Posted on 01/29/2014 12:33:07 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
With unrelenting cold bearing down on the nation, some may dread the dead of winter. However, the cold also brings with it some surprising benefits.
1. Reduced Number of Tree-Killing Bugs
Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive inspect species is known to feed on the bark of trees as larvae, ultimately cutting of the trees water and nutrient supply and resulting in the death of the tree.
However, low temperatures bring hope for ash trees, as lower temperatures are known to kill more of these insects, according to U.S. Forest Service Research Biologist Robert Venette.
"Around minus 20 F, we typically expect around 50 percent of the insects to be potentially killed and closer to minus 30 F almost 90 percent of the insects can be killed," Venette said.
Another harmful species, impacted by colder weather is the gypsy moth.
"It can only handle temperatures down to minus 15 to minus 17 degrees," Venette said. "We think that areas that got colder than that will probably see fewer insects."
2. Better Recovery from Exercise
A new study shows that the therapy method known as cryotherapy, the exposure of the body to low temperatures for therapy purposes, may be the most effective recovery method for runners suffering from exercise-related damage and pain.
In this study, researchers used three methods of recovery, cold exposure, heat and rest, on runners with muscle damage to see technique proved to be best.
The results of the test concluded that the athletes who received cryotherapy gained back muscle strength more quickly and recovered faster than those who experienced the other two recovery procedures.
3. Ice Caves Open Along Lake Superior
Only accessible during the winter months in very specific conditions, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore ice caves along Lake Superior in Wisconsin, provide a memorable winter scene for those lucky enough to make the hike.
Due to depth of the Great Lakes, the caves are only accessible by foot when the lake surface has completely frozen. A two-mile trek atop the frozen tundra is required to reach the caves, where various formations of icicles hang from the cliffs.
Before heading out, adventurists should be sure to check with the National Park Service for the latest park alerts and ice conditions.
4. Fewer Disease-Carrying Bugs
Thriving in warm, moist environments mosquitos are usually most active from early summer through late fall in the regions of the country that do not experience warm temperatures all-year long including, the Northeast.
As cold weather sets in, these insects, some of which carry the West Nile Virus, usually stop biting around 50 degrees and generally become inactive or die around the time of the first frost.
5. Huge Winter Surf
As pressure and temperatures differences grow during the winter months, more wind is generated, creating bigger waves along the Great Lakes, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Edwards.
Waves along the Great Lakes have reached up to between eight and ten feet already this winter.
Also during the wintertime, farther west, a sagging jet stream, stronger winds and colder air aid in fueling stronger storms that produce massive swells in Hawaii.
"Summer has typically much weaker storms, so this happens mostly in winter," AccuWeather Western Weather Expert Meteorologist Ken Clark said.
Known for the Banzai Pipeline, the North Shore of Oahu experiences huge waves during the winter months, making the area a prime spot for some of the world's most premiere professional surfers. At the pipeline, the surf breaks across the shallow coral reef waters, allowing for some of the largest and deadliest waves in the world.
Walls of ice encrust the lower cliffs where wave spray has frozen on the rock in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. (Photo/U.S. National Park Service).
6. It sends much of the riff-raff packing.
Benefits of the weather in Wisconsin!
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
LOLOLOL!
Here in the Western ‘burbs we just didn’t hit the predicted deep lows spoken of in the article. I guess twelve below, but not for any length of time. The temps have been in the negative single digits overnight, and up towards 10F in the daytime. Tonight in the wee hours, it’s right at zero.
To me, the benefit of the cold is the cold. It’s existential.
I’m completely comfortable.
I’m less cranky
Love to work, hike, bike, surf and snowboard
Less tics in the summer
Fewer sqeeters
Clear skies for star gazing.
Sound travels further
Warm cognac or beautiful scotches just plain taste better
Great time to be alone with a cigar.
Sleeping with the windows wide open.
Everything smells fresh.
