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whetstonefires · 4 years

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an exercise in worldbuilding

It is always simplest to start from a point and move outward, and so we begin in the Tower of Sight, where our twelve-year-old hero will first find himself summoned into this world.

The Tower is four hundred feet high, gently tapered, with a circumference of two hundred feet at its base, and the top three of its forty floors are filled with brass telescopes of every size, pointing in every possible direction, including several that do not exist within the normal three dimensions of space.

To the West these many spyglasses overlook a wide plain, all the way to the horizon, golden at this time of year and frequented mainly by roving herds of grazing beasts, both wild and tame. In the half-league nearest the Tower, tall grasses give way to the narrow strips of tilled fields, where the grain stands tall, almost ready for the harvest. If any harvest will come.

Near the other side of the Tower of Sight, a stone’s throw from the eastern point of the outer wall, runs a great river, green when the sun does not strike it directly, except in the spring when its tributaries flood and it turns to churned brown. There was a bridge here once, though it is long fallen but for the stubs of its pilings on each end, and nowadays all crossings are by ferry.

A small town clusters on both banks, even so. The roofs are of red tile, the stucco of the houses painted in shades of blue. It stands empty, but has not had time to fall into disrepair.

More farmland, speckled with villages in the same style of tile and paint, with wells in the center where they are not built on lesser watercourses, stretches away to the east, but if you look through one of the telescopes turned that way you will see it give way to blue mountains. (If you look through an enchanted telescope you may see trees without needles fail halfway up the nearest of the great peaks, and even these fail before the top, though there is a span of nearly barren stone past that line, before the snow begins.)

The range of mountains curves, and you can see them with the naked eye toward the south, on a fine clear day. To the North they fall away into a gentler, older range, which cannot be seen by ordinary human sight from this place, but which wrinkle the land between the plain and the sea into rolling green hills.

The green band of the great river cuts a sharp path through these after coiling its way lazily north over the flatlands, and spreads into an abbreviated delta full of sandbars which is generally considered a nuisance to navigate, though navigated it normally very much is.

There is a city there, the nearest one to the Tower; its outer limits have spilled up onto the hills, and its tallest spires can be made out with mechanical aid, but only one telescope in the place can cut through earth and stone to make out any of the doings of the city proper, and calibrating it to focus at a particular distance and not dismiss all solid matter is a tiresome nuisance, and only rarely worth the trouble.

The very brave and sure of foot can keep their eyes on the surrounding country all the way down the Tower, until their sight is cut off a few stories above the ground by the six shining white sides of the outer walls, because the most direct (if not the quickest) route between the ground and the great sky-searching telescope on the roof is a great spiral stair wrapping around the outside.

These stairs, like the outer wall and the tower itself, seem to be of marble, although a great enchantment must have been worked when the tower was raised for this to be so, because it is far stronger than any other marble to be found anywhere, and unlike marble statues erected in city squares has never suffered wear from the weather.

The wall and stair are of pure white, like the marble quarried in the much-contested eastern foothills of the Evrin Dulle, but the Tower of Sight itself is built of blocks veined with every color, pale blues and purples, reds and greens and golden-duns all mottling toward white and grey and black, as though its builders determinedly sourced their materials from every source of marble on five continents.

It is furthermore banded in three places with rings of solid color twenty feet high—first, nearest the ground, the warm pale red found in some of the ruins on the isles of Thassalen that is quarried nowhere anymore, and which no one knows where it came from to begin with, then the delicate even green still found in small quantities in the most seaward copper mines of the Farlon Barrens, and finally, nearest the top, the prized pure black found only in the village of Xemahan, some way inland from the Trident Coast.

The Tower is a beautiful and timeless construct of art, but our hero when he sees it from a distance for the first time will find the effect of so much color, triply striped and encased within a white spiral, slightly frenzied, and make a remark no one present understands about a Doctor named Seuss. His guide, the dousing tracker Amnaphi, will assume this person to be a famous astronomer from his homeland.

Within the even hexagon of its outer wall, the Tower encloses a great parkland, enough that if it was all put under cultivation it could easily feed as many people as could live in the Tower itself. And indeed, there are records that show the Tower of Sight was once incorporated as a town in just this way, before the Ten Years’ Winter.

For seven generations now the Tower has been held by the Watchers of the Stars, an order of wizards originally from the Duthwaithe, and they have kept it more as a retreat of contemplation than a working estate.

The only gate, in the southern wall, leads the visitor up a broad avenue paved in glittering granite, lined with stately beech trees, and just beyond these to either side an expanse of grass is rarely allowed to grow tall, as a small herd of goats is unleashed upon it once a week. At all other times, under normal circumstances, it is a pleasant lawn, where in the warm months what students have come as learners to the Tower may be found attempting to attend to their star-charts and metallurgy texts.

Thirty minutes’ easy stroll brings the visitor to a small artificial lake that lies at the foot of the Tower; it is stocked with several varieties of edible fish, which are caught by line as a recreational activity, and regularly served at supper. The wizard Chanult Foi, who was magister of the Tower for twenty years until last month, devoted a three hour block of time to ‘meditation’ every week, which took the form of fly-fishing from the nearest curve of the Tower steps.

To either side of the lake, and the Tower itself, are gardens: to the east, vegetables and herbs are grown, often with more artistry than prudence. The students generally have charge of this garden, apart from the more esoteric herbs which are tended to by a specialist, and competitions of aesthetic routinely spring up, resulting in elegant spirals of onions and gorgeously ornate trellises for the benefit of beans.

To the west grow the flowers, many of them with magical uses but some grown purely for their beauty. Kings have been known to try to sway the Watchers to their side with the gift of a particularly fine or rare live rose bush.

The northern third of the Tower’s park contains neatly regimented orchards, apples, pears, plums, and a few rows of carefully tended peaches and apricots, all clipped flat against low brick walls angled south and slightly west.

The brick absorbs the sun all day, and radiates its warmth back; fruit grown along fruit walls ripens faster and later into the season, and the peaches and apricots have survived every ordinary winter as a result, though normally they cannot tolerate this climate.

(For many years the proposition of sheltering some or all of the fruit walls behind glass, to increase their effectiveness, has been debated at the semi-annual colloquiums of the Watchers of the Stars; thus far it has always been rejected despite being rather more wizardly than simple fruit walls, which are not uncommon at these latitudes nowadays, because the space constraints of the current arrangement mean that the proposed design would require cutting down some of the existing trees and demolishing at least a few walls, and wizards, while enthusiastic about innovation in the abstract, hate change.)

The inside of the north wall itself is covered in grape vines. They were harvested three weeks ago, and pressed, but the wine-making process was interrupted after that point and the juice has all been drunk raw. There is currently considerable debate over whether the security risk presented by having a climbable side of the inner wall is serious enough to waste the potential food value of the vines’ future fruit by cutting them down.

The Tower grounds are filled with refugees.

The first to arrive were housed inside, battered survivors of the battle that killed Chanult Foi, bearing word of disaster. There was not enough space left after that for the river-straddling town of Meryn to all relocate to the Tower, so those who did not fit indoors set up camp around the rim of the lake—half clustered near the great doors and half in the partial shade of the last pair of beeches.

This division corresponds imperfectly to the usual split of the town by the course of the Meroda.

More have come since. From the villages nearby, and a few further away, although the further from the river they live the less willing farmers are to leave the grain standing in the fields even if the news has reached them. A wave of people fleeing ahead of the advance of the Moon People along the northern coast, joined and followed by people from the city who had the will and means to withdraw, but could not get passage on a seagoing vessel west, and so turned their hopes southward to this fortress of wizardry.

The lawns are now too trampled by human feet to have any extra substance for the goats, and the annual flowers have been crushed and the carefully tended bushes cut back in the flower garden to make more space.

So far the vegetable garden has not been uprooted, though it has been subjected to unsanctioned raids; one student has regretted aloud valuing beauty over efficiency at planting time, in the spring, when all seemed well. Makeshift pallets line the spaces between every fruit wall—the injured are being laid out here, now that the Tower is full, to get the benefit at night of the warmth meant to mature fruit.

Even the granite avenue is inhabited, now, although a corridor has been kept open to allow for what comings and goings remain necessary in the expectation of a siege.

The fishermen of Meryn, with additional labor sourced mainly from the nearby villages but also by delta and harbor-folk who liked their chances on the river better than taking their small vessels across the wide sea, go out every day to catch and smoke fish, and there are hopes that the advance of the Moon People will hold off long enough to let the year’s grain harvest be taken in.

With luck, care, and wizardry, everyone here should be able to survive the winter, if all the grain within sight of the walls can only be reaped and threshed and stored away.

(Space will be found for any herdsmen who, seeing the enemy advance, drive their beasts in to be slaughtered for the common pot; hope is being hung on this as well, although undoubtedly most of the plainsmen will rely on their own nomadic lifestyle to keep them out of the way and outside the focus of the Moon People, and will not come near settled habitation any time soon.)

This morning, the student standing north-sentry in the Tower of Sight saw a great column of smoke go up from the city of Tolphis, at the mouth of the Meroda. Magister Heron Yl Fanult, Chanult Foi’s successor, spent an hour carefully tuning the spyglass that can look through solid matter to confirm what they all knew: the Moon People had reached Tolphis, and sacked it in a day.

Half of them are making ready to turn south along the Meroda.

Fear is metal in everybody’s mouths. The ancient walls of the Tower will hold—should hold—they have always held before—the Tower of Sight has never fallen but by treachery or deceit, the enchantments laid in the ancient days are too strong…but the Moon People are the successors of the ancient magics, and just because they could not break the walls the last time they came, according to legend, does not mean they have not worked out a method now.

Everyone who has a weapon and the knowledge of how to use it keeps it close, as a comfort. Labors over the sharpness of the edge in the evenings, sometimes, when there is nothing else to do but sleep, and sleep will not come. People who have only the weapon and not the knowledge scramble to obtain the latter, and people who have the knowledge and not the weapon scramble to barter or improvise one.

Young wizards sit in their bunks, six each to rooms that were previously individual, and hold lighting cupped dancing in their palms. Practicing.

Outside, the blue hats and scarves of the townspeople and villagers mill about the edges of the lake, like floating petals caught in a swirling eddy. The people who retreated upriver from Tolphis can be found sitting still, today, because they are weeping.

Those who fled along the northern coast ahead of the storm are a mixed lot, more grim than panicking because they are the ones who retreated this far alive, scattered across the park in smaller groups—some with their heads decorously covered, though not always in the blues that are customary along the upper Meroda, others with naked crowns of braids, or cleanshaven in the nautical style of Hedro, where fur hats are worn for warmth rather than courtesy, and long hair is considered a risk because if it gets wet it cannot be easily removed, and this can cause a fatal chill.

The hale survivors of the First Battle of the Second Descent sit waiting in their leathers, jack-chains and helmets laughably inadequate armor against the coming danger, and yet the best hope now just as they were on Carun Tol once the wizard fell; their wounded lie still, except for a few who have been taken with fever and thrash at the foot of an apricot tree, or a pear tree growing heavy with yellow fruit.

A wizard specializing in physic, the same one who has had charge of the powerful herbs these four years, bends over a man who has been deprived of half his left leg. The golden threads in her green kirtle that mark her focus and her rank flash in the sun as it begins to sink, and sweat stands out on her brow. Threads have escaped from the braids pinned across the top of her skull: she has not had the chance to take them down for two days.

At the very top of the Tower of Sight, Magister Yl Fanult steps away from the telescope-that-looks-through-hills with a soft sigh. He makes his way around the circumference of the tower room to set his face into the viewplate of the great lens array of the roof, trained as it long has been upon the face of the moon. No change there.

He leans forward to peer through the narrow glass that has been turned on its articulated base to face the middle of the room, and relaxes very slightly. At least there has been no catastrophic alteration there, either.

He steps over the ring of silver set into the floor of the chamber. Lowers himself to one creaking knee and blows into the upraised spout of the ring of glass tubing inside of that, then hurriedly caps it, stands with care, and steps over that as well. He snaps his fingers for a spark that falls into the deep circular groove full of distilled spirits, and steps through that as well. He is not burned.

He bends another time and pours out the small copper pail of water he fetched himself from the well in the basement of the Tower, filling the final circle.

Steps over that, and pauses just long enough to breathe in.

At his feet lie a glittering piece of gold ore, a moonstone, and a carefully sanded round of pumice. Heron Yl Fanult lets the breath out again, and stoops.

He cannot take much time. He has only until the ring of fire dies.

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shadowsbestiary · 3 years

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Kelusine Species Sheet

BASICS

Name: Kelusine

Height: 2’6”-6’0” at the shoulder

Weight: 900~ lbs-2000< lbs

Diet: Carnivore

Classification: Planetary, Natural, Non-Magic Sensitive, Sapient, Feral, Feline

Trainable: Yes

Temperament: Territorial, Protective, Energetic, Playful

Danger Level: Medium

Lifespan: 170-180 Kelusian Years

Litter size: 2-4 cubs

BIOLOGY

Morphology: Immense felines, they are quite similar to the big cats of Earth aside from their strong saber teeth (which range from 4-8 inches) and thumb-like appendages in place of their dew claws. Males have lion-like manes whereas the females sport a short mane along the nape of their neck. In certain subspecies that reside in colder regions (Mountaineers and Wastelanders), the females’ manes may extend to their shoulders and belly.

Subtypes:

Islander: The swimmers and climbers. Found in low level coast forests in tropical regions and, as their name suggests, on island chains connected by shallow expanses of ocean. The smallest species, this cat resembles a Cloud Leopard in structure and their ankles can rotate backwards, just like the real life cat’s. This enables them to climb down trees headfirst, climb upside down, or even hang by their back feet. These cats reach only two and a half feet at the shoulder.

Plainer: The runners. The second smallest in shoulder height (4 ft), yet the second longest (14ish feet) thanks to their lengthy tail, Plainers are built purely for speed. Living on the wide open grasslands, they rely on quick bursts of speed to take down their prey. Their long tail acts like a rudder, just like a cheetah’s would, which enables them to make sharp turns with minimal warning.

Forester: The jack of all trades. An intermediate of the five subspecies (4 ½ feet at the shoulder), Foresters resemble the tigers of Earth in build. Strongly built without sacrificing speed, Foresters live in, you guessed it, forests. They prefer hardwoods with mixed pines, but can adapt to Alpine forests or mid-latitude jungles and woodlands.

