Earth and Space News: October 2013

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Second 2013 Solar Eclipse Is a Hybrid Solar Eclipse Sunday, Nov. 3

Summary: The second 2013 solar eclipse is a rare hybrid solar eclipse Sunday, Nov. 3, favoring the Atlantic Ocean with brief annularity and then totality.

Earth visibility chart and eclipse statistics for hybrid solar eclipse of Nov. 3, 2013: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA GSFC Emeritus," via NASA Eclipse Web Site

The second 2013 solar eclipse is a rare hybrid solar eclipse Sunday, Nov. 3, with a flash of annularity favoring the western North Atlantic Ocean and a predominance of totality favoring most of the North Atlantic Ocean and passing through Central Africa for an exit at East Africa’s Horn.

November’s hybrid solar eclipse is doubly rare. Hybrid solar eclipses are the rarest of the four types of solar eclipses. In the 21st century, only seven of the century’s 224 solar eclipses are hybrid.

November’s hybrid solar eclipse displays rarity in its components. Hybrid eclipses mostly have central paths that begin in annularity, switch to totality and then revert to annularity before ending. Instead, November’s hybrid features brief annularity, lengthy totality and no return to annularity.

The region of the moon’s three-part shadow that traverses Earth’s surface determines a solar eclipse’s classification. Annularity represents the casting of the antumbra (Latin: ante “before” + umbra “shadow”) onto Earth’s surface. The antumbra comprises the lighter, outer extension of the shadow’s dark, innermost umbral region. Totality brings into play the moon’s umbral shadow.

Hybrid solar eclipses involve successive entries into the antumbra and the umbra. On the NASA Eclipse Web Site, retired astrophysicist Fred Espenak, known as “Mr. Eclipse,” explains: “The duality comes about when the vertex of the Moon’s umbral shadow pierces Earth’s surface at some locations, but falls short of the planet along other sections of the path.” The curvature of Earth’s surface accounts for a hybrid’s “unusual geometry.” Some geographic locations fall within the umbra while the antumbra touches other, more distant places.

November 2013’s hybrid solar eclipse begins with entry of Earth’s surface into the lunar antumbra. Start time for the hybrid’s thin corridor is Sunday, Nov. 3, at 11:05:17.1 Universal Time (6:05:17 a.m. EST Eastern Standard Time). Starting location is the western North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1,000 kilometers (621.37 miles) due east of Jacksonville, Duval County, northeastern Florida. The NASA Eclipse Web Site clocks the location’s annular visibility, which occurs at sunrise, at 4 seconds.

After this first appearance, the path’s initially thin width of only 4 kilometers (2.48 miles) quickly narrows to zero. In total, the path of annularity only claims the first 15 seconds of the lunar shadow’s trajectory across Earth’s surface.

Annularity now switches to totality as Earth’s surface exits from the moon’s antumbra and enters into the lunar umbra. The path of totality quickly widens during its southeastward course over the open waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. By 11:10 UT, the path’s width measures 13 kilometers (8.07 miles).

Totality also increases. A totality of 16 seconds at 11:10 UT almost doubles within eight seconds. At 11:18 UT, totality lasts for 30 seconds.

At 12:00 UT (11 a.m. CVT Cape Verde Time), the path of totality glides 500 kilometers (310.68 miles) south of the Republic of Cabo Verde (Portuguese: República de Cabo Verde), an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. The path’s central line, which tracks the trek of the lunar shadow cone’s central axis across Earth’s surface, experiences totality of 1 minute 18 seconds. The sun’s altitude measures 57 degrees above the horizon. The path claims a width of 56 kilometers (34.79 miles).

Greatest eclipse represents the instant of the closest passage of the lunar shadow cone’s axis to Earth’s center. The November 2013 hybrid solar eclipse’s greatest eclipse takes place at 12:46:28.6 UT in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 330 kilometers (205.05 miles) southwest of the west central African coastal Republic of Liberia.

At greatest eclipse, totality registers a maximum duration of 1 minute 39 seconds. The path of totality widens to 57 kilometers (35.41 miles). The sun’s altitude rises to 71 degrees above the horizon.

Landfall occurs at 13:51 UT (2:51 p.m. WAT West Africa Time) in the Wonga Wongue Reserve (Réserve de Wonga Wongué) on the northwest coast of Gabon (French: République gabonaise). The central line experiences totality of 1 minute 7 seconds. The sun has an altitude of 46 degrees above the horizon.

The Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia fall within the path’s steadily increasing northeasterly curve. Totality takes place at 14:22 UT (5:22 p.m. EAT Eastern Africa Time) at Uganda’s western border and lasts for only 23 seconds. Over northern Kenya’s Lake Turkana, totality happens at 14:25 UT (5:25 p.m. EAT) and has a duration of 14 seconds.

Quick passage across southern Ethiopia leads to an end of totality at 14:27 UT (5:27 p.m. EAT) at Somalia on the Horn of Africa. Somalia’s totality occurs at sunset and lasts one second.

“Mr. Eclipse” lists November’s duration of 1 minute 40 seconds as the longest hybrid solar eclipse in the 21st century. The century’s shortest hybrid solar eclipse takes place Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2067, with a duration of only 8 seconds.

