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Recall -- Firm Press Release
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Hospira Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of One Lot Of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, Usp, 100 Ml, Flexible Containers Due to Particulate – Revised to Update Stericycle Phone Number
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 26, 2013 - Hospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP), announced today that last August it initiated a voluntary nationwide user-level recall of one lot of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP, 100 mL, Flexible Container, NDC 0409-7984-23. This action was due to one confirmed customer report where four separate particulate issues were identified in four individual flexible containers. The four single particles were identified as follows: polyester fiber, nylon fiber, cotton fiber and nitrocellulose fiber, respectively. To date, Hospira has not received reports of any adverse events associated with this issue for this lot, and has not identified any quality issues with retention samples for this lot. A recall notification regarding this lot was previously issued to Hospira customers of record on August 31, 2012.
If solution containing particulate matter is used on a patient, this may result acutely in local inflammation, phlebitis, and/or generalized low-level allergic response to the particulate and/or embolize to other organs in the body. Chronically, following sequestration, granulomatous formation in the lungs is possible.
The product is used as a source of water and electrolytes and is packaged in a 100 mL flexible container, lot number 05-201-JT (the lot number may be followed by a -01). The affected product has an expiration date of May 1, 2013, and was distributed within the United States between May 2011 and August 2011 to wholesalers/distributors, hospitals and pharmacies.
Product was distributed within the following U.S. states: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Anyone with an existing inventory should stop use and distribution, quarantine the product immediately, and call Stericycle at 1-877-597-9582 between the hours of 8am to 5pm ET, Monday through Friday, to arrange for the return of the product. Replacement product from other lots is available.
Hospira is investigating to determine the root cause.
For clinical inquiries, please contact Hospira using the information provided below.
|Hospira Contact
|Contact Information
|Areas of Support
|Hospira Global Complaint Management
|1-800-441-4100 (8am-5pm CT, M-F) (firstname.lastname@example.com)
|To report adverse events or product complaints
|Hospira Medical Communications
|1-800-615-0187 or email@example.com (Available 24 hours a day/7 days per week)
|Medical inquiries
Any adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Events Program either online, by regular mail or by fax.
- Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
- Regular mail: use postage-paid, pre-addressed Form FDA3500 available at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm
- Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178
This recall has been conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is the world's leading provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies. Through its broad, integrated portfolio, Hospira is uniquely positioned to Advance Wellness™ by improving patient and caregiver safety while reducing healthcare costs. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has approximately 16,000 employees. Learn more at www.hospira.com.
RSS Feed for FDA Recalls Information [what's this?]


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Deeplinks Blog posts about Social Networks
Google recently announced an update to its Terms of Service, focused on displaying your profile name and photo next to advertisements and reviews. The new feature, which goes into effect on November 11, is called Shared Endorsements and will allow you to share your recommendations (whether a +1 on Google Play or a restaurant rating on Google Maps) with your connections.
Back in 2008, a young Moroccan engineer named Fouad Mourtada became the first person in his country to be arrested for a social networking-related offense. His crime? Something that happens all over the world every day...Mourtada created a Facebook profile representing one of the Moroccan princes. While Mourtada claimed he was merely a fan, he was prosecuted for identity theft and reportedly beaten in custody. After 43 days in jail and a global campaign for his release, he was finally granted a royal pardon.
Acxiom, a data broker that collects 1,500 data points per person on over 700 million consumers total and sells analysis of such information, is trying to ward off federal privacy regulations by flaunting transparency—a diluted term, in this case—around user data. The company just launched AboutTheData.com, a site that will let users see and edit some information that Acxiom has about them—only "some," since Acxiom's analytics reveal far more information about you (living habits and personal preferences) that isn't readily available to you, but is sold to partner companies.
Earlier today, Pinterest received national attention by announcing its new board suggestion program, which suggests Pinterest boards for users to follow based on websites they've visited outside of Pinterest. In rolling out this program, Pinterest took several important steps to respect the privacy of users:
Earlier, we posted about Twitter's new tailored advertising announcement. We applauded Twitter's commitment to privacy by allowing two opt-out mechanisms—both an internal setting and your browser's Do Not Track capability. To make things easier for you, here's a guide to opt out of Twitter's tailored advertisements and how best to protect yourself from online tracking.