Mountaineer: The jumpers. Closely resembling snow leopards or mountain lions, Mountaineers are found in similar environments; high altitude snowy mountains. Thick fur keeps them warm in the frigid air, and a thick tail helps them balance while chasing prey across steep slopes. Unlike snow leopards, however, Mountaineers are immense and rank #2 height (5ish feet) and #1 in length from nose to tail tip (16ish feet).

Wastelander: The bone crushers. Unlike the other subspecies, which have body types based primarily on existing big cats, Wastelanders get their inspiration from smilodons and grizzly bears. Built for pure power with strong shoulders and immense front paws, Wastelanders are the largest of all Kelusines with shoulder height measuring six feet and even seven in rare cases. They are also the only subspecies with a short tail.

Colors:

Standard:

Black

Grey

Silver

Brown

Light Brown

Tundra

Chocolate

Lilac

Fawn

Brown Ash

Golden

Tawny

Cream

Orange

Peach

Green Ash

Yellow Ash

Russet

Russet Brown

Cinnamon

Red

Strawberry

Red Ash

Blue

Blue-Grey

Chinchilla

Moonstone

Blizzard

Modifiers:

Colorpoint: Dilutes the base while leaving the extremities (face/tail/paws) normal

Reversal: Switches the color of the base coat and markings (ex: black with white stripes)

Light: Turns the inner marking of rosette/smeared/clouded/snow spot lighter than the base coat

Pied: White covers 25%-90% of the beast in solid patches

Splatter: White “paint splatters” cover 10%-50% of the beast

Tortoiseshell (Female only): The “red” gene is active and causes discoloration in patches.

Patterns:

Standard:

Common

Blotched Tabby

Brindle

Mackerel Tabby

Plain (no pattern)

Spotted Tabby

Ticked Tabby

Uncommon

Cheetah

Clouded

Dapple

Ocelot

Speckles

Rare

Double Dose (Spots on body and stripes on extremities)

Rosette

Snow Spot

Wild

Mutations:

Chimera (Two different base colors and markings)

Split (Two marking types)

Albino

Melanistic

Fallen Snow (Sabino along dorsal side)

Drift (Sabino along ventral side)

Glitch (Markings are broken and missing in some places)

Mist (Markings fade towards dorsal side)

Fog (Markings fade towards ventral side)

Storm (Markings in thin vertical bands)

Physical Mutations:

Mane:

Razorback (mane continues to tail)

Rimmed (mane along forelimb and back limb undersides; not found in Islanders or Plainers)

Curtain (long fur resemble horse mane; not found in Islanders or Plainers)

Static (Long and stiff along spinal area)

Scruff (Longer chin fur; standard Wastelanders)

Tail:

Bobtail (Stump)

Angel (longer silky fur)

Short (Akin to a wolf; standard for Wastelanders)

Ears:

Pointed (triangular rather than semi-circle; standard for Islanders)

Tufted (Lynx-like; standard for Wastelanders and Mountaineers)

Horned (Curl backwards)

Folded (Folded downwards)

HABITS

Habitat: Thanks to the abundance of specialized subspecies, Kelusines are one of the most diverse species in terms of location. They can be found almost everywhere apart from the far poles, deserts, and swamps. Large carnivores, they require an area rich in prey and thus control large swaths of territory either as a clan or as individuals.

Diet: Hypercarnivores, Kelusines require meat. They are not picky when it comes to meat, although shy away from carrion or cannibalism and a vast majority will not eat humans. One exception is the Wastelander subspecies, who will eat whatever prey they can catch. And humans are easy prey; dumb and slow.

Intelligence: Kelusines are one of the most intelligent animals of Kelusia. Like most creatures, they can speak Basic, or English. However, they are one of the few species that can learn languages other than their own and Basic. Kelusines are also one of the few that can operate high level technology. Some actually possess a Communication Watch on their wrists. Able to comprehend advanced math and science, Kelusines still prefer subjects that deal with history, natural science, and technology.

Social Life: Social creatures, wild Kelusines often live in small prides that consist of 5-7 individuals. However, sometimes to expand their territory, prides will join and make larger groups, or clans, of around 10-20 individuals, depending on the amount of prey available. When in clans, Kelusines have a ranking system to help things flow smoothly within the clan. The “head” positions are the Leader, Medic, and Deputy. Below that is the bulk of the clan, divided further into equal subgroups: Scouts, Operators (tech), Hunters, Guards, Milk Givers, and Elders. Below that rank the Trainees, who are the Kelusines ages 4-12 years, and finally come the Cubs, or Kelusines under the age of 4.

Life Cycle: Kelusine females carry for 9-10 months. There are 2-4 cubs in a litter, on rare occasions 5. The cubs are born helpless and cannot see or hear a week after birth. It is not uncommon for an expectant mother who resides alone to seek out a clan who will let her stay with them the first week or so after her cubs’ birth. She does this to ensure that her cubs are not killed by a rival or possibly a jealous male.

At two weeks, Kelusine cubs are stumbling around on stubby, unsteady legs. By now they can hear and see. They resemble fluffballs on sticks, their fur soft as down feathers. At three weeks, they can walk on their own without trouble and are play fighting with littermates or cubs near the same age if there are any. Around two months they are introduced to solid food. However, they continue to nurse until they are 9 months. At two years they begin to learn how to hunt for their own prey. They are usually taken out by both their mother and father if in a clan. If not, the mother or an older sibling will take them.

Kelusines are considered cubs until year four. By that time they are the size of a teenage tiger or lion. From year four to twelve they are considered adolescents. By now they are about the size of an adult lion or tiger. During the teenage years, Kelusines’ manes begin to grow. Their saber teeth also grow longer and stronger. Unless they grow up as rouges or loners, Kelusines begin to learn the basics of fighting at age twelve. If they were born outside of a clan, Kelusines often learn to fight sooner.

At sixteen years, Kelusines can make it on their own with no extra help. However, they are not considered full adults until age twenty. Females mature, both sexually and mentally, faster than males. They are considered mature at eighteen, while it takes males until year twenty. After a Kelusine reaches age twenty, they may leave to explore or may look for a job as a mount.

Kelusines are a unique species in that they are biologically immortal. The oldest Kelusine on record, a Forester by the name of Powerful Huntress of the Mountain Pass Pride, reached 220 Kelusian Years. However, most Kelusines only make it to 160-180 KY due to an oddity within their genes that becomes active around that age and produces similar symptoms to the viral infection rabies. Instead of intense fear, the Kelusine will become extremely aggressive, attacking anyone and anything in sight. This is not contagious, as it is not an infection, but there is also no cure for the affliction referred to as “Old Age Rage”. The only way to stop an OAR Kelusine is, unfortunately, to kill the beast.

Vocalization and Body Language: Like many of Kelusia’s unique fauna, Kelusines can speak Basic but also, as said earlier, have a unique ability to learn other languages such as Ragera. However, when they talk it is noticeably more guttural and rough compared to human speech. Aside from being able to speak “civilized” languages, Kelusines can make a wide variety of feral sounds. They have the ability to roar, snarl, growl, chuff, cough, groan, and hiss. Younger Kelusines can purr, but they do not have the ability to roar until age 5. Islanders and Plainers cannot roar no matter their age, but instead, like cheetahs, can purr through adulthood.

Kelusines are also heavily reliant on body language. Their body language heavily mimics the tigers of Earth. A calm Kelusine has a relaxed body posture, and the tail hangs languidly. When curious, their tail will be raised high in the air and their ears will be forward in interest. An aggressive Kelusine will bare its teeth, widen its mouth, enlarge its pupils, and flatten its ears.

OTHER

Ridability: Very human-like in their intelligence and readily available, Kelusines are not hard to come by. Kelusines are perhaps the most common mount as living with riders ensures a constant, easy food source while also making sure they get their exercise. That being said it is crucial for riders to understand Kelusines are not pets. Rather, they are companions who have agreed to carry the rider on their back. It is also important to keep in mind that, while Kelusines do have the intellectual capabilities of a human or higher creature, they are still highly dangerous predators who can turn on you if they so please. So treat them well.

Common Uses: Mounts, Guards, Guides, Rangers.

#Shadows_Species #kelusines #kelusia #original species

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mystargreen · 4 years

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Hey! this is Cholula. Environmental practices: drop of peace.

Angy:

I went to help to San Pedro Cholula because I’ve always wanted to make a difference, it is not too far away from my house so it was really easy to arrive here. Also I like to help people and animals, I want to see people take their normal lives again. I’m staying at a house.

The weather is strange, sometimes it is cold, sometimes it is rainy, sometimes it is sunny, it is so strange.

I have helped to clean the river, I have helped to clean the sewers,I have helped to clean the streets, I have saved lost pets, I have taken the water out of the affected houses.

On the next days I think I will help to make a filter for the water, I will help affected people to put their things back in order inside their houses and I think I will throw away the garbage we took away from the houses, streets, and sewers.

I want to enjoy this soon in an other place.

Montserrath:

This blog is a space dedicated to the Municipality of Ocoyoacac specifically in the colony of San Pedro Cholula, aims to inform about the problem that the community is currently experiencing is the recent floods presented that affected their homes where they suffered material damage. The recorded rains caused parting and overflowing drainage, the population claims that these affectations them suffer every year for lack of repairs to the drainage.

That is why we hope to be able to solve the affectations that caused in the community, please join this wonderful project, where we will learn many things!

o Hi I am Montse, I am currently doing environmental practices so I am in San Pedro Cholula, located in Ocoyoacac, Mexico I stay in an apartment of a friend of mine is warm and fresh.

o The average climate in san pedro cholula mexico: In San Pedro Cholula, the rainy season is cloudy, the dry season is partially cloudy and comfortable all year round. During the course of the year, the temperature usually ranges from 1oC to 24oC and rarely drops to less than --2oC or rises to more than 27oC.

o I am in San Pedro Cholula in order to continue the maintenance of the drains so that I can prevent the strainers from inging the flooding and cause flooding within the community

o The activities that are being carried out in the campaign are as follows:

a. One day cleaning in streets, he picked up all the rubbish he had and disaffected himself

b. Application of trash cans on every street corner, were decorated according to tastes

c. A course was held to implement environmental education

d. Pantry support was provided to low-income families

e. And finally we send a report to the Municipal President in support of the campaign

o The activities that will take place in the following days will be

a. Make more propaganda to the campaign

b. Implementing clothing to distinguish

c. Perform a protocol for drain maintenance

Marco:

We went as volunteers to san pedro cholula to help people affected by the floods that occur in the region to carry out relief activities.

The weather when we arrived was a bit rainy which caused a little water to accumulate in the streets

The trip was not so long since I live something near the place where the program called "a friendly hand" was developed

Upon arrival they let us stay in an area where there were small tents

In the days that I have been here I have helped to bring supplies such as food and water bottles to people who were affected, I also went to help by putting bags to stop the water somewhat and also help people evacuate the places where the flood hit the hardest

I have also helped keep the streets clean to prevent the drain from clogging.

Likewise, I have also helped to partially clean the drains and finally help to get water out of the homes

In the days that remain here, it will probably help to give the drainage a better cleaning, maybe it will support the families to return to their homes after giving the necessary follow-ups and finally I will do a garbage collection to prevent it from clogging the drain in the future

Joshua:

During the visit made to San Pedro Cholula in order to support the environmental practices "Drop of Peace".

They took us to a lodging in the center of Ocoyoacac which had four rooms and we started our activities the day after we arrived. We carried out activities such as planning an automated drainage system and generating our own energy in which a whole team collaborated, we also formulated hypotheses and objectives to make the plan a success. A team of scientists worked with us on a solution made of non-harmful chemicals and experimented several times. We proceeded to speak with the corresponding authorities to obtain legal permits. After that we proceeded to expand our campaign and try to find permanent collaborators. For this purpose we first obtained permission from the inhabitants by signing formulas. Before exploring the terrain, we placed wooden boards and supports in places that were difficult to access.

After some hard work we were invited to taste the traditional food of the place which we found as interesting as fascinating, with it came its history and meaning.

Josué:

Hi!, my name is Josué. I’m a student of Anthropology. I’m from Metepec. When I listened about the project “San Pedro Cholula needs your help!”, I thought that I have never been to an environmental internship, so I said “come on”, and did the online registration. I went on a bus from Metepec to Ocoyoacac, and walked to Cholula today morning. When I arrived at Cholula I asked from the Green hostel, where I´m staying. At 12 o’clock, we started to survey locals about how the floods affect them, it was sunny. After that, I met with other volunteers in the lagoon to analyze it, and take out trash. When we finished, we distributed pamphlets about the river and the lagoon, and received more volunteers. Finally, I went to eat near the hostel and go around the town. I’m very excited ‘cause tomorrow we are going to visit the Ocoyoacac’s registry to study the actions that the government has done. Also tomorrow we are going to study the people’s habits about the floods and the trash. Is a warm night, and the internet says that tomorrow will be sunny too, so today Cholula’s people won’t be worried about floods tonight. Tomorrow, in the afternoon, I’m going to visit the Cholula’s Archaeological area.

Edgardo:

San Pedro Cholula, needs your help! 2020. The objective of the environmental practice "A drop of peace" aims to help in a voluntary and transparent way the people who live affected in the community of San Pedro Cholula due to the increase in water in the "Cienegas de Lerma" lagoon, therefore house, streets and drains have been affected.

The destination of the trip is San Pedro Cholula is located in the Ocoyoacac Municipality of the State of Mexico Mexico. Length: -99.486111 Latitude: 19.263889 The town is located at a medium height of 2570 meters above sea level. The place of lodging was decided in small departmental rooms that are for rent, located on the avenue "Cuauhtemoc" in the town.

The weather in San Pedro Cholula has been unfavorable, there is rainfall and rain from 11 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon and during the nights from 9 at night to 2 in the morning there are electrical storms and hail falls, the average temperature recorded has been 8 ° C.

In the time that we have been in this place we have witnessed the increase in the water level in the streets, houses and sidewalks, for which we have carried out some voluntary actions.

• Some activities that have been carried out voluntarily are the cleaning of garbage on the main avenues.

• Donations were granted such as basic basket foods, coasters, boots and mats.

• They were collected from signatures of those affected to apply for financial assistance from the municipality which belongs to the community.