Figure 6 Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 Nov 03 -- Central Path Through Africa: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA GSFC Emeritus," via NASA Eclipse Web Site

A partial solar eclipse signals the beginning and ending of November’s solar event. The partial solar eclipse begins at 10:04:34 UT (5:04:34 a.m. EST) and ends at 15:28:21 UT.

The path of partiality takes place over a wider area of Earth’s surface. Continentally, the path of partiality includes all of Africa except for southern South Africa and parts of Asia, Europe, North America and South America. Oceanically, the path of partiality traverses the Atlantic Ocean and includes the western Indian Ocean.

November’s hybrid solar eclipse closes 2013 as the year’s second solar eclipse. The year’s first solar eclipse occurred Friday, May 10, as an annular solar eclipse. Of the 21st century’s 224 solar eclipses, 72 are annular.

November’s solar eclipse also closes 2013’s eclipse lineup as the last of the year’s quintet of two solar and three lunar eclipses. On Thursday, April 25, a partial lunar eclipse opened 2013 as the year’s first eclipse. The year’s other two lunar eclipses occurred as penumbral eclipses on Saturday, May 25, and Friday, Oct. 18.

The November 2013 hybrid solar eclipse belongs to Saros series 143. The Saros cycle guides the recurrence of eclipses. A Saros cycle equates to approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours).

Observers of November’s hybrid solar eclipse should use proper equipment and follow proper techniques during viewing of the rare event. Looking directly at the sun, whether the solar disk is unobscured or partially obscured, causes temporary or permanent damage to the retina’s light-sensitive rod and cone cells. Safety equipment and procedures are necessary during November’s annularity and partiality.

Directly looking at the sun is only safe during totality’s complete obscuration of the solar disk. NASA’s Brian Dunbar explains: “During the short time when the moon completely obscures the sun -- known as the period of totality -- it is safe to look directly as the star, but it’s crucial that you know when to take off and put back on your glasses.”

The takeaway for the second 2013 solar eclipse, which occurs as a hybrid solar eclipse Sunday, Nov. 3, is its double rarity, both as an uncommon eclipse type and as a two part hybrid of annularity and totality rather than as the common three part hybrid of annularity, totality and annularity again.

animation showing hybrid solar eclipse of Nov. 3, 2013: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Eclipse Web Site, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Earth visibility chart and eclipse data for hybrid solar eclipse of Nov. 3, 2013: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA GSFC Emeritus," via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2013-Fig05.pdf

animation showing hybrid solar eclipse of Nov. 3, 2013: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Eclipse Web Site, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SolarEclipse2013Nov03H.GIF

For further information:

Chou, B. Ralph. “Eye Safety During Solar Eclipses.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses Help.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/safety2.html

Dunbar, Brian. “Eye Safety During a Total Solar Eclipse.” NASA > Eclipses and Transits. Available @ https://www.nasa.gov/content/eye-safety-during-a-total-solar-eclipse

“Eclipse Map -- November 3, 2013 Total Solar Eclipse.” Time And Date > Sun & Moon > Eclipses > November 3, 2013 -- Total Solar Eclipse.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2013-november-3

Espenak, Fred. “Eclipses During 2013.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observers Handbook.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2013.html

Espenak, Fred. "Figure 5: Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 Nov 03." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Page: Solar Eclipses Past and Future: Eclipses During 2013 > Eclipses During 2013: 2013 Nov 03 Hybrid Solar Eclipse: Total Solar Eclipse of November 3.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2013-Fig05.pdf

Espenak, Fred. “Figure 6: Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 Nov 03 -- Central Path Through Africa." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Page: Solar Eclipses Past and Future: Eclipses During 2013 > Eclipses During 2013: 2013 Nov 03 Hybrid Solar Eclipse: Figure 6.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @@ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2013-Fig06.pdf

Espenak, Fred. “Five Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses: 2001 to 2100 (2001 CE to 2100 CE).” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/SE2001-2100.html

Espenak, Fred. “Greatest Eclipse.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Glossary of Solar Eclipse Terms.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/SEglossary.html

Espenak, Fred. “Table 3: Path of the Umbral Shadow of the Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 November 03.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observers Handbook > Observers Handbook Tables > Observers Handbook 2013.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2013-Tab03.pdf

Espenak, Fred. “Table 4 -- Local Circumstances for the Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 November 03.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observers Handbook > Observers Handbook Tables > Observers Handbook 2013.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2013-Tab04.pdf

Littmann, Mark; Ken Willcox; Fred Espenak. “Observing Solar Eclipses Safely.” MrEclipse > Totality.
Available @ http://www.mreclipse.com/Totality2/TotalityCh11.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “First 2013 Solar Eclipse Is Annular Solar Eclipse Friday, May 10.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 8, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/05/first-2013-solar-eclipse-is-annular.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “First of Three 2013 Lunar Eclipses Happens April 25 as Partial Eclipse.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 17, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/04/first-of-three-2013-lunar-eclipses.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Second of Three 2013 Lunar Eclipses Occurs May 25 as Penumbral Eclipse.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/05/second-of-three-2013-lunar-eclipses.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Second of Two 2013 Penumbral Lunar Eclipses Happens Friday, Oct. 18.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/second-of-two-2013-penumbral-lunar.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, Hybrid Solar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 143." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/sunday-nov-3-2013-hybrid-solar-eclipse.html

