Maine's Climate Future: an Initial Assessment
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Time and Tides in the Gulf of Maine a Dockside Dialogue Between Two Old Friends
1 Time and Tides in the Gulf of Maine A dockside dialogue between two old friends by David A. Brooks It's impossible to visit Maine's coast and not notice the tides. The twice-daily rise and fall of sea level never fails to impress, especially downeast, toward the Canadian border, where the tidal range can exceed twenty feet. Proceeding northeastward into the Bay of Fundy, the range grows steadily larger, until at the head of the bay, "moon" tides of greater than fifty feet can leave ships wallowing in the mud, awaiting the water's return. My dockside companion, nodding impatiently, interrupts: Yes, yes, but why is this so? Why are the tides so large along the Maine coast, and why does the tidal range increase so dramatically northeastward? Well, my friend, before we address these important questions, we should review some basic facts about the tides. Here, let me sketch a few things that will remind you about our place in the sky. A quiet rumble, as if a dark cloud had suddenly passed overhead. Didn’t expect a physics lesson on this beautiful day. 2 The only physics needed, my friend, you learned as a child, so not to worry. The sketch is a top view, looking down on the earth’s north pole. You see the moon in its monthly orbit, moving in the same direction as the earth’s rotation. And while this is going on, the earth and moon together orbit the distant sun once a year, in about twelve months, right? Got it skippah. -
Maine's Climate Future—2020 Update
MAINE’S CLIMATE FUTURE— 2020 UPDATE Maine’s Climate Future 2020 update 1 Table of Contents MAINE’S CLIMATE FUTURE 2020 ................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Maine’s climate continues to change, and fast. .................................................................................................... 6 Precipitation is increasing in frequency and intensity. .............................................................................................. 9 What about drought? ............................................................................................................................................... 12 Winter is the fastest changing season. .................................................................................................................... 15 The Gulf of Maine is getting warmer. ...................................................................................................................... 21 The chemistry of the Gulf of Maine is changing. ..................................................................................................... 23 Rising sea levels lead to more frequent flooding. .................................................................................................... 25 Our growing weather vocabulary ........................................................................................................................... -
Ecoregions of New England Forested Land Cover, Nutrient-Poor Frigid and Cryic Soils (Mostly Spodosols), and Numerous High-Gradient Streams and Glacial Lakes
58. Northeastern Highlands The Northeastern Highlands ecoregion covers most of the northern and mountainous parts of New England as well as the Adirondacks in New York. It is a relatively sparsely populated region compared to adjacent regions, and is characterized by hills and mountains, a mostly Ecoregions of New England forested land cover, nutrient-poor frigid and cryic soils (mostly Spodosols), and numerous high-gradient streams and glacial lakes. Forest vegetation is somewhat transitional between the boreal regions to the north in Canada and the broadleaf deciduous forests to the south. Typical forest types include northern hardwoods (maple-beech-birch), northern hardwoods/spruce, and northeastern spruce-fir forests. Recreation, tourism, and forestry are primary land uses. Farm-to-forest conversion began in the 19th century and continues today. In spite of this trend, Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type, quality, and 5 level III ecoregions and 40 level IV ecoregions in the New England states and many Commission for Environmental Cooperation Working Group, 1997, Ecological regions of North America – toward a common perspective: Montreal, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, 71 p. alluvial valleys, glacial lake basins, and areas of limestone-derived soils are still farmed for dairy products, forage crops, apples, and potatoes. In addition to the timber industry, recreational homes and associated lodging and services sustain the forested regions economically, but quantity of environmental resources; they are designed to serve as a spatial framework for continue into ecologically similar parts of adjacent states or provinces. they also create development pressure that threatens to change the pastoral character of the region. -
The Role of Protein O-Mannosyltransferase in The
