Chesapeake Bay Winds of Change

Winds of Change By Tom Pelton

From the early days on the Chesapeake Bay to the yacht races held all along the Bay today, the Chesapeake’s winds have played an outsized role in the region’s economy and culture.

But some scientists have concluded that those wind patterns have undergone a historic shift. And this change in average wind direction has had an impact not only on sailing, but also on water quality in the Bay. Until about 30 years ago, the prevailing winds that blew up the Bay in the summertime came mostly from the south, according to Dr. Michael Kemp, a professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

These southerly winds would sweep the 200-mile length of the Bay. Winds that run in this direction are unobstructed by trees or land masses, which allows them to build up speed, make waves, and stir oxygen into the Bay’s waters. But then this mixing machine broke down.

“Starting probably in the mid 1980s to the present, we’ve seen the winds moving around primarily from…the west,” Dr. Kemp said. “We still get southerly winds. But we get a much higher frequency of winds out of the
west, which has a very different impact.” The Bay is narrow from west to east—about 4 miles across near the Bay Bridge. So winds from the west do not have much room to make waves and stir the high-oxygen
surface water into the oxygen poor depths. This reduced circulation of oxygen makes it harder for oysters, clams, worms, and other critters on the bottom to survive. Low-oxygen “dead zones” are caused by
water pollution—nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage plants, farms, lawns, and other
sources. But the right kinds of winds and currents can help breathe life back into suffocating
waters.

The shifting wind patterns appear to be caused by a giant El Niño-like weather pattern over the Atlantic Ocean, called the North Atlantic Oscillation, which shifts every few decades, according to Dr. Malcolm Scully, an oceanographer at Old Dominion University, who wrote about the subject in an article for the Journal of Physical Oceanography.

Recently, there have been signs that this pattern may be shifting back again, which could mean a return of more powerful southerly winds, better water circulation, and a reduction of the dead zones, Dr. Scully said.

“The extent and severity of these dead zones appears to be very sensitive to what the wind climate is like,” said Dr. Scully. “And it could be that we’ve just now entered into a period in which we are going to have a different wind climate.”

This could mean good news for water quality. But Dr. Scully said that the fact that winds affect water quality doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t care about pollution. Just the opposite, in fact, it meanswe have to be even more diligent about reducing pollution, because that’s the one factor we can control. Reduced nitrogen
and phosphorus pollution, combined with better water circulation, could mean a substantially healthier Bay.

Tom Pelton is Senior Writer for
the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
His daily blog on current Bay
issues can be found at
cbf.org/baydaily.



Winds of Change By Tom Pelton sourced from Save The Bay Magazine Fall 2010

Horse Chestnut Tree In Oxford, Maryland

Oxford's Horse Chestnut Tree

One special Spring time event in Oxford, Maryland is occurs on the property of Sandaway Waterfront Lodging. Sandaway is located in Oxford, Maryland on the Eastern Shore.
The blooming of the Horse Chestnut tree is beautiful. The large tree can bee seen covered with white and pink blossoms. If you like trees and flowers, Sandaway's Horse Chestnut tree should please you. The photo of the Horse Chestnut tree on the right side was taken May 5, 2009 in Oxford, Maryland. When the Horse Chestnut tree reaches full bloom it will be covered in pink and white blossoms like the above Horse Chestnut blossom photo taken another year.

Horse Chestnut Tree definition from answers.com

1. Any of several trees of the genus Aesculus, especially the European species A. hippocastanum, having opposite, palmately compound leaves, erect clusters of white flowers tinged with red or yellow, and spiny or smooth capsules containing large shiny brown seeds.

Horse Chestnut Tree description from answers.com

"The European horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum, is the horse chestnut most frequently used in herbal medicine. It is a member of the Hippocastanaceae family. Horse chestnuts are in an entirely different botanical family from the well-known sweet chestnut tree, Castanea vesca. Horse chestnuts exist in nature as both a tree and a shrub, and are found in all temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America."

Come see a magnificent example of a Horse Chestnut tree in Oxford, Maryland at Sandaway Waterfront Lodging. Experience Green Travel in beautiful Oxford, Maryland.

Save Water - Use a Rain Barrel

Save Water and Help Save The Bay

Eastern Shore Ducks

There are environmentally friendly ways to help save the bay at your home. These efforts can not only help save water, they can help save the Chesapeake Bay. Visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at cbf.org if would like to make a donation to help keep the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland healthy.

The below article could be useful to Eastern Shore residents and visitors.


Save Water, Use a Rain Barrel
By: Vicki Duong


In times of drought and famine, resources always had to be rationed appropriately for the sake of survival. Luckily, some of us are fortunate to not have to go through a dire situation to have to depend on rationed resources. However, with the planet in peril, personal rationing of resources doesn't seem like that bad of an idea.


For example, if you happen to be a gardener like my parents and you're familiar with the idea of water conservation but you really need to water your plants for their survival, then investing in a rain barrel is an ideal option for you. Rain barrels, or water barrels, are designed to save and store rain water for gardening purposes. Great for those who are concerned that water conservation is at an all time low, utilizing water saved from these great barrels reduces your city's overall water consumption, which could be used for a greater, bigger purpose. Not only that, it's also environmentally conscious, which is always a plus!


Rain barrels come in a variety of sizes, hold different volumes and even come in few different attractive styles. Holding anywhere from 40 to about 75 gallons of water (that's a lot for gardening alone!), these rain barrels come in handy for anything from gardening to drinking (just be sure to boil the water first).


As mentioned, a variety of styles are available for your rain barrel that'll complement your home and personal style. Your most basic rain barrel looks like, well, a barrel. Other styles include elegant vase-shaped designs and even stackable styles. An option you may want to consider is a flat-back style, which makes it easier for you to place your rain barrel flushed up against a wall. Certain design necessities that you should keep an eye out for include the functionality of the spigot and whether it is user-friendly, portability when it's empty, mesh tops or safety grids that keep small animals and large debris out, and for those who intend to save a LOT of water, whether the rain barrel can be easily linked to another.


Water conservation isn't something new and saving it for future gardening or even car washing use can come in handy. Think of how much money you'll be saving on your next water bill if you choose to go with this alternative. Saving water has never looked so green for both the environment and your wallet!
For a wide selection in compost bins and rain barrels be sure to stop by Composters.com.
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