“November 3, 2013 -- Total Solar Eclipse.” TimeAndDate > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2013-november-3

“November 3, 2013 -- Total Solar Eclipse -- Cape Verde Islands, Cabo Verde.” TimeAndDate > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@3374818?iso=20131103

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, Hybrid Solar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 143

Summary: The Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, hybrid solar eclipse belongs to Saros cycle 143, a series of 72 similar solar eclipses.

Partial solar eclipse of Friday, March 7, 1617, opened Saros solar series 143’s lineup of 72 solar eclipses: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak (NASA's GSFC)," via NASA Eclipse Web Site

The Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, hybrid solar eclipse belongs to Saros cycle 143, which comprises 72 solar eclipses with similar geometries.

November’s hybrid solar eclipse begins Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, at 10:04:33.8 Universal Time, according to the NASA Eclipse Web Site. Greatest eclipse takes place at 12:46:28.6 UT. Greatest eclipse refers to the instant of the closest passage of the lunar shadow cone’s axis to Earth’s center. The eclipse ends at 15:28:21.7 UT.

November 2013’s hybrid solar eclipse numbers as 23 in the lineup of 72 solar eclipses that compose Saros cycle 143. Similar geometries bring together the series’ 72 solar eclipses into a family, known as a series.

The NASA Eclipse Web Site describes Saros 143 solar eclipses as sharing the geometry of occurring at the moon’s ascending node. With each succeeding eclipse in Saros 143, the lunar movement is southward of the ascending node.

A pair of ascending and descending nodes signifies the intersections of Earth’s orbit by the moon’s orbit. The two nodes express the approximately 5.1 degree tilt of the moon’s orbit with respect to Earth’s orbit. The ascending node links with the lunar orbital crossing to the north of Earth’s orbit. The descending node concerns the lunar orbital crossing to the south of Earth’s orbit.

The Saros cycle of approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours) guides the periodicity and recurrence of solar eclipses. Each Saros series comprises 70 or more eclipses and endures for 12 to 13 centuries.

Saros solar series 143 lasts for 1,280.14 years, according to the NASA Eclipse Web Site. The series lasts for 13 centuries. Saros solar series 143 spans the 17th through 29th centuries.

Solar eclipses in Saros series 143 follow a sequence order of 10 partial solar eclipses, 12 total solar eclipses, four hybrid solar eclipses, 26 annular solar eclipses and 20 partial solar eclipses. Partial solar eclipses occur as the most frequent eclipse type in Saros series 143, with a total of 30 occurrences. Annular solar eclipses claim the secondmost frequency, with a total of 26 occurrences.

The partial solar eclipse of Friday, March 7, 1617, opened Saros solar series 143. This Northern Hemisphere event’s greatest eclipse, with coordinates of 61.2 north at 48.6 west, took place over Greenland’s southwestern coast.

The partial solar eclipse of Tuesday, April 23, 2897, will close Saros solar series 143. This Southern Hemisphere event’s greatest eclipse, with coordinates of 61.9 south at 141.2 west, will occur over the southwestern Pacific Ocean, near the Pacific’s overlap with the Southern Ocean.

The hybrid solar eclipse of Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, numbers as first in Saros solar series 143’s sequence of four hybrid solar eclipses. This event experiences its greatest eclipse, with coordinates of 3.5 north at 11.7 west, 3.5 degrees north of the equator, in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean.

A total solar eclipse on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 1995, was the immediate predecessor of the November 2013 hybrid solar eclipse in Saros solar series 143. This event’s greatest eclipse, with coordinates of 8.4 north at 113.2 east, occurred over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

The October 1995 total solar eclipse closed Saros solar series 143’s first string of 12 total solar eclipses. This eclipse numbered 22 in the series’ lineup of 72 solar eclipses.

A hybrid solar eclipse on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2031, succeeds the November 2013 hybrid solar eclipse in Saros solar series 138. This event will stage its greatest eclipse, with coordinates of 0.6 south at 137.6 west, over the open South Pacific Ocean, less than one degree south of the equator.

The November 2031 solar eclipse will occur as the second in Saros solar series 143’s sequence of four hybrid solar eclipses. This eclipse numbers 24 in the series’ lineup of 72 solar eclipses.

The takeaway for the Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, hybrid solar eclipse is that the astronomical event numbers as 23 in Saros solar series 143’s lineup of 72 solar eclipses and opens the series’ sequence of four hybrid solar eclipses.