Opting out of Twitter's tailored advertisements
Twitter has a simple, built-in setting for opting out of tailored advertisements. Opting out will not remove Twitter's ads altogether—which show up as Promoted Tweets and Promoted Accounts—but they will prevent Twitter from collecting external data to modify which ads you receive.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Tuesdays, March 5 - May 7 • 6:30-9 p.m. • Community Room, Ferris Hills at West Lake, 1 Ferris Hills, Canandaigua
This nine week stress reduction program is for people with ongoing illness or other sources of chronic stress. Participants can choose from two sessions. Certified Holistic Stress Management Instructor Jennifer Klein, PT, MS and Rev. Richard McCaughey lead the sessions. Call (585) 396-6111 to register. Cost: $50.


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they finally got someone to play superman, can't wait for this movie
they finally got someone to play superman, can't wait for this movie
I got advanced screening tickets via Walmart's deal. I'll be seeing it with my wife on Thursday June 13th at 7 PM.
So far from the footage in trailers, etc, it looks like they've really updated the Superman character for modern times and done it well. I've heard that the studio is very pleased with how this turned out. I'm pumped to see it. Plus this dude actually looks like Superman. I'm the furthest thing from gay but the guy is built like a brick crap-house.
�Turns out, far too much has been written about great men and not nearly enough about morons. Doesn't seem right.�
Check out this trailer
---------- Post added at 05:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:42 PM ----------
Reviews are coming in on the web now. Most of them are pretty positive (genre reviewers) to above average (non-genre reviewers). The EW.com review appears to be an outlier. That reviewer gave Man of Steel a "C". But after reading his nonspolier review, he doesn't appear to understand what they are trying to do with the movie.
I read that this is tracking to take in at least $100 million it's opening weekend. A sequal has already been green lighted and put on the fast track with Snyder directing and Goyer writing (again).
just got back!!!!the critics for this movie are complete idiots, I went with marvel fans and they loved it as well. the movie is epic. tons of action. there are some choppy spots in the movie but that's bc everyone already knows the origin story so they are trying to get it out of the way. the end is crazy!!!!! cant wait for a sequel and justice league
My nonspoiler review:
This is a great movie. Visually stunning, especially the Krypton stuff. The movie runners successfully modernized the Superman character in an organic way from the bottom up (unlike the contrived way they gave him an illegitimate son in Superman Returns). The action is compelling. It's a Superman for the modern world and it's awesome. I can't wait to see what they do in the next one.
A couple of thoughts for those that haven't seen it yet: Don't go into it expecting a Marvel "WOW" factor. We get that from the Marvel movies because it's the first time you've ever seen those characters on the big screen. Superman has been on the big screen before. That kinda takes just a pinch of the WOW factor away, but doesn't diminish what you're seeing in any way.
Don't expect a lot of humor in this movie. There are a couple of chuckle moments through out and a laugh moment in the second to last scene (it was in one of the TV spots). But other than that this is a pretty humorless movie. I'm thinking they'll lighten it up slightly in the next one.
In the spoiler section below are a few of my thoughts about the movie that will be spoiler heavy. DO NOT READ THEM UNLESS YOU"VE SEEN THE MOVIE.
I love the flashback method for hitting the points in Clark's childhood. It gave you the gist of he went through without being to melodramatic. Well done.
Had sad is the Kryptonian civilization? They spread out to the stars only to decide to scale all of that back leaving all of their colonies to fend for themselves and eventually die. They exhausted their resources and never thought to go back out to the stars again. The advanced screening tickets I got had a code on it that gave you access to a website that had a digital comic telling the story of how one of Kal-El's ancestors was the captain of that seed ship that crashed in Northern Canada. Pretty cool little back story.
Michael Shannon is outstanding as Zod. However the terraforming was a bit puzzling. Why would you terra-form a planet and take away the elements that are giving you super powers? It seemed kind of stupid to me.
To me the movie needed just a shade more humor. Nothing Donner-like, but just a touch more. Lois is the most competent that character has ever been. She needed more spunk, perhaps a quip or two at Jor-El as his computer image is leading her through Zod's ship? Maybe a quip from Chris Miloni's character at the female Kryptonian. Maybe I'm trying to "Marvel" it up a too much.
