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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Snowing at Phantom Ranch (Grand Canyon)

From Grand Canyon National Park:




Snowing at Phantom Ranch This Morning !
...and it is still coming down. NPS photo by Adam Sherman.

Want to learn more about Phantom Ranch, the historic oasis nestled at the bottom of Grand Canyon? Watch our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJLRkeq63PE

Photographer Didn’t Even Notice How Close Surfer Came to Danger Until He Got Home and Saw This Video | Video | TheBlaze.com

A photographer has seemingly captured video of a shark jumping out of the water near a surfer in southern California.



Photographer Didn’t Even Notice How Close Surfer Came to Danger Until He Got Home and Saw This Video | Video | TheBlaze.com

Happy New Year to everyone. Peace Bridge over the Bow, Calgary, AB.

Photo courtesy of Glen Boulier:



Northern Lights

From the U.S. Department of the Interior:




Here's an amazing display of the northern lights over Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. — at Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.

Australia's Ephemeral Lake Mackay

From NASA's Earth Observatory:




Water in Australia's salt lakes can be fleeting, but provides vital wetland habitat for plants and animals. Read more at http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84984&src=fb

Tropical Depression Jangmi

From NASA's Hurricane Web Page:




NW PACIFIC OCEAN *Full Update* NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP Satellite Sees Strong Wind Shear Tearing Tropical Depression Jangmi Apart. Jangmi encountered strong southeasterly vertical wind shear in the Sulu Sea and NPP captured a visible picture of the storm on Dec. 31. FULL UPDATE: 
http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/jangmi-south-china-sea

System 95B

From NASA's Hurricane Web Page:




NO INDIAN OCEAN - System 95B Still has a low chance of becoming a tropical depression in the next 24 hours, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). It is centered near 13.5 north and 84.5 east, about 280 nautical miles south of Visakhapatnam, India. 

Recent animated multi-spectral satellite imagery shows fragmented bands of thunderstorms north of the ill-defined center . The JTWC gives this a low chance of development in the next 24 hours. 
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellites captured this image of the storm today.

Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve

From NOAA Digital Coast:




#NERRS Fun Fact: Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve in Wisconsin is the southern-most extent of the range of #boreal forests.http://1.usa.gov/13aH6w7

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Space Station Crew Members Discuss Life in Space at Holidays with the Media - YouTube

December 30, 2014



Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Commander Barry Wilmore of NASA and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency discussed their research activities aboard the laboratory and life away from Earth during the holiday season during a pair of in-flight interviews Dec. 30. Wilmore has been aboard the complex since late September while Cristoforetti has been living and working on the outpost since late November.



Video (14:01)



Space Station Crew Members Discuss Life in Space at Holidays with the Media - YouTube

Young Talent

December 30, 2014

From Grand Canyon National Park:




Photo By: Romello (age 10), Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson and Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus Programparticipant in 2014. 

For more great workshop images, visit flickr:https://flic.kr/s/aHsk3uPirg -adr

Amazing Sights at Acadia National Park

December 30, 2014

From U.S. Department of the Interior:




Acadia National Park has some amazing sights to see.#Maine — at Acadia National Park.

Teton Park Road

December 30, 2014

From Grand Teton National Park:




The Teton Park Road was groomed this morning, and should also be groomed every Friday for the rest of the winter season! For current conditions call our Road Conditions Hotline at 307.739.3682. And even though we never got above -2 degrees Fahrenheit today, people still got out to enjoy their beautiful park. What are some of your favorite memories of winter?

Alpine Wildflowers

December 30, 2014

From Rocky Mountain National Park:




Looking back... last summer was a spectacular alpine wildflower season. Do you have a favorite Rocky memory from 2014? NPS photo by VIP Schonlau cl

Three Sisters -- Canmore, Alberta.

Photo courtesy of Glen Boulier:



Storm Watch

December 30, 2014

From Joshua Tree National Park:




Could Joshua Tree soon look like this? The#NewYearsStorm is on its way, and there is a winter weather advisory for the area starting this afternoon. If you're visiting the park, be prepared for cold, snow, and the potential for treacherous driving conditions. 

Check the current weather forecast from the National Weather Service: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=CAZ030#.VKHDEV4A4

Photo by Robb Hannawacker from a snowstorm in 2010.