Steak and red potatoes
Fried okra
Catfish feel like they are being drug through mud and you have no idea what size cat is actually on the line until you toss em on the shore and listen to them croak like frogs...erh catfish
I don’t sweat so dang’d much
Grey flannel suits
Friendship candles in the windows of homes, on the East Coast
The smell of ocean spray
Getting wet while sailing
Watching the giant waves crash against the shore and hearing God speak through the oceans awesome power, which soothes me
Shooting
Duck hunting
Pretending to hunt hogs and freezing your butt off while pondering all the beauty of God’s creation
Tracking deer and deciding their carcass would be more work than it’s worth and simply admiring their beauty....and wishing I had an ATV so I could take one....
Wishing for summer and fire flies and girls in shorts or dresses
The smell of a wood fire and crisping some marsmallows over it
Waisailing
Hot apple pie with a decent cinnamon crust
Hot and gooey cinnamon rolls
Snow
Ice
Water falls shooting over and through ice
Yosemite
Tahoe
Sea Horse Ranch
Auberge De Sole’
Napa
Girls in tight blue jeans
Girls who are cold and want to be warm
I could go on and on about cold weather. I love it.
Walking across the Golden Gate
Big Sur
Carmel
Marin Headlands
Point Bonita
Cambria and dinner at “Robins”
Hearst Castle on a clear and windy day
Hiking the cliffs anywhere in California
Campfire on the beach
Dolphin and whale watching
Deep sea fishing
Kayaking estuaries
Watching the San Lorenzo River when it swells from the rain and admiring its awesome power as it carries redwood trees and turns them into toothpicks
Winter cold....my favorite weather
Cutting down a Christmas tree, knee deep in the snow
Snow ball fights
Building igloos
Snow angels
Damned straight!
6. crazy neighbors not screaming for their mother-effing cats to come home.
Wow, Vendome. I don’t know you...but I really, really like you! :) What a great post.
I agree 100% with all of them, except for the references to gorgeous girls, as I am a woman. :)
Although I suppose they, too, are God’s creation. But even when I was in my twenties, I probably would have been jealous of them, LOL. :)
I love the winter, too. It’s really cold here but I took my Lab Ellie (she’s an eight month-old pup) for a mile and a half walk; if you bundle up, it’s great; the stars are crystal clear on a dark night with no clouds. Simply stunning and refreshing. :)
I’m going back to bed for a bit, I came down to have a bowl of cereal because I was hungry; now I can grab a couple of hours of sleep with a smile on my face. :) Have a great day!
You have a great day.
I was thinking of taking a my three person tent and spending the night down at the northern edge of Big Sur one day in the next couple weeks.
No one with me cept racoons, skunks and California mountain lions .
I want hear the ocean and be lulled into a deep sleep.
I’d wake up the next morning fixing sunny side uo eggs, red potatoes and applewood smoked bacon.
Probably just laze around for a couple hours snacking before I bothered to break camp and just nibble at breakfast.
You’re probably beautiful yourself.
I’ve met a few Freeperettes and they’re beautiful.
Then again they are Freepers and maybe God works in their life making their mere presence relaxing and The day just a little better for hanging out with them.
Hope your sleep is well.
If you’re ever in Northern California feel free to ping me.
I’m in the Bay Area but, will drive to meet you and your friends and share a coffee or diet Coke.
I have never ever seen a cockroach in Alaska, not even in the summer.
Actually in Alaska the majority of our rural roads are dirt and gravel, and are slow to use when dry, a horrid mess when wet but are as smooth as a new highway in the winter after the local grader makes a pass, and we have LOTs of road graders up here, the state will pay a private owner a ton of money just to keep the neighborhood graded, and any school route gets top priority to have a cleared and sanded road, not a lot of salt is used in Alaska but a lot of sand and 3/8ths minus rock is applied to school route roads.
LOL
Awwwww—how sweet!
“Only accessible during the winter months in very specific conditions, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore ice caves along Lake Superior in Wisconsin, provide a memorable winter scene for those lucky enough to make the hike.”
Been there. Done that. Magnificent!
That’s even better than the copperheads and scorpions.
Your list is fine, but much of it is California. Californians do not know cold like people from Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota.
I was born and raised in California, but I really like living in Wisconsin and I enjoy the winter.
The best part of winter is a break from mowing the grass and fighting the weeds! We can start over on the gardens in the spring.
That was such a pleasure to read. It’s so excellent that I’m bookmarking this page to read when it gets hot. :)
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