• Delivery of drinking and bottled water for those house that were affected by the high level of water.

• Placement of wooden boards on clone stool difficult to access by water.

In the next 3 days we have scheduled actions such as:

-Volunteer help to fill and place sacks around the sidewalks to access the streets.

-Volunteer station to help neighbors bring products they need to their homes.

-Fence streets with high water levels to avoid the passage of cars that could get stuck.

It is great to be able to help people who need it, despite the cold, rain and a lot of water and being a small project, it becomes something very big.

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ryqoshay · 5 years

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How to Handle a Nico: Nico in Paradise

Primary Pairing: NicoMaki Words: ~3.6k Rating: T Time Frame: Maki may still be working through her residency, elsewise is a doctor. Nico is working as an idol producer. They are living together as a happily married couple. Story Arc: Stand Alone

Author’s Note: My apologies to Nico for being almost a week late. Happy Birthday, belated.

Maki was excited.

She stared out the window at the endless expanse of blue; water below and sky above with the occasional wisp of white cloud for contrast. It was quite picturesque, to say the least.

Picture… Maki was suddenly tempted to retrieve her camera from her bag. The urge was quickly quashed, however, as she realized getting up would disturb the sleeping woman leaning against her.

Phone… there was a camera on her phone. Not as good has her dedicated device, but good enough for a casual shot through the double panes. Where did she leave her phone? She couldn’t trace the cord of her Bluetooth earbuds, which she was using because she wasn’t currently sharing with a certain someone.

Ah, there it is… Of course, it was just out of reach.

Oh well. Maki gave up. There would be plenty of picturesque scenes at their destination. And one picture wasn’t worth waking Nico. Well, a picture of Nico sleeping, just before waking might be worth it… Maybe…

Nico-chan…

Maki smiled and turned her head just enough to catch ebony tresses at the edge of her vision. Nico was sleeping soundly after a busy few weeks at work. Maki had been busy as well, but it had been surprisingly calm at the hospital recently, at least as far as dealing with patients was concerned. This left her with some much needed time to catch up on administrative duties. And as such, she was nowhere near as tired as Nico. Still, both were overdue for a change in latitude and some time away from the chaos of running a hospital and a production company.

But instead of joining her wife in slumber, Maki calmed her anxious energies with music, a lovely view and Nico’s comforting warmth. She also continued to run through the plans she had laid out for the next few days. She couldn’t wait to see Nico’s reaction to the surprise awaiting her at the end of her special day.

“It’s so beautiful!” Nico exclaimed, holding her arms out wide as she took in the scenery before her.

She stepped off the veranda on the seaside of the bungalow. She had barely dropped her bags in the bedroom before changing course and heading outside.

“Mmm…” Maki replied, following a few steps behind and idly considering how much said beauty was currently being enhanced by the presence of a certain someone within her view.

“Let’s go for a swim!”

“N-now? But we just got…”

Maki’s protest was abruptly halted when Nico began peeling off her shirt to reveal a floral-patterned bikini top underneath. As the skirt was shimmied down and tossed haphazardly across the back of a nearby lounge chair, Maki found herself remembering an article Nico had shown her way back when. The general premise was that certain outfits were not always appealing due to what was revealed, but what was covered and how.

The swimwear in question was fairly simple when compared to others of its kind. No frills or ruffles that so often adorned those worn by Nico in her younger years. But there was pink. Of course there was pink. Maki wasn’t quite sure, but she believed the scattered flowers to be hibiscus, though they could easily be some other tropical flower. Either way the petals seemed to dance along with…

“Entranced by Nico’s beauty?”

Maki blinked back to reality to meet her wife’s teasing gaze. “… Yeah…” She admitted somewhat sheepishly.

Nico giggled. “After all these years, Maki-chan is still embarrassed about staring at Nico.”

“I… but…”

“And can’t take her eyes of Nico despite all the rest of the gorgeous scenery.” She twirled on one foot for effect, obviously thrilled with the attention.

“I’ve seen the ocean and the beach and palm trees before…” Despite the heat in her cheeks, Maki found a foothold to use in her defense.

“You’ve also seen Nico in a swimsuit before.”

“But…” Apparently her reprieve was short lived.

“And many times in even less…” The raven-haired woman smirked seductively as she sauntered over to close the distance between them.

“…” The redhead felt heat gathering elsewhere as well.

“You know I’m just teasing you, right Maki-chan?” Nico’s smile returned to normal, happy joking. “Now come on,” she said, reaching up to the bow behind Maki’s neck that secured the strap of her dress, “if Maki-chan gets a nice view, then Nico deserves one too. You did wear your own swimsuit as well, right?”

“N-Nico-chan…” Maki breathed as fingertips brushed against the nape of her neck.

“What, does Maki-chan wants to do something other than swim?” And just like that, Nico was back to pushing Maki’s buttons for a specific reaction.

And it was working. Far too well. As the tie came undone, her fingers slid down toward Maki’s collarbone.

Maki couldn’t resist anymore. Giving in to her desires, she pulled her wife into a hug and leaned down. Nico flashed one last self-satisfied smirk before tilting her chin up to meet the incoming kiss.

“Ah, that was fun.” Nico said in a content tone as she made her way back indoors.

The couple had spent the last several hours out on the beach, playing in the water or just soaking up the sun on the sand. As well as a few other activities. Multiple times.

“Nico is thirsty now.” The raven-haired woman said, heading toward the kitchen.

“It’s important to stay hydrated in this heat.” The redhead stated.

“That much is obvious.” Nico replied with a shake of her head. “And we’ve been doing fine with that. I meant something different.”

“Mmm…” Maki hummed without commitment.

“Want anything?”

“I’ll just have whatever you have.” Maki replied, heading to the bedroom to change out of her swimsuit.

“Wow… they really stocked this place up.” Nico considered the options as she opened the cupboard to reveal a sizable selection of booze.

“Isn’t that normal?” Came the reply from the other room.

Nico wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that. Under different circumstances, she would snark back to the still occasionally naïve rich girl. But since she had personally never been to a private resort like this before, she had nothing for comparison. So, it looked like teasing was the best response.

“Let’s see, we have Grey Goose, Aspen’s Peach, Chambord, plenty of fruit juices… I could make…”

“No, don’t say it.”

“What? Why?” Nico inquired. “Nobody else is here and it can commemorate what we just did.”

“Nico-chan…”

“And for that matter, we should probably have more than one.”

Maki groaned, earning laughter from her wife.

“Oh, here’s a blender. How about daiquiris? Those are classic tropical drinks, right?”

“I thought margaritas were the stereotypical tropical cocktail. How did that song go about Margaritaville or whatever?”

Nico scrunched her nose. “You know how I feel about tequila.”

“Yeah, you hate it almost as much as vodka.”

“Exactly.”

A thought occurred to Maki. “So why was your first suggestion s…” She cut herself off before saying the drink she had stopped Nico from naming.

“First suggesting… what was that?”

“Nevermind…”

“Anyway, daiquiris are pretty much the same as margaritas, right? Just with rum.”

“I guess.”

“Oh come on, I know even lightweight Maki-chan likes rum.”

“I like tequila too…”

“Well Nico is making daiquiris.”

“I suppose the rum is for all your good vices or something like that…” Maki mused as she returned to the living area.

“Got any vices in mind?” Nico smirked.

“Not really, no…”

“’Cause Nico’s vice would be Maki-chan.”

Maki’s blush was all the response Nico needed for a good laugh.

“Ne, Maki-chan?”

“Mmm…?”

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Eh?”

The two women were sitting together near a fire built from wood brought by employees at the main lodge. They had watched the sunset over the ocean and were now counting stars.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean that to sound how it probably did. I know this vacation is for my birthday, I’m just curious about this particular location. Why not one of your family vacation homes or one of those you have access to or whatever?”

“I wanted to go somewhere we hadn’t been before.”

Nico wondered if she should point out that she hadn’t personally been to all of the vacation homes.

“I mean, Mama and Papa and I have gone to our places often as a sort of family tradition.” Maki continued. “And don’t get me wrong, I was happy to start including you in such traditions once we started dating.”

Nico sensed a “But…?”

“I wanted somewhere new. Somewhere that was just for the two us. Somewhere where we could start our own tradition.”

Nico felt warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with the fire in front of her. Smiling, she pushed herself up and out of her chair.

“Nico-chan?” Maki questioned.

Without a verbal reply, Nico set her drink in the holder opposite Maki’s before pushing her wife’s knees apart. Next, she turned and sat in the spot she had opened for herself. Finally, she leaned against the younger woman and pulled one of her arms around herself.

“A new tradition, huh?” Nico finally said after a moment.

“Yeah…”

“So, does this mean Mak-chan is spoiling the surprise of Nico’s next birthday?”

“No, I… uhm… maybe?”

Nico giggled. “It’s fine. It’s fine.” She assured. “This place seems nice. And I’ll happily go wherever Maki-chan wants to take me.”

“Thank you.” Maki said, wrapping her other arm around the other woman to complete the hug.

This earned more laugher. “Nico should be thanking Maki-chan. So, thank you, Maki-chan.” She reached over to retrieve her drink. “We haven’t even been here a day and I’ve already had a ton of fun.”

“You’re welcome.” Maki tilted her head down so she could plant a kiss on top of Nico’s head. “Happy birthday, Nico-chan.”

Nico glanced over to see Maki’s phone displaying the time as midnight. “Thanks, Maki-chan.” She said, snuggling in more. “I love you.”

“I love you to, Nico-chan.”

Something smelled good. Really good.

Maki slowly opened her eyes to the disappointing, though all too familiar sight of empty sheets beside her. Frowning, she tried to recall if Nico had agreed to sleep in this morning due to it being her special day, but the lingering alcohol in her system hazed her memories. Sighing, she crawled out of bed and headed for the kitchen.

There she was. Standing at the stove, sleepshirt slipping off her shoulder and hair unkempt from the previous night’s activities, Nico hummed to herself while she cooked as part of her morning ritual. And like so many mornings before, Maki obeyed the magnetic pull that drew her toward the woman she loved.

“Morning, Maki-chan.” Nico chuckled as arms wrapped around her waist and a chin dropped down on her shoulder.

“I thought we were going to order out for breakfast.” Maki mumbled, mostly intelligibly.

“I did, sort of.”

“Mm?”

“I had them deliver the ingredients, since we didn’t have anything on hand.”

“But…”

“Shush.” Nico gently swatted her wife’s nose. “It’s Nico’s birthday today so Nico gets to do what she wants.”

Maki wasn’t quite awake enough to give voice to her thoughts about how Nico pretty much always did what she wanted anyway, even when it wasn’t her birthday.

“And Nico wants to make breakfast for her favoritest Maki-chan.”

“… Alright…” Maki agreed after a moment. Despite her initial protest, she couldn’t deny that she loved when Nico cooked for her.

“And this place really goes all out.” Nico commented as Maki shuffled over to the counter to sit on a stool so she could watch. “I don’t think these eggs even had a chance to hit the refrigerator. And Nico can’t remember the last time she cooked with goat cheese. And these herbs.” She held some up to her nose for effect. “They must get fresh local deliveries pretty much every day or something.”

“Probably.”

“And vine ripened tomatoes.” Nico motioned to what she had prepped.

“…”

With no verbal response given, Nico turned to see Maki’s face. “Hey, no drooling on the counter.” She pointed her spatula at her wife.

Maki pouted, earning a laugh from Nico.

“Anyway, I’m almost done, so just be patient a little while longer.”

“Alright.”

“Ooo, a food truck! Nico is hungry! Let’s get lunch there.” Nico grabbed her wife’s hand and pulled her toward her target destination.

The couple had taken the shuttle into town and spent the morning exploring several touristy shops and local points of interest. As they had slept in and had a late breakfast, as well as snacked on treats from the shops, they had put off lunch until well past noon. However, once Maki’s stomach started grumbling, conversation had turned to food.

“Burgers?” Maki inquired, glancing at the menu. “You don’t want to explore more and try to find something more… exotic or tropical? Something you haven’t had before?”

“I’ve always wanted to try a <Cheeseburger in paradise.>” Nico sang the last part in English.

Maki raised an eyebrow while the young man in the truck grinned.

“<Medium rare with Muenster’d be nice.>” He sang back.

“<Heaven on earth with an onion slice.>”

“Nico-chan…” Maki couldn’t help feeling that people were staring.

“<I’m just a cheeseburger in paradise!>” Both Nico and the cook finished in unison before laughing.

“Two cheeseburgers then?” The young man inquired, indicating the two women before him.

“You want one, Maki-chan?” Nico asked.

“… Sure…”

“<I like mine with lettuce and tomato.>” Nico chanted.

“<Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes.> The young man continued.

Maki’s blush bloomed even more.

“<Big kosher pickle and cold draft beer.>” The two sang together again. “<Well, good god almighty which way do I steer?>”

Nico turned to her wife to observe her reaction. “<I dunno where Nico gonna go when Nishikino blows!>”

“Ughn…” Maki groaned, shoulders slumping.

“Nico is just fulfilling her role as an idol and making people smile.” The producer motioned to the cook as well as several people who had paused to watch the little show.

“I know but…” Despite her own years as a school idol, as well as recent piano concerts in the local mall, the doctor still had some issues with public attention.

“Let’s get you something to drink to take your mind off of it.”

“I’m sorry,” The young man in the truck apologized “I don’t have a tap, but I have bottles. Ice cold.”

“That’s fine.” Nico stood up on tip toes to check the selection. “Two of those.” She pointed.

The couple continued to chat with the truck attendee while he prepared their meal, though more Nico than Maki. The latter contented herself in her beverage and watching her wife do one of the things she did best; turn on the charm and schmooze with anyone. Eventually, it was time to move on and continue their tour of the town.

“You know, I didn’t know you knew of Jimmy Buffett.” Maki commented as she stood from the dinner table.

The couple had decided to eat at the restaurant in the main lodge before heading back to their bungalow.

“Mmm? You mean that thing at lunch?”

Maki nodded.

“That’s because Maki-chan mentioned Margaritaville and the rum thing last night and we’re on a tropical holiday and such.”

“I guess I just didn’t think that would be the type of music you would listen to.”

“Not everything Nico listens to is idol music. Maki-chan should know that by now.”

“I suppose.”

“And besides, I could just as easily turn that around to you.”

