“All things share the same breath – the beast, the tree, the man…
The air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.”
~ Chief Seattle, Si’ahl leader and warrior, 1854

An unexpected thunder shower on Friday, brilliant pink skies at sunset, gusty winds at last week’s end and clear warm days ushered in the new week, all coming together to create our very own custom designed weather. Every location on the planet has its own unique climate/weather, depending on the influence of a constantly changing interplay of natural variables. Those affecting the Crescenta Valley include the mountains and canyons, the desert, the cold California (ocean) current and elevation. Overshadowing all is the relationship of the earth to the sun, i.e. the seasons. The balance is delicate and manmade influence can really throw a monkey wrench into Mother Nature’s works.

The economy’s impact is almost equal to oxygen in our lives; read on.

Made in China. Number one exporter to the USA and is listed in Top 10 of richest countries. We import electronics, computers, clothing, furniture, plastics, toys and more.  According to NASA, over the past 20 or more years, China’s air pollution has grown at the same rate as their manufacturing. As the Chinese people suffer from its effects – cancer and lung and heart diseases – the same tainted air travels across the Pacific Ocean on global winds known as “westerlies.” So it seems, the U.S. receives not only Chinese-manufactured goods, but the pollutants that come with them.

On some days in L.A., the burning of fossil fuels in China account for one-quarter of sulfate-based pollution in the western U.S.

UC Irvine scientist Steve Davis states, “We’ve outsourced our manufacturing and much of our pollution, but some of it is blowing back across the Pacific to haunt us.”

JPL researchers are now looking at changes in weather and climate tied to China’s concerning export. Many studies agree, weather may become more erratic throughout the U.S., including “an intensification of the Pacific storm track” along the west coast.

Why? Polluted air is filled with fine particles and they attract water droplets.  Clouds are created and off they go…

Unfortunately, a persistent high-pressure system is blocking rain-producing storms from Southern California. Dry and mild weather is here to stay, at least into next week. Without choice, we may accept the preamble to spring … unfortunately minus its “showers.”

Sue Kilpatrick is a
Crescenta Valley resident and
Official Skywarn Spotter for the
National Weather Service. Reach her at  suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.