Texas Reporter Shows Off Unexpected Talent With a Mouthful of a Warm-Up Performance

December 30, 2014



Video (1:39)



Texas Reporter Shows Off Unexpected Talent With a Mouthful of a Warm-Up Performance

Centennial YouTube Project - YouTube

December 30, 2014

From Rocky Mountain National Park:

Video (1:13)



Centennial YouTube Project - YouTube

Photo of Grand Canyon by Young Photographer

December 30, 2014

From Grand Canyon National Park:




Photo by Pablo, age 12, Boys and Girls Club of Tucson and Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus Programparticipant. -adr

Road Less Traveled

December 30, 2014

From Glacier National Park:




Sometimes, the road less traveled is the one to be on. (ms)

Cold Day at Mammoth Hot Springs

December 30, 2014

From Yellowstone National Park:




18 below zero for sunrise this morning at Mammoth Hot Springs.

Cold Day at Glacier National Park

December 30, 2014

From Glacier National Park:




Sun, wind, waves whipping at the shore...surreal. And beautiful. And cold. (ms)

Windows Wonderland

December 30, 2014

From Arches National Park:




Windows wonderland. (kt)

Beautiful Morning

December 30, 2014

From Great River and Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuges:




Another beautiful morning sunrise at the Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge! So nice to finally have some sunny days!

Quote of the Day

December 30, 2014

From Rocky Mountain National Park:




Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. -Hal Borland (NPS/Ranger Smith) ks

At Grand Geyser

December 30, 2014

From Yellowstone National Park:




Cold is no obstacle to appreciating Grand Geyser. Snowshoes, skis, and solid boots make the dramatic action of winter eruptions in the Upper Geyser Basin accessible to many. Good gear, good times!

Badger Pass Yosemite Ski Area

December 30, 2014

From Yosemite National Park:




Check out this "forest of skis" from 1942 at Badger Pass Yosemite Ski Area! Compare this view with the modern webcam at http://www.yosemitepark.com/badger-webcam.aspx

Icy Conditions at Arches National Park

December 30, 2014

From Arches National Park:




Roads and trails are VERY ICY throughout the park. The end of the Delicate Arch trail is 200 yards of solid ice; some folks (pictured) are crawling to avoid sliding off the trail. Do not attempt this hike without traction devices and/or trekking poles. Better bet = see Delicate Arch safely from the Viewpoint at the end of the road. (kh, photo by kt)

Alexander Gerst’s Earth timelapses - YouTube

Pretty cool!


Six Minutes of Earth
Watch Earth roll by from the perspective of European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst in this six-minute time-lapse video. The video was made by combining 12,500 images Gerst took during his six-month mission on the International Space Station. Keep your eye out for auroras, sunrises, clouds, stars, oceans, lightning, cities at night, and the thin band of atmosphere that surrounds our planet. Video by the European Space Agency.


Video (6:10)



Alexander Gerst’s Earth timelapses - YouTube

(Not Real Snow)

December 30, 2014

From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):




Brrrrrrrrr - it's cold in the Plains and snow is expected in the western United States and Great Lakes. Not surprising for this time of year, but did you know it "snows" in the ocean too? Here's more... http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/marinesnow.html

Tranquil Riviera Bay adjacent to Gnejna Bay in the background, Malta

Photo courtesy of Joe Schembri:



The Times They Are a-Changin'

December 30, 2014

From NASA's Earth Observatory:




With consistent records of satellite observations that date back decades, it's possible to literally see Earth changing over time. Some changes are part of Earth's natural atmospheric and geologic rhythms. The responsibility for other changes, such as the shrinking of the Aral Sea and the Antarctic ozone hole, falls squarely on humanity’s shoulders. Our World of Change series documents how our planet’s land, oceans, atmosphere, and Sun are changing over time. See the World of Change galleries at
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/

Rugged Terrain

December 30, 2014

From Chiricahua National Monument:



Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (CSNM)

December 30, 2014

From U.S. Department of the Interior:




Located at the crossroads of the Cascade, Klamath, and Siskiyou mountain ranges, scientists have long recognized the outstanding ecological values of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (CSNM). The convergence of three geologically distinct mountain ranges resulted in an area with remarkable biological diversity and a tremendously varied landscape. Many archaeological and historical sites are also found throughout the CSNM, providing clues to Native American use of the area and tracing portions of the historic Oregon/California Trail. One of the easiest ways to experience this unique landscape include hiking the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail which meanders some 19 miles through the Monument or reserving a campsite at the Monument's Hyatt Lake Recreation Area.

