VT Intro to Physical Geography

Crowd control and protective fencing is being installed around the Old Growth Forest. There are plans for reforestation around the edges of the woods. Stay tuned for progress photos.

A new analysis has revealed the most effective climate policies out of 1500 implemented worldwide over the last two decades.

Learn more in Science: https://scim.ag/8ar

Indeed!

Take a picture, it’ll last longer!

While you’re in a park, take great pictures and protect the things you come to enjoy, as well as yourself and other photographers, by following these simple rules:

📸 Oh, snap! Zoom with your lens, not your feet.

📸 Stay on designated trails and walkways.

📸 Park in roadside pullouts to snap a pic.

📸 Felt cute, might be in pain later. Selfie goals should not include 2500 pound wild animals.

Learn more photography tips at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/photography

Image: A trail sign that reads, “Take nothing but pictures…leave nothing but footprints” at Tuzigoot National Monument, AZ.

Woohoo VT Storm Chase underway!

Helpful terminology

I made this graphic for y'all cause there seems to be a lot of misunderstanding around these terms.

Native plants originated and evolved where they're growing.

Non-native or exotic plants originated and evolved somewhere other than where they're growing. Sometimes "exotic" is used specifically for a species from a different continent, other times it's used interchangeably with "non-native."

Not all non-native plants are invasive or harmful, but all invasive plants are non-native. However, non-native plants don't support wildlife the way natives do, and non-natives that aren't invasive generally require more maintenance than native plants.

Naturalized species are those that were introduced to the region by humans (non-native) and has populations that are self-sustaining without the help of humans after initial introduction. This can include invasive species, but it can also include species that don't cause any harm. There are naturalized species in the US that are protected as if they were native.

Invasive plants are NON-NATIVE ~and~ harmful to native ecosystems, the health of animals, humans, and other plants, etc. They often overtake large areas like forests, roadsides, farmland, etc. and outcompete native plants and destroy biodiversity. Native plants cannot be invasive.

Noxious weeds are regulated by governing bodies, usually in agriculture, and refer to plants that are "injurious" to other beings. Noxious weeds can include native plants, for example, if a plant is native to the region it's growing but it's poisonous if eaten by livestock, it may be classified as noxious.

Read about the importance of nurse logs...

Plant Virginia Natives Initiative - Animation on the habitat benefits of Virginia Native Trees Animation highlights the wildlife benefits of native trees.

A place close to many of our hearts at VT

https://youtu.be/oI8dL5gXwys

Scientists Genetically Modify Mosquitoes to Reduce their Numbers The Aedes aegypti mosquito is responsible for spreading serious diseases like dengue virus, Zika virus, yellow fever, and chikungunya. Historically, scientis...

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/clouds-wildfire-smoke-rain-climate

Clouds affected by wildfire smoke may produce less rain As wildfires become more frequent in the western United States, these low-rain clouds could exacerbate drought, fueling more fires.

"Lake heatwaves – when surface water temperatures rise above their average for longer than five days – are a relatively new phenomenon."

Climate change: world's lakes are in hot water – threatening rare wildlife The lives of one in ten of Earth's species are connected to lakes and their tributaries.