Archive for the ‘blog’ Category

Earth Day: Air quality best in 40 years

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
Today is the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day and the air quality in the United States today is at it's best over that time period.

A couple of weeks ago, Dr. Mark J. Perry, a professor of economics and finance at the School of Management at the Flint campus of the University of Michigan, published an article on his Carpe Diem blog about how much the air quality has improved over the last 40 years.

In his posting he mentions that the U.S. population has increased by more than 50%, traffic volume (miles driven) in the U.S. has increased 160%, and real GDP has increased 204%; and yet air quality in the U.S. is better than ever - nitrous dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and lead have all decreased between 46% and 92% between 1980 and 2008.

In the posting he also published a graph showing air quality trend data from the EPA:




Please click here to read the full article.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

Blog hits milestone

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
Last week this blog quietly celebrated a milestone by reaching 100,000 visits. When I launched this blog back in April of last year, I thought I would never reach 1000, let alone 100,000. Out of curiosity, I thought I’d take this time to take a look back and list the top 10 postings in terms of total visitor traffic:

1) Video: Tyler Bradt's record 186-foot Kayak Drop
2) Don’t miss the Flame Azaleas on Gregory Bald
3) Abrams Falls Trail is now reopen
4) Eagle Scout Fined $25,238 for Rescue
5) Appalachian Trail thru-hiker numbers up 25%
6) Bear warnings/closings on the rise in the Smokies
7) GPS system 'close to breakdown'
8) Happy Birthday Great Smoky Mountains N.P.
9) Keeping your cool while summer hiking
10) Is bear spray illegal in national parks?

Thanks to all my readers, especially those of you that visit on a regular basis!

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.