🌡️ Heat Wave Crisis: Is Tucson's Scorching September the New Normal?
🌿 Tree Equity: Bridging the Green Gap in Tucson's Neighborhoods 🏜️ Desert Dilemma: Balancing Water Conservation and Urban Forestry ❄️ Snow Science: The Critical Role of Snowpack in Western Water
Based on the 9/30/24 Buckmaster Show on KVOI-1030AM.
🙊 Notable quotes from the show
Nicole Gillette: "We are looking at social inequities across the city that mirror with our environmental inequities." (Context: Discussing tree equity in Tucson)
Mitch Tobin: "We're dealing with the period since the year 2000 which referred to as millennial drought and these last 24 years or so are considered some of the driest years in more than a thousand." (Context: Explaining the long-term drought in the Western U.S.)
Mark Sykes: "These things might be important to a future self-sustainable space transportation system." (Context: Discussing potential future uses of near-Earth asteroids)
Bill Buckmaster: "I'm hoping this is not the new normal." (Context: Expressing concern about record-breaking heat in Tucson)
⏮️ ICYMI: From the Last Show…
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
🌳🌡️ Tucson is super hot 🥵 and wants to plant lots of trees 🌴 to make the city cooler. Some parts of town don't have many trees, so they're trying to make it fair. 💧 The big rivers out West don't have enough water because it hasn't snowed ❄️ enough for years. 🌠 A tiny moon (really a big rock) is visiting Earth for a few months, which is pretty cool! 🚀 Some astronauts are staying in space longer than planned, but they're doing extra science experiments while they wait to come home. 🧑🔬
🗝️ Takeaways
🌳 Tucson aims to plant 1 million trees, increasing canopy cover from 6% to 15%
🌡️ Record-breaking heat in Tucson may indicate a new climate normal
💧 Western U.S. faces ongoing "millennial drought" despite recent snowpack
🌠 A temporary "mini-moon" asteroid is orbiting Earth until November 25th
🚀 ISS astronauts' mission extended to February due to return vehicle issues
📻 What They Discussed
On September 30, 2024, the Buckmaster Show, hosted by Bill Buckmaster, aired its final episode of the month, covering a range of environmental and space-related topics. The show featured three notable guests:
Nicole Gillette, the City of Tucson's Urban Forest Manager;
Mitch Tobin, co-director of the Water Desk at the University of Colorado Boulder and an environmental journalist focusing on Western water issues; and
Mark Sykes, CEO of the Tucson-based Planetary Science Institute.
Each guest brought their expertise to discuss pressing issues facing Tucson and the broader Southwest region, as well as exciting developments in space exploration.
🌳 Greening Tucson: The Million Trees Project
Nicole Gillette, Tucson's Urban Forest Manager, provided an in-depth look at the city's ambitious Million Trees Project. Launched in May 2020, this initiative aims to dramatically increase Tucson's urban tree canopy from its current average of 6% to a goal of 15%. With 120,000 trees planted so far, the project is making steady progress but still has a long way to go.
Gillette emphasized the importance of tree equity in the project's implementation. Many areas of Tucson, particularly in the west and south sides of the city, have significantly fewer trees than other neighborhoods. This disparity not only affects aesthetics but also has serious implications for public health and energy costs. Areas with fewer trees tend to be hotter, contributing to the urban heat island effect and increasing cooling costs for residents.
The project prioritizes native species such as mesquite, ironwood, and blue palo verde, which are well-adapted to Tucson's arid climate. Gillette also discussed the Tree Center at Los Reales Sustainability Campus, where 1,000 baby trees are being grown for future planting throughout the city.
Proper tree care and watering techniques were highlighted as crucial for the success of the project. Gillette provided tips on how to water trees effectively, emphasizing the importance of deep watering to encourage strong root growth.
🌡️ Climate Crisis: Tucson's Record-Breaking Heat
The show addressed the ongoing issue of record-breaking heat in Tucson, which has extended well into what should be the beginning of the cooler season. With temperatures significantly above the normal 92°F for this time of year, there's growing concern that this extreme heat may become the "new normal" due to climate change.
Mitch Tobin provided context on this issue, explaining that climate models consistently predict more frequent and intense heat waves as global warming continues. This trend has significant implications for public health, energy consumption, and the overall livability of cities like Tucson.
The discussion touched on the broader implications of this heat, including its impact on water resources and the potential for more severe droughts in the future. The connection between urban forestry and heat mitigation was also explored, highlighting the importance of projects like the Million Trees initiative in adapting to a warming climate.
💧 Western Water Woes: Snowpack and River Levels
Mitch Tobin offered insights into the current state of water resources in the Western United States, focusing on the Colorado River and Rio Grande. Despite recent years having decent snowpack, it hasn't been enough to overcome the long-term drought conditions that have persisted since 2000.
Tobin explained the concept of the "millennial drought," describing the past 24 years as one of the driest periods in over a millennium. He emphasized the critical role of snowpack in the region's water supply, acting as a natural reservoir that releases water gradually throughout the year.
The discussion also touched on the potential impacts of La Niña on the upcoming winter's precipitation patterns. While it's too early to make precise predictions, there are concerns that the southern portion of the United States may experience drier conditions, potentially exacerbating the ongoing water challenges.
🌠 Space Frontiers: Mini-Moons and Asteroid Exploration
Mark Sykes, CEO of the Planetary Science Institute, brought exciting news from the realm of space exploration. He discussed the recent discovery of a temporary "mini-moon" - asteroid 2023 FW13 - which entered Earth's orbit on September 29 and will remain until November 25.
Sykes explained the phenomenon of these temporary captured objects, noting that Earth occasionally "catches" small asteroids in its gravitational field. He discussed the potential future importance of near-Earth asteroids as resources for space exploration, particularly for their potential water content which could be used as fuel.
The conversation also touched on the frequency of close asteroid passes and the ongoing efforts to track and study these objects. Sykes shared his vision for future missions that could quickly visit these temporary visitors to learn more about their composition and origins.
🚀 Space Station Update: Extended Mission for Stranded Astronauts
The show concluded with an update on the situation aboard the International Space Station, where some astronauts are facing an extended stay due to issues with their return vehicle. Sykes explained that while the astronauts' original mission was supposed to last only 7-10 days, they will now remain on the station until February.
This extension, while unplanned, allows the astronauts to continue valuable scientific work on the station. Sykes noted that the crew is likely picking up tasks that were originally planned for other missions, making the most of their extended time in space.
The discussion highlighted the flexibility and resilience required in space missions, as well as the ongoing importance of the International Space Station as a platform for scientific research and international cooperation in space.
If you enjoyed this article, buy us a cup of coffee! We 🤎☕‼️
👯 People Mentioned
Nicole Gillette - City of Tucson's Urban Forest Manager Quote: "We are looking at social inequities across the city that mirror with our environmental inequities."
Mitch Tobin - Co-director of the Water Desk at University of Colorado Boulder Quote: "We're dealing with the period since the year 2000 which referred to as millennial drought and these last 24 years or so are considered some of the driest years in more than a thousand."
Mark Sykes - CEO of the Tucson-based Planetary Science Institute Quote: "These things might be important to a future self-sustainable space transportation system."
Bill Buckmaster - Host of the Buckmaster Show Quote: "I'm hoping this is not the new normal."
 | A guest post by
|