Partial solar eclipse of Tuesday, April 23, 2897, will close Saros solar series 143’s lineup of 72 solar eclipses: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak (NASA's GSFC)," via NASA Eclipse Web Site

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Espenak, Fred. “Eclipses and the Saros.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Catalogs > Saros Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros 0-180.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEsaros/SEsaros.html

Espenak, Fred. “Hybrid 2013 Nov 03.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Page: Solar Eclipse Catalogs: Saros Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros 0-180 > Eclipses and the Saros: Return to Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series: Solar Eclipses of Saros 0 to 180: Summary of Saros Series 125 to 150: 143 > Saros Series Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros Series 143: Catalog of Solar Eclipses of Saros 143: 09538 -16 2013 Nov 03.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCSEmap/2001-2100/2013-11-03.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Hybrid 2031 Nov 14.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Page: Solar Eclipse Catalogs: Saros Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros 0-180 > Eclipses and the Saros: Return to Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series: Solar Eclipses of Saros 0 to 180: Summary of Saros Series 125 to 150: 143 > Saros Series Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros Series 143: Catalog of Solar Eclipses of Saros 143: 09578 -15 2031 Nov 14.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCSEmap/2001-2100/2031-11-14.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 Nov 03.” EclipseWise > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Links > Six Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses -2999 to 3000 (3000 BCE to 3000 CE) > 2001 to 2100 (2001 CE to 2100 CE).
Available via EclipseWise @ http://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/2001-2100/SE2013Nov03Hprime.html

Espenak, Fred. “Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2031 Nov 14.” EclipseWise > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Links > Six Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses -2999 to 3000 (3000 BCE to 3000 CE) > 2001 to 2100 (2001 CE to 2100 CE).
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ http://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/2001-2100/SE2031Nov14Hprime.html

Espenak, Fred. “Key to Solar Eclipse Maps.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Resources.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/SEmapkey.html

Espenak, Fred. “Partial 1617 Mar 07.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Page: Solar Eclipse Catalogs: Saros Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros 0-180 > Eclipses and the Saros: Return to Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series: Solar Eclipses of Saros 0 to 180: Summary of Saros Series 125 to 150: 143 > Saros Series Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros Series 143: Catalog of Solar Eclipses of Saros 143: 08580 -38 1617 Mar 07.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCSEmap/1601-1700/1617-03-07.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Partial 2897 Apr 23.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Page: Solar Eclipse Catalogs: Saros Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros 0-180 > Eclipses and the Saros: Return to Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series: Solar Eclipses of Saros 0 to 180: Summary of Saros Series 125 to 150: 143 > Saros Series Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros Series 143: Catalog of Solar Eclipses of Saros 143: 11641 33 2897 Apr 23.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCSEmap/2801-2900/2897-04-23.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Partial Solar Eclipse of 1617 Mar 07.” EclipseWise > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Links > Six Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses -2999 to 3000 (3000 BCE to 3000 CE) > 1601 to 1700 (1601 CE to 1700 CE).
Available via EclipseWise @ http://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/1401-1500/SE1472Jun06Pprime.html

Espenak, Fred. “Partial Solar Eclipse of 2897 Apr 23.” EclipseWise > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Links > Six Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses -2999 to 3000 (3000 BCE to 3000 CE) > 2801 to 2900 (2801 CE to 2900 CE).
Available via EclipseWise @ http://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/2801-2900/SE2897Apr23Pprime.html

Espenak, Fred. “Saros Series 143.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Catalogs > Saros Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros 0-180.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEsaros/SEsaros143.html

Espenak, Fred. “Total 1995 Oct 24. Espenak, Fred. “Partial 2897 Apr 23.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Page: Solar Eclipse Catalogs: Saros Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros 0-180 > Eclipses and the Saros: Return to Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series: Solar Eclipses of Saros 0 to 180: Summary of Saros Series 125 to 150: 143 > Saros Series Catalog of Solar Eclipses: Saros Series 143: Catalog of Solar Eclipses of Saros 143: 09498 -17 1995 Oct 24.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCSEmap/1901-2000/1995-10-24.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Total Solar Eclipse of 1995 Oct 24.” EclipseWise > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Links > Six Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses -2999 to 3000 (3000 BCE to 3000 CE) > 1901 to 2000 (1901 CE to 2000 CE).
Available via EclipseWise @ http://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/1901-2000/SE1995Oct24Tprime.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Friday, May 10, 2013, Annular Solar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Cycle 138.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 1, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/05/friday-may-10-2013-annular-solar.html

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 3 Nov, 2013 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Solar Catalog > 2001-3000 AD > 2001 AD > 2001-2020 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/2013_11_03

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 14 Nov, 2031 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Solar Catalog > 2001-3000 AD > 2001 AD > 2021-2040 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/2031_11_14

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Partial Solar Eclipse of 7 Mar, 1617 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Solar Catalog > 1001-2000 AD > 1601 AD > 1601-1620 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/1617_03_07

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Partial Solar Eclipse of 23 Apr, 2897 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Solar Catalog > 2001-3000 AD > 2001 AD > 2001-2020 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/2897_04_23

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Total Solar Eclipse of 24 Oct, 1995 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Solar Catalog > 1001-2000 AD > 1901 AD > 1981-2000 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/1995_10_24

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Oct. 18, 2013, Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 117

Summary: The Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, penumbral lunar eclipse belongs to Saros cycle 117, a series of 71 similar lunar eclipses.

