Global Analysis - August 2014 | State of the Climate | National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2014/8

Global Analysis - August 2014

« July 2014
Global Analysis

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Maps and Time Series

Temperature and Precipitation Maps

Temperature Anomalies Time Series

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Contents of this Section:

• Introduction
• Temperatures
• Precipitation
• References

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August 2014 Selected Climate
Anomalies and Events Map

Global Highlights

• The combined average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces for August 2014 was record high for the month, at 0.75°C (1.35°F) above the 20^th century average of 15.6°C (60.1°F), topping the previous record set in 1998.
  
• The global land surface temperature was 0.99°C (1.78°F) above the 20^th century average of 13.8°C (56.9°F), the second highest on record for August, behind 1998.
  
• For the ocean, the August global sea surface temperature was 0.65°C (1.17°F) above the 20^th century average of 16.4°C (61.4°F). This record high departure from average not only beats the previous August record set in 2005 by 0.08°C (0.14°F), but also beats the previous all-time record set just two months ago in June 2014 by 0.03°C (0.05°F).
  
• The combined average global land and ocean surface temperature for the June–August period was also record high for this period, at 0.71°C (1.28°F) above the 20^th century average of 16.4°C (61.5°F), beating the previous record set in 1998.
  
• The June–August worldwide land surface temperature was 0.91°C (1.64°F) above the 20^th century average, the fifth highest on record for this period. The global ocean surface temperature for the same period was 0.63°C (1.13°F) above the 20^th century average, the highest on record for June–August. This beats the previous record set in 2009 by 0.04°C (0.07°F).
  
• The combined average global land and ocean surface temperature for January–August (year-to-date) was 0.68°C (1.22°F) above the 20^th century average of 14.0°C (57.3°F), the third highest for this eight-month period on record.
  

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Supplemental Information

• Year-to-date Temperature Comparisons

Introduction

Temperature anomalies and percentiles are shown on the gridded maps below. The anomaly map on the left is a product of a merged land surface temperature (Global Historical Climatology Network, GHCN) and sea surface temperature (ERSST.v3b) anomaly analysis developed by Smith et al. (2008). Temperature anomalies for land and ocean are analyzed separately and then merged to form the global analysis. For more information, please visit NCDC's Global Surface Temperature Anomalies page. The maps on the right are percentile maps that complement the information provided by the anomaly maps. These provide additional information by placing the temperature anomaly observed for a specific place and time period into historical perspective, showing how the most current month, season, or year compares with the past.

The most current data may be accessed via the Global Surface Temperature Anomalies page.

Temperatures

In the atmosphere, 500-millibar height pressure anomalies correlate well with temperatures at the Earth's surface. The average position of the upper-level ridges of high pressure and troughs of low pressure—depicted by positive and negative 500-millibar height anomalies on the August 2014 and June 2014–August 2014 maps—is generally reflected by areas of positive and negative temperature anomalies at the surface, respectively.

August

August 2014 Blended Land and Sea Surface
Temperature Anomalies in degrees Celsius

August 2014 Blended Land and Sea Surface
Temperature Percentiles

With records dating back to 1880, the global temperature across the world's land and ocean surfaces for August 2014 was 0.75°C (1.35°F) higher than the 20^th century average of 15.6°C (60.1°F). This makes August 2014 the warmest August on record for the globe since records began in 1880, beating the previous record set in 1998. Nine of the 10 warmest Augusts on record have occurred during the 21^st century. Additionally, August 2014 marked the 38^th consecutive August with a temperature above the 20^th century average. The last below-average global temperature for August occurred in 1976. The departure from average for the month was also record high for the Northern Hemisphere, at 0.92°C (1.66°F) above average. The Southern Hemisphere temperature was 0.56°C (1.01°F) above average, the fourth highest on record for this part of the world.

