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The City of Ukiah is developing an urban heat map, which they say will help understand what man-made and natural factors influence heat risk. City workers fanned out this week with sensors to record the temperatures that will be used to compile a map that will pinpoint specific areas, especially at risk. Fire departments, scientists, and residents will be able to use the data as part of a map that should be out in about three months. Scientists say things like shade, asphalt, and green space can all have an impact on how hot the surrounding land gets.
The US Geological Survey is studying a swarm of small earthquakes near the Geysers Geothermal Field in a remote part of Mendocino County. The 117 quakes ranged from magnitude four, down to a tiny point 3 early Thursday. Seismologists say the shaking isn’t unusual in that area, but these tremors are worth investigating because they don’t fit into any pattern of shock, followed by a series of aftershocks. Only about 3 dozen people reported anything to the USGS though it’s online shake map, but that’s not unusual either, because small movements happen so often there most people around Middletown and Cobb don’t even bother reporting them.
Republicans say a special election to redistrict congressional lines in California could be expensive. They put the cost at least 235 million due to inflation, increased postage, and a growing number of mail-in ballots needed for the state’s expanding voter base. Governor Newsom wants to make that change to allow new lines–that would counter republican efforts in TEXAS to do the same, giving the Lone Star State 5 more safe republican seats in Congress