Penumbral lunar eclipse of Tuesday, April 3, 1094, opened Saros 117’s lineup of 71 lunar eclipses: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak and Jean Meeus (NASA's GSFC)," via NASA Eclipse Web Site

The Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, penumbral lunar eclipse belongs to Saros cycle 117, which comprises 71 lunar eclipses with similar geometries.

October’s penumbral lunar eclipse begins Friday, Oct. 18, at 21:50:38 Universal Time, according to NASA’s Eclipse Web Site. Greatest eclipse takes place Friday, Oct. 18, at 23:50:17 UT. Greatest eclipse indicates the instant of the moon’s closest passage to the axis of Earth’s shadow. The eclipse ends Saturday, Oct. 19, at 01:49:49 UT.

October 2013’s penumbral lunar eclipse appears as number 52 in the lineup of 71 lunar eclipses that compose Saros cycle 117. Similar geometries unify the 71 lunar eclipses as a family, known as a series.

Retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak’s EclipseWise website describes Saros 117 lunar eclipses as sharing the geometry of occurring at the moon’s descending node. With each succeeding eclipse in Saros 117, the lunar movement is northward with respect to the descending node.

An ascending node and a descending node signal the intersections of Earth’s orbit by the moon’s orbit. The two nodes express the approximately 5.1 degree tilt of the lunar orbit with respect to Earth’s orbit. The ascending node marks the moon’s orbital crossing to the north of Earth’s orbit. The descending node announces the lunar orbital crossing to the south of Earth’s orbit.

Saros lunar series 117’s number attests to the occurrence of the series’ eclipses at the descending node. Odd-numbered lunar Saros series are associated with the descending node. Even numbers are assigned to the ascending node's lunar eclipses.

A Saros cycle of approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours) governs the periodicity and recurrence of eclipses. A Saros series yields 70 or more lunar eclipses, with each separated from its predecessor by a Saros cycle. A Saros series typically spans 12 to 15 centuries.

Saros series 117 lasts for 1,262.11 years, according to NASA Eclipse Web Site. Saros series 117 encompasses 14 centuries. Saros series 117 spans the 11th through 24th centuries.

Lunar eclipses in Saros cycle 117 observe a sequence order of eight penumbral lunar eclipses, nine partial lunar eclipses, 24 total lunar eclipses, seven partial lunar eclipses and 23 penumbral lunar eclipses. Penumbral lunar eclipses occur with the most frequency in Saros series 117, with a total of 31 occurrences. Total lunar eclipses appear as the second most frequent lunar eclipse type in the series, with a total of 24 occurrences.

The 12th century’s penumbral lunar eclipse of Tuesday, April 3, 1094, initiated Saros series 117. This eclipse occurred near the southern edge of the penumbra (shadow’s lighter, outer region). This event’s greatest eclipse took place over the southeastern Indian Ocean, southwest of western Indonesia’s island of Sumatra, northwest of Australia’s Territory of Christmas Island and northeast of Australia’s Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

The 24th century’s penumbral eclipse of Tuesday, May 15, 2356, ends Saros series 117. This eclipse will occur near the penumbra’s northern edge. This event will reach its greatest eclipse over the southwestern Pacific Ocean, southwest of the Republic of Fiji’s third largest island, Taveuni, and northeast of the Fijian island of Lamiti.

The Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, penumbral lunar eclipse occurs as number four in Saros series 117’s closing sequence of 23 penumbral lunar eclipses. This event will stage its greatest eclipse over Ghana’s Upper West Region, northwest of Wuru and Pudo, near the Ghana-Burkina Faso border.

The penumbral eclipse of Sunday, Oct. 8, 1995, is the predecessor of October 2013’s penumbral lunar eclipse. This event’s greatest eclipse took place over the South China Sea, west of Malaysia’s Kudat Peninsula, northern Borneo Island.

The October 1995 penumbral eclipse occurs as number three in Saros series 117’s closing sequence of 23 penumbral lunar eclipse. This eclipse appears as number 51 in the series’ lineup of 71 lunar eclipses.

The penumbral lunar eclipse of Thursday, Oct. 30, 2031, is the successor of the Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, penumbral lunar eclipse in Saros series 117. This event’s greatest eclipse will take place over the northeastern Pacific Ocean, southwest of Mexico’s Isla Clarión and northwest of Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands (Archipiélago de Colón).

The October 2031 eclipse occurs as the number five in Saros series 117’s closing sequence of 23 penumbral lunar eclipses. This eclipse appears as number 53 in the series’ lineup of 71 lunar eclipses.

The takeaway for the Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, penumbral lunar eclipse is that the astronomical event occurs as number 52 in Saros series 117’s lineup of 71 lunar eclipses and as number four in the series’ closing sequence of 23 penumbral lunar eclipses.

