Friday, January 20, 2023

Ep 86: Ep 86 Dr. Marc Lessard: Thriving UNH Institute for Earth, Oceans & Space Collaborates with NASA to Study Aurora Borealis



NASA Photo 


Rockets carrying UNH technology examine electrons that create aurora
This NASA mission, called Aurora Current and Electrodynamics Structure II (ACES II)

Listen here:

Rockets carrying UNH technology examine electrons that create aurora
Dr Marc Lessard and both undergraduate and graduate students at UNH are at the cutting edge of pure science in the Atmospheric weather realm and the understanding of how earth's magnetic fields impact the atmosphere and specifically the Aurora Borealis. Marc began his professional life at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard but longed for a greater challenge. That desire brought him back to school at UNH to get his PhD in physics and to work as a student at the then-newly formed Institute for Earth Oceans and Space. Today he heads the very same program where he interned as a UNH student. It's been a long and circuitous journey for Dr. Lessard but it has brought him to the pinnacle of a career of which he can be justifiably proud. Yet the generosity of his praise for his students, for the brilliance and dedication of his colleagues and for the tremendous focus and professionalism of NASA occupy the majority of his attention.

Perhaps his long and circuitous journey prepared him far better as a leader than an easier path might have. Dr. Lessards manner and modesty put me in mind of a quote from a famed Chinese philosopher. Long before we were launching rockets into the skies the philosopher Lao-Tzu said this:

A leader is best
When people barely know
That he exists,

Less good when
They obey and acclaim him,

Worse when
They fear and despise him.

Fail to honor people
And they fail to honor you.

But of a good leader,
When his work is done,
His aim fulfilled,
they will all say,
'We did this ourselves.’

Show Notes: https://nhsecrets.blogspot.com/2023/01/ep-86.html






UNH News Release: Mar 7, 2022

On a recent night above the Arctic circle in Norway, two rockets carrying equipment designed and built by UNH students and researchers streaked across the sky, cutting through the vivid green aurora — more commonly known as the Northern Lights. These skyward sensations are created when charged particles, such as electrons, interact with other particles in Earth’s magnetic fields. But not all aurora are the same: Some are dim, others are pulsating, and the rest are tall, thin and dance through the night sky.

This NASA mission, called Aurora Current and Electrodynamics Structure II (ACES II), is focused on that last type, called arcs, which are narrow and tall, extending into the atmosphere a few hundred kilometers. Electrons in those arcs move in a continuous loop upward and downward in the ionosphere, a lower section of our atmosphere, to create these fantastic aerial views, but scientists don’t fully understand exactly how the electron currents close that loop; the electrons that move downward are easy to measure, but those coming back up are not, and the ionosphere itself may play a role in connecting them.

Two UNH undergrads, two graduate students and a few other scientific staff worked closely with Marc Lessard, UNH professor of physics in the Space Science Centerand the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, to design and build four instruments — two for each rocket — that would measure the temperature of the electrons in the aurora and also measure the currents directly. The data gleaned from the two 10-minute rocket flights will reveal the role that the ionosphere plays in the dancing aurora arcs.

The ACES II mission is led by the University of Iowa, with other collaborators from the University of California, Berkeley, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and the University of Calgary.




Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS)

INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF EARTH, OCEANS, AND SPACE
At the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS), we bring together high-level research expertise on convergent topics.

We are UNH's largest research enterprise. Here you'll find opportunities to work alongside distinguished faculty on projects to explore and study the most important and inaccessible places on our planet, in our solar system, and in our universe. From the seafloor to the stars, we're studying truly fascinating subjects and making an impact worldwide. 

Find out why we say that EOS is research excellence.
6,100 peer-reviewed journal articles published in EOS history

$60 million in grant funding awarded to EOS scientists annually

112 new research grants awarded to EOS scientists annually

ACES II Mission Will Investigate Earth’s Auroral Current

https://techfragments.com/aces-ii-auroral-current/








Pulsating aurora







Pulsating Auroras: Like an Outdoor Nightclub


 
By LAURA BRANDT, AURORASAURUS TEAM APRIL 8, 2022

Researchers Measure a Pulsating Aurora

This image of a colorful aurora was taken in Delta Junction, Alaska, on April 10, 2015. All auroras are created by energetic electrons, which rain down from Earth’s magnetic bubble and interact with particles in the upper atmosphere to create glowing lights that stretch across the sky. Credit: Image courtesy of Sebastian Saarloos

NASA’s citizen science projects are collaborations between scientists and interested members of the public. Through these collaborations, volunteers known as citizen scientists have helped make thousands of important scientific discoveries. Aurorasaurus is one such project that tracks auroras around the world in real time via reports on its website and on Twitter

Aurorasaurus often partners with other organizations to complement science with citizen science and recently Aurorasauraus partnered with NASA’s Loss through Auroral Microburst Pulsations (LAMP) mission. Early on the morning of Saturday, March 5, 2022, the LAMP mission successfully took flight, flying straight into a pulsating aurora. 