“Mmm…”

“Anyway, the only thing missing from our Boats, Beaches, Bars and Ballads collection now is the boat.”

“We can take a tour boat tomorrow if you want.”

“No romantic boat ride by moonlight tonight?” Nico drawled into teasing mode.

“I, uhm… actually had something else in mind…”

“Oh?”

“Yeah… So, if you’ll come with me.” Maki took the other woman’s hand and lead her down the hall away from the lodge exit.

“Maki-chan?”

Even after all these years, it was still uncommon for Maki to take the lead like this. As such, Maki couldn’t help but revel in the switch and for what she knew awaited just behind the door. She also wondered how quickly Nico would realize the situation.

Coming out from backstage, the couple were greeted by applause from a modestly sized but enthusiastic audience. Without hesitation, Nico stepped past the speakers and grabbed the mic.

“Nico Nico Ni~!” And just like that, her idol persona switched on.

Of course it would be instantaneous. Maki knew she shouldn’t be surprised. Nico was an entertainer through and through. And Maki doubted she would ever cease to be impressed by, and even a bit envious of Nico’s skill.

“Nico Nico Ni~!” The audience cheered in response.

Nico turned her beaming smile toward her wife. “What’s my first song, Maki-chan?”

“A fan favorite.” Maki replied, moving to the karaoke machine off to the side.

Her finger hovered over Play as she gave a countdown to begin the concert. She then settled down to watch Nico immerse herself fully in her element. Wearing street clothes with her hair down and minimal makeup didn’t stop the No. 1 Idol in the Universe from shining brightly on stage. No lack of preparation or rehearsal would prevent Nico from giving everything she had to an impromptu live. And it was all Maki could do to keep herself from being completely starstruck so she could queue up songs to keep things moving along.

“And now we have a special surprise for you all tonight!” Nico suddenly announced as a song concluded.

“Eh?” Maki blinked as her wife motioned to her and all eyes followed.

Movement at the edge of her gaze drew Maki’s attention to a resort employee setting up keyboard and stand.

“Don’t be shy, Maki-chan.” Nico beckoned. “Come on over here and play with Nico.”

“Wh… wh… What was that?” She fell back on her habitual phrase.

“You don’t get it?” Nico reworded the second half with a smirk. “What’s not to get?”

“You… knew?”

“Maki-chan is horrible at keeping secrets.” Nico laughed lightly. “Nico found a flier under your desk. Maybe if Maki-chan was better at cleaning, she’d’ve found it herself.”

Maki pouted, earning more laugher. This time the audience joined in as well.

“I will give Hanayo credit though.” Nico continued. “She did her best to avoid answering my questions until I showed her the flier I found. Then I had her help me set up this. So stop stalling already and get over here.” She made exaggerated beckoning motions using both arms. “It’s not all that different than your birthday a few months ago.”

Finally working her way past her initial shock and embarrassment, Maki slowly moved toward the keyboard. As she ran her fingers gently across the keys, she allowed her desire to play take over. Audience or not, Maki’s love of music seldom failed to triumph.

For her part, Nico obviously recognized the change in demeanor. “Ready?”

Maki nodded. And without further hesitation, began to play. Then, flashing one more smile at her wife, Nico turned back to the audience to sing.

A second night and second fire. The sunset was missed due to the concert and following impromptu meet and greet session. Nico was still buzzing from the show and was grateful to have Maki around to help her come down. As such, she had dropped all pretense and immediately reclaimed her place on Maki’s chair, comfortably nestling into her wife’s warm embrace. It was so better than an empty hotel room or mere skype session.

“I could really get used to this, you know.” Nico broke the silence after a while.

“Mmm…”

“I wanted to stay awake until the date change last night, but tonight I could honestly just fall asleep like this.”

“Mmm…”

“Is Maki-chan still pouting about the live?”

“No…”

Nico giggled. “It was still a surprise, I assure you. Just a bit earlier than you intended.”

“…”

“And Hanayo was sure to point out how little you actually let her do. You wanted to do as much as possible on your own, and I love that you did. That concert was your doing, Maki-chan. You made it happen. And in doing so, you made a lot of people happy; Nico included, obviously.”

“… Yeah…”

Nico pulled Maki’s arms tighter around herself. “You know how important being an idol is to me, and that means a lot to me. And I know how important music is to you, which is why I wanted you to join me.”

“I know.”

“So stop being upset about the details and just enjoy this paradise with me.”

“… Alright.”

“Of course, as amazing as this place is, it’s only really paradise because Maki-chan is with me.”

A nose nuzzled into her hair and lips pressed lightly against her head before a voice said softly, “It’s paradise for me as well because Nico-chan is with me.”

Nico smiled as she pulled Maki’s hand to her lips to place a kiss of her own on the back of it.

“Oh, a shooting star!” She suddenly pointed out, returning her wife’s arm around her waist. “Make a wish, Maki-chan!”

“Alright…”

Nico wasn’t sure what her wife wished for and wasn’t about to ask. However, she hoped it was somewhat similar to her own; that she and Maki could continue to celebrate together for many birthdays to come.

Author’s Note Continued in Followup Post.

#NicoMaki #Nishikino Maki #Yazawa Nico #How to Handle a Nico #Love Live #fanfic #Happy Birthday Nico #belated...

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sciencespies · 4 years

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NASA sees tropical cyclone 18p form near American Samoa

https://sciencespies.com/environment/nasa-sees-tropical-cyclone-18p-form-near-american-samoa/

NASA sees tropical cyclone 18p form near American Samoa

On Feb. 21, 2020, the MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of newly developed Tropical Depression 18P in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA Worldview

The low-pressure area that has been lingering west-northwest of American Samoa for several days has organized into a tropical depression. NASA’s Terra satellite passed over the Southern Pacific Ocean and provided forecasters with a visible image of Tropical Depression 18P.

On Feb.21, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite provided a visible image of 18P that showed an improved cyclonic circulation along the southern end of a line of deep convection and thunderstorms that extends north-to-south.

At 10 a.m. EST (1500 UTC) on Feb. 21, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said Tropical Cyclone 18P had maximum sustained winds near 30 knots (34.5 mph/55.5 kph). It was located near latitude 12.9 degrees south and longitude 174.8 degrees west, about 280 nautical miles west-northwest of Pago Pago, American Samoa. 18P is moving to the east-southeast.

The tropical cyclone is forecast to intensify to a tropical storm reaching maximum sustained winds to 45 knots as it passes near American Samoa on Feb. 22. In three days, vertical wind shear is expected to kick in which will cause the storm to dissipate quickly.

In addition to Tropical Cyclone 18P, Tropical Storm Vicky has developed to the southeast of American Samoa. Together, these systems have generated several warnings and watches. On Feb. 21, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Pago Pago has continued the Flash Flood Watch for all of American Samoa through Saturday, Feb. 22. The NWS forecast page stated, “The active monsoon trough remains across the area with several hybrid lows developing northwest and moving swiftly across the islands through the week. A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.”

NASA’s Terra satellite is one in a fleet of NASA satellites that provide data for hurricane research.

Tropical cyclones/hurricanes are the most powerful weather events on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.

Explore further

NASA finds wind shear doing in Tropical Storm Gabekile

More information: For updated forecasts from NWS, Pago Pago, visit: www.weather.gov/ppg/?lang=english

Provided by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Citation: NASA sees tropical cyclone 18p form near American Samoa (2020, February 21) retrieved 22 February 2020 from https://phys.org/news/2020-02-nasa-tropical-cyclone-18p-american.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

#Environment

#02-2020 Science News #2020 Science News #Earth Environment #earth science #Environment and Nature #Nature Science #News Science Spies #Our Nature #planetary science #Science #Science News #Science Spies #Science Spies News #Space Physics & Nature #Space Science #Environment

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applecinnamoncandles · 4 years

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Map

{h3>Additional Information Apart from about 150 km of motorways, which are located near the three major cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, even the major interurban roads consist of no more than two lanes. In 2013, the total road network comprised about 93,870 km, of which 75,754 km are paved. 15] New Zealand's traffic regulations are regulated by the New Zealand Road Code. According to this code, left-hand traffic applies, a maximum speed of 50 km/h in urban areas and usually 100 km/h outside towns. They all form New Zealand's friendly, vibrant and multicultural community. Rugby, especially Rugby Union, plays a much larger role. The Blues, or Blue Rugby, participate in the Super Rugby Championship with fourteen other teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa and have won the championship three times, most recently in 2003. The home games of the Blues are played in Eden Park, the country's largest stadium with a capacity of 50,000 spectators.

Why New Zealand is called New Zealand?

Why New Zealanders are called Kiwi New Zealanders are often called Kiwi. They even call themselves that. But not because they are hairy on the outside and green inside like the fruit. The logo of the shoe polish was a kiwi (the bird).

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The region is very fertile and a centre of New Zealand's milk production.

The Pacific state got its coastline in the Miocene epoch, before the islands got their present form in the last few million years; many of the mountains and valleys were even formed in the last 100,000 years., it is part of the continent of Oceania and lies at the same latitude as Italy, only just south of the equator. In addition, they imitate all the sounds they pick up as they fly by, from bells, to murmuring voices, to the sound of video games. Read more about campervan hire New Zealand here. At the end of the 19th century New Zealand was an agricultural country, where the majority of the inhabitants worked in the primary sector. By far the most important trading partner was the United Kingdom, to which about half of the mostly agricultural goods produced in New Zealand were exported. At the end of the 19th century, the importance of dairy farming increased significantly due to rising demand in Europe. It was not until 1984 that the government took major measures to counteract this. 14% of all fatal accidents in the country are caused by fatigue, it is best to take a break every 2 hours, eat an apple instead of drinking coffee and take a nap. It is very unlikely that you will witness an outbreak yourself. However, New Zealand is one of the most volcanically active regions in the world. The most active area is between Mt. Ruapehu and White Island, these two places are often active. In 1953 a mudslide ('lahar') from a ruptured crater lake on Mt. Ruapehu killed 151 people in a passing train. They live mainly on the Otango Peninsula, where conservationists are anxiously checking their population. On a historical basis, Australia has played a major role in New Zealand's independence.

How cold is the winter in New Zealand?

The area of New Zealand is almost as large as that of Germany, but with about 4.5million inhabitants it is much less populated (Deut

#map of new zealand

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mrsoutlander-blog · 4 years

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Brazil » Germany distance, distance, distance, kilometers

September shines with temperatures around 17 degrees Celsius per day. The ski season ends, the snow melts and winter sportsmen leave the ski regions. Although it rains more frequently than in other spring months, temperatures continue to rise. Temperatures continue to rise, but are below 20 degrees Celsius in many regions. The thermometer continues to rise, but rarely reaches 20 degrees. At 23 degrees Celsius you can still swim in the sea in March. In April the water temperatures drop and are no longer perfect for a beach holiday. For the nights you should bring warmer clothes, as they are quite cool. In May the weather is less stable than in the other months of the New Zealand autumn. Read more about campervan hire New Zealand here.

Distance: How far is it from Germany to New Zealand?|Route planning for New Zealand: What you can do wrong|Drive based on climate data and a lot of information, when is the optimal travel time for the Philippines.}

>|}

At night, too, the values are around six degrees.

But bathing is no longer possible unless you are particularly hard-boiled.

For skiers the months June to August are ideal. However, the most popular time for New Zealand holidaymakers is the southern summer from December to February. All kinds of outdoor activities such as swimming, rafting, sailing, diving, surfing or hiking are possible in these months. However, New Zealand also has summer holidays, so many locals and tourists are on the move. The prevailing westerly winds bring New Zealand abundant precipitation. This policy was successfully practised for decades until changed conditions led to another radical change of course. Already in the late 1960s, the country's highly subsidised state and economic system weakened and largely collapsed when Great Britain joined the EC. The proven close economic ties with the former mother country suddenly no longer existed. The country suffered from high inflation rates, excessive bureaucracy and excessive government spending. Only in 1984 did the government take major measures to counteract this. which will open up a large part of the country. Apart from about 150 km of highways, which are located near the three major cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, even the major interurban roads consist of no more than two lanes. Flight duration / flight time from Frankfurt/Main to the Maldives (MalÃ© Airport) regularly almost 10 hours. The distance between Frankfurt and Male is approx. To calculate the distance between Germany and the South Pole, the place names are converted into coordinates (latitude and longitude).

How long does the flight from Hannover to the Maldives take?

How much does the Australia flight cost From Europe

#distance calculator new zealand

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latitudeapartments · 2 months

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mason-mem · 5 years

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more pages of Serres’ Malfeasance

FROM LANDSCAPE TO COUNTRY

From tribe to homeland, from the rustic farm to cities, and from these to nations. The latter sometimes revere the tomb of an unknown soldier, not so much to remember the horrors of war, as the inscriptions claim— it would be better to forget those—but to bow before the vile remains that sanction the urban or national appropriation of the soil. My book Statues and Robert Harrison's The Dead develop this insight at great length. Leland Stanford built our campus on top of the remains of his beloved son, just as Romulus built the eternal city on the corpse of his brother.

Millions of young people, whose remains rest in military cemeteries, in the shadow of bronze statues erected for the foul glory of the very people (were they clueless or criminal?) who sacrificed them, marked with their blood, their corpses the nation's property. Born on the soil of their nation, they died on it and for it, and now they sleep in it.

THE LITTLE-KNOWN MEANING OF A FEW WORDS

I have briefly described actual individual or collective behaviours, without paying much attention to the words I use such as clean or one's own, place or location. Let me start then by clarifying the meaning of some of the terms signifying property. Note: the verb "to have" in Latin has the same origin as to inhabit. From the mists of time, our languages echo the profound relation between the nest and appropriation, between the living space and possession: I inhabit, therefore I have.

Appartenir4 comes from ad-per-tinere, which means to hold or to be linked to. The English words tenure and tenant also describe an inhabitant who dwells. We hold on to our habitat; we value it. To inhabit is to have. The relation between "appertain to" and "apartment" is similar; they imply the grip, the solid link I have just mentioned between the body and its nest, between life and place, which is the very subject of this book. From the Latin ligare (to bind) come the words ob-ligation, re-ligion, neg-ligence ... all links that bind one to a reference, a point, or a place. I belong to a space where such-and-such a place belongs to me.