Penumbral lunar eclipse of Tuesday, May 15, 2356, will close Saros series 117’s lineup of 71 lunar eclipses: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak and Jean Meeus (NASA's GSFC)," via NASA Eclipse Web Site

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Espenak, Fred. “Eclipses During 2013.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipses: Past and Future.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2013.html

Espenak, Fred. “Key to Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEsaros/LEsaroscatkey.html

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral 1094 Apr 03.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Page: Lunar Eclipse Catalogs: Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180: Summary of Saros Series 100 to 125: 117 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 117: 01 -34 1094 Apr 03.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/1001-1100/LE1094-04-03N.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral 1995 Oct 08.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Page: Lunar Eclipse Catalogs: Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180: Summary of Saros Series 100 to 125: 117 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 117: 51 16 1995 Oct 08.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/1901-2000/LE1995-10-08N.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral 2013 Oct 18.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Page: Lunar Eclipse Catalogs: Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180: Summary of Saros Series 100 to 125: 117 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 117: 52 17 2013 Oct 18.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2013-10-18N.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral 2031 Oct 30.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Page: Lunar Eclipse Catalogs: Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180: Summary of Saros Series 100 to 125: 117 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 117: 53 18 2031 Oct 30.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2031-10-30N.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral 2356 May 15.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Page: Lunar Eclipse Catalogs: Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180: Summary of Saros Series 100 to 125: 117 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 117: 71 36 2356 May 15.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2301-2400/LE2356-05-15N.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 1094 Apr 03.” EclipseWise > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Links > Six Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses -2999 to +3000 (3000 BCE to 3000 CE) > 1001 to 1100 (1001 CE to 1100 CE).
Available via EclipseWise @ http://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/1001-1100/LE1094Apr03Nprime.html

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 1995 Oct 08.” EclipseWise > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Links > Six Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses -2999 to +3000 (3000 BCE to 3000 CE) > 1901 to 2000 (1901 CE to 2000 CE).
Available via EclipseWise @ http://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/1901-2000/LE1995Oct08Nprime.html

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 2013 Oct 18.” EclipseWise > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Links > Six Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses -2999 to +3000 (3000 BCE to 3000 CE) > 2001 to 2100 (2001 CE to 2100 CE).
Available via EclipseWise @ http://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/2001-2100/LE2013Oct18Nprime.html

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 2031 Oct 30.” EclipseWise > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Links > Six Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses -2999 to +3000 (3000 BCE to 3000 CE) > 2001 to 2100 (2001 CE to 2100 CE).
Available via EclipseWise @ http://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/2001-2100/LE2031Oct30Nprime.html

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 2356 May 15.” EclipseWise > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Links > Six Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses -2999 to +3000 (3000 BCE to 3000 CE) > 2301 to 2400 (2301 CE to 2400 CE).
Available via EclipseWise @ http://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/2301-2400/LE2356May15Nprime.html

Espenak, Fred; Jean Meeus. "Saros Series 117." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEsaros/LEsaros117.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “April 25, 2013 Partial Lunar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 112.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 24, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/04/april-25-2013-partial-lunar-eclipse.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “May 25, 2013, Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 150.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 22, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/05/may-25-2013-penumbral-lunar-eclipse.html Marriner, Derdriu. “Second of Three 2013 Lunar Eclipses Occurs May 25 as Penumbral Eclipse.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/05/second-of-three-2013-lunar-eclipses.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Second of Two 2013 Penumbral Lunar Eclipses Happens Friday, Oct. 18." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/second-of-two-2013-penumbral-lunar.html

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 3 Apr, 1094 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Lunar Catalog > 1001-2000 AD > 1001 AD > 1081-1100 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/1094_04_03

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 8 Oct, 1995 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Lunar Catalog > 1001-2000 AD > 1901 AD > 1981-2000 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/1995_10_08

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 15 May, 2356 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Lunar Catalog > 2001-3000 AD > 2301 AD > 2341-2360 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/2356_05_15

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 18 Oct, 2013 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Lunar Catalog > 2001-3000 AD > 2001 AD > 2001-2020 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/2013_10_18

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 30 Oct, 2031 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Lunar Catalog > 2001-3000 AD > 2001 AD > 2021-2040 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/2031_10_30

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Chain-Saw Gear and Tree Work Related Personal Protective Equipment

Summary: Alex Julius of the International Society of Arboriculture covers tree work related personal protective equipment: ear, eye, foot, head and chain-saw gear.

Arboreal safety standards address chain-saw protective clothing (CSPC); pruning white pine (Pinus strobus) with chain saw while in bucket: Joseph O'Brien/USDA Forest Service/Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 United States, via Forestry Images

Chain-saw gear and ear-, eye-, foot- and head-wear act as tree work related personal protective equipment (PPE), according to Protect Your Assets (Part 1) in the October 2013 issue of Arborist News.

Alex Julius of the International Society of Arboriculture bases her information on arboreal safety standards in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. She collates the American National Standards Institute, the United Kingdom's Health and Safety Executive and The Best Practice Guidelines: Safety Requirements for New Zealand Arboricultural Operations. She describes proper choice, inspection, maintenance and retirement of accessories to protect ears, eyes, feet and heads and of attire to don prefatory to chain-saw operations.

Engineering controls such as power-saw chain-brakes, on-the-job equipment training and PPE express triple lines of defense against "loud noises, flying or falling objects, and tripping hazards."