Launching to Study Pulsating Aurora

The LAMP mission, short for Loss through Auroral Microburst Pulsations, launched on Saturday, Marc 5, 2022, aboard a Black Brant IX suborbital sounding rocket. The mission will study an often overlooked kind of aurora, called a pulsating aurora, and test a theory on what causes them.

Like all aurora, a pulsating aurora is set alight by electrons (and occasionally protons) from near-Earth space. These electrons plunge into our atmosphere and collide with atoms and molecules, causing them to glow in their distinctive colors – red and green by oxygen, blue by nitrogen – as they release their excess energy.

Image Credit: NASA

Last Updated: Mar 7, 2022
Editor: Yvette Smith





SpaceX loses 40 of 49 Starlink satellites due to geomagnetic storm



SpaceX launched 49 Starlink low-orbit satellites on February 3 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Forty of these satellites, located 130 miles above Earth, were rendered inoperable by a storm triggered by a solar flare, per Bloomberg. 

  • SpaceX said the geomagnetic storm, which is a major disturbance of the Earth’s magnetosphere triggered by solar winds, increased the temperature and density of the atmosphere, heightening the drag of objects moving through it.
  • The satellites have re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and are designed to burn up before reaching solid ground. The loss is expected to be $100 million, “if you include the cost of the launch,” said Dr. Hugh Lewis, a space debris expert from the University of Southampton in England.
  • The 130-mile altitude for Starlink satellites was chosen to avoid a potential collision with other satellites. 
  • Starlink has 1,915 satellites in orbit. The largest by far of any satellite internet provider.



NASA, EOS, Institute for Earth Oceans and Space, UNH, University of New Hampshire, Marc Lessard, 



Images by Wayne D. King




Thursday, January 19, 2023

85 Everyday Heroes: Kim Wenger Hall - Cleaning up Plastics in our Communities

 



Everyday Heroes: Kim Wenger Hall - Cleaning up Plastics in our Communities

A few weeks ago I was perusing a local listserve here in the North Country and I came across a message and appeal for Earth Day volunteers. As I read the message looking for the organization seeking volunteers, I realized that there was no organization. This effort was being undertaken by a single person - Kim Wenger Hall. Like many of us, Kim was concerned about the effects of plastic waste on the planet. Not content to simply complain about it, she had taken action and was recruiting volunteers to help through a call to action sent to friends, relatives as well as those she may not even know. 

It's not that she was asking a lot - she was simply issuing a call to those who felt a similar concern to take personal action along with her. 

That's why I've called her an everyday hero, taking action through her own initiative.

Here's my conversation with Kim Wenger Hall

Listen here:

https://feeds.podetize.com/C8LCcm3Ao.mp3

Shownotes:
https://nhsecrets.blogspot.com/2023/01/85-everyday-heroes-kim-wenger-hall.html



Kim Wenger Hall:  flourishingartyoga@gmail.com

The billions upon billions of items of plastic waste choking our oceans, lakes, and rivers and piling up on land are more than unsightly. They are incredibly harmful to plants, wildlife, and, eventually, to each of us. 

Every year, Earth Day comes and goes and I think, "I want to organize a clean-up."  So this year, I'm doing it.

And, I would LOVE for you to take me up on the invitation to participate.

  1. Think how awesome it will feel to help plants, animals, and people by participating
  2. Mark off Saturday, April 22nd on your calendar
  3. Find a location outside (there are lots of them!)
  4. Pick up trash
  5. Throw away the trash
  6. Enjoy knowing that you helped make a difference!


What do you need to do? Just say, "Yep! I'm in" by replying to this email.

  • I'll reach out to you in February to remind you, then again in March, and again close to the date.
  • You can go ANYWHERE to do this.
  • You can partner up with people.
  • You can go solo. 
  • You can do as much or as little as works for you
  • You can join me on the banks of the Connecticut River.


Need more reasons to get involved?
Here's a little light reading: 

https://www.earthday.org/fact-sheet-plastics-in-the-ocean/#:~:text=As%20of%202021%2C%20there%20are,world's%20oceans%20can%20escape%20contamination

Fact Sheet: Plastics in the Ocean

The following 10 facts shed light on how plastic is proving dangerous to our planet, health, and wildlife. To learn more about the threat and impact of plastic pollution and to get tips to reduce your plastic consumption, download our Plastic Pollution Primer and Toolkit today!