What do we mean by the French word for place, lieut Its magnificent and little-known etymology, the Latin locus, refers to the sexual and genital organs of the woman: vulva, vagina, and uterus. Sic loci muliebres, ubi nascendi initia consistent (woman's places, where the beginnings of birth are situated;5 Ernout and Meil-let, Dictionnaire e'tymologique de la langue latine, Paris, Klincksieck, 1885, p. 364b; I quote this in passing as evidence for readers who might think I am fantasizing). The word topos (rojiog), which expresses in Greek the same meaning, of course preceded the Latin and refers to the same delights. We have all inhabited the matrix, the first place, for nine months; all of us were born by going through the vaginal canal, and a good half of us seek to return to the original vulva. The lover says to his loved one: "You are my home," the neonatal place, of birth and desire. It is our first place, warm, humid, and intimate.

The term lodging, of a different, Germanic origin (Laube, entrance hall) leaves the Latin tenancy behind and signifies a hasty construction of leaves, for instance a tent, called in Latin tabernaculum. The Jewish religion celebrates this mobile habitat every year, pitched here and there, as in the desert of the Exodus; here we have a nomadic tent that looks like a rental. I'll come back to this.

With reference to sites that are outside the body, our language says "here lies" for the place where our ancestors rest; I am coming back now to consider the country and the aforementioned landscape. In Egypt, in the City of the Dead in Cairo, the poor have invaded a huge cemetery where they haunt the graves; it is a necropolis, a metropolis. There I understood that the first house was built near the tomb of the loved one whom the poor wretch did not want to leave. The here of the "here lies" did not in fact designate the funeral site; on the contrary, it signalled that there is no place other than the site rooted in those bodies. The site does not indicate death; death designates the site, and often its limits. This is another inevitable link.

Ultimately, here we lie down, to sleep, to love, to give birth, to suffer and die. We return to etymology: the French verb coucher comes from col-locare, to sleep in the same spot, to share a location. The original vulva, the final tomb . . . this third location designates the bed, the pallet, precisely the place to be born and die, but also to sleep, copulate, be ill, rest, dream. . . .

My very language displays the three themes of this book, which proposes that there are at least three fundamental sites: the uterus, the bed, and the grave. Do we really know what we are saying? To inhabit therefore haunts the nests needed in moments of weakness and fragility, the embryonic state, the risk of being born, the infant at the breast, the caress in the amorous offering, sleep, peace, rest. . . requiescat in pace: fetal life, the love act, the darkness of the tomb, the horizontality of night.

Everything else—the ability to cope with daily life and standing on your own two feet, economic or culinary activities, public comedy, politics, the heat and cold of the desert—depends on those intimate necessities that bind us to our nests with the strongest possible links. Exposed to space, our strength emerges from our weaknesses that lie in those places from which they spring forth. The primary need: to live here. To inhabit, to have; how to describe the strength of the link that unites them? He who lacks a "here" where he can lie down does not have the strength to stand up for very long.

These words do not refer solely to spaces occupied by humans, for let me remind you of the real origin: every living being takes refuge in such nests and emerges from them. Oysters and clams, titmice and wasps, hares and moles, boars, chamois, izzards ... all inhabit a shell, hive, nest or burrow, wallow, shed, as I have mentioned before. And so plants grow in sites where the altitude reproduces the cold or heat of their latitude. Here is the proof: when their environment changes, either they die or they must go to hothouses, hotels protected by a glass roof that imitates the effect known by that name. Anthropomorphism aside, let us then consider those places as slices of inhabitable space, a division practised also by animals, vegetables, algae, and mushrooms and even by monocellular beings ... a division that is generally necessary for life to continue. Apart from our maps, land registries, or nautical charts, we could imagine many more such vital divisions.

Let us return to humans. What happens when this nest, this place, is lost? Again, on this point our language is quite precise. The person whose pecuniary resources are dwindling is called poor, the famished deprived even of bread are indigent; those who roam without a roof, without a place, are miserable. Human misery marks the limit of possible life. Those who have a place have. Those who have no place have nothing, strictly speaking. Do they still exist? They have fallen below the level of animals. I will return to this subject in the end.

THE NATURAL FOUNDATION OF PROPERTY RIGHT

Necessary for survival, the act of appropriation seems to me to have an animal origin that is ethological, bodily, physiological, organic, vital . . . and not to originate in some convention or positive right. I sense there a collection of urine, blood, excretions, rotting corpses. . . . Its foundation comes from the body, alive or dead. I see those actions, behaviours, postures as sufficiently vital and common to all living beings to call them natural. Here natural right precedes positive or conventional right. Rousseau is wrong when he writes, "The first who after enclosing a piece of land thought of saying 'This is mine' and found people simple enough to believe him was the real founder of civil society."6 Describing an imaginary act, he proposes a conventional foundation of property right. A few centuries before him, Livy, in the first book of his Roman History, might have said more concretely: "The first, Romulus, who having enclosed a piece of land by plowing a furrow around Rome, and thought of saying 'this is mine,' found no one to believe him, but on the contrary found a twin brother, a rival, a competitor, someone with the same desire . . . and opposed him." Livy understood this sudden jealous reaction quite well and ascribed it to a double, a twin. Romulus therefore killed Remus, who had turned up so conveniently, and hastened to bury him under the walls of the city, which made him its founder, owner, master, and king. The bloody remains of his crime polluted the earth he thus appropriated, according to what I have just called the natural or living law. Romulus remained faithful to the wolves that reared him. Although from a historical perspective it is just as wrong as Rousseau's tale, the Latin historian's account expresses an anthropological truth that refers to bestial customs described in ethology; these customs are still obvious to the passer-by on streets full of dog piss.

I foresee that laws emerging from animal life and behaviours will slowly but surely wrench themselves away, break loose, and free themselves from their origins. They may finally forget their origins to give birth to a set of conventions or cultural legislations. The so-called natural law becomes, little by little, positive.

How? In two ways: first, by changing the most horrifying practices, such as crimes, violent invasions, stinking trash . . . and evolving toward what I call soft signs, and finally by freeing itself from those marks. This is the theme of my book.

BLOOD, CORPSES:

PEASANT AND SACRIFICIAL CUSTOMS

Most of the rituals performed in antiquity, throughout what was called, erroneously or out of ignorance, the inhabited world, revered the gods pertaining to the cult of ancestors. Fustel de Coulanges describes this in his book The Ancient City. Sacred was the name of the Earth that they walked on, haunted, and cultivated; sacred because it contained the historical remains of descendants buried there. The cultivated Earth, the pagus, from the tilled plot of land, owned by the descendants of the ancestors buried there, was the origin of the pagan religion, as the term itself indicates. The domestic altars bring into the household the remnants of the dead and the gods of the pagus. In the second generation, Numa, the successor of the founding king Romulus, becomes a priest instead and establishes the rites in question. On the heels of the first murder come religions.

THE HISTORY OF RELIGIONS: A HORRIBLE TRAIL

When I read the pious Virgil or the divine Homer, I count the enormous number of sacrifices offered by kings, warriors, priests, and travellers. First of all, there was Iphigenia, killed for wind;7 next the children of Athens, devoured by the Minotaur; they precede the bulls, pigs, calves, heifers, and kids whose throats are cut on the altar stone. The suovetaurilia sacrifice multiplies the mass graves of animals; holocausts burn all their limbs. Disgusted by the bloody trail whose abomination abundantly soiled the space they traversed, I track the travels of those ancient heroes: slimy, unpleasant trails. . . . What smells of burned flesh, which bone yards did they leave behind? Did they know that their passage was marked by garbage of whose function they might have been unaware? They were purifying, so they said. . . .

I must really translate into Latin Rousseau's saying, even though he is plenty Roman already. In that language, "The first who enclosed a piece of land," the word lustrare is used specifically; it means to travel all over a place, go around its periphery, circle it, inspect it. The same word for closure also means to clean, to purify. This purification occurs through sacrifice; is this bloodshed used to clean, or to soil? The victim to be bled is led around the object to be cleansed, surrounds it and confines it as it passes by; and so the oxen turned around the altar before dying. With this ritual and sacrifice, lustration becomes both spatial and bloody. This plot of land full of blood and hideous limbs appeared pure to the ancients, while to me it looks soiled, dripping with suffering, reeking of a foul stench. They called it enclosed, and I say appropriated: a bloody appropriation on top of corpses.

The first who bled a child or a pig after having led him around such a spot, and flooded this spot with the blood of the victim, succeeded in enclosing it and made it into a temple. Let me now give a Greek translation. Belonging to the same family as lobo-tomy or a-tom, the word repivd) (temno) in Greek means to cut. Just so, the term temple means the closure of a place that is sometimes sacred, sometimes profane. Translated into French, it becomes cloitre (cloister). Translated into Polynesian, "here" is taboo, elsewhere, yours. When you go to a Pacific island you will see the word taboo in large letters on the signs indicating private property. Don't enter here, this place belongs to someone. Another enclosure. When in ancient times the human or animal sacrifice flooded the altar, the temple, or the square with the victim's blood, the horrible outflow marked in red the place of the god. Or that of the hero: Remus' blood spreads over Romulus' Rome. It is his. Blood signals the inner space. No one has the right to enter this templum tabu, this taboo temple. Do you want to desecrate it? Well then, soil it! The "natural" foundation of property right is followed by the religious foundation. Yes, Numa succeeds Romulus.

Finally, nothing is shut more tightly than the temple of Vesta, located long ago in the Forum in Rome. A round structure, it admitted only chaste priestesses. In the back, a small door opened up through which the vestals regularly expelled the ashes of their pure and perpetual fire. They called it the stercorian door— in other words, the anus. As we know, the word stercus _ means excrement; the (scatological) term scoria says the same thing in Greek and Latin. Situated outside the city that Romulus appropriated in earlier times, the temple threw its refuse into the city. Thus they signaled the boundaries of the temple.

After urine, blood. And after blood, we have ashes. After nature, after the paganism of the pagus, we have polytheism. TWO ENDINGS OF RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION

Here is the first example of a softening, a first narrative of liberation. We no longer realise what upheaval was introduced, at least among European peoples, by their progressive conversion to Christianity around the first century of our era. Suddenly, a conversion. As I reread the old Latin of the mass, I remember the lavabo} When I was an altar boy, I gave the priest the water for purification—not blood, but water. Not blood, but wine. The priest, his hands under the flow of water, recites the ninth verse of psalm 26: "Lord, do not let my mind or my life perish among men of blood" . . . cum viris sanguinum. . . . Of course, I will no longer kill a human being or an animal as sacrifices; nothing is taboo any more. There will be nothing sacred, only what is holy. Nothing dirty is left, only what is clean and proper. At the altar as at the hotel? There is no more property?

Here we have another conversion. This Holy Land, no longer sacred but holy, we will no longer tread on, no longer work it either by hand or by plough. We will barely inhabit it because it no longer lies here; it takes place somewhere else, far away, toward Jerusalem and Bethlehem and the rising Sun, the birthplace of Abraham, Sarah, the Holy Virgin, and the Messiah, all men and women who will never appear in our genealogies. Our very earth has been desecrated, or rather secularised; in other words, it has become ordinary, analogous to any other, plunged into a homogeneous and isotropic space. Lying before us passively, the earth has even become objectified . . . objectifiable. Hence our sciences will be able someday to study it, observe it, and measure it.

A very few of us will get to know this Holy Land, only after a long pilgrimage. Pilgrimage or peregrination is derived from per-ager, to travel to the other field, another agriculture different from mine, which therefore is no longer mine. What is more, this so-called Holy Land no longer harbours any remains of the one who was raised from the dead, leaving his tomb empty, containing neither corpse nor mummy; even better, he is the one whose Ascension—or Assumption in the feminine—we celebrate but whose departure leaves nothing behind on earth. There is nothing there, not the least scrap of cloth, not the smallest relic, not the smallest mark implying a story. Daughter of the religion whose prophecies created history, this religion is based on the life of a person leaving no trace whatsoever that would allow us to infer a history. Ancient history ends here; I'll discuss the end o/geography later.

Called holy before, this Earth now also loses its sacredness because it contains no more remains—no more blood, a little bit of wine; no corpse, no stench, no signs of appropriation any more. It is finally cleansed, finally dis-appropriated, de-territorialized. On the universal face of the world, the grand old Pan, the son of all the dead, is dead. With the resurrection of the new god Jesus Christ, there is no longer any marked place. There is no more space, no more history, no more time.

Our only hope left now is in the heavenly Jerusalem, completely absent from this world. Our world lies elsewhere. The holy land no longer even lies in the Holy Land; it can no longer even be found on earth, henceforth referred to as "here below." Like a dispossessed traveller, wandering and roaming, a transient pilgrim, a tenant, our being is not there; it does not come from there, does not go there, but only passes through.

Here are the new answers to the four classic questions concerning place: neither ubi, nor quo, nor unde, but qua.3 We now have a new spatial, religious, or anthropological foundation for tenancy. No longer is there a here or appropriation; we live as transients or tenants, deprived of a fixed abode.

We can call this the first end of property; it is abstract, theoretical, virtual, whatever you want

IMPURE BLOOD

However, here is evidence of a regression at least from this achievement. Indeed we have a second narrative, or second example, to the contrary; the homeland of the Marseillaise10 with its soiled and dirty furrows, soaked (hence appropriated) by the impure blood of its enemies, reveals an anthropological or even animal, and in any case racist, regression toward the archaic pagus. Do you dare to tell me, privately or in any other way, who has impure blood? Do they know what the French are saying? At the top of their voices, they sing this national anthem; what it signifies takes them back even before antiquity, indeed toward those archaic rites whose gestures again mimicked the bestial behaviors of hyenas and jackals. This represents two regressions at the same time. Dirtied by blood, this country belongs to them. Buried under the furrows, the dead by the millions found the homeland, sufficiently soiled by their own pure blood and by the impure blood of their enemy brothers; and so appropriation, twice founded, has returned.

The national anthem becomes a religious hymn, although archaic, falling short of Christianity with its discreet monotheism. But be assured; our fellow citizens belt it out only at trivial encounters, sporting events in the past and today at media or financial gatherings. Like victory, the terrain changes hands with each match and every half-time. It is paid in rent.

4. In English "to belong," but also "to appertain to."

5. Varro, On the Latin Language, vol. 14 (http://www.archive.org/stream/ onlatinlanguageoivarruoft/onlatinlanguageoivarruoft_djvu.txt).