I thought it was avg at best. I just cant get into Superman like I can with Batman. I never once felt Superman was in any kind of danger cause he is basically invincible. And why did they make Zod so weak? Superman basically toyed with him the entire movie. LAME!
6/10 at best.
FINALLY saw this movie last night with Pacific Rim (double feature at the Drive-In). I am sorry, this is an OUTSTANDING movie. I love all the nods to the original movies. Well the first two at any rate. And when Pa Kent want back for that dog. Oh man. I thought I was gonna cry. This movie works as a origina movie, sci-fi movie and super hero movie. Can't wait for it to hit DVD later this year.
@ LouSpoilerThe planet isn't what gave them their powers. It is the yellow sun. So changing the atmosphere to their environment wouldn't take the powers away.
EDIT: I just watched the trailer I posted earlier in the thread. You were right. I forgot about the atmosphere changing on the ship when Zod had him captured. So there is a plot hole right there. They should have used a red sun light to keep him incapacitated.
Last edited by DisturbedShifty; 07-14-2013 at 04:27 PM.
I literally just got back from seeing Pacific Rim. You haven't lived until you've seen a giant robot drag a ocean cargo ship down a downtown Hong Kong street and bash a giant monster in the head. Repeatedly. The characters in the movie are your run of the mill stock characters for this type of movie and Charlie Day's character got to be grating at times but all of that is forgiven because of the awesomeness that Jaeger vs Kajiu (and Ron Pearlman of course). I'll go ahead and say it was a better overall movie than Man of Steel.


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This is the official stand the **** up thread and lets try to force this team back to what it once was, greatness.
This is the official start a hastag thread against ireland, find contact information to get emails send to taht big eared idiot Ross, to set up protests outside the stadium, to fly more planes with banners over teh stadium, hell even over taht ****ing idiots office, etc.
Miami website at once point years ago and a contct via e-mail but not anymore. How do fans reach out?


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Article Archives: Michigan
Michigan Statewide CDFI Expanding Its Reach
The Opportunity Resource Fund (ORF) is a 26-year-old nonprofit community development financial institution that provides loans and technical support to nonprofit organizations and small businesses throughout Michigan. Loans to nonprofits are for affordable housing, community facilities, and working capital. Loans to small businesses range from $10,000 to $200,000 and may be used for fixed assets or working capital. Formerly known as the Michigan McGehee Interfaith Loan Fund, ORF has provided more than $30 million in financing that has helped to develop more than 2,400 units of affordable housing, create or retain more than 500 jobs, and provide child-care facilities for 125 children. Investors in ORF include banks, several Roman Catholic religious orders, and many individuals. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority recently contributed $3 million to ORF as permanent capital.
ORF is implementing a three-year strategic plan to double its total assets to $20 million by the end of 2013. ORF is raising funds from investors to finance a large pipeline of affordable housing and small business projects. In addition, ORF is creating a new initiative to make 30-year, fixed-rate loans to people with damaged credit histories for the purchase of homes in Michigan neighborhoods targeted for Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds. Banks can invest in ORF, refer prospective borrowers who do not meet conventional credit criteria, structure ORF into financing packages in which the bank would like to participate, and provide grants and in-kind donations.
For more information, see ORF's Web site or contact President/CEO Christine Coady Narayanan at (517) 372-6001 in Lansing or (313) 964-7300 in Detroit.
Expanding Day Care and Early-Childhood Education
First Children's Finance (FCF) is a nonprofit community development financial institution working to increase the availability of quality early-childhood education and day care for low-income families in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The nonprofit provides expertise and capital to other service organization and businesses. FCF offers services, including training and support for people interested in starting child-care businesses; strategic planning support for nonprofits; and consulting.
The FCF Loan Fund has made 281 loans totaling $8.1 million to small child-care businesses and nonprofit organizations. To date, nearly 50 banks, foundations, and businesses have invested in the FCF Loan Fund. Bankers can help FCF by investing capital in its loan fund; volunteering to serve as board and loan committee members; serving as advisors to the FCF Growth Fund; and making financial contributions to FCF.
For more information, contact Jerry Cutts, FCF President and CEO, at (612) 338-3023, or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com, or visit www.firstchildrensfinance.org.
