climate change

OCEAN 59

In Mechanical Trees, researcher Lindsey Stanton describes how man made trees can help reduce carbon in the atmosphere.

In Mechanical Trees, researcher Lindsey Stanton describes how man made trees can help reduce carbon in the atmosphere.

Welcome to OCEAN 59. This is the environmental education publication of Safe Harbor Environmental Consulting, a small, interdisciplinary environmental collaborative, located on Duck Creek Marsh, in Wellfleet on Cape Cod. You will find no advertising or solicitations in your newsletter, because it is yours to read, discus and share with friends, as Public Domain. Tess Holland’s article on icebergs having left behind tracks in the Florida Keys was pretty surprising but then, I had to read Lindsey Stanton’s article on Mechanical Trees twice. In this edition we are beginning a new series “CLOSE TO HOME," about some of the strategies and systems we use when working in or near protected wetland areas. These are also Public Domain. Thank you for supporting and sharing OCEAN.

Regards, Gordon Peabody OCEAN Editor


OCEAN 59 Articles 

Iceberg Tracks in Florida Keys                     Small Island Town, Big Challenge 

How Much is too Much?                              Mechanical Trees?

When the Road Drives the Car                     Ethiopian Banana Tackles Climate Change 

Close to Home: Saving Trees                        Close to Home: Re-using Trees

Editor’s Final Words 


OCEAN 58

OCEAN is the environmental education publication of Safe Harbor, a small environmental consulting collaborative, on Duck Creek Marsh in Wellfleet, on Cape Cod. Our researchers always surprise me with their discoveries: Lindsay Stanton documenting the 42,000 year old reversal of our magnetic field from an ancient buried tree; Tess Holland looked at the counter-intuitive concept of “Ropeless” Lobstering; OCEAN Associate Editor Catherine Urquhart’s troubling research about potential Radioactive discharge into Cape Cod Bay reminded me of when I attended College, where I was the only student using their Isotope Pit, researching biological magnification of Radioactive Isotopes between phytoplankton and zooplankton. Radioactivity doesn't disappear, it Bioaccumulates. Bioaccumulation of Radioactivity was not debatable at the time but maybe things have changed? OCEAN belongs to you, our readers and you have our permission to share. Regards, Gordon Peabody, OCEAN Editor

In Too Close to Home, researcher Catherine Urquhart

In Too Close to Home, researcher Catherine Urquhart looks into radioactive discharge.


OCEAN 58 Articles 

Safe Harbor Slope Stabilization used in UK

Counterintuitive “Ropeless” Lobstering 

Cargo Ships That Can Kite Surf 

Oyster Partnership Cleans up Hudson 

Too Close to Home 

Got Arachnophobia?

Healthier Cape Cod 

Feather in the Wind 

Impacts of Light on Insects 

Alaska Experiences Climate Whiplash 

Extraordinary Discovery in Ancient Buried Tree


OCEAN 56

OCEAN Researcher, Lindsey Stanton, provides information on the plight of Vaquitas as researched and written about by Associate Editor Samantha Thywissen in the article “Vaquita & the Sea of Cortez”.

OCEAN Researcher, Lindsey Stanton, provides information on the plight of Vaquitas as researched and written about by Associate Editor Samantha Thywissen in the article “Vaquita & the Sea of Cortez”.

This remarkable issue of OCEAN 56 features our annual, Environmental Initiative Awards, this year going to two events, which we felt were profound, perhaps not in scope but with inspiration. We are also sharing Associate Editor Samantha’s well researched, heartfelt article on the extraordinary losses of Porpoises from Sea of Cortez By-Catch. We also are introducing new researcher Catherine Urquhart, who suggests we take note of troubling recent cloud tops, breaking records for heights and temperatures. We have written this newsletter for you our readers, with no advertising or solicitation, it only has value to us when we share it. Thank you for your support.

Fair winds, Gordon Peabody, OCEAN Editor.