6. Discourse on Inequality, second part, beginning (rendered by translator).

7. A pun in French: pour du vent, "for wind," referring to the ancient Greek myth. Iphigenia is to be sacrificed in order to appease Artemis, who stopped the wind from blowing; this was preventing Agamemnon, who had offended the deity, from travelling to Troy. The colloquial expression c'est du vent means "it is just hot air."

8. From the Latin verb lavare, "to wash."

9. Ubi, quo, unde, and qua are Latin adverbs related to places. They refer to the sentence above, "Our being is not there, it does not come from there, does not go there, but only passes through"

10. The French national hymn, La Marseillaise, is a call to arms to the French to "drench the furrows with the impure blood of the enemy."

and for the chaverim

#Serres #malfeasance

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jesse-pinkman123 · 3 years

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Nanoemulsion Market Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2018-2026

Nanoemulsion is the process of suspension of minimicrons of globules of one liquid to other liquids that are immiscible to each other. Nanoemulsions are oil-in-water emulsions with mean size ranging from 50 to 1000 nm. Average size of a droplet is between 100 and 500 nm. Nanoemulsions are made from surfactants approved for human consumption and food substances that are recognized as safe by the U.S. FDA. Nanoemulsion can be prepared using several techniques such as micro fluidization, high pressure homogenization and sonication. Nanoemulsion is also called miniemulsion, ultrafine emulsion, and submicron emulsion. Nanoemulsions can dissolve large quantities of hydrophobics, this along with its high compatibility and ability to protect drugs from hydrolysis and enzymatic degradation make them ideal vehicles for transport. There are several advantages of nanoemulsion over conventional emulsion. One such advantage is the extreme micro-droplet size of nanoemulsion with high surface area, which makes them highly effective as a transportation system. Nanoparticles do not cause any problem such as coalescence, flocculation or inherent creaming, which are generally faced by microemulsions. This makes it suitable for any form such as creams, sprays, and foams. These factors are collectively leading to its wide adoption across the pharmaceutical industry.

Prevalent Scenarios in Nanoemulsion Market

Small size and high advantages of nanoemulsion allow for multiple applications in pharmaceuticals, creating significant growth opportunity for pharma companies. Nanoemulsions allow for small and slow administration of oral drugs and assure the complete absorption of drugs and reduce dose related toxicity. Various studies have been carried out to explore other avenues of drug delivery using nanoemulsion. In 2009, a study conducted in National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt concluded potent use of nanoemulsion as potential ophthalmic drug delivery system for Dorzolamide Hydrochloride. Increasing awareness is creating opportunity for use of nanoemulsion in translational research for targeted cancer therapy. The increase in the potential of nanoemulsion and its various application in the pharmaceutical industry is the primary reason for the growing demand of nanoemulsion.

* The sample copy includes: Report Summary, Table of Contents, Segmentation, Competitive Landscape, Report Structure, Methodology.

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FDA considers nanoemulsion products under its regulation for nanomaterial products. Apart from drug delivery nanoemulsion are also used in cosmetics and are used in baby care wipes and makeup removal products. As they are highly non-toxic and non-irritant, nanoemulsions are widely used in cosmetic products creating opportunity for many cosmetic companies. The high cost associated with the preparation of nanoemulsion can act as the restrain to the global nanoemulsion market. Market players are focusing on integrating advanced technologies for production of nanoemulsion, with is further expected to act as a value-driver for the global market.

Developed countries account for the major share of the global nanoemulsion industry due to the availability of advanced technology and high disposable income. North America and Europe are the major consumers of nanoemulsion. Due to increasing advancements and high growth in pharmaceutical sector in emerging economies such as India and China, Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as a major nanoemulsion market in the near future.

Fragmented Market

The global nanoemulsion market is highly fragmented owing to the participation of many players into the research and development of nanoemulsion products. Major players involved in the nanoemulsion market are Covaris, Inc, LATITUDE Pharmaceuticals Inc., Taiwan Liposome Company (TLC), Allergan, and Abbott.

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Key Developments

Product developments and launches by companies operating in the market are expected to drive demand for nanoemulsion in the near future. In August 2019, Pressure BioSciences, Inc. announced that they had received two purchase orders for the company’s BaroShear K45 Processing System, a nanoemulsification system for CBD related issues, which is to be commercially launch on 30th September 2019.

Continuous research and development activities are expected to generate demand for nanoemulsions in the pharmaceutical industry. In June 2019, a team of engineers from the MIT announced that they are developing a method of converting liquid nanoemulsions into solid gels.

Moreover, strategic collaborations and partnerships between market players are also expected to create high growth opportunities in the market. For instance, in January 2019, NutraFuels, Inc. and Pressure BioSciences, Inc. announced a collaboration on the development of water-soluble, nanoemulsion-based nutraceuticals, and other emulsion-based products, such as cosmetics.

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 6 years

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'True polar wander' may have caused ice age Rice U. scientists use Hawaiian hot spot to study movement of Earth's poles Earth's latest ice age may have been caused by changes deep inside the planet. Based on evidence from the Pacific Ocean, including the position of the Hawaiian Islands, Rice University geophysicists have determined Earth shifted relative to its spin axis within the past 12 million years, which caused Greenland to move far enough toward the north pole to kick off the ice age that began about 3.2 million years ago. Their study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters is based on an analysis of fossil signatures from deep ocean sediments, the magnetic signature of oceanic crust and the position of the mantle "hot spot" that created the Hawaiian Islands. Co-authors Richard Gordon and Daniel Woodworth said the evidence suggests Earth spun steadily for millions of years before shifting relative to its spin axis, an effect geophysicists refer to as "true polar wander." "The Hawaiian hot spot was fixed, relative to the spin axis, from about 48 million years ago to about 12 million years ago, but it was fixed at a latitude farther north than we find it today," said Woodworth, a graduate student in Rice's Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences. "By comparing the Hawaiian hot spot to the rest of the Earth, we can see that that shift in location was reflected in the rest of the Earth and is superimposed on the motion of tectonic plates. That tells us that the entire Earth moved, relative to the spin axis, which we interpret to be true polar wander." By volume, Earth is mostly mantle, a thick layer of solid rock that flows under intense pressure and heat. The mantle is covered by an interlocking puzzle of rocky tectonic plates that ride atop it, bumping and slipping against one another at seismically active boundaries. Hot spots, like the one beneath Hawaii, are plumes of hot solid rock that rise from deep within the mantle. Gordon, the W.M. Keck Professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Science, said the new findings build on two 2017 studies: one from his lab that showed how to use hot spots as a global frame of reference for tracking the movement of tectonic plates and another from Harvard University that first tied true polar wander to the onset of the ice age. "We're taking these hot spots as marked trackers of plumes that come from the deep mantle, and we're using that as our reference frame," he said. "We think the whole global network of hotspots was fixed, relative to the Earth's spin axis, for at least 36 million years before this shift." Like any spinning object, Earth is subject to centrifugal force, which tugs on the planet's fluid interior. At the equator, where this force is strongest, Earth is more than 26 miles larger in diameter than at the poles. Gordon said true polar wander may occur when dense, highly viscous bumps of mantle build up at latitudes away from the equator. "Imagine you have really, really cold syrup, and you're putting it on hot pancakes," Gordon said. "As you pour it, you temporarily have a little pile in the center, where it doesn't instantly flatten out because of the viscosity of the cold syrup. We think the dense anomalies in the mantle are like that little temporary pile, only the viscosities are much higher in the lower mantle. Like the syrup, it will eventually deform, but it takes a really, really long time to do so." If the mantle anomalies are massive enough, they can unbalance the planet, and the equator will gradually shift to bring the excess mass closer to the equator. The planet still spins once every 24 hours and true polar wander does not affect the tilt of the Earth's spin axis relative to the sun. The redistribution of mass to a new equator does change Earth's poles, the points on the planet's surface where the spin axis emerges. Woodworth said the hot spot data from Hawaii provides some of the best evidence that true polar wander was what caused Earth's poles to start moving 12 million years ago. Islands chains like the Hawaiians are formed when a tectonic plate moves across a hot spot. "True polar wander shouldn't change hot spot tracks because the hot spot track is the record of the motion of the plate relative to the hot spot," Woodworth said. Gordon said, "It was only about a 3 degree shift, but it had the effect of taking the mantle under the tropical Pacific and moving it to the south, and at the same time, it was shifting Greenland and parts of Europe and North America to the north. That may have triggered what we call the ice age." Earth is still in an ice age that began about 3.2 million years ago. Earth's poles have been covered with ice throughout the age, and thick ice sheets periodically grow and recede from poles in cycles that have occurred more than 100 times. During these glacial cycles, ice has extended as far south as New York and Yellowstone National Park. Earth today is in an interglacial period in which ice has receded toward the poles. Gordon said true polar wander is not merely a change in the location of Earth's magnetic poles. As the planet spins, it's iron core produces a magnetic field with "north" and "south" poles near the spin axis. The polarity of this field flips several times every million years, and these changes in polarity are recorded in the magnetic signatures of rocks the world over. The paleomagnetic record, which is often used to study the movement of tectonic plates across Earth's surface, contains many instances of "apparent polar wander," which tracks the motion of the spin axis and which includes the effects of both plate motion and true polar wander, Gordon said. He said Earth's mantle is ever-changing as new material constantly cycles in and out from tectonic plates. The drawing down and recycling of plates via subduction provides a possible explanation for the highly viscous mantle anomalies that probably cause true polar wander. "In class, I often demonstrate this with lead fishing weights and pliers," Gordon said. "It's easy to deform the lead with the pliers, and it's not brittle. It doesn't crack or fly apart when it fails. That's a pretty good analogy for mantle flow because that's the way silicate rock deforms under intense heat and pressure." He and Woodworth are working with colleagues to extend their analysis, both from 12 million years ago to the present as well as further into the past than the 48-million-year start date in the newly published study. TOP IMAGE....This is an illustration depicting the minimum (interglacial, black) and maximum (glacial, grey) glaciation of the northern hemisphere during the ice age that began about 3.2 million years ago. CREDIT Hannes Grobe/AWI/Wikimedia Commons CENTRE IMAGE....True polar wander occurs when the entire Earth shifts relative to its spin axis. CREDIT Victor C. Tsai/Wikimedia Commons LOWER IMAGE....This is the movement of the Pacific plate across a mantle hotspot created the Hawaiian islands over millions of years. CREDIT National Geophysical Data Center/USGS/Wikimedia Commons

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Juniper Publishers-Open Access Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources

Ecological and Potential Health Effects of Hydrocarbon and Heavy Metal Concentrations in the KoloCreek Wetlands, South-South, Nigeria

Authored by Ezekwe IC

Abstract

This study evaluated the Impact of oil pollution on Kolo Creek wetlands by examining the concentration of hydrocarbons and heavy metals in the ecosystem. Standard methods for investigating environmental quality were applied in this study using surface water, sediments and biota as proxies. Three sites (A, B, C) were chosen for this study. Significant pH and high regional salinity values, especially in Site B, were found. Also, PAHs, BTEX and most metals were absent in the water column apart from cadmium which occurred above acceptable standards for both aquatic ecosystem and livestock feeding. In the sediments, BTEX were not detected while low concentrations of naphthalene (0.01 and 0.1 mg/L) were found. Lead, zinc, chromium and nickel had low levels although zinc showed a higher level in the site directly impacted by oil spill. Concentrations of Cr, Pb, Ni, Mn and Zn were at levels where no harm is expected; cadmium was far above the PEC limits, and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) showed that the wetland is at an ultra high ecological risk level. Index of Geo-accumulation calculation revealed that the swamp is very highly polluted by manganese. While Nickel, chromium, cadmium and lead were above permissible limits in fish, only cadmium was above allowable limits in the water snail. PAHs also occurred in biota at a level where only 1 in 10,000 or fewer persons will be exposed to cancers. We also found that there is no statistically significant difference in contamination levels among the three study sites and that the wetland ecosystem does not meet the standards for a healthy ecosystem. Continuous and stringent monitoring of the environment; control in the discharge of solid and liquid waste especially upstream of the wetlands are among recommendations.

Keywords: Clarias Macromystax; Ecological Risk, Niger Delta; Oil Pollution; Parachana Obscura; Pi!a Ovata; Sediment Quality; Water Quality

Abbreviations: PERI: Potential Ecological Risk Index; PAHs: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; BTEX: Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene; AAS: Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer; SQGs: Sediment Quality Guidelines; TEC: Threshold Effect; PEC: Probable Effects Concentration; CBSQG: Consensus-Based Sediment Quality Guidelines; SEL: Severe Effects Level; PEL: Probable Effects Level; ERM: Effect Range- Median

Introduction

Oil has been produced from the Nigeria's Niger Delta area since 1958 when oil was discovered in Oloibiri in present Bayelsa State two years earlier. The Niger Delta covers 20,000 km2 within wetlands of 70,000 km2 formed primarily by the deposition of sediments by the River Niger and her distributaries and other adjoining river systems like the Orashi, New Calabar, the Imo, Qua Iboe and Cross River systems. The Niger Delta of Nigeria is the largest wetland and maintains the third- largest drainage basin in Africa. The region is experiencing a wanton destruction of her wetland ecosystems due to the carelessness of the oil industry. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had stated thus as far back as 1983: "We witnessed the slow poisoning of the waters of this country and the destruction of vegetation and agricultural land by oil spills which occur during petroleum operations. But since the inception of the oil industry in Nigeria, more than twenty-five years ago, there has been no concerned and effective effort on the part of the government, let alone the oil operators, to control environmental problems associated with the industry" [1-5].

Wetlands are areas where water is the force controlling the environment and associated plant and animal life. They occur where the water table is at or near the surface of the land, or where the land is covered by shallow water and includes "areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres". This "may incorporate riparian and coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide lying within the wetlands". The greatest threat to the benefits and services of the wetlands in the Niger Delta of Nigeria is oil pollution [6]. Oil pollution from the exploration and exploitation activities of multinationals and currently the activities of oil thieves is destroying vast areas of the Niger Delta environment. Oil exploitation and exploration activities prevalent in the upper and lower reaches of this coastal ecosystem have caused untold environmental damage to the Niger Delta area. This has led to species extinction, biodiversity loss and threat to very existence of man in the study area through the introduction of dangerous chemicals and elements into the ecosystem which ends up being up- taking by man through bio-accumulation in the food chain.