Work-related hearing loss finishes first among occupational illnesses in the United States, with annual exposures at 22 million workers and yearly worker compensation at $242 million.

Foam-budded ear plugs, silicone-budded ear plugs and helmet-mounted earmuffs give Noise Reduction Ratings of 24 to 27, of 33 and of 21 to 26 decibels (dB). The British Standards Institute and the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have hazardous noise ceilings at 87 dB with protection and 85 without. Ear-wear is coordinated with such mandatory eye-wear as plastic-lensed, shatter-proof prescription or safety glasses that admit no direct light or projectiles and resist cracks and scratches.

Manufacturer's care instructions jog the memories of wearers of tree work related personal protective equipment about avoiding such solvents as gasoline and oils and cleaning properly.

Proper footwear keeps low profiles in discussions of tree work related personal protective equipment and high ratings as "one of the most properly used" of PPE.

Climbing, climbing on gaffers and spurs and ground-working respectively lead to wearing low-healed rubber-soled boots, high-heeled, stiff-soled lineman or logger boots and ankle-protected, strong-soled, toe-capped boots. Cracks and creaks mean that ear-, eye-, foot- and head-wear must be destroyed, and "replaced with new gear," so they "cannot be used by another person." Tree work related personal protective equipment needs to protect against helmet slippage, neck strain, things that go "Bump!" on the head and 2,200- to 22,000-volt conductors.

Chin straps, four- to six-point attachments and sweatbands and webbing respectively offer head gear wearers dislodging-, sliding- and slipping-proof protection, rear- or side-ratcheting mechanisms and suspension.

Chain-saw operations put chain-saw protective clothing (CSPC) in such forms as chaps, gloves, jackets and pants on the list of tree work related personal protective equipment.

Chain saws quit working upon contact with clothing made of jamming materials since Kevlar and Nomex clog the chain and the sprocket and jam the chain. Safety to life and limb requires that all buckles be buckled on cut-resistant chaps and that ankles be covered and wrapped by cut-resistant chaps and pants. CSPC should be destroyed when contaminants, dirt and oils resist removal, fibers show deterioration or matting and improper care uses fiber-degrading acids, bases and chlorine bleaches.

Engineering controls, training sessions and worker uniforms tap into concerns over worker and workplace safety since "PPE won't save your life if you don't wear it."

Chain saw arboreal safety standards identify required personal protective equipment for ear, eye, foot and head safety; Friday, Aug. 31, 2007, 08:33: Rvannatta, CC BY SA 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to:
talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet;
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for superior on-campus and on-line resources.

Image credits:

Gilman, Ed. 2011. An Illustrated Guide to Pruning. Third Edition. Boston MA: Cengage.

Hayes, Ed. 2001. Evaluating Tree Defects. Revised, Special Edition. Rochester MN: Safe Trees.

Julius, Alex. October 2013. "Protect Your Assets (Part 1)." Arborist News 22(5): 24-30.
Available @ http://viewer.epaperflip.com/Viewer.aspx?docid=de1c0fc1-9f51-447a-858a-a2ae0094c6c5#?page=24

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 October 2013. “Storm Damaged Tree Clearances: Matched Teamwork of People to Equipment.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/storm-damaged-tree-clearances-matched.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 August 2013. “Storm Induced Tree Damage Assessments: Pre-Storm Planned Preparedness.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/08/storm-induced-tree-damage-assessments.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 June 2013. “Storm Induced Tree Failures From Heavy Tree Weights and Weather Loads.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/06/storm-induced-tree-failures-from-heavy.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 April 2013. “Urban Tree Root Management Concerns: Defects, Digs, Dirt, Disturbance.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/04/urban-tree-root-management-concerns.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 February 2013. “Tree Friendly Beneficial Soil Microbes: Inoculations and Occurrences.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/02/tree-friendly-beneficial-soil-microbes.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 December 2012. “Healthy Urban Tree Root Crown Balances: Soil Properties, Soil Volumes.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/12/healthy-urban-tree-root-crown-balances.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 October 2012. “Tree Adaptive Growth: Tree Risk Assessment of Tree Failure, Tree Strength.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/10/tree-adaptive-growth-tree-risk.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 August 2012. “Tree Risk Assessment Mitigation Reports: Tree Removal, Tree Retention?” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/08/tree-risk-assessment-mitigation-reports.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 June 2012. “Internally Stressed, Response Growing, Wind Loaded Tree Strength.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/06/internally-stressed-response-growing.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 April 2012. “Three Tree Risk Assessment Levels: Limited Visual, Basic and Advanced.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/04/three-tree-risk-assessment-levels.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 February 2012. “Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment: Risk Ratings for Targets and Trees.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/02/qualitative-tree-risk-assessment-risk.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 18 February 2012. “Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment: Falling Trees Impacting Targets.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/02/qualitative-tree-risk-assessment.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 10 December 2011. “Tree Risk Assessment: Tree Failures From Defects and From Wind Loads.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/12/tree-risk-assessment-tree-failures-from.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 October 2011. “Five Tree Felling Plan Steps for Successful Removals and Worker Safety.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/10/five-tree-felling-plan-steps-for.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 August 2011. “Natives and Non-Natives as Successfully Urbanized Plant Species.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/08/natives-and-non-natives-as-successfully.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 June 2011. “Tree Ring Patterns for Ecosystem Ages, Dates, Health and Stress.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/06/tree-ring-patterns-for-ecosystem-ages.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 9 April 2011. “Benignly Ugly Tree Disorders: Oak Galls, Powdery Mildew, Sooty Mold, Tar Spot.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/04/benignly-ugly-tree-disorders-oak-galls.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 February 2011. “Tree Load Can Turn Tree Health Into Tree Failure or Tree Fatigue.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/02/tree-load-can-turn-tree-health-into.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 December 2010. “Tree Electrical Safety Knowledge, Precautions, Risks and Standards.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/12/tree-electrical-safety-knowledge.html