THE ROLE OF PROTEIN O-MANNOSYLTRANSFERASE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DROSOPHILA TORSION PHENOTYPES A Dissertation by RYAN ANDREW BAKER Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Vladislav Panin Committee Members, Gary Kunkel Lanying Zeng Paul Hardin Head of Department, Gregory Reinhart December 2016 Major Subject: Biochemistry Copyright 2016 Ryan Baker ABSTRACT Congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD’s) are serious diseases affecting muscle, brain, eye, and other tissues and often result in premature death of patients. These forms of muscular dystrophy are largely underlain by defects in the glycosylation of dystroglycan, and specifically by defects in the O-mannosylation pathway. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a good model system for studying many genetic diseases, including CMD’s, as they utilize many of the same molecular processes as mammals. They have homologues of mammalian Protein O-MannosylTransferase (POMT) 1 and 2 which have been shown to O-mannosylate dystroglycan. In this dissertation I studied the biological defects associated with POMT mutations primarily by using a live imaging approach in Drosophila. In Drosophila the most prominent defect associated with POMT mutations is a clockwise torsion of posterior abdominal segments relative to anterior segments. The mechanism by which this torsion arises was not previously known. Here I characterized the gross physiological mechanism by which torsion arises. I showed that it is present at the embryonic stage, that embryos undergo chiral rolling within their shells during peristaltic contractions, and that abnormal contraction patterning in POMT mutants leads to differential rolling that gives rise to torsion of the dorsal midline. -
A Changing Nutrient Regime in the Gulf of Maine
ARTICLE IN PRESS Continental Shelf Research 30 (2010) 820–832 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Continental Shelf Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/csr A changing nutrient regime in the Gulf of Maine David W. Townsend Ã, Nathan D. Rebuck, Maura A. Thomas, Lee Karp-Boss, Rachel M. Gettings University of Maine, School of Marine Sciences, 5706 Aubert Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5741, United States article info abstract Article history: Recent oceanographic observations and a retrospective analysis of nutrients and hydrography over the Received 13 July 2009 past five decades have revealed that the principal source of nutrients to the Gulf of Maine, the deep, Received in revised form nutrient-rich continental slope waters that enter at depth through the Northeast Channel, may have 4 January 2010 become less important to the Gulf’s nutrient load. Since the 1970s, the deeper waters in the interior Accepted 27 January 2010 Gulf of Maine (4100 m) have become fresher and cooler, with lower nitrate (NO ) but higher silicate Available online 16 February 2010 3 (Si(OH)4) concentrations. Prior to this decade, nitrate concentrations in the Gulf normally exceeded Keywords: silicate by 4–5 mM, but now silicate and nitrate are nearly equal. These changes only partially Nutrients correspond with that expected from deep slope water fluxes correlated with the North Atlantic Gulf of Maine Oscillation, and are opposite to patterns in freshwater discharges from the major rivers in the region. Decadal changes We suggest that accelerated melting in the Arctic and concomitant freshening of the Labrador Sea in Arctic melting Slope waters recent decades have likely increased the equatorward baroclinic transport of the inner limb of the Labrador Current that flows over the broad continental shelf from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland to the Gulf of Maine. -
The Effects of Climate Change on Economic Activity in Maine
CLIMATE CHANGE AND MAINE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY The Effects of Climate Climate change can have significant ramifications for Maine’s economy. If short-term projections for the next Change on century are accurate, at minimum sea level rise will become Economic increasingly noticeable in association with more severe and destructive coastal storms. Charles Colgan and Samuel Activity Merrill evaluate risk estimates by presenting a case study in Maine: of the projected consequences of sea level rise and coastal Coastal York County storm damage on the economy of the state’s most vulnerable Case Study area, York County’s coastal communities. by Charles S. Colgan Samuel B. Merrill 66 · MAINE POLICY REVIEW · Fall/Winter 2008 View current & previous issues of MPR at: mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/?q=MPR CLIMATE CHANGE AND MAINE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY All discussions of INTRODUCTION sea level rise, in one area of Maine’s coast, York County, climate change iscussions of the economic effects of climate to illustrate how the potential Dchange are necessary, difficult, and controversial. effects on costs, risks, and time must start with the They are necessary because economic effects are the need to be better understood. way in which most people will most fully experience All discussions of climate acknowledgment the realities of climate change. Thus, developing and change must start with acknowl- sharing an understanding of these effects will moti- edgment of the uncertainty of the uncertainty vate people to act. They are difficult because to all of surrounding the pace and degree the uncertainties surrounding the extent and speed of of climate change itself. -