The Kolo Creek area has played host to oil exploration and exploitation activities since the 1950s. Today it is one of the areas endemic with oil production facilities including flow lines, gas turbines, numerous oil and gas wells, oil manifolds and pipelines. Pollution by oil and gas production includes deliberate discharge of drilling wastes including cuttings, waste water, drilling mud, cement slurry, acid stimulation residue, oil-water separation effluents, sewage effluents, waste crankcase oil, leaking pipes, vessels, fuel tanks, oil blow-out, gaseous effluents into the environment [7].

As a result of oil exploration activities in the area, drilling fluid, oily wastewaters and spilt oil at various times which contain many potentially dangerous pollutants are discharged into the environment. Such pollutants include heavy metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) which are carcinogenic in nature which ultimately finds their way into surface waters that are used by man and are natural habitats for biota (ASTDR, 1995). The Kolo Creek oil fields around Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State (Figure 1). Nigeria is a vast freshwater wetland providing several services and livelihood opportunities to inhabitants ofthe area including fishing, farming, palm wine tapping and collection of timber and non-timber forest products. This area also suffer incessant oil spills which not only affects ecosystem services but may also influence the health of the inhabitants who depend on these polluted wetlands for fish, food and other consumable forest products [8-10]. Only recently (April 2015), an oil spill occurred in Imiringi swamps from an oil facility along the Yenegoa-Imiringi Road discharging unknown quantities of hydrocarbons into the wetland system and destroying vast areas of the freshwater wetlands. It has become expedient therefore to not only investigate the extent of damage to this ecosystem but to ascertain the levels of dangerous elements and chemicals in the environmental segments of the Kolo Creek wetlands through proxies of water, sediments and biota. This has informed this study.

Study Area

Location and Economic Activities

The Kolo Creek area as defined by this study included all those communities around the Kolo Creek where oil exploration and exploitation activities are ongoing in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State Nigeria (Figure 1) It is located within longitudes 4 55 52.25 N and 4 55 31.92N and latitudes 6 20 11.94 E and 6 24 50.70 E including the towns of Imiringi, Otuasega, Elebele, Orom and Ayon. The Kolo Creek oil and gas field is located within Imiringi town area and situated about 10km east of Yenagoa, the capital city of Bayelsa State. The major economic activity in the area is related to the oil industry business which is operated by SPDC. Kolo Creek flow station is the major oil and gas facility in Bayelsa State, which uses about 30% of its associated gas to generate electricity in the state [11]. The Kolo Creek Field hosts some oil facilities including 46 oil wells, one flow station (Kolo Creek), one manifold and one SPDC camp site. The other economic activities include subsistence agriculture, artisanal fishing, palm wine tapping and processing and basic commerce.

Temperature and Rainfall

The area lies within the rainforest belt of the eastern Niger Delta of Nigeria. It is within the tropical wet (Af) climate classification of Koppen. The area is characterised by sustained high temperatures and rainfall. Average temperatures are usually greater than 18 degrees Celsius while annual precipitation is greater than 1,500 mm. Precipitation occurs all year long although; there is a slight reduction in precipitation in months of August each year and between the months of December and February. Monthly temperature variations in this climate are less than 30C [12]. Daily high temperatures of up to 320C are common while night time temperatures average 220C.

Soils, Vegetation, Relief and Drainage

The Kolo Creek area is characterised by tropical rainforest and freshwater swamps that are usually flooded in most parts of the year, especially between May and November. The area is characterised by seasonal flooding and marsh forest vegetation permanently swampy and mostly flooded by fresh water. The primary vegetation in the study area is the raffia- dominated freshwater swamp vegetations while the major soil types in the area are young, shallow, poorly drained (inceptisol Aquepts) and acid sulphate soils (Sulphaquepts) [13].

The soils here may have been created by the meandering of the Kolo Creek and Elebele systems which have created silted river belt soils characterised by peaty clay water bogged soils inundated by water for most of the year. The study area is a low-lying flood plain environment with heights not more than 7 metres above sea-level. The Kolo Creek area derives its name from the Kolo Creek which is a distributaries of the Orashi River and forms the major water and material sink for the study area [14]. While the Kolo Creek occupies the flanks of the study area, the Elebele/Ekuruba stream runs through the centre of the wetlands under investigation. It forms the main discharge channel for the wetlands during the short dry season between November and April. The area is also surrounded by other natural and artificial water bodies including lakes, ponds, borrow pits and small channels that empty into the Kolo Creek or the Elebele/Ekuruba stream.

Materials and Methods

Sample Sites

of Bayelsa State Nigeria. Site A (4°54’28.04”N; 6°21’23.10”E) is an un-impacted site upstream of the Elebele/Ekuruba stream. Site B, 700m from Site A (N 4°54'9.72” N; 6°21'24.36” E), is a crude oil impacted site in the middle of the Elebele/Ekuruba wetlands located along the Agip pipeline and just a few metres behind the SPDC Manifold and pipelines. Site C, 1KM from Site A (4°54'1.37”N; 6°21'9.46”E) is a point (downstream) of the Ekuruba stream where the Agip (Nigeria Agip Oil company Ltd) pipeline crossed the Elebele/Ekuruba channel. Surface water and sediments were sampled from each site, while biota was caught randomly from the wetlands [15,16].

Methods of Data Collection

Surface Water Sampling and Analysis: Water sampling and handling followed methods established by the American Public Health Association for water and wastewater analysis. Surface water samples were collected with pre-rinsed 1litre plastic containers for the analyses of physic-chemical parameters while water samples for heavy metal analyses were collected with nitric acid pre-rinsed 1litre containers and treated with 2ml nitric acid (assaying 100%, Trace Metal Grade, Fisher Scientific) before storage. This was done to stabilise the oxidation states of metals in water. Surface water samples for oil and grease content were collected with broad-mouthed 500ml glass bottles fitted tightly with aluminium foil to prevent contamination of the samples [17-20]. Glass bottles were used in such sampling for analysis because hydrocarbons (oil) interact with plastic containers. Surface water pH, temperature, salinity, conductivity, total dissolved solids were measured by the direct method using LaMotte pocket instrument.

Determination of Heavy Metals in the Surface Waters

Surface Water Samples, previously acid treated and preconcentrated was sub-sampled for the determination of metal content by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry using the GBC Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) with detection limit of 0.05 mg/l. prior to the analysis, calibration was done with standard of known concentrations. All manipulations were done under controlled conditions to avoid contamination [21]. Dissolved metals were determined by aspirating a portion of the filtered sample (without pre-treatment) directly using the AAS. Concentration of metals were ascertained from the data generated by the AAS and expressed in mg/l. Lead, zinc, chromium, cadmium, manganese and nickel were determined using the ASTM D3559, ASTM D1691, ASTM D1687, ASTM D3557, ASTM D858 and ASTM D1886-14 respectively (Plates I-IV).

Sediment Sampling and Analysis

Sediment samples were collected by the grab method using Eckman grab samples from the 3 locations, representing approximately 2-3cm of surficial bottom sediments [22]. The samples were put into sterilized bottles and stored in the sample chest with ice, thereafter, transported to the laboratory and analyzed.

Determination of Heavy Metals in Sediments

Sediment samples for heavy metal analyses was thawed and air-dried at ambient temperature and pulverized. Two grams (2g) of air-dried sediment samples was weighed using a high precision micro scale (Tecnovetro) for each sampling site, moistened with water and put into a 50ml conical flask. To each weighed sample, 10ml of concentrated nitric acid and 2ml of concentrated perchloric acid will be added and heated with a water bath to near dryness [23]. The solution will be allowed to cool and then filtered into a 50ml volumetric flask. The solution will subsequently be made up to mark with distilled water and the concentrations of selected metals: Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni and Zn determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry using Buck Scientific Model 200A Spectrophotometer.

Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Sediments

The Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), a diagnostic tool suggested Hakanson for the analysis of contamination in lakes and coastal systems was used to calculate an ecological risk index for the Ekuruba wetlands ecosystem [24-28]. PERI is formed by three core modules: Degree of contamination (CD); toxic-response factor (Tr1); and potential ecological risk factor (Eri). The first module of PERI corresponds to the estimate of the degree of contamination (CD). The CD is expressed by the sum of the contamination factor of each metal (Cf i) as:

Where, CfI am the mean metal concentration (Ci), divided by the pre-industrial concentration of the substance :

According to Hakanson, the potential ecological risk index (PERI) is defined by:

Where; RI is calculated as the sum of all risk factors for heavy metals in sediments; Erl is the monomial potential ecological risk factor;tr1 is the toxic-response factor for a given substance (e.g., Cr = 2, Mn = 1, Pb = 5, Ni = 5, Zn = 1, Cd = 30) [29].

Cf,Co,Cn and are the contamination factor, the concentration of metals in the sediment and the background reference level, respectively. International background values for metals in sediments (shale) include 0.22 mg/kg for Cd, 39 mg/kg for Cu, 68 mg/kg for Ni, 120 mg/kg for Zn, 0.85 mg/kg for Mn; 60 mg/ kg for Pb and 90 mg/kg [30].

Also proposed the following values to be used in the interpretation of ecological risks in sediments:

a) RI <150, low ecological risk for the sediment;

b) 150≤ RI <300, moderate ecological risk for the sediment;

c) 300≤ RI <600, considerable ecological risk for the sediment;

d) RI ≥600, very high ecological risk for the sediment.

In order to assess the intensity of metal contamination in the sediments of for the Ekuruba wetlands ecosystem, the geochemical accumulation index was calculated using equation 5 as proposed to quantify metal accumulation in the sediments, and represent their contamination degree [31].

This index is expressed as follows:

Where,

Igeo °9 n concentration of metal n in the silt/clay fraction, Bn is the geochemical background value of element n and 1.5 is a correction factor due to lithogenic effects, The Igeo classification entails seven grades (0 to 6) of pollution, ranging from no pollution (0) to very high pollution [32].

Biota Sampling and Analysis

Biota sampled and analysed in this study include the water snail (Pila Ovata); the catfish (Clarias macromystax); and the snake head mudfish (Parachana Obscura) as identified by Utibe (personal communication) of the department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. All Matrices sampled initially were stored below 4OC before analyses in the laboratory (APHA, 2005) to avoid the degradation of the samples. The biota in this study was used because of their feeding habits which cut across the various tropic levels of the wetlands environment and their importance as sources of protein to the inhabitants of the study area.

The West African Clariid, Claries Macromystax (Plate IV), Gunther, 1864 (Osteichthyes: Clariidae) is a freshwater; demersal; benthopelagic (bottom dweller) and potamodromous (freshwater migratory) fish that dwells more in swamps and floodplains other than rivers and open channels. Primary food items include fish, insects, fruits and seeds, crustacean's plant detritus and mud. Even though the diversity of insects in the diet was more than that of fish, the latter contributed to the diet in more months (9) than insect [33]. The African obscure snakehead (Plate IV) is also a benthopelagic and potamodromous fish and thrives in harsh environments, including muddy waters. This fish lives in streams, ponds, rivers, lakes, marshes. Swamps, lagoons and floodplains, especially in waters greater than 20°C. The obscure snakehead is also known as the “sleeping fish”, as it spends much of its time motionless among the aquatic vegetation. The Obscure snakeheads are highly predacious, extremely voracious carnivores feeding on large aquatic animals such as frogs, other fishes and even aquatic snakes [34]. Adults feed primarily on other fish up to half their size, while juveniles feed on insect larvae, insects, prawns and copepods.

For the water snail (Pila Ovata) (Plate V), is found in the bottom of streams, pond, lakes and wetlands. They feed on algae and plant detritus. Ezekwe, et al. [35] had stated that the Pila ovata has been used severally and successfully in environmental monitoring studies. These snails constitute an important source of diet for most villagers especially the rural dwellers, in Africa and elsewhere in the world. Apart from serving as a source of protein, they are also used for medicinal purposes. The Pila ovata is an aquatic and their ability to bio accumulate heavy metals from algae, sediments and vegetal matter therefore makes them very good indicators of environmental quality [36].

Determination of Heavy Metals in Biota (Fish and Snail)

Fish and snail samples for metal analyses were dehydrated to a constant weight using an oven (Technicolor) at 50OC and the two fish samples (whole fish) and water snail were pulverized separately. Two grams (2g) of ground oven dried total body weight were weighed using a high precision micro scale and put in a digestion flask and digested with a mixture of 10ml of concentrated nitric acid and 2ml of concentrated perchloric acid [37-40]. The contents of the flask was, for each case, digested gently and slowly, by heating in a water bath until the contents got to near dryness. It was then set aside to cool. The digest was filtered into a 50ml volumetric flask, made up to mark with distilled water and the concentration of selected metals was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry using Buck Scientific Model 200A Spectrophotometer

Determination of Hydrocarbons in Water, Sediments and Biota (Fish and Snail)

10ml of 5% Sodium Chloride and 30ml Ethanol were measured and added to 5g of gill and muscle samples of fish and tissue samples of snail respectively. Each mixture was refluxed for one hour, and then allowed to cool. The refluxed sample was later transferred into a separating funnel. 20ml of dichloromethane was added and shaken for 30 minutes in a mechanical shaker The mixture was allowed to separate out, and the lower layer was of the dichloromethane extract was received and used for GC- MS analysis. The standard procedure as described validated and recommended for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons analysis was followed [41-43]. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons was extracted from the surface waters following liquid-liquid partition with dichloromethane, sediments by Soxhlet extraction with dichloromethane and fish, crab and snail by digested alcoholic solution of Potassium hydroxide and extraction with 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane (TCTFE). The extracts will further be purified to avoid interferences by aliphatic hydrocarbons using alumina as an adsorbent in and subsequently eluted with hexane to remove aliphatic hydrocarbons. A second eluant was benzene, was used to remove the aromatic components with sufficient purity for the Capillary Gas Chromatographic analysis.