Globally, the average land surface temperature was the second highest on record for August behind only 1998, at 0.99°C (1.78°F) above the 20^th century average. Warmer than average temperatures were evident over most of the global land surfaces, except for parts of the United States and western Europe, northern Siberia, parts of eastern Asia and much of central Australia stretching north. Overall, 26 countries across every continent except Antarctica had at least one station reporting a record high temperature for August. The United States and the Russian Federation each had stations that reported record warm temperatures as well as at least one station with a record cold temperature for the month. One station in Antarctica also reported a record cold August temperature for its 30-year period of record. The period of record varies by station.

Select national information is highlighted below. (Please note that different countries report anomalies with respect to different base periods. The information provided here is based directly upon these data):

• Averaged across the country, Australia was only 0.06°C (0.11°F) above its 1961–1990 average; however, there were some large variations between regions. Western Australia had its fifth highest maximum August temperature on record (10^th highest average temperature) while the Northern Territory had its fourth lowest minimum August temperature on record (also fourth lowest average temperature).
  
• Following a record warm July, August was a bit more temperate in Norway, although still warm compared to normal, with a monthly temperature that was 1.0°C (1.8°F) higher than the 1961–1990 long-term average for the country.
  
• The United Kingdom had its coolest August since 1993, with a temperature 1.0°C (1.8°F) below its 1981–2010 average. This ended a streak of eight consecutive warmer-than average months.
  
• August was 1.1°C (2.0°F) cooler than the 1981–2010 average in Austria, marking the country's coolest August since 2006. The high alpine regions were 1.5°C (2.7°F) cooler than average.

The average August temperature for the global oceans was record high for the month, at 0.65°C (1.17°F) above the 20^th century average, beating the previous record set in 2005 by 0.08°C (0.14°F). It was also the highest departure from average for any month in the 135-year record, beating the previous record set just two months ago in June 2014 by 0.03°C (0.05°F). Record warmth was observed across much of the central and western equatorial Pacific along with sections scattered across the eastern Pacific and regions of the western Indian Ocean, particularly notable in the waters east of Madagascar. After cooling briefly in July, ocean temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region—the area where ENSO conditions are monitored—began warming once again. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center estimates that there is a 60–65 percent chance that El Niño conditions will develop during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter. This forecast focuses on the ocean surface temperatures between 5°N and 5°S latitude and 170°W to 120°W longitude.

August	Anomaly		Rank (out of 135 years)		Records
	°C	°F			Year(s)	°C	°F
Global
Land	+0.99 ± 0.24	+1.78 ± 0.43	Warmest	2nd	1998	+1.03	+1.85
			Coolest	134th	1912	-0.75	-1.35
Ocean	+0.65 ± 0.05	+1.17 ± 0.09	Warmest	1st	2014	+0.65	+1.17
			Coolest	135th	1910, 1911	-0.45	-0.81
Land and Ocean	+0.75 ± 0.12	+1.35 ± 0.22	Warmest	1st	2014	+0.75	+1.35
			Coolest	135th	1912	-0.51	-0.92
Northern Hemisphere
Land	+1.07 ± 0.21	+1.93 ± 0.38	Warmest	1st	2010, 2014	+1.07	+1.93
			Coolest	135th	1912	-0.94	-1.69
	Ties: 2010
Ocean	+0.84 ± 0.04	+1.51 ± 0.07	Warmest	1st	2014	+0.84	+1.51
			Coolest	135th	1913	-0.57	-1.03
Land and Ocean	+0.92 ± 0.15	+1.66 ± 0.27	Warmest	1st	2014	+0.92	+1.66
			Coolest	135th	1912	-0.65	-1.17
Southern Hemisphere
Land	+0.80 ± 0.12	+1.44 ± 0.22	Warmest	7th	2009	+1.37	+2.47
			Coolest	129th	1891	-0.78	-1.40
Ocean	+0.51 ± 0.06	+0.92 ± 0.11	Warmest	4th	1998	+0.57	+1.03
			Coolest	132nd	1911	-0.48	-0.86
	Ties: 2003, 2005, 2013
Land and Ocean	+0.56 ± 0.06	+1.01 ± 0.11	Warmest	4th	2009	+0.67	+1.21
			Coolest	132nd	1911	-0.51	-0.92
	Ties: 1997

August Global Land and Ocean plot

August Global Hemisphere plot

The most current data August be accessed via the Global Surface Temperature Anomalies page.

