(Insert Nervous Laughter Here)
SURF:
Had some fun surf the past week, along with great weather. The dominant NW (and smaller SW) will fade Friday/Saturday, but the great weather will continue.
On Sunday, we get a small boost from the NW for waist high surf in N County SD and chest high sets towards S County SD. And here are the tides, sun, and water temps for this weekend:
- Sunrise and sunset Saturday- then Sunday with Daylight Saving Time:
- 6:16 AM sunrise
- 4:49 AM sunset
- Water temps are hanging on to the 62-64 range; a 3/2 fullsuit should suffice.
- Tides are starting to get towards the extreme winter mode:
- almost 6' at sunrise
- down to 0' in the 2 PM hour
- and up to 2' at sunset
FORECAST:
Interesting week ahead. Models have been ALL over the place with a potential storm next week. Some keep the low pressure offshore from us, while others drive it through Southern California. So 3 scenarios could play out, starting mid-week:
- We get overhead storm surf from the W and rain starting mid-week and lasting through Friday.
- The storm stalls offshore of us, we still get W swell- albeit cleaner- and not much in the way of rain late next week.
- The storm stays offshore, dissipates, and we don't get much surf- and no rain to speak of.
Exciting, huh? Further out, forecast charts show a storm from the N around the 21st which could bring rain and steep NW wind/groundswell. If anything changes between now and then, make sure to follow North County Surf on Twitter.
WEATHER:
Fall is my favorite time of the year. Ok- I say that about every season- but it sure has been nice around here lately. And it will stay that way at least until Monday. After that- it's anyone's guess Here's what we have on tap:
- Friday-Monday: Sunny skies again. Mild Santa Ana conditions. And temps 70/58.
- Tuesday: Could be a transition day- more clouds and temps 67/60.
- And beyond that... who knows. Models say we could have a significant storm Wednesday to Friday. Or maybe just showers. Or the storm stays offshore and we get nothing. What's your guess?
BEST BET:
- Monday with small but rideable NW swell and nice conditions.
- Or if you're a gambling man like me, the 2nd half of next week with maybe more swell- or not- and rain. Or not.
NEWS OF THE WEEK:
You know what I don't like? Take a guess. Yes, crowded line ups is one but that's not what I'm thinking. Try again. Ok- flat surf does suck, but it's not the News of the Week. One more try. Confused sharks aren't good either but let's cut to the chase. It's seaweed wrapped around my leash. Or decomposing on shore and stinking up the joint. Or thick kelp in the impact zone and your fins catch on it. But maybe I've been thinking about seaweed all wrong. As the Cable News Network just reported, seaweed is nutritious, not slimy. And eating it could save the world. Here's what they had to say:
Seaweed might be the greatest untapped resource we have on this planet. It can be a nutritious food, an alternative to plastic, restore our oceans and could even help tackle climate change. But while there are 12,000 different types of seaweed, we know how to cultivate fewer than 30. If we’re to make the most of this miraculous plant-like algae, we must learn to love it and learn to grow it sustainably.
Today, our land-based food systems are contributing to global warming and biodiversity loss, but more than 800 million people are starving. Meanwhile, oceans cover more than two thirds of our planet, but they contribute less than 3% of our total food calories, according to some estimates.
We can change that paradigm by encouraging seaweed cultivation. Seaweed is super-fast growing, it doesn’t need land, nor pesticides and it doesn’t need to be watered. It’s also packed with protein, nutrients, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
What’s more, dried, seaweed retains its nutrients. A nutritious product with a long shelf life and no need for cold storage on its journey to the consumer is good news, both for emerging economies, where refrigeration during transport is not always available, and for our climate, because it saves on the carbon emissions that come from keeping perishable produce fresh.
But despite its huge potential, seaweed cultivation is currently largely limited to Asia, which is responsible for 98% of the 35 million metric tons of seaweed sold worldwide. If we want to establish a resilient seaweed market elsewhere, the world needs to embrace it as a food. And there is huge potential for its cultivation. Globally, seaweed could be farmed across an area of ocean almost the size of Australia and provide enough food for 10% of human diets by 2050, according to a study led by University of Queensland in Australia.
But even when humans don’t eat it, seaweed has other benefits for food production: it can be used as a natural biostimulant for plants that can replace fertilizers, and as a feed for animals, with some research suggesting it can reduce the amount of planet-heating methane emitted by cattle.
Beyond food production, seaweed offers a host of other environmental benefits. It has been used to create alternatives to plastic packaging that are biodegradable and compostable, and even edible. Some companies are using it as an alternative textile to cotton, a plant that uses huge quantities of land, water and pesticides.
It also has potential as a scalable, nature-based solution for tackling climate change. As it grows, seaweed draws down carbon dioxide – and it can grow at an astonishing rate. Giant kelp can grow up to 50 centimeters a day, reaching heights of around 60 meters.
There has been some investigation into the potential of seaweeds as a carbon store, and although more is needed, one study says that seaweed habitats are believed to be the most productive of all coastal vegetated ecosystems, and suggested that the world’s seaweed sequesters as much carbon as all the planet’s seagrass meadows, saltmarshes and mangroves combined.
What’s more, seaweed can help restore and regenerate our oceans. It absorbs pollutants such as heavy metals and nitrates, and it encourages biodiversity in our oceans by providing a critical habitat for marine life, and a place for smaller creatures to evade predators.
