Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship Study, Number 5: Bacardi in Ice, Day 5: Pelted by rain

Yes, that's right, rain. The weather has gone nuts.

This morning on Facebook, a friend posted that the temperature in Nuiqsut had risen to 32, with heavy rain and winds of 55 mph. Nuiqsut! Many of you were with me on September 15 when I boated into Nuiqsut from Cross Island with the EMN Crew in a light snow storm. The snow stuck. The temperature dropped into the 20s, then teens.

Mid-September.

Historically, one would have expected the temperature in Nuiqsur to then basically stay below freezing until mid-May, with a warm day this time of year being about -5 F and a cold day -40 or so.

I took this picture at about 4 PM. It was hard to do because the rain was splashing all over my iPhone and it was pretty dark. Now, the rain is turning to snow again. According to the forecast, Wasilla could be flirting with the zero Fahrenheit Mark in a day or two. By then, I should be in Barrow – weather permitting. 

Text added at 5:08 PM. The Squarespace nightmare continues - day 50 and counting.

Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship Study, Number 4: Bacardi in Ice, Day 4: Dusted in snow

Before I continue any further I must note that today's study got corrupted a bit – thanks to the combined influence of weather and two of my grandsons. Early this afternoon, I observed a very few light snowflakes falling in my backyard."This will be perfect for my study!" I thought. I could photograph the Bacardi bottle with just a smattering of snowflakes spread about the frozen surface of the glass. This would provide invaluable information regarding both climate change and environmental stewardship.

Then, just as I was getting ready to head for the bottle, the snow suddenly started falling more heavily. Kalib and Jobe spotted the falling flakes and dashed out the door. Study or no study, I could not just leave my grandsons to play in the snow alone.

So I took my iPhone and went out and frolicked with them and produced the beginning to the snow series I posted earlier this day. Then, instead of walking, I drove to the bottle, but now there was more than just a smattering of flakes across its surface. I would never get that first smattering of flakes on frozen glass. So I shot the bottle just as you see it here, then went back home and shot a few more of the boys playing in the snow.

I hope this doesn't destroy my study altogether. I fear it might.

Text added at 10:07 PM. The Squarespace nightmare continues - day 49 and counting.