Business Planning and Financing for "Indianpreneurs"
[Community Developments Newsletter, Fall 2009]
Small Loans, Big Returns
Headquartered in Milwaukee, WtW makes its loans from 43 offices in 21 states: California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
WtW offices are located in social service agencies affiliated with the Alliance of Children and Families (ACF). ACF agencies screen and provide financial education to borrowers and service the loans. WtW local offices provide financial education to more than three persons for every individual who receives a loan. Investors in WtW include several national foundations, the Community Development Financial Institution Fund of the U.S. Treasury Department, local United Way offices, and financial institutions. Banks can be involved by investing in the national WtW loan fund, by referring to local WtW offices prospective borrowers who do not meet conventional credit criteria, by participating in local WtW loan committees, and by providing grants and in-kind donations to WtW.
For more information, contact President Jeff Faulkner at (414) 359-1448 ext. 2, e-mail him, or visit his Web site.
Investing in the Michigan Upper Peninsula
Mexicantown Community Development Corporation (MCDC)
Contact: Maria Elena Rodriguez, (313) 967-9898, www.mexicantown.org.
Entrepreneurs Access Vital Funding in Lansing
Contact: Denise Peek, (517) 485-4446, email@example.com.
Cooperative Financing in the Upper Midwest
For more information, contact Margaret Lund at (612) 331-9103 or at email@example.com. NCDF's web site is www.ncdf.org.
Lending Improves Quality of Life
For more information, contact Debra Martin at (800) 775-9767 or email@example.com.


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I have only recently got into collecting vintage figures, what with the yawning abyss that is in place of new figures at retail these days. I'm glad I did! Vintage figures are great fun, and I seem to get more enjoyment from adding them to my collection than I do buying some of the newly recycled stuff Hasbro tends to churn out, when they churn out anything at all.
Anyhoo, I was wondering what your favorite item is among your vintage collection? My collection is very, very small at present -- 2 carded figures, 2 loose -- so I have to go with my carded ROTJ Vader. Haven't had the thing graded, but I'd guess a 7, due to some light creasing on the card; but the bubble is crystal-clear. It occupies a place of honour among my displayed carded collection.


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JH Audio JH13 Pro Custom In-Ear Monitors
" The JH13 Pro was my first purchase of high-end personal audio equipment so it's difficult for me to provide a fair comparison (prior to purchasing them, I was listening to iPhone earbuds), but I can safely say that I couldn't possibly be happier with my purchase. The process of getting the impressions made was painless (albeit a bit expensive in the San Francisco Bay Area), and..." --WKHarmon
JH Audio JH16 Pro Custom In-Ear Monitors
" I orederd a pair of JH 16Pro IEMs in May. It is now June 15th. Since ordering the first pair, I have returned at my cost of $21.15 each time, the IEMs three times. Each time, Caleb Ellis, who manages the department that makes the IEMs, said he could not explain what had happened. The left IEM of the first pair fitted perfectly with the impressions I paid an ..." --rollinoswald
Jerry Harvey Audio Sirens Series Roxanne Universal IEM
"Here's my video review of the universal Roxanne, kindly loaned to me by Jerry Harvey. Notes: The tips I was using were given to me and are called SpinFit. I don't know of anyone selling them at present, but Jerry Harvey has said he is going to look into making them available. " --Currawong
Jerry Harvey Audio Sirens Series Roxanne Custom IEM
" I feel obligated to share out-of-the-gate that I am no CIEM expert! As a matter of fact, I don't even particularly enjoy IEMs - I love over-ear or on-ear headphones. That said: Experiencing JH Audio's JH-13 Pro (now Freqphase) IEMs at Canjam 2009 was nothing short of a revelation for me. As a matter of fact, the experience was so far from anything I had to compare it with that I ended..." --mikemercer
JH Audio JH5 Pro Custom In-Ear Monitors