But just as we are recognizing its untapped potential, seaweed is becoming increasingly vulnerable. California, Norway and Tasmania have all lost more than 80% of their kelp in recent years, the result of climate change, pollution and overfishing. We urgently need to protect, replant and cultivate these ecosystems or they will disappear.
Seaweed might be the greatest untapped resource we have on this planet. It can be a nutritious food, an alternative to plastic, restore our oceans and could even help tackle climate change. But while there are 12,000 different types of seaweed, we know how to cultivate fewer than 30. If we’re to make the most of this miraculous plant-like algae, we must learn to love it and learn to grow it sustainably.
Today, our land-based food systems are contributing to global warming and biodiversity loss, but more than 800 million people are starving. Meanwhile, oceans cover more than two thirds of our planet, but they contribute less than 3% of our total food calories, according to some estimates.
We can change that paradigm by encouraging seaweed cultivation. Seaweed is super-fast growing, it doesn’t need land, nor pesticides and it doesn’t need to be watered. It’s also packed with protein, nutrients, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
What’s more, dried, seaweed retains its nutrients. A nutritious product with a long shelf life and no need for cold storage on its journey to the consumer is good news, both for emerging economies, where refrigeration during transport is not always available, and for our climate, because it saves on the carbon emissions that come from keeping perishable produce fresh.
But despite its huge potential, seaweed cultivation is currently largely limited to Asia, which is responsible for 98% of the 35 million metric tons of seaweed sold worldwide. If we want to establish a resilient seaweed market elsewhere, the world needs to embrace it as a food. And there is huge potential for its cultivation. Globally, seaweed could be farmed across an area of ocean almost the size of Australia and provide enough food for 10% of human diets by 2050, according to a study led by University of Queensland in Australia.
But even when humans don’t eat it, seaweed has other benefits for food production: it can be used as a natural biostimulant for plants that can replace fertilizers, and as a feed for animals, with some research suggesting it can reduce the amount of planet-heating methane emitted by cattle.
Beyond food production, seaweed offers a host of other environmental benefits. It has been used to create alternatives to plastic packaging that are biodegradable and compostable, and even edible. Some companies are using it as an alternative textile to cotton, a plant that uses huge quantities of land, water and pesticides.
It also has potential as a scalable, nature-based solution for tackling climate change. As it grows, seaweed draws down carbon dioxide – and it can grow at an astonishing rate. Giant kelp can grow up to 50 centimeters a day, reaching heights of around 60 meters.
There has been some investigation into the potential of seaweeds as a carbon store, and although more is needed, one study says that seaweed habitats are believed to be the most productive of all coastal vegetated ecosystems, and suggested that the world’s seaweed sequesters as much carbon as all the planet’s seagrass meadows, saltmarshes and mangroves combined.
What’s more, seaweed can help restore and regenerate our oceans. It absorbs pollutants such as heavy metals and nitrates, and it encourages biodiversity in our oceans by providing a critical habitat for marine life, and a place for smaller creatures to evade predators.
But just as we are recognizing its untapped potential, seaweed is becoming increasingly vulnerable. California, Norway and Tasmania have all lost more than 80% of their kelp in recent years, the result of climate change, pollution and overfishing. We urgently need to protect, replant and cultivate these ecosystems or they will disappear.
BEST OF THE BLOG:
And it's a GO! The 2023 North County Board Meeting Hollowday Party will be happening Friday, December 1st at 5:30 PM. This year's charity event will be at Master's Kitchen & Cocktail in culinary hotspot Oceanside, CA. An industrial space with classic history, Masters was once a well remembered drag car shop. The revamped restaurant kept its authentic character, and is the perfect spot to get you in the holiday spirit. And with this year's fundraiser, we'll be benefiting our fellow Hawaiian surfers through the Maui Strong Fund, supporting the rebuilding of historic Lahaina town. So come join us for a night of dinner, entertainment, drinks, and pick up some holiday gifts during our legendary live auction. Tickets are just $100 per person- and we sell out fast- so get your tickets NOW by emailing northcountyboardmeeting@gmail.com.
If you happened to just skim past the Weather section above, you may have missed that the storm of the century is coming. Or not at all- but to play it safe, we unfortunately need to postpone the upcoming Surf Meeting until January...
And if you're unfamiliar with the the North County Board Meeting, we're a 501c3 created in 2015 by business professionals in North County San Diego who also happen to surf. Our goals are:
- Encourage the growth of businesses
- Being a resource for networking
- Giving back to our community
- All at the same time making an excuse to surf!
Surfing is a big part of North County San Diego; whether it be for fun, work, or both. We use that dedication to help local businesses, support charities, and be an asset for our member’s so we can continue to make this region a great place to live and work. For more information, visit our website here.
PIC OF THE WEEK:
If you can't make North County Board Meeting Hollowday Party on Friday, December 1st to help support the rebuilding of historic Lahaina town, then please make sure to visit the Maui Strong Fund website at the Hawai'i Community Foundation link here and donate if you can. Thank you for the support.
Keep Surfing,
Michael W. Glenn
Genius
Only 3 Time Winner Of People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive
Surf More Like Marmaduke Than Duke Kahanamoku
Michael W. Glenn
Genius
Only 3 Time Winner Of People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive
Surf More Like Marmaduke Than Duke Kahanamoku