Seasonal (June–August)

June 2014–August 2014 Blended Land and Sea Surface
Temperature Anomalies in degrees Celsius

June 2014–August 2014 Blended Land and Sea Surface
Temperature Percentiles

June–August 2014, at 0.71°C (1.28°F) higher than the 20^th century average, was the warmest such period across global land and ocean surfaces since record keeping began in 1880, edging out the previous record set in 1998. The global ocean temperature was a major contributor to the global average, as its departure from average for the period was also highest on record, at 0.63°C (1.13°F) above average. The average temperature across land surfaces was not far behind, at fifth highest for June–August. Regionally, the Northern Hemisphere temperature across land and oceans combined was also record high for its summer season, while the Southern Hemisphere temperature was fourth highest for its winter season.

Select national information is highlighted below. (Please note that different countries report anomalies with respect to different base periods. The information provided here is based directly upon these data):

• Winter (June–August) was warmer than average for Australia; however, while the maximum temperature was 0.68°C (1.22°F) above average, the minimum temperature was 0.14°C (0.25°F) below average, making for a greater-than-average daily temperature range. The highest maximum temperature anomalies were observed in the states of Tasmania (second highest on record) and Western Australia (tied for third highest on record). The Northern Territory had below-average winter maximum and minimum temperatures, with the average temperature tying as the 33^rd coolest winter temperature in its 105-year period of record.
  
• Summer 2014 was 0.2°C (0.4°F) higher than the 1981–2010 average for Austria, but it also marked the coolest June–August for the country since 2005. The north and east were 0.4–0.7°C (0.7–1.3°F) above average while most other regions were near average.
  
• The summer temperature for Norway was 1.9°C (3.4°F) above its 1961–1990 average. Western Norway, Trøndelag, and Nordland saw temperatues 2–3°C (4–5°F) above their long-term averages.
  
• Summer in Denmark was 1.6°C (2.9°F) warmer than its 1961–1990 average and 0.4°C (0.7°F) warmer than the more recent 2001–2010 average. The second highest July temperature on record contributed to the summer warmth.

June–August	Anomaly		Rank (out of 135 years)		Records
	°C	°F			Year(s)	°C	°F
Global
Land	+0.91 ± 0.20	+1.64 ± 0.36	Warmest	5th	2010	+1.02	+1.84
			Coolest	131st	1885	-0.58	-1.04
Ocean	+0.63 ± 0.05	+1.13 ± 0.09	Warmest	1st	2014	+0.63	+1.13
			Coolest	135th	1911	-0.48	-0.86
Land and Ocean	+0.71 ± 0.12	+1.28 ± 0.22	Warmest	1st	2014	+0.71	+1.28
			Coolest	135th	1911	-0.46	-0.83
Northern Hemisphere
Land	+0.94 ± 0.18	+1.69 ± 0.32	Warmest	5th	2010	+1.17	+2.11
			Coolest	131st	1884	-0.68	-1.22
	Ties: 2006
Ocean	+0.76 ± 0.05	+1.37 ± 0.09	Warmest	1st	2014	+0.76	+1.37
			Coolest	135th	1913	-0.54	-0.97
Land and Ocean	+0.83 ± 0.15	+1.49 ± 0.27	Warmest	1st	2014	+0.83	+1.49
			Coolest	135th	1913	-0.50	-0.90
Southern Hemisphere
Land	+0.80 ± 0.12	+1.44 ± 0.22	Warmest	5th	2005	+1.01	+1.82
			Coolest	131st	1911	-0.70	-1.26
Ocean	+0.53 ± 0.06	+0.95 ± 0.11	Warmest	4th	1998	+0.59	+1.06
			Coolest	132nd	1911	-0.50	-0.90
	Ties: 2002
Land and Ocean	+0.57 ± 0.07	+1.03 ± 0.13	Warmest	4th	1998	+0.65	+1.17
			Coolest	132nd	1911	-0.53	-0.95

June–August Global Land and Ocean plot

June–August Global Hemisphere plot

The most current data August be accessed via the Global Surface Temperature Anomalies page.

