just published. “In a water-scarce society, we can no longer tolerate this level of uncertainty, especially since groundwater is disappearing so rapidly.”

Richey’s work, which included input from NASA, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Taiwan University and the University of California at Santa Barbara—found that of the 37 largest aquifers on the planet, 13 are being depleted but are receiving “little to no recharge.” Another eight were classified as “overstressed,” and five more were “extremely” or “highly” stressed—getting some recharge to offset pumping, but still being depleted. The map (see graphic) shows where the trouble is, with the blue end of the spectrum getting replenished and the orange drying up.

“Given how quickly we are consuming the world’s groundwater reserves, we need a coordinated global effort to determine how much is left,” says Jay Famiglietti, aUC Irvine professor who is principal investigator and senior water scientist on the research at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Given these findings, and the ongoing use of space-based sensors to track surface phenomena—ranging from land-use trends to soil moisture to which roads were blocked by the recent earthquakes in Nepal—the action by the Senate Appropriations Committee is reassuring. The panel trimmed only $16 million from NASA’s $1.9 billion budget request for Earth science, instead of the $320 million cut by the House. The senators apparently do not buy the idea that the Environmental Protection Agency would be a better place to develop sophisticated missions like Grace.

The global perspective from Grace’s orbit reveals where groundwater is being over-consumed, often because of weather pattern changes that may be linked to global warming, according to the new studies. The map reveals that many of the most-stressed aquifers are in underdeveloped regions, where farmers must rely on well water for irrigation because of persistent drought.

That corresponds with the new encyclical on the environment released by the Vatican in the same week as the Grace-mission results. Climate change, writes Pope Francis, “represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. Its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades.”

Francis has worked as a chemist, and consulted a nondenominational—and sometimes downright atheist—group of scientists to produce a document The Washington Post described as “sort of a combination between Saint Augustine and a National Academy of Sciences report.” The pontiff, who hails from Argentina, a developing nation, has applied hard science to the moral principles of his church in calling for the same sort of global effort at environmental protection as urged by the water scientists reading the Grace data.

Meanwhile, House Science Committee Republicans say they want NASA to focus on deep-space exploration, instead of monkeying around studying the planet where we live (AW&ST May 6, p. 20). They should tell it to the pope.