BTEX was analysed using the USEPA 8260 Method (GC/ MS). 10 ml of sample was placed in a clean VOA vial. The vial was fitted to the Agilent head space sampler and purged with the purge gas into the Agilent 7890B GC-MS for analysis. The concentration in mg/l was deduced from the calibration graph. Data collected from the field and laboratory analysis were presented using descriptive statistics, tables and charts [44-49]. The data was also subjected to critical statistical evaluation for hypothesis testing using the Friedman's Test statistics which is the non-parametric alternative to the one-way ANOVA of the sites while the Wilcoxon sign test which compared the average of the two variables (contaminants in environmental segments and international quality standards), is the non-parametric alternative to the dependent samples t-test. All statistical analyses were done using SPSS 10.00 All statistical analyses were done using the IBM SPSS 10.00 software (Plates V & VI).

Results and Discussions

Results

The results from the sampling and analysis of water, sediments and biota for this study are presented in (Table 1) (Plate VII) while sediment quality guidelines are given in (Table 2). Surfaces, or iron-stained water and Oily looking bacterial surface scum (differentiated from a hydrocarbon slick of similar appearance) [50].

Physico-Chemical Parameters of Surface Water

The pH levels of the three sites showed a high degree of acidity ranging between 4.8 and 5.86. Lowest pH levels were found at Site 2 and these fall within unacceptable limits for freshwater fish development. The salinity of the Ekuruba wetlands is also problematic, ranging between 65.8 and 125 mg/l. This is far higher than that of the neighbouring orashi River system (40mg/l) and the 40-60mg/l range of the Kolo Creek system. The rest of the physico-chemical parameters (conductivity, temperature, TDS and dissolved oxygen) were within acceptable ranges (>Table 1) [51].

Hydrocarbons in the Ekuruba Wetlands

Of the sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons analyzed in the water samples from the three sampling sites in the wetlands, none was present. The same also goes for the BTEX indicating that the wetland as at the time of this study was free from any worrisome presence of dangerous hydrocarbons in the water column. This is not surprising because an initial clean up of petroleum impacted sites was carried out by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, the operator of the Kolo Creek oil and gas fields [52]. Also, PAHs and BTEX are known to be easily degraded under well oxygenated and high nutrient conditions. The dissolved oxygen levels in the water column ranged between 7.96 and 8.12 mg/l and the high level litter characteristic of these types of tropical wetlands including high temperatures and rainfall could have led to an enhanced biodegradation of spilled oil in the swamp.

BTEX was below detectable limits (< 0.001 mg/L) in the sediments. Although BTEX and PAHs were absent in the water column, low concentrations of naphthalene ranging between 0.01 and 0.1 mg/L was found in the sediments with Site B having about ten times the concentration of other sites. This may be due to oil pollution impact and the fact that due to their hydrophobic nature, PAHs entering the aquatic environment exhibit a high affinity for suspended particulates in the water column. As PAHs tend to sorbs to these particles, they are eventually settled out of the water column onto the bottom sediments. Thus, the PAH concentrations in water are usually quite low relative to the concentrations in the bottom sediments.

From (Table 1) we realized that although naphthalene was found in all the sites, highest concentration (0.1 mg/kg) was found at the petroleum impacted site which is below the TEC level (0.176 mg/kg) of the CBSQG. Naphthalene is an organic compound with formula C10H8. It is the simplest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and is a white crystalline solid with a characteristic odour that is detectable at concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm by mass. It reacts with alkali metals (sodium and potassium) to form dark blue-green radical anion salts such as sodium naphthalenide. This may be the reason for the unusually high salinities (by regional standard) characteristic of the Ekuruba wetlands (Figure 3) shows the concentration of pollutants in fish and the water snail and its comparism with international food safety standards [53]. While BTEX were absent PAHs occurred at a level where only 1 in 10,000 and 1 in a 100, 000 persons will be exposed to cancers.

Heavy Metals in the Ekuruba Wetlands

All the heavy metals tested where also largely absent in the water column apart from cadmium that occurred in the three sites at almost the same level of concentration (0.62 -0.64) indicating either natural sources or widespread pollution in the wetlands. In the sediments, Lead also had very low levels ranging between 0.831 and 0.962 (Table 2). There were however significant concentrations of Zinc (23.6-59.9); Nickel (11.112.948); chromium (23.929-24.388); Cadmium (62.28-63.05) and Manganese (27.96-64.17). While chromium, nickel, lead and cadmium had almost uniform concentrations in the sampled sites, zinc and manganese showed a high level of variability among sites. While manganese increased progressively and linearly from upstream to downstream, zinc showed a higher concentration in the site directly impacted by oil spill. Zinc concentrations may therefore be a valid indicator of oil pollution in freshwater wetlands. (Figure 3) shows the concentration of pollutants in the sediments of the Ekuruba wetlands. Contaminant levels in the sediments of the study area were compared with the consensus- based sediment quality guidelines (Table 2).

Cr, Pb, Ni, Mn and Zn were therefore at concentrations below TEC, while cadmium levels were far above the probable effects concentrations-PEC (5.0 mg/kg dry wt) of CBSQG. The PEC is the concentrations above which harmful effects are likely to be observed. In fish, Nickel, chromium, cadmium and lead (EC, 2006) were above permissible limits in the fish samples while only cadmium (EC, 2006) was above permissible limit in the water snail (Table 3) while PAHs also occurred at a level where only 1 in 10,000 and 1 in a 100, 000 persons will be exposed to cancers.

Discussion

Ecological Importance of Water Quality

The usual range of pH for streams and other aquatic ecosystems is between 6 and 8. An increase in acidity results in a lower pH and the greater the deviation from the normal range, the less life the water can support. Maintaining a stable, moderate pH is critical for wetlands because they serve as fish and amphibian breeding grounds (NDES, 2011; Juanita College, n.d). The acidity of the Ekuruba wetlands may not be unconnected with an actual acid sulphate soil situation. Conditions indicating acid sulphate situations in tropical freshwater wetlands were fully described in Doer (2006). These include:

a) Water of pH < 5.5 (and particularly below 4.5) in surface water bodies, drains or groundwater (this is not a definitive indicator as organic acids may contribute to low pH in some environments such as Melaleuca swamps).

b) Unusually clear or milky blue-green water flowing from or within the area (aluminium released by ASS acts as a flocculating agent).

c) Extensive iron stains on any drain or pond surfaces, or iron-stained water and ochre deposits.

d) Oily looking bacterial surface scum (differentiated from a hydrocarbon slick of similar appearance).

A closer look at plate II and especially plate VII reveals conditions described by DoER 2006) for surface waters or freshwater wetlands affected by acid sulphate soils. Although, these levels of salt concentration is within the tolerable limit of most freshwater fish increasing salinities will adversely affect riverine ecosystems in many different ways. These can include changes in community structure (i.e. loss of aquatic biodiversity), breakdown in food webs, shift in community composition to more tolerant species, alterations to normal ecosystem function through reduction in nutrient cycling and metabolism resulting in changes to the physical and chemical parameters of waters. It should be noted that salinity increased from local ranges in Site A to abnormally high concentrations in Site B in the middle of the swamp where oil spills had occurred through to the channel outlet downstream.

According to UNEP cadmium sulphate and cadmium chloride are quite soluble in water, whereas elemental cadmium, cadmium oxide and cadmium sulphide are almost insoluble. Cadmium complication with chloride ion increases with salinity until, in typical seawater, cadmium exists almost entirely as chloride species. The complication of cadmium with chloride in seawater has been shown to significantly influence its bioavailability and hence toxicity to marine organisms. It is most probable that chloride complication is responsible for the reduced cadmium accumulation and toxicity in a variety of organisms observed with increasing salinities. Cadmium mobility in aquatic environments is enhanced by low pH, low hardness, low suspended matter levels, high red ox potential and low salinity. In natural water bioavailability of cadmium is reduced through sorption on suspended particles so that biological responses occur at higher cadmium levels. In aquatic systems, cadmium is most readily absorbed by organisms directly from the water in its free ionic form while river water contains dissolved cadmium at concentrations of between < 1 and 13.5 ng/L while high fractions of dissolved cadmium are found in acid waters. Low pH levels, low suspended matter in freshwater forest water and probably high red ox potential could have concentrated cadmium in the Kolo Creek Wetlands system.

Environmental and health guidelines and standards for cadmium for freshwater is 0.2 ng/L. or 0.0002 mg/L and 0.01 mg/L for livestock drinking water. The water in the Ekuruba wetland is therefore dangerously contaminated with cadmium above acceptable standards for both the aquatic ecosystem and livestock. This poses a great danger to the aquatic environment, animals and man. It is important to state here that herdsmen were sighted during the fieldwork taking their herds to the wetlands for grazing and drinking water. It has also been reported that at concentrations as low as 0.01 mg/L cadmium inhibits ion transport systems and induces metallothionein synthesis in freshwater fish at concentrations less than (<) 0.001 mg/L. Cadmium toxicity has been found to be variable in fish, with salmonids being particularly susceptible to cadmium. Sub- lethal effects in fish, notably malformation of the spine, have been reported. The most susceptible life-stages are the embryo and early larva, while eggs are the least susceptible.

Ecological Importance of Sediment Quality

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-WDoNR, these guidelines are the most recent development in Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) since it combines the geometric mean of several sets of SQGs to yield a consensus based lower (Threshold Effect-TEC) and an upper (Probable Effects Concentration-PEC). Although, these values may not predict toxicity related to specific contaminant levels in the gradient between the TEC and the PEC, they are valuable in predicting the absence or presence of sediment toxicity at concentrations that are lower than the TEC or greater than the PEC values. The TEC and PEC values in the SQGs define three ranges of concentrations for each contaminant (> TEC; < TEC but < PEC; and > PEC). In assessing the reliability of comparing these values to incidence of toxicity to sediment dwelling organisms, it's been shown that there is a consistent and incremental increase in toxicity with increasing chemical concentrations. The TEC part of the Consensus-Based Sediment Quality Guidelines (CBSQG) was derived by combining the lowest effect level, LEL, threshold effect level, TEL, the effect range- low, ERL and the chronic equivalent partitioning threshold, SQAL- sediment quality advisory level, of previous studies. The PEC part on the other hand was derived by combining the Severe Effects Level- SEL, Probable Effects Level-PEL, Effect Range-Median-ERM and the toxic effect threshold, TET of other studies.

From (Table 1), we realized that although naphthalene was found in all the sites, highest concentration (0.1 mg/kg) was found at the petroleum impacted site which is below the TEC level (0.176 mg/kg) of the CBSQG. Naphthalene is an organic compound with formula C10H8. It is the simplest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and is a white crystalline solid with a characteristic odour that is detectable at concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm by mass. It reacts with alkali metals (sodium and potassium) to form dark blue-green radical anion salts such as sodium naphthalenide. This may be the reason for the unusually high salinities (by regional standard) characteristic of the Ekuruba wetlands.

Exposure to cadmium could induce the synthesis of a low molecular weight protein called metallothionen, which can then bind with cadmium and decrease its toxicity. This generally takes place in the liver of fish and humans. But if the cadmium concentration is high, the metallothionen detoxification system can become overwhelmed and the excess cadmium will be available to produce toxic effects. The effects of cadmium on aquatic organisms can be directly or indirectly lethal and can impact populations and ecosystems as well as individuals. Skeletal deformities in fish can result in impaired ability of the fish to find food and to avoid predators; hence, this sub lethal effect becomes a lethal effect. Cadmium impairs aquatic plant growth. This affects the entire ecosystem because green plants are at the base of all food chains. When aquatic plants that are exposed to cadmium do not grow normally, there will be less food available for aquatic animals. Cadmium effects on human health include skeletal deformities and bone loss, kidney damage, and generalized pain.

Potential Health Effects of Contaminants in Fish

The following ecological indices were derived for the wetlands:

Potential ecological risk for the wetland was derived as follows by calculating Degree of contamination

And Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI)

Therefore the sediments of the Kolo Creek wetlands pose an ultra high ecological risk level to biota in the ecosystem. Also, calculating the Index of Geo-accumulation for the wetland returned the following indices: Zn = 0.0391; Ni = 0.05; Pb = 0.016; Cr = 0.046; Cd = 0.13 and Mn = 5.572. Therefore using the geochemical accumulation index as proposed, we conclude that the wetland is very highly polluted by manganese and unpolluted by other metals. This disparity between the various ecological risk indices calls for a review of these indices, also, it goes to show the importance of synergy in not using only one index. Applying the Geoaccumulation Index helped us to discover serious manganese pollution in the wetlands. Although literature on the toxicity of manganese to aquatic biota is scarce, the WHO opines that high frequency of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) with shell disease (lesions) in a metal- contaminated estuary was ascribed to manganese toxicity, and the deposition of manganese dioxide on the gills of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) gave rise to a brown or black discoloration of the gills and black corroded areas on the carapace following hypoxic conditions in the southeast Kattegat, Sweden. Increased mortality of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at a hatchery was found to be positively correlated with manganese concentration (<0.5-1 mg/litre). Acid precipitation has caused acid episodes and elevated levels of metals. Cage experiments with yearling brown trout (Salmo trutta) showed that pH of 4.5-5.4 (which is similar to the pH of surface water in the wetlands of our study area) and the concentration of labile inorganic manganese (0.1-0.4 mg/litre) explained all of the observed mortality in the specimens.

Hypothesis Testing

Two hypotheses were tested in course of this study and they are stated in null form thus:

H0: There is no statistically significant difference between polluted and unpolluted sites in the Kolo Creek wetlands. H0: The wetland ecosystem does not meet the standard for a healthy (Table 4) was derived by a combination of all the contaminants in the water column and sediments of the three sites as variables and analysing for difference. The Friedman's Test statistics revealed that there is no statistically significant difference in contamination levels in the three locations, x2 (2) = 0.581, p = 0.748. Since the p value (0.748) is bigger than a (0.05) we ACCEPT the null hypothesis of no difference. Table 5 shows the concentration of different contaminants in the various segments of the environment and the environmental standard values they are compared with while Table 6 shows the Wilcox on sign test which compared the average of the two variables. The test statistic simply proved that the wetland ecosystem does not meet the standard for a healthy ecosystem (Z = -785, p = 0.433). Since the p value (0.433) is bigger than a (0.05) we accept the null hypothesis that the wetland does not meet the standards for a healthy ecosystem.

a. Friedman Test

Recommendations

This study hereby recommends continues and stringent monitoring of environmental segments in the wetlands; a need for control in the discharge of solid and liquid waste especially upstream of the Kolo Creek wetlands; application of international environmental standards in the sitting and management of the oil production facilities in the study area and community environmental health education on the dangers of consuming fish and other products from the wetlands.

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