"Introduction I decided to buy the CIEM JH5 when I talked to my friend who has the CIEM JH5, JH13 and JH10x3 and he told me that he most CIEM hear is JH5 because it does not show either the "defects" of the music of poor quality or unrecorded and hence to casually listen for hours. How would I already spend good money and did not want to disappoint me made the choice so that my..." --Vitor Valeri
YUIN PK3 Earbuds
"Looking at the picture of the PK3's I wasn't expecting much. They look and feel cheap using a generic case for the drivers making them easy to fake. (In fact my first pair were fake!) these earbuds sound GREAT! Especially considering the price ($44) I have a few pair of earbuds in this same and higher price range and these PK3's knock all of them out of the water. They have a flat sounding..." --thebluebulk
Yuin Pk3 Earphones
" Got these at Amazon after a long search and much reading. Sound for the price is really good. Not in the same league with my Sony Pros or the Sennheisers but surprisingly close. I have them connected with a REALLY cheap headphone amp and the combo far exceeds what I expected. Clear, roomy, dead quiet. " --Richard S
Yuin Pk1 Earphones
" These were my sweetest sounding head-gear yet. It would be brilliant all-rounder if it would not require a portable amp for portable use. This is the first reason i left it, otherwise i almost got an ear infection from those foams.., they get dirty in a few weeks of massive use. I recommend them to clean, i boiled them in water. " --angevoi
JH13v2 Pro Performance Series Universal IEM
"This is my first review on head-fi - please forgive me some flaws. I am aware the pictures are not very good, but I only have my old handphone available for pictures currently. Introduction: It was close to Christmas when the good folks of AV One in Singapore organized an product launch event for the new JH Audio Perfomance Series of their new universal versions of the JH13v2, JH16v2..." --BartSimpson1976
JH Audio Aerous VX3 Custom Aviation Headset
" Here is a quick video overview of the Aerous VX3: " --WKHarmon


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I'm old enough to remember at eighteen living next to the border, making special trips to Colorado to drink that 3.2 beer on the weekends when the drinking age was lower. Getting shnockered, barely making it home. Some didn't. My how times have changed.
Happy Birthday JJL, your knowledge and smarts are way beyond your years. Sometimes I forget I'm conversing with one so young.
Happy Belated JJL! Sorry I missed it, nice haul too!!
You'll be sorry, Pee-Wee Herman!
Wow. JabbaJohnL.!
Sounds like you had a great birthday!
BAD Pts Need: R5-C7 lf leg (x2), , R4-P44 right leg BAD Pts Offered For Trade: PM me - I have lots of parts now including BG-J38!. New Kyle Katarn is also available.
Happy birthday sir!
¡Que la fuerza te acompañe!
Happy Birthday to our new resident Star Wars expert!
BAD Pts Need: R5-C7 lf leg (x2), , R4-P44 right leg BAD Pts Offered For Trade: PM me - I have lots of parts now including BG-J38!. New Kyle Katarn is also available.
Thanks! It was a really nice one.
Here's the haul again:
*Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection by Steve Sansweet
*Star Wars and History book
*The Clone Wars: The Complete Season Four DVD set
*Naboo Fighter vehicle
*Speeder Bike with Biker Scout (my third one so far)
*TVC Emperor's Royal Guard
*TVC Lumat
*TVC Obi-Wan Kenobi (The Clone Wars)
*TVC Ahsoka
*TVC Naboo Pilot
*AT-AT wall decal (not yet arrived)
*Parks and Recreation Season Three DVD set
*American Graffiti on Blu-ray
*Aliens on Blu-ray
*blue-and-black striped shirt
Got a question for Hasbro? Ask it here!
My Photos and Reviews: SSG Toy Guide
My Star Wars Fan Film: The Lazy Jedi
For your birthday, JJL, I'll let you kiss my butt.
That's my jacket!
Belatedly so, Happy Birthday none the less JabbaJohn! That's a sweet haul you got there, especially that Naboo Fighter - I had forgotten it existed after giving up hope of seeing it - was it a surprise or something someone tracked down from your list?
Darth Vader is becoming the Mickey Mouse of Star Wars.
Kylo Ren - came from Space Brooklyn, although he moved to Space Williamsburg before it was trendy.
The use of a lightsaber does not make one a Jedi, it is the ability to not use it.