Year-to-date (January–August)

January–August 2014 Blended Land and Sea Surface
Temperature Anomalies in degrees Celsius

January–August 2014 Blended Land and Sea Surface
Temperature Percentiles

The first eight months of 2014 (January–August) were the third warmest such period on record across the world's land and ocean surfaces, with an average temperature that was 0.68°C (1.22°F) above the 20^th century average of 57.3°F (14.0°C). If 2014 maintains this temperature departure from average for the remainder of the year, it will be the warmest year on record.

The average global sea surface temperature tied with 2010 as the second highest for January–August in the 135-year period of record, behind 1998, while the average land surface temperature was the fifth highest.

January–August	Anomaly		Rank (out of 135 years)		Records
	°C	°F			Year(s)	°C	°F
Global
Land	+1.01 ± 0.23	+1.82 ± 0.41	Warmest	5th	2007	+1.14	+2.05
			Coolest	131st	1885, 1893	-0.68	-1.22
Ocean	+0.55 ± 0.05	+0.99 ± 0.09	Warmest	2nd	1998	+0.57	+1.03
			Coolest	134th	1911	-0.50	-0.90
	Ties: 2010
Land and Ocean	+0.68 ± 0.11	+1.22 ± 0.20	Warmest	3rd	1998, 2010	+0.70	+1.26
			Coolest	133rd	1911	-0.51	-0.92
Northern Hemisphere
Land	+1.08 ± 0.28	+1.94 ± 0.50	Warmest	5th	2007	+1.29	+2.32
			Coolest	131st	1893	-0.78	-1.40
Ocean	+0.61 ± 0.07	+1.10 ± 0.13	Warmest	1st	2014	+0.61	+1.10
			Coolest	135th	1910	-0.49	-0.88
Land and Ocean	+0.79 ± 0.17	+1.42 ± 0.31	Warmest	2nd	2010	+0.81	+1.46
			Coolest	134th	1893, 1913	-0.51	-0.92
Southern Hemisphere
Land	+0.84 ± 0.15	+1.51 ± 0.27	Warmest	6th	2005	+1.00	+1.80
			Coolest	130th	1917	-0.77	-1.39
Ocean	+0.52 ± 0.05	+0.94 ± 0.09	Warmest	5th	1998	+0.60	+1.08
			Coolest	131st	1911	-0.52	-0.94
Land and Ocean	+0.57 ± 0.07	+1.03 ± 0.13	Warmest	3rd	1998	+0.66	+1.19
			Coolest	133rd	1911	-0.54	-0.97
	Ties: 2002, 2003, 2005

January–August Global Land and Ocean plot

January–August Global Hemisphere plot

The most current data August be accessed via the Global Surface Temperature Anomalies page.

Precipitation

August

The maps below represent precipitation percent of normal (left) and precipitation percentiles (right) based on the GHCN dataset of land surface stations using a base period of 1961–1990. As is typical, August precipitation anomalies varied significantly around the world. As indicated by the August precipitation percentiles map below, extreme wetness was observed across part of the central United States, parts of northern Europe, central Siberia, Japan, and eastern Australia. Much of Japan received heavy rainfall from Typhoons Nakri and Halong during the first half of the month. Extreme dryness was scattered across small regions of each of the major continents.

Select national information is highlighted below. (Please note that different countries report anomalies with respect to different base periods. The information provided here is based directly upon these data):

• August was wet across Japan. Western Japan received 301 percent of its average precipitation, making this its wettest Ausgust since national records began in 1946. Typhoons Halong and Nakri, along with fronts and moist air flow, contributed to this extreme wetness."
• The cooler-than-average August temperatures in the U.K. were accompanied by wet conditions. August tied as the seventh wettest such period since national records began in 1910, thanks in part to ex-Hurricane Bertha passing over the UK on the 10^th and 11^th. Northern Scotland was record wet.
  