Photo: Bob Wick, BLM

Monday, December 29, 2014

2014 in Review: New Farm Bill Allows Kansas Family to Purchase Home

From USDA:


Megan Estrada and her children enjoy a swing on the porch of their new home financed by a USDA Rural Development home loan guarantee.
Megan Estrada and her children enjoy a swing on the porch of their new home financed by a USDA Rural Development home loan guarantee.
2014 will soon be in our collective rear view mirrors, and USDA Rural Development has had an incredibly productive year. This week we are looking back on stories from the year that illustrate the impact our programs have on rural communities. Here’s a story out of our Kansas State Office from June.
Megan Estrada and her three children are excited to spend time on their new home’s porch – a home they just moved into this summer. Prior to purchasing their own home, Estrada and her children had spent the last nine years in an apartment in Dodge City, Kansas.
Estrada tried to buy a home four years ago, but with no solid credit history was unable to secure a loan through conventional home financing. For the next four years Estrada built up her credit, then in May of this year she heard that USDA would be offering home loans in Dodge City and called her banker to see how to apply.
With the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill, Dodge City became eligible for USDA Housing Programs. The Farm Bill contained language that changed the definition of a rural area for USDA’s Housing Program; the new definition allowed areas with populations of up to 35,000 that are rural in character to be eligible for USDA Housing Programs – which made Dodge City eligible.
In June, Estrada was the first Dodge City resident to purchase a home by utilizing USDA’s Guaranteed Rural Housing Program. Landmark National Bank provided the loan on Estrada’s three-bedroom home, which is guaranteed by USDA Rural Development.
“I am prepared to accept the responsibility of homeownership, and am looking forward to it,” said Estrada. “The kids enjoy having a backyard to play in, and I like allowing them to play outside where I know they are safe.”
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has helped more than 11,000 Kansas residents purchase a home.
As the new year begins, we in Rural Development look forward to a productive 2015 and the continued opportunity to promote, develop, and support the way of life in the rural communities that support agriculture across our nation.

Beautiful Night Scene

From U.S. Department of the Interior:




Gorgeous night scene in Joshua Tree National Park by Sal Cavazos. — at Joshua Tree National Park.

Looking Back

From NASA:




Engineers from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), who joined NASA after its creation, tested, developed, and recommended one of the most vital technologies that the United States needed in order to successfully launch the Saturn rockets in the 1960s. These engineers had become experts in the field of high-energy propellants, particularly liquid hydrogen, and believed it should be used to power the upper stages of the Saturn rocket. Read more: http://1.usa.gov/1wYDxoB

Frosty Morning at Bull Shoals Dam.

From Little Rock District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:



Peek-A-Boo!




BLM Winter Bucket List #7: Trona Pinnacles,... | My Public Lands

From Bureau of Land Management - California:





Don't miss ‪#‎Winter‬ ‪#‎BLMbucketlist‬ #7: BLM-California's Trona Pinnacles, for out of this world rock formations! ‪#‎DiscoverTheDesert‬ ‪#‎SeeBLM‬http://tmblr.co/Z9wNeu1Z78_Wq



BLM Winter Bucket List #7: Trona Pinnacles,... | My Public Lands

Cushwa Basin

From Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park:




Cushwa Basin, yesterday morning. Photo by a C&O Canal Law Enforcement Officer. Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Kaskaskia River Lock & Dam

From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters:




Did you know….that our Mississippi Valley Division has 62 locks within its boundary: 29 on the Mississippi River; 8 on the Illinois River; 6 on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, La.; 5 on the Red River, La.; 4 on the Ouachita and Black rivers, Ark. & La.; 1 on the Kaskaskia River, Ill.; 1 on Old River, La.; 1 on Bayou Teche, La.; 3 in the Atchafalaya Basin, La.; 1 on Freshwater Bayou, La.; and 3 on the West Pearl River, La. (Photo of the Kaskaskia River L&D)

British Columbia's Takakkaw Falls -- Fall Day.

Photo courtesy of Glen Boulier:



Winged Figures of the Republic

From the Bureau of Reclamation:




The Winged Figures of the Republic on the Nevada side of Hoover Dam are 30 ft tall and were sculpted by Oskar J.W. Hansen.

Lake Superior

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region:




Sometimes winter is best viewed in black and white!

Photo: Lake Superior courtesy of Randen Pederson/Creative Commons.

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Looking southeast.  December 26, 2014.


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Looking across the valley of the lake.  December 26, 2014.


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Emergency Spillway.  December 26, 2014.


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Principal Spillway Outlet Structure.  December 26, 2014


Saturday, December 27, 2014

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Principal spillway, Lone Jack Lake dam.  December 26, 2014.


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Principal spillway, Lone Jack Lake dam.  December 26, 2014.


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East arm, Lone Jack Lake from dam crest.  Looking upstream.  December 26, 2014.


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Downstream face, Lone Jack Lake Dam.  December 26, 2014.


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Upstream face, Lone Jack Lake Dam.  December 26, 2014.


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Lone Jack Lake Dam.  December 26, 2014.


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East arm, Lone Jack Lake.  Looking upstream.  December 26, 2014.


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Taking in the ambience at Lone Jack Lake.  December 26, 2014.