Synthesis of Aquatic Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for the Interior West
FINAL REPORT: SYNTHESIS OF AQUATIC CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS FOR THE INTERIOR WEST MARCH 31ST, 2015 This report was produced by the Rocky Mountain Research Station as part of the Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperative project “Vulnerability Assessments: Synthesis and Applications for Aquatic Species and their habitats in the Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperative”IA#R13PG80650 Report authors: Megan M. Friggens United States Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Albuquerque, New Mexico Carly K. Woodlief United States Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Albuquerque, New Mexico For More Information or to request a copy of this report or data, please contact: Megan Friggens Rocky Mountain Research Station 333 Broadway SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 [email protected] Cover: Adapted From Averyt et al. 2013. Sectoral contributions to surface water stress in the coterminous United States. Environmental Research Letters 8: 035046 (9pp). 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Vulnerability Assessments ........................................................................................................................ 6 Vulnerability Assessment Approaches ..................................................................................................... -
BME-011 Maine Cyclist AR Spring 2020 R4 1.Indd
SPRING/SUMMER 2020 The voice of bicyclists and pedestrians in Maine THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE CONTENTS 2 How Are You Doing? 3 Born to Ride 4 Open and Shut The case for bicycle shops as COVID-19, essential businesses 7 climate change, and cycling 7 A Chance for Change Has the COVID-19 pandemic inadvertently presented an opportunity to think critically about climate change both globally and locally? 9 The Bicycle The most effeicient locomotion, 140 years and counting 11 Bicycles, Walkers, and the governor's Climate Council You can't beat the bike 9 13 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 20 Our Membership A seat at the Governor's table 11 22 Ransom Consulting, LLC A Yellow Jersey Club Business 24 Jim's Corner Advocacy Updates ANNUAL 13 REPORT 2019 This issue wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated, hardworking folks at Springtide Studio in Portland and Edison Press in Sanford. We are truly lucky to have them as partners. MAINE CYCLIST SPRING 2020 | 1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS How Are You Doing? Born to Ride STAFF Jean Sideris, Tina West BY TINA WEST, PRESIDENT BY JEAN SIDERIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Executive Director President [email protected] Yarmouth Eliza Cress, Bill Muldoon Communications and Vice President Development Manager Harpswell all to enjoy, at no cost, courtesy of the Butler MY LOVE OF CYCLING started young, when I [email protected] Conservation Fund. Thank you, Mr. Butler! was ‘knee high to grasshopper,’ as my Dad would Erik daSilva, Safety Kierie Piccininni And last, but by no means least, I was awed by say. I would ride in the seat on the back of his red Education Coordinator Secretary [email protected] Bangor the scenery. -
Environmental Assessment
NEW ENGLAND CLEAN ENERGY CONNECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOE/EA-2155 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ELECTRICITY WASHINGTON, DC JANUARY 2021 This page intentionally left blank. TABLE OF CONTENTS APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................. V FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................ V TABLES .......................................................................................................................................... V ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................ VII 1. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 PRESIDENTIAL PERMITS .................................................................................................... 2 1.2 SCOPE OF DOE’S ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ................................................................ 2 1.3 RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS .......................................................................... 3 1.3.1 Department of the Army Environmental Assessment and Statement of Findings for the Above-Referenced Standard Individual Permit Application [i.e., CENAE-RDC; NAE-2017-01342]” (July 7, 2020) and Environmental Assessment Addendum; Central Maine Power Company (CMP); New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC); File No. NAE-2017-01342 -
Review of Circulation Studies and Modeling in Casco Bay Asa 2011-32