• Latvia reported its fifth wettest August on record and second wettest for the 21^st century, with 178 percent of the country's long-term average precipitation.

August 2014 Land-Only Precipitation
Percent of Normal

August 2014 Land-Only Precipitation Percentiles

Seasonal (June–August)

The maps below represent precipitation percent of normal (left) and precipitation percentiles (right) based on the GHCN dataset of land surface stations using a base period of 1961–1990. As is typical, precipitation anomalies during June 2014–August 2014 varied significantly around the world.

• According to the India Meteorological Department, the Southwest Monsoon brought just 82 percent of the long-term (1951–2000) average rainfall to the country from June 1 to August 27. All regions were below average. Northwest India received just 66 percent of its average amount for the period, while the South Peninsula was closest to its long-term average among all regions, at 89 percent of average. By the end of August, the monsoon trough was generally near the Himalayan foothills.
  
• In France, even with a drier than average June, total summer (June–August) precipitation was more than 140 percent of average, marking one of the 10 wettest summers since national records began in 1959. It was the wettest July–August period on record.

June 2014 – August 2014 Land-Only Precipitation
Percent of Normal

June 2014 – August 2014 Land-Only Precipitation Percentiles

References

Peterson, T.C. and R.S. Vose, 1997: An Overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network Database. Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 78, 2837-2849.

Quayle, R.G., T.C. Peterson, A.N. Basist, and C. S. Godfrey, 1999: An operational near-real-time global temperature index. Geophys. Res. Lett., 26, 333-335.

Smith, T.M. and R.W. Reynolds, 2005: A global merged land air and sea surface temperature reconstruction based on historical observations (1880-1997), J. Clim., 18, 2021-2036.

Smith et al., 2008, Improvements to NOAA's Historical Merged Land-Ocean Surface Temperature Analysis (1880-2006), J. Climate., 21, 2283-2293.

~A.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/168770/half-illinois-connecticut-move-elsewhere.aspx

Half in Illinois and Connecticut Want to Move Elsewhere

PRINCETON, NJ -- Every state has at least some residents who are looking for greener pastures, but nowhere is the desire to move more prevalent than in Illinois and Connecticut. In both of these states, about half of residents say that if given the chance to move to a different state, they would like to do so. Maryland is a close third, at 47%. By contrast, in Montana, Hawaii, and Maine, just 23% say they would like to relocate. Nearly as few -- 24% -- feel this way in Oregon, New Hampshire, and Texas.

These findings are from a 50-state Gallup poll, conducted June-December 2013, which includes at least 600 representative interviews with residents aged 18 and older in each state. Gallup measured residents' interest in moving out of state by asking, "Regardless of whether you will move, if you had the opportunity, would you like to move to another state, or would you rather remain in your current state?"

Thirty-three percent of residents want to move to another state, according to the average of the 50 state responses. Seventeen states come close to that 50-state average. Another 16 are above the average range, including three showing an especially high desire to move. In fact, in these three -- Illinois, Connecticut, and Maryland -- roughly as many residents want to leave as want to stay.

At the other end of the spectrum, 17 states are home to a below-average percentage of residents wanting to leave. This includes the previously mentioned six states -- Montana, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Texas -- where fewer than one in four want to move, the lowest level recorded. The detailed results for all 50 states are shown on page 2.

Nevada Residents Show Greatest Intention to Move in Next 12 Months

In the same poll, Gallup asked state residents how likely it is they will move in the next 12 months. On average across all 50 states, 6% of state residents say it is extremely or very likely they will move in the next year, 8% say it is somewhat likely, 14% not too likely, and 73% not likely at all.

The combined percentages reporting they are extremely, very, or somewhat likely to move out of state ranges from 8% in Maine, Iowa, and Vermont to 20% in Nevada. Although these figures are still high relative to the actual percentage of Americans who move out of state each year, they provide a basis for evaluating each state's risk of losing population that is somewhat stronger than the sheer desire of its residents to move.

