Summer struggles Australians know all too well

Originally published by me on AussieGossip.com.au.

Even though we have the best summers down here in Oz (#blessed), sometimes it can be like navigating through hell. Whether you spent your childhood convincing your teacher to send you home in the 40 degree heat, or you cooled down by trying to fit inside the freezer (sorry mum), we’ve all been there. Here are the serious struggles that every Aussie knows come with the fun times of summer.

The family fan

You know the one. Your parents didn’t spring for air con, so you spent your days fighting over who got to sit in front of the shitty family fan. And every so often, all hell broke loose when someone – in a heat induced rage – would relocate it to their bedroom. Meanwhile, the rest of the family was left to fend death off by themselves. Good times.

Walking on the scorching hot sand

You’ve been dying to hit the beach all day, and you’re finally there. But one step on the sand and you REGRET your entire life. If you were one of the lucky ones, you had thongs to protect you. Otherwise, you had no choice but to throw your towel on the ground and take refuge every few metres. If you had neither, RIP.

Hot seat belts

You thought you finally escaped the heat. You jumped in the car, breathed a sigh of relief and happily reached for your seatbelt (because safety). BIG mistake. The metal part was as hot as a freaking oven, and you wouldn’t be surprised if your fingers suddenly started sprouting blisters. And no matter how many times it happened, you just kept doing it over and over… and over again.

‘iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it’

Possibly the most annoying thing ever. You thought you could catch some rays, but now even your phone’s suffering from heat stroke, and you’re bored as hell. You can’t live your life without documenting your every move, so you just head back inside after about five minutes. It was a solid effort, though.

Sweating and sticking to the chair

Ugh. How do you get out of your seat without people noticing the sweat? It’s dripping down your face as you’re trying to get an ice cream and hoping you don’t see anyone you know. In the heat of Aussie summer, the sweat struggle is 100% there and very real.

Weather that can’t make up its mind

Will it rain this morning and then suddenly skyrocket to 45 degrees? Probably. Will it begin hailing halfway through the day but then turn sunny again? Most likely. Can you expect wind, a storm and possibly even a flood? You betcha. Prepare for everything.

Endless flies

Did you want that burger? Well, too bad. It’s been taken hostage by a family of flies, and they couldn’t care less. All they care about is hovering over you in the most irritating way while rubbing their tiny little hands together in glee. And don’t even try applying Aeorogard because the little bastards will only take it as a challenge.

Small ocean organisms help maintain Earth’s climate

Researchers from University of East Anglia and Oregon State University, and University of Exeter have found that small ocean organisms from an abundant bacterial group called ‘Pelagibacterales‘ are helping to maintain the Earth’s atmosphere. They were found to release large amounts of two sulfuric gases into the atmosphere as a part of a negative feedback process known as CLAW hypothesis. The Nature Microbiology journal published the finding this Monday.

The researchers were investigating to generation of a dimethylsulfide (DMS) gas, which is known for stimulating cloud formation, by marine organisms. They studied Pelagibacterales at molecular genetic level. They found that a compound calleddimethylsulfoniopropionate (DNSP), made in large amounts by marine plankton, is then broken down into DMS by Pelagibacterales.

Emily Fowler, a researcher at the University of East Anglia, said Pelagibacterales creates DNS through a previously unknown enzyme. This enzyme can be found in other marine bacterial species. “This likely means we have been vastly underestimating the microbial contribution to the production of this important gas”, Fowler said.

According to Steve Giovannoni, co-author of the journal and distinguished microbiology professor at Oregon State University, these gases can be recognised by their smells. He said, “One of these compounds, dimethylsulfide, or DMS, we recognise as the smell of the sea. The other gas, methanethiol, makes us think of leaking gas lines. In the atmosphere, dimethylsulfide oxidizes to sulfuric acid, which some scientists think can seed cloud formation and alter heating of the Earth.”

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) said the ocean plays an important role in regulating the atmosphere. According to them, certain gases, such as carbon dioxide, help maintain the climate. 90% of the world’s carbon dioxide is now present in the ocean, and it regulates the climate by transferring its gas from air to ocean. The findings may be used to improve NASA climate models, as they do not yet account for DMS and methanethiol gases.

The CLAW hypothesis suggests that ocean microorganisms are responding to global heating by stimulating processes which cool the planet. The exact mechanisms and implications of this process are subject of ongoing research.

References:

Ocean & Climate – chemical coupling with the atmosphere” — NASA (Earth

Observatory),Anthony Watts. “Ocean bacteria are programmed to alter climate gases” — What’s Up With That, May 16, 2016

Bacterial ocean life stablises climate” — Reporting Climate Science, May 16, 2016

Tiny ocean organism has big role in climate regulation” — org, May 16, 2016

Climate variability” — NASA, July 2, 2015