REVIEW OF CIRCULATION STUDIES AND MODELING IN CASCO BAY ASA 2011-32 PREPARED FOR: Casco Bay Estuarine Partnership (CBEP) University of Southern Maine, Muskie School PO Box 9300 34 Bedford St 228B Wishcamper Center Portland, ME 04104-9300 PREPARED BY: Malcolm L. Spaulding Applied Science Associates 55 Village Square Drive South Kingstown, RI 02880 DATE SUBMITTED July 11, 2011 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Applied Science Associates (ASA) was contracted by the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) to prepare a report reviewing the state of knowledge of circulation in Casco Bay, discussing relevant hydrodynamic modeling approaches and supporting observation programs. A summary of the final report of this study (the present document) was presented at a two day, Casco Bay Circulation Modeling Workshop held on May 18-19, 2011 at the Eastland Park Hotel, Portland, Maine. At the conclusion of the workshop a brief consensus summary was prepared and provided in this report. The review identified four efforts focused on modeling the circulation of Casco Bay and the adjacent shelf waters. These included the following: Pearce et al (1996) application of the NOAA Model for Estuarine and Coastal Circulation Assessment (MECCA) model (Hess, 1998) (funded by CBEP); True and Manning’s (undated) application of the unstructured grid Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM) model (Chen et al, 2003); McCay et al (2008) application of ASA’s Boundary Fitted Hydrodynamic Model (BFHYRDO), and Xue and Du(2010) application of the Princeton Ocean Model (POM) (Mellor, 2004). All models were applied in a three dimensional mode and featured higher resolution of the inner bay than of the adjacent shelf. -
An Ecological Assessment of Hurricane Island, Maine
PIECES, PATTERNS, & PROCESSES: AN ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF Hurricane Island, Maine PREPARED BY: Benjamin Lemmond M.S. CANDIDATE FIELD NATURALIST PROGRAM THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT MAY 2016 HURRICANE ISLAND PENOBSCOT BAY, MAINE Aerial photograph of Hurricane Island courtesy of HICSL TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 executive summary 5 introduction 6 granite 12 glaciers 18 climate 28 human history 37 soils 42 natural communities 52 spruce-fir forests 59 wildlife 63 protecting Hurricane’s resources i-v appendicies Acknowledgements Spending a summer on Hurricane Island was the priviledge of a lifetime. I am deeply grateful to all of the committed, cre- ative, and spirited employees (both on and off-island), board members, interns, community members, visitors and volun- teers who make the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership possible. I am especially grateful to Cait Cleaver for her oversight and support throughout this process. Sam Hallowell, Pheobe Jekielek, Jenn Page, Oakley Jackson, Josie Gates, Micah Conkling, Alice Anderson, and Chloe Tremper were all incredibly gracious and helpful in integrating me into the every- day functions of the island and taking the time to lend me their own knowledge, experiences, and the occasional boat ride. I could not have asked for a better support team on the Vermont side, including my advisor, Dr. Jeff Hughes, and commit- tee members Dr. David Barrington and Dr. Josef Gorres. Their thoughtful comments, questions, and insistence on quality made this project a piece of work I am proud of. Their sincere interest in my professional and academic development is a gift whose value is beyond measure. 1 Executive Summary In the summer of 2015, I conducted an ecological assessment of Hurricane Island, a 125-acre island in the West Penobscot Bay of Maine. -
Population Status of Arctic, Common, and Roseate Terns in the Gulf of Maine with Observations of Five Downeast Colonies
POPULATION STATUS OF ARCTIC, COMMON, AND ROSEATE TERNS IN THE GULF OF MAINE WITH OBSERVATIONS OF FIVE DOWNEAST COLONIES. prepared by: David C. ~olger and Matthew P. Drennan -1- Declines in numbers of Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea~ Common Terns S.hirundo, and Roseate Terns S.dougallii, throughout the northeast have been noted since 1940 (Drury 1973, Korshgen 1978, Nisbet 1973). Recent observations of Arctic and Common Terns in the Gulf of Maine have indicated a continuation and potential heightening of trends noted over the past forty years. Comparisons between counts of Arctic Terns by Drury in 1972-73 (Drury, 1973) and by Drury and Folger in 1983 (unpublished data), have indicated a population decline of as much as 40% over the last decade. Furthermore, the most recent complete survey of Common Terns in the state, done in 1977, indicated a parallel decline of 30%. Reductions in breeding habitat and in number of Roseate Terns has prompted ·fedet·"~"d considet-aticln ·fol~ "thl~eab~rH?~d" ~;;tatus (Nisbet, 1980). Because of a concern for terns in general and warnings indicated by previous surveys our work was initiated to further clarify the tern situation in the Gulf of Maine and to investigate the reasons for the decline in numbers. In the summer of 1984 we censused the outer islands of the Maine coast for terns from Metinic Island, at the western edge of Penobscot Bay, to Old Man Island, east of Cutler. We made detailed observations on five of the islands in order to examine the various factors that influence tern production.