Of course, all states enjoy an influx of new residents as well as outflows, so these intention-to-move data are only part of the population-change picture, but an important one.

Those saying it is at least somewhat likely they will move were asked to say why, in their own words. The biggest factor residents give for planning to move is for work or business reasons -- the 50-state average is 31%. This is followed by family or other social reasons (19%), weather or location (11%), and then seeking a better quality of life or change (9%).

In most states, it is not possible to view these answers because there are too few respondents, but in each of the 11 states with the highest percentages wanting to leave, roughly 100 answered the question. The breakdown of the open-ended responses for these 11 states is shown in the accompanying graph.

While not all of the percentage differences among the states are statistically significant because of small sample sizes, a few important ones stand out. Residents of Mississippi and South Carolina who indicate they are likely to move are significantly more likely to cite work- or business-related reasons than are their counterparts in other states. The cost of living is a greater relative factor for residents in Connecticut and New York, while taxes are a uniquely important factor in New York, Illinois, and Maryland.

Bottom Line

State leaders have important reasons for wanting to see their state populations grow rather than shrink. A growing population usually means more commerce, more economic vitality, and a bigger tax base to pay for state services. A shrinking population not only hurts government coffers, but can weaken a state politically by virtue of the potential loss of U.S. House members through redistricting every 10 years.

Gallup's 50-state poll finds some states far better positioned than others to retain residents, and thus possibly attract new ones. This is evident in the wide variation in the percentages of state residents who say they would leave their state if they could, as well as in the percentages who say they plan to move in the next year.

Nevada, Illinois, Maryland, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, and Connecticut all appear particularly vulnerable to losing population in the coming few years: high percentages of their residents say they would leave if they could, and larger-than-average percentages say they are at least somewhat likely to do so in the coming year. At the other end of the spectrum, Texas, Minnesota, and Maine have little to fear. Residents of these states are among the least likely to want to leave and few are planning to leave in the next 12 months.

If these states sound familiar to readers of Gallup's previous 50-state poll articles, it's because several of them also appear at the top or bottom of the states for resident satisfaction with state taxes, state government, and overall perceptions of how their state compares to others as a place to live. Texas is in the top 10 on all three, while Illinois, Rhode Island, and Maryland rank in the bottom 10 on all three.

In upcoming articles, Gallup will analyze interstate migration patterns in greater detail, looking at where residents who are likely to move say they would move to.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted June-December 2013, with a random sample of approximately 600 adults in each state, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

For results based on the total sample of adults per state, the margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample of national adults includes minimum quotas of cellphone respondents and landline respondents based on cellphone and landline use in the respective state. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.

Samples are weighted to correct for unequal selection probability, nonresponse, and double coverage of landline and cell users in the two sampling frames. They are also weighted to match the state demographics of gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, population density, and phone status (cellphone only/landline only/both, and cellphone mostly). Demographic weighting targets are based on the most recent Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older U.S. population. Phone status targets are based on the most recent National Health Interview Survey. Population density targets are based on the most recent U.S. census. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

For more details on Gallup's polling methodology, visit www.gallup.com.

Click below to get more stories, RSS feeds, and e-mail alerts on these topics:

~A.

A Shift in Nuclear Powers [Infographic] | Popular Science

http://www.popsci.com/article/science/shift-nuclear-powers-infographic?src=related&con=outbrain&obref=obinsite

A Shift in Nuclear Powers [Infographic]

Nuclear energy provides 11 percent of the world's electricity, but most reactors are now decades old. Many are approaching—or have surpassed—their initial 30- to 40-year lifespans (though upgrades can extend their lives to 60 years). Early nuclear adopters like France and Germany are curtailing their programs, even though analysts—including the authors of a recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—say nuclear is necessary to keep worldwide carbon emissions in check. Emerging economies may take up the mantle: Planned reactors in China and Russia could keep the world's inventory stable.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency; data current as of December 2013.