Every minute, two garbage trucks of plastic are dumped into our oceans. Currently, 8 million metric tons of plastic wind up in the oceans.[1] That’s enough trash to cover every foot of coastline around the world with five full trash bags of plastic…compounding every year.[2] The amount of plastic trash that flows into the oceans every year is expected to nearly triple by 2040 to 29 million metric tons.[3]
Microplastics in different forms are present in almost all water systems in the world, be they streams, rivers, lakes, or oceans.[4][5][6] There is more microplastic in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way.[7]
There are five massive patches of plastic in the oceans around the world. These huge concentrations of plastic debris cover large swaths of the ocean. One patch, in particular, known as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” covers 20 million square kilometers of water.[8] That’s bigger than the combined area of the United States’ five largest states![9]
By 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than there are fish (by weight).[10]
As of 2021, there are at least 363,762,732,605 pounds of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.[11]
Plastic has been found at 36,000 feet (approximately 11km) in the Mariana Trench, meaning not even the deepest part of the world’s oceans can escape contamination.[12]
Over 1 million marine organisms are killed each year due to plastic pollution in the ocean. Animals who eat plastic often starve because the plastic prevents them from properly swallowing food.[13]
The chances of disease on a coral reef are enhanced by 22-fold by plastics. In 2018, a huge survey of the 159 coral reefs across Asia-Pacific region showed that over 11.1 billion plastic particles are entangling the corals, and this number is estimated to increase dramatically by 40% by 2025. Plastic debris may also cause physical damage to the corals by exhausting the resources for the wound-healing process. Importantly, more than 7000 species of fishes, invertebrates, plants, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals can be found in the coral reef ecosystem.[14]
Animals are now colonizing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, meaning that they are consuming plastic waste and also living in previously uninhabited areas. All of these developments disrupt the natural marine ecosystem.[15]
Many animals at the base of the food chain eat microplastics. These animals are then consumed by others than humans eat.[16]

Landmark Worldwide
Landmark is a personal and professional development group - https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/ I'm currently enrolled in a course called, 'Self-Expression & Leadership,' where we are asked to create a community project that we are passionate about. Then, we create a plan to bring it to fruition. The plan includes enlisting the help of others who are also passionate about the "problem." At the end of the course, the suggestion is that you 'give it away.' This means, that, ideally I will find 1 person (or several people) who will do what I did: seeking out 10 people to form 10 teams of 10, etc.

Flourish Art & Yoga

Kim can be reached by email at: kimwengerhall@gmail.com



If you have a person you believe should be honored as an everyday hero, please email Wayne King here.


Friday, January 13, 2023

84: Mr. Speaker - George Roberts, NH Speaker of the House 1975-1980 and Still Going Strong.

 


Listen here:

https://feeds.podetize.com/0D23DPl0Z.mp3

House Speaker George Roberts (from 1975-1980) has a lot to look back on. Under his leadership the state built the Legislative office building where public hearings are held.  Prior to this the state, and the House committees rented or squatted in various spaces around the city of Concord because there were very few spaces for a growing state legislature within the Statehouse. Speaker Roberts credits Peterborough icon Rob Trowbridge, among others with the vision to make it all possible.

Yet while George Roberts is proud of the "LOB", he is most proud of the ways in which he worked to bring women into the mainstream of leadership in the House, a tradition continued by John Tucker. 

Roberts was also convinced that creating civility among the political parties was often a matter of small things; like seating. He alternated R & D members so that each had two people from the opposite party on their left and right on the theory that if they saw the humanity in members of the other party they would be more civil even when they disagreed.

Moving to an electronic roll-call voting system reduced the time required for a roll-call vote from 45-60 minutes to 3 minutes or so and cooled down a lot of tempers as well as created greater transparency.



Purchase a signed original here.

Spring's Dance of Form


Former House Speaker George Roberts
Portrait Dedication

A portrait of former NH House Speaker George B. Roberts, Jr., R-Gilmanton, was unveiled during ceremonies at the Legislative Office building across from the State House on October 25, 2019. Among those present were Gov- ernor Chris Sununu, Lee Marden, chair of Friends of George Roberts, sponsor of the portrait by Stoddard artist Richard Whitney, many friends, former and current legislators and staff, including past speakers, and family. As Speaker (1975-1980) and before, Roberts was the key figure in rescuing the building, the former US Federal Courthouse and Post Office, from demolition and the space becoming a municipal parking in the early 1970s. Roberts directed the transformation of the building into an elegant facility housing legislative hearing rooms and offices. The painting now hangs in the building's lobby, christened "George B. Roberts Hall" by legislation passed in the 2016 session.
Legislator, House Majority Leader and Speaker of the House 1975-1980



The Prevaricating Day


The Gathering Storm Haiku


Wind in the Washline Haiku



Whisper of a Winter Wood Haiku


Moonrise Over Newfound Lake 


Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Ep 83 The Rough & Tumble: A Rough, Tumble and Raucous Introduction to their New Spot on the Porch: New Hampshire.

