In still another example of nature's perversity, a recent study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research suggests that the country's success in cleaning the air could contribute to global warming. As the atmosphere becomes cleaner its ability to filter out sunlight diminishes, creating increased warming. A number of computer forecasts suggest cleaner air will add one degree to global warming estimates over the next 100 years. Long the exclusive purview of chemical agents, sick waters are responding to natural fixes. The Journal of Geophysical Research reports on a University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science study showing nearly half the dust in Miami on summer days originates in Africa.
Transoceanic winds bring the dust, which is high in iron content.
The dust nears the EPA's allowable limits for airborne particulates. The Kesterton National Wildlife Refuge near Merced has shown a dramatic increase in certain mice and voles possessing both male and female reproductive organs. Scientists suspect that the cause is of environmental, rather than genetic, origin. The area was the site where once thousands of birds were killed by selenium from agricultural runoff. The Perp is a Lerp Redgum lerp psyllids attack eucalyptus trees and are resistant to both pesticides and native insect predation.