Data Visualization by Giorgia Lupi, Simone Quadri, Gabriele Rossi, Davide Ciuffi, and Tommaso Renzini, Accurat

Since late 2012, the U.S. has announced the retirement of five reactors, and several planned units are currently on hold.

China is one of the only nations investing heavily in nuclear power—28 of its 49 reactors are under construction, and 35 more have been planned. It still has a long way to go: Nuclear accounted for only two percent of the country's electricity in 2012.

Just before the Fukushima disaster in 2011, nuclear power provided about 29 percent of Japan's electricity. As of late 2013, all of its reactors were shut off and producing no power—though many were still technically operational. Japanese utilities are importing natural gas and oil to satisfy electricity demand.

In June, the French prime minister introduced a bill that would cap nuclear at its current capacity.

Russia has aggressively pursued nuclear power, following a post-Chernobyl hiatus that lasted more than a decade.

This article originally appeared in the September 2014 issue of Popular Science.

~A.

The Secret to My Amazing Jewelry Photos — Jewelry Making Journal

http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/the-secret-to-my-amazing-jewelry-photos/

The Secret to My Amazing Jewelry Photos

by Shirin.
(Boston, VA)

Here is an example of a photo taken with this setup, so you have an idea what I mean by a professionally-looking photo.

I have been asked (on numerous occasions) to share the secret to my professionally-looking photos taken in the comfort of my own home.

Guess what? I am sharing it for the first time ever, and I am doing it here on JMJ to pay Rena back for all the great info she shares so graciously with all of us.

I have learned a lot of useful tips when I was just starting out, and I am forever grateful to all of you who shared them, and glad that I didn't have to learn them the hard way.

Ok, so today is my turn to share something, hopefully useful to some of you.

We all know how a picture is worth a hundred/thousand/million words, and how bad photography doesn't really help you promote your creations and sell your art.

I have tried many ways of photographing my jewelry trying to make it look good enough to tempt people to buy it.

I made my own light boxes, tried natural light through the window on a glorious sunny morning, took photos in almost all rooms of the house, as well as practiced taking them outdoors, etc.

As you see, I wasted a lot of time and not so much money (thankfully), but nothing worked until I finally developed my own method that I am happy with, and judging by the comments I am getting, others are happy with the results as well.

The secret is terribly simple:

White poster board behind a glossy surface. That is all I use for my photo studio. Also, note the wire line attached to the sides of the board. I use it to hang necklaces or earrings.

• White foldable poster board sold in most office supplies stores. I got mine at Target, and I think it cost me no more than $8.
• Glossy surface. I was lucky enough to own a small black glossy coffee table I bought years ago at Walmart for $10.

I use this box under the board for an extra elevation in some photographs. For example, when taking photos of earrings, I need the board to be at a certain angle to make sure the earrings are hanging closer to the front of my glossy surface, and farther from the board. This way I don't have that sharp line where black and white meets and spoils the photo. The farther my jewelry is from the board, the more naturally my background looks in the photos.

After experimenting with different angles and placements I take photos with a flash setting on my camera, mainly because I don't have any good windows around, and flash seems to work fine.

I need to have the board lean towards the front when taking earrings shots. I can move it forward when I have smaller earrings and I want the reflection to get into the picture, and I can move it back when I have longer earrings.

I am sure a well-lit location would not require the use of flash, but that is up to you to experiment with.

Feel free to ask me questions and have fun taking your own professionally-looking photos.

Shirin
Shirin Designs
Store

~A.

Anaprosdokians....

Winston Churchill loved araprosdokians, figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is…surprising or unexpected.

 

1. Where there's a will, I want to be in it.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it's still on my list.

3. Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

6. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

7. They begin the evening news with 'Good Evening,' then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

8. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

9. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out, I just wanted pay checks.

10. In filling out an application, where it says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put "DOCTOR."

11. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

12. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street...with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

13. Behind every successful man is his woman.

Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

14. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

15. You do not need a parachute to skydive.

You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

16. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

17. There's a fine line between cuddling and...

holding someone down so they can't get away.

18. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

19. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

20. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

21. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

22. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

23. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more

than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Finally:

24. I'm supposed to respect my elders, but now it's getting harder and harder for me to find one.

~A.

Fractal Enlightenment | The Effect of Positive Emotions on Our Health

http://fractalenlightenment.com/27015/life/the-effect-of-positive-emotions-on-our-health

The Effect of Positive Emotions on Our Health

"The best way to overcome undesirable or negative thoughts and feelings is to cultivate the positive ones." ~ William Atkinson

Its important we recognise our thoughts and emotions and be aware of its effect not only on our health but also our relationships and our surroundings. Positive emotions makes you feel happy and joyful. Everything around you seems beautiful, you enjoy the moment and things seem to fall into place.

Barbara Fredrickson, one of the long-time researchers and author on positive emotions, has shown how cultivating positivity can transform us at a cellular level and actually shape who we are.

Fredrickson's theory of positive emotions, 'Broaden-and-build' suggests that positive emotions lead to novel, expansive behavior, and these actions, over time, lead to lasting emotional resilience, flourishing and meaningful social relationships.

Positive emotions or behaviour – like playfulness, gratitude, awe, love, interest, serenity, and feeling of interconnectedness to others – broadens our perspective, opens our mind and heart as we feel completely in tune with our environment. Like the flowers that open up when the sun rises, the same way positive emotions bring light and joy back in our lives.

According to Fredrickson, "Negative emotions are necessary for us to flourish, and positive emotions are by nature subtle and fleeting; the secret is not to deny their transience but to find ways to increase their quantity. Rather than trying to eliminate negativity, she recommends we balance negative feelings with positive ones."

In this video she discusses how it broadens our awareness of the world, allowing us to become more in tune with the needs of others.

Shakespeare said, "Frame your mind to mirth and merriment, which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life."

Lets see the physical and emotional benefits of positive emotions -

When you delve in that happy space, more possibilities and new ideas emerge and our creativity flows. Happiness and joy transform us, although you might not stay in that state all the time. There will days when you feel down and out, but if we observe our emotions and divert our mind and think of the happy moments, you will find the negative emotion fading away.

Don't forget negative, repressed emotions can have detrimental effect on our body, mind and spirit. It takes control over you and makes you feel down, gloomy, unhealthy and its a unpleasant state to be in.

Nothing like a good humour to drive the negativity away, always works for me. So increase your daily diet of positivity or engage in activities that bring about happy feelings either meditation, exercise, yoga, laughter clubs, walk, painting, and so on. Love your life and yourself.

Positive feelings also help us live in the present moment and believe in oneness and interconnectedness with everything around us. To sum it up, Marcus Aurelius said "Remember this, that very little is needed to make a happy life."

Resources:

Fredrickson's Quote

Emotional guidance scale

Thank us with a share, not only does it help us grow, by sharing knowledge you help shift the planets consciousness. Thank you so much:

Comments

~A.

Emotional guidance scale - EcoReality

http://www.ecoreality.org/wiki/Emotional_guidance_scale

Emotional guidance scale

Abraham-Hicks has come up with a series of emotions that will help you work from feeling bad to feeling better about what ever you are experiencing. If you find where you are emotionally on the scale, and then try and find thoughts that feel just a tad bit better about it. Small baby steps toward Joy.

1. Joy/Appreciation/Empowered/Freedom/Love
2. Passion
3. Enthusiasm/Eagerness/Happiness
4. Positive Expectation/Belief
5. Optimism
6. Hopefulness
7. Contentment
8. Boredom
9. Pessimism
10. Frustration/Irritation/Impatience
11. Overwhelment
12. Disappointment
13. Doubt
14. Worry
15. Blame
16. Discouragement
17. Anger
18. Revenge
19. Hatred/Rage
20. Jealousy
21. Insecurity/Guilt/Unworthiness
22. Fear/Grief/Depression/Despair/Powerlessness

From the book Ask and It is Given, pg. 114

Share your opinion

~A.