 The Rough & Tumble: A Rough, Tumble and Raucous Introduction to their New Spot on the Porch: New Hampshire.



Listen here:

The Rough & Tumble (Mallory Graham & Scott Tyler) received the award for 2019 Americana Song of the Year in the 18th Annual Independent Music Awards.

Mallory Graham & Scott Tyler
Their new single, "Ain't That the Way," will be released with an accompanying music video filmed by local NH filmmaker Elias Gillen on January 14th at 10am at Alumni Hall in Haverhill, NH.

A Rough, Tumble and Raucous Introduction!
A Rough and Tumble and Raucous Introduction: The Rough and Tumble Invite Their adopted Community to be part of their next album. Rough and Tumble a self-described Teeny Tiny Traveling Band has just put down roots after 8 years on the road with their two dogs in a 16' camper.

You're going to love their sound!



Video of the gathering:


Dress is casual. We'll gather at 10AM, or a little before (we'll be there all morning beforehand). We would ask that you be no later than 10AM, since we are trying to coordinate a LOT of people (we're hoping for a minimum of 100), and want to start in a timely fashion. Once everyone is there, we'll be shooting in the main hall. We'll create a sort of Rock / Paper / Scissors "competition" wherein everyone will circle up and take turns in the middle of the circle challenging one another. We just ask that folks don't take it too hard if they lose ;-) Sort of a "fight club" scene... but with Rock / Paper / Scissors. That's to say, very G-rated and very engaging. It'll be some movement, some "cheering on" of whoever is in the middle at the time. We think it's going to be a LOT of fun.  We'd love folks of all ages, sizes, shapes and abilities to come! So if you have any friends or family members who want to tag along, there's no demographic criteria. 
 
After we finish the competition scene, we'll do a quick scene of everyone in the crowd facing us on stage, swaying back and forth in unison, "singing" the words "It's gonna be all right!" to the pre-recorded music that will be playing. No good singing voice required-- no audio will be kept. If you just want to lip sync, you're welcome to. Or if you just want to smile and sway-- that's fine, too!
 
And that's it! If you and your crew aren't too tired, we will ask for a few volunteers at the end to join us in an additional scene wherein you'll walk indoors from the outside and we will "collect" tickets from you. We'll look for about 20-30 people to do that, and you don't need to opt into that until the day of, depending on what you feel that day.
 
Snacks and hot beverages will be provided. Please let me know if there's anyone in your group that has a severe allergy of any sort (something wherein shared plates, etc would cause harm)-- we want to make sure everyone is safe, and also fed. We'll also be handing out fliers that, if you choose to come back to our Album Release show in May, handing over that flier will get you a free CD of the new album (that this video is for). 
 
Here are the lyrics to the song, but only the chorus of the song will be played over the loudspeakers for the purpose of singing along to (in bold below). The song is about trying your best, and sometimes coming up short, but still showing up, anyway. Please note that the words "hell," "damn" and "ass" are all present-- all radio-friendly words that appear in the Bible. If you are not comfortable with these words, they will appear in the video, but will NOT be sung along to by the group.
--
"Ain’t that the way to burn a good spatula,” she said
"Just by stirring the pot, Just by starting your day"
Ain’t that the way to mess up without really trying,
Not mean what you say
Ain’t that the way to really cook my egg.
 
I showed up,
Not at my best,
And I’m starting all over again.
Rock, paper, scissors
That’s my guess,
If it’s gonna be alright
My finest work: this isn’t it;
And I’m starting all over,
All over again.
 
1-2-3 pick a door, any door, it don’t matter which one you try for
They’re all locked or jammed anyway.
No magic word, no ringing bell, just the same old stoop and step--
Oh, hell. I guess I'll take my traveling salesman ass back to Santa Fe.
 
To each her own, won't pick no nits or bones about it,
But I lost and found it
Just to lose it again and again and again and again
 
“Ain’t that the way to burn a good spatula,” she said
"Just by stirring the pot."
Hot damn I’m stirring the pot again!
Ain’t that the way.
--
We do ask that children be accompanied by an adult. Best case scenario, adults participate in the filming as well. But if adults are not wanting to be in the video, please stay on the premises for the duration of the shoot. We want to make sure that in the crowd of people, your child feels safe, and that if it becomes at any point too overwhelming, that they have someone to turn to to take a breather. This will be designed to be a fun, interactive event-- but in large groups, we understand that sometimes people can feel overwhelmed unexpectedly. Ensuring safe adult presence will keep the flow of the shoot, and keep the vibe fun!



The Rough & Tumble
(is Mallory Graham & Scott Tyler)

We're Only Family If You Say So

by The Rough & Tumble

Buy it Now


Contains the 2019 Americana Song of the Year Award-Winning Song
"The Hardest Part"
Buy it now!


Love is Gross (but it looks good on you)