OCEAN 56 Articles

Piecing Together the Microplastics Problem 

Vaquita & the Sea of Cortez

Endocrine Disruptor Used in Antimicrobial Products 

Japanese Cherry Blossom Bloom is Earliest in 1,200 Years 

2021 OCEAN Environmental Initiative Awards 

Staying Safe 

Red Flag in the Upper Atmosphere

Paving With Better Intentions 

The Uphill Battle With Microplastics 

Breakthrough Science Restores Sight Using Algae

Note From the Editor 

OCEAN 48

In California, the Sierra Nevada range saw a 200% increase in snowpack this year

In California, the Sierra Nevada range saw a 200% increase in snowpack this year

Editor’s Comments:

This 48th issue recognizes a young person who is making a difference and some innovative ideas we believe deserve support. We also want to share dispatches from our recently relocated Associate Editor and a previous Intern who has been spending time underwater in the Bahamas, with sharks.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

Ocean 48 Articles

“Trash Girl” United Kingdom

Red tides in Norway

Rising temperatures, melting icebergs

Clean water from thin air

Puffin die-off in Alaska

Sierra snowpack increases by 200%

Marine debris surface skim

Algae curtains

Sink & toilet combination


OCEAN 46

Magellanic penguins are becoming stuck in their southern feeding grounds, and losing a disproportionate number of females because of it.

Magellanic penguins are becoming stuck in their southern feeding grounds, and losing a disproportionate number of females because of it.

Editor’s Comments:

Though it seems we may not need any more climate records to be broken in the near future, they are appearing nonetheless. Our readers are entitled to the truth about events happening on this tiny planet, yet we still debated sharing the Australia Weather article by OCEAN Researcher Rae Taylor Burns. Another article featured in this issue describes Pacific crab Fishermen asking 30 fossil fuel companies to bear consequences of changes in their fishery. We are also glad to share some good ideas of making plastic bags from sea weed and using nets over outfall culverts to trap plastic before it reaches our Oceans.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

OCEAN 46 Articles

Sea Level Rise

Flooding and fires in Australia

Kelp Farming

Economic cost of storms

LED low energy boat lights

Fishermen sue over climate change

Changing penguin habitats

Invasive trees in Arizona

Catching plastic in drainage pipes

Plastic bags from seaweed


OCEAN 41

Transparent solar panels developed at the University of Michigan may allow solar energy to be gathered from the sides of buildings

Transparent solar panels developed at the University of Michigan may allow solar energy to be gathered from the sides of buildings

Editor’s Comments:

In our very large world, juvenile salmon in the Puget Sound are reminding us that we live in a closed system. Over 80 drugs and health care products have been found in their flesh; a sobering article by Rae Taylor-Burns. We also look at transparent solar cells; and a “Boots on the Ground” first person report from SoCal, where they thought wild fires were the worst of their problems. Coastal Communities share the same challenges and should be sharing solutions. Our article on Living Shorelines introduces a sustainable coastal erosion alternative.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

OCEAN 41 Articles

Warm seas turn Green Sea Turtles female

California wildfires

Drugs Found in Seattle Salmon

Antelopes mysteriously die-off

"iRecycle" APP

Climate Change Altering Arctic Food Chain

Shore Lines Protect U.S. Naval Bases

 Microbeads Banned in U.K.

 Transpartent Solar Panels


OCEAN 37

The “Water-Seer”, a wind-powered collection system for drinking water, designed by VICI Labs

The “Water-Seer”, a wind-powered collection system for drinking water, designed by VICI Labs

Editor’s Comments:

Difficult problems inspire innovative solutions: “Wind Powered Drinking Water”, the recipient of the 2017 OCEAN Environmental Innovation Award is not what you may think. In our “can of worms department”, one of our lead Researchers has taken an educational look into recent changes in ocean Oxygen levels. As well as hot news from the Arctic; unraveling some of the mysteries of changing Bird migrations; and a continuing exploration of a new economic engine in our coastal economy: Sugar Kelp. A future issue explores Kelp beds reducing wave energy.

~Gordon Peabody, Editor

Ocean 37 Articles

Climate change & bird migrations

Sugar kelp potential as commercial crop

Heat wave in the Arctic

Climate change on Cape Cod

Pesticide use awareness

Are humans eating microplastics?

Wind-powered drinking water

Ocean oxygen depletion

Bolivian locusts destroy crops

Bicycle powered homes

Thousands of fracking spills