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About Jeff Masters
Cat 6 lead authors: WU cofounder Dr. Jeff Masters (right), who flew w/NOAA Hurricane Hunters 1986-1990, & WU meteorologist Bob Henson, @bhensonweather
By: Dr. Jeff Masters , 3:29 PM GMT on January 01, 2008
The year 2007 is in the record books as the driest or second driest year on record for much of the Southeastern U.S. A mere 31.85 inches of rain fell in Atlanta, Georgia, during the year, 62% of the average of 48 inches. This year's rainfall total just missed breaking the record of 31.80 inches set in 1954. Rainfall records in Atlanta go back to 1930. The drought was worse in Alabama, where Birmingham had its driest year on record--just 28.86", a full 25 inches below average, smashing the record low of 36.14" set in 1931. Huntsville was even drier--a mere 28.65"--29 inches below average. Surrounding areas of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia also experienced extraordinarily dry years (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Drought conditions in the Southeastern U.S. were at the highest level possible--exceptional drought--at the end of 2007. Image credit: NOAA.
Although the current drought is exceptional, Atlanta has had much drier 2-year periods. During the drought of 1954-1955, Atlanta received 68.23 inches of precipitation--a 28 inch deficit from the normal 2-year rainfall. The deficit for the past two years is only 16 inches, since an average amount of rain fell in 2006 (48.46 inches). Based on the climatological record, Georgia can expect a two-year drought about once in 25 years, and a drought lasting three or more years about once every 40 years. Drought is part of the natural cycle in Georgia, and it would not be a surprise to see the drought of 2007 continue until the winter of 2008. Although December 2007 saw Atlanta's first above average month of rainfall since November 2006, the coming two weeks look very dry, and the current La Nina atmospheric pattern usually brings below average rainfall.
What is causing the Georgia drought?
Two main factors are responsible for the Southeast U.S. drought. Most importantly, a persistent jet stream pattern has set up that steers storms away from the region, and into Texas instead. Texas, which suffered extreme drought in 2006, found itself awash in floods in 2007, as the jet stream pattern brought storm after storm to the state. Another contributing factor to the current Southeast drought is the absence of tropical storms and hurricanes during 2006 and 2007. These storms are an important part of the annual rainfall budget for the Southeast. For example, in 2005, 29% of Atlanta's yearly rainfall came from five tropical storms:
1.36" Arlene June 11-12, 2005
1.40" Katrina, August 29-30, 2005
5.48" Cindy, July 6-8, 2005
5.41" Dennis, July 9-12, 2005
2.94" Tammy, October 6-8, 2005
Figure 2. Over ten inches of rain fell on Atlanta in 2005 from two tropical cyclones, Dennis and Cindy. Tropical cyclones accounted for 29% of Atlanta's rainfall that year. Image credit: NOAA/HPC.
There is little evidence that global warming contributed to this drought. The Southeastern U.S. has cooled by about 0.1° F over the past 100 years, even as the rest of the globe has warmed 1° F. The reasons for this lack of warming in the Southeast are not fully understood. One theory is that the cooling is due to air pollution blocking sunlight. Another theory, proposed by Georgia State Climatologist David Stooksbury, attributes the cooling to the shift from 80 percent row crops (like corn and cotton) to 60 percent forest. Land use changes like this can have a significant impact on how solar energy heats the air once it is absorbed by the soil.
Why Atlanta is vulnerable to drought
Atlanta, unlike most major cities, grew up around rail lines rather than a major body of water. Although the Chattahoochee River runs through Atlanta, the city lies on top of a watershed, with no large bodies of water upstream. The rivers and streams in the region are small, and the bedrock limits how much ground water is available. The Lake Lanier reservoir that supplies Atlanta with most of its water was constructed in the 1950s. Since that time, the population of Atlanta has quadrupled, increasing the pressure on the reservoir's limited water. Lake Lanier is at its record lowest level--more than 19 feet below average. If the drought continues into the summer of 2008, and no tropical storms arrive to break the drought, Atlanta may run out of water.
By 2030, the population of the Atlanta metropolitan area is expected to increase from 5 million to 9 million. Current water resources in the regions will be unable to support this population increase, unless planners make a concerted and expensive effort to plan ahead. The expected increase in temperatures over the coming decades due to global warming will make future droughts in the region even more severe, so Atlanta has a very tough road ahead of it.
Jeff Masters
The views of the author are his/her own and do not necessarily represent the position of The Weather Company or its parent, IBM.
Cat 6 lead authors: WU cofounder Dr. Jeff Masters (right), who flew w/NOAA Hurricane Hunters 1986-1990, & WU meteorologist Bob Henson, @bhensonweather