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Storm Damaged Tree Clearances: Matched Teamwork of People to Equipment

Summary: Geoff Kempter of Asplundh Tree Expert Company ties savvy storm damaged tree clearances from lines and roads to the matched teamwork of people to equipment.

Matching people and equipment fine-tunes storm-damaged tree clearances; bucket truck used in storm-damaged tree cleanup: Joseph O'Brien/USDA Forest Service/Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 United States, via Forestry Images

Storm damaged tree clearances from lines and roads are top priorities in Storm Response, Part 3: Effective Response to Large- and Small-Scale Storm Emergencies in the October 2013 issue of Arborist News.

Geoff Kempter of Asplundh Tree Expert Company bases successful large- and small-scale storm emergency responses upon coordinated, human and mechanical resource-matched teamwork of people to equipment. Successful storm responses call upon coordination by storm center personnel who "work entirely within the confines of a building, without ever actually seeing the crews working." They also depend upon crews that do not flinch from "collective efforts" or from "extraordinary amounts of time and hard work, sometimes at considerable personal sacrifice."

The action of mobilized crews and of storm centers emerge most pertinently and presciently when equipment, site, tree and weather data exist in accessible, up-to-date formats.

Planned, pre-coordinated, pre-mobilized matched teamwork of people to equipment furnishes municipality- and utility-operated storm centers with means, motives and opportunities for local deployments within two hours.

Local, small-scale storm emergency responses get general timelines of cleared lines and roads and of restored power and water within several hours to within two days. Having on-site safety specialists supervise crews "that are used to working together" helps "maintain order, discipline, and some semblance of normalcy" and reduce "risk of accidents." It is a contributor to timely completion of storm work, whose delineation from routine work involves more than "a single branch" breaking "on a breezy day."

Large- and small-scale storm responders jar citizen sensitivities by judging catch-up routine, or off-site restoration, work priorities over chipping storm damaged tree clearances and removing debris.

Quality monitors know of two criticisms when regional mutual assistance associations and storm centers pre-position a pre-storm planned, pre-coordinated, pre-mobilized matched teamwork of people to equipment.

Budgets and timelines lead storm responders to leave debris from storm damaged tree clearances on-site for chipping and removal by property residents or through public funds. Purportedly improving the "speed and effectiveness of the restoration effort by strategically moving personnel and equipment before storms strike" means earlier start-times for hopefully earlier end-times.

Early, large-scale mobilizations necessitate "costly" expenditures since "The size of responses to large storms has been increasing in recent years and can involve thousands of workers." They offer "advance preparations for areas" in projected paths of gradually developing hurricanes and winter storms or expensive rehearsals or huge waste "if forecasts are wrong."

Concerns about safe transits and temporary accommodations and for earlier end-times provide support for planned, pre-coordinated, pre-mobilized matched teamwork of people to equipment before storms strike.

Competition with evacuees for food and lodging quits being problematic through early mobilization into "tent cities" at strategic locations for centralized, comfortable, convenient economies of scale. The realization that "Every response is different and poses unique challenges" requires "[d]amage assessment teams composed of experienced utility, government, or contract employees" to mobilize first. Guidelines about "appropriate clothing, supplies, and information that may be required in unfamiliar work environments" and about "local work rules, customs, and hazards" strengthen all mobilizations.

Storm damaged tree clearances tend to be as economically, humanly, mechanically, physically and temporally non-disruptive as prescient planning, priority pre-coordinating and proactive pre-mobilizing take turns spotlighting.

Timely clearing of storm damaged trees matches teamwork of people and equipment; cleanup after storm in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota: Joseph O'Brien/USDA Forest Service/Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 United States, via Forestry Images

Acknowledgment

Gilman, Ed. 2011. An Illustrated Guide to Pruning. Third Edition. Boston MA: Cengage.

Hayes, Ed. 2001. Evaluating Tree Defects. Revised, Special Edition. Rochester MN: Safe Trees.

Kempter, Geoff. October 2013. "Storm Response, Part 3: Effective Response to Large- and Small-Scale Storm Emergencies." Arborist News 22(5): 14-21.
Available @ http://viewer.epaperflip.com/Viewer.aspx?docid=de1c0fc1-9f51-447a-858a-a2ae0094c6c5#?page=14