It is kind of surprising to see that a large number of people are unaware of some simple freshwater biome facts, even though it is one of the most important biomes on the planet. The fact that we derive our drinking water from this very attribute of the Earth’s ecosystem makes it even more important for us humans. One can see a great deal of confusion in differentiating the two attributes of the aquatic biome – marine biome and freshwater biome, and our ignorance about the latter can be attributed to survivalkit.com.
While the marine biome consists of saline water sources, such as oceans and estuaries, freshwater biome consists of freshwater sources, such as rivers, lakes, ponds, etc. Other than water, you can also see a significant difference in the weather conditions prevailing in these two biomes. Regardless of which biome you take into consideration, these conditions are typically guided by a range of factors – including the location and climatic condition of the region.
Polar bears have been in existence for over 200,000 years now, and have known to be several times larger, than they now are. It is believed that they have descended from brown bears, who were separated due to some glaciers near Siberia. In order to adapt to these conditions, their bodies underwent evolutionary changes, and they finally became as they are today. Now, the polar bear habitat comprises only the Arctic region in the circumpolar north. Presented here, are several such intriguing facts about polar bears.While polar bears have a huge and round lower body, their upper bodies are narrow, and they have long, pointed, Roman noses. These help them prod into holes to get hold of their prey.They have a 4.5 inch thick layer of blubber, two layers of fur, small ears, and a smaller tail. All these help a polar bear survive even in the most extreme weather conditions.Polar bears are known to be the largest predators in the world.
While the weight of male polar bears ranges from 775-1500 pounds, that of females ranges only from 330-550 pounds.Contrary to popular belief, a polar bear does not have white fur. It just appears white. The fur covers and insulated undercoat with different lengths of hair. The hair is actually transparent, and has a hollow core, that reflects natural light. Thus, they appear the whitest between the onset of spring right up to the end of summer.In some cases, polar bears appear yellow. This is because of the oils contained in the seals they primarily feast on.A very interesting fact that kids will enjoy is that due to the ability of polar bears’ hair to reflect light, when placed in a zoo, a polar bear once turned green. This was because of the prevalence of colonies of algae around. However, no harm was caused to the polar bears.
The inner coat of a polar bear is black, and helps it absorb sunlight to keep itself warm in the cold conditions that it lives in.
Polar bears have paws that are as big as 12 inches, which helps them safely tread on ice. These paws help them distribute their weight evenly, as they bend very low in order to tread on very thin ice.Each paw has a black footpad which is covered with bumps called papillae. Also, they have fur growing even between their toes. These acts as grips and prevent them from slipping on ice.More help to tread on ice is provided by their long claws which are thick and curved,Polar bears have a very keen sense of smell that help them in tracking their prey.Their favorite meal is that of a ringed seal, that appears out of the water every fifteen minutes to catch a breath. Taking advantage of this habit of theirs, polar bears stalk them, and when the seals come out, they pounce on them and tear into their flesh, killing them in an instant.
Most of us spend a lot of time on grooming our face. Being most prominent part of our body, it gets maximum attention and care. Unlike other body parts, face can’t be kept covered and so, it goes without saying that the facial skin needs extreme care for that perfect look. Well, even after taking the essential care, you might face some skin problems. Dry skin is one such common facial skin problems. Dry skin due to extreme weather conditions is quite normal. But dry skin on face that lasts up to several days and regular remedies work just temporarily, needs attention. Let us find out the causes and treatments for this skin problem, instead of getting worried when the daily moisturizer seems of no use!
Dehydration is the most probable cause of dry skin problem. Dry skin occurs if you are not drinking enough water throughout the day or consuming excess caffeine and sugary products. Vitamin A and vitamin B deficiencies, unhealthy eating habits and low intake of healthy food also contributes to this problem. Remember that naturally dry skin needs more hydration and hence, intake of water plays a primary role in the texture of your skin.Any type of facial cleansers, skin creams, make-up products and skin care products that you are using can be the cause of dry skin. If your skin is allergic to an ingredient in any of these products, the same can lead to skin irritation, dryness and itching. Moreover, if you spend hours in an air-conditioned room daily, you can possibly get dry skin on face. Apart from the aforementioned problems, genetic condition, hormonal imbalance or diseases like psoriasis or diabetes can also cause dry skin patches on face.
Firstly, drink a lot of water to keep your skin hydrated. Next, eat a balanced diet which should include fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds, and nuts. Intake of raw food will help a lot. Foods high in sulfur, like garlic, onions and eggs will help you have a softer skin. Replace aerated drinks with fruit or vegetable juices. Completely eliminate intake of fried foods, soft drinks and other junk food items. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they will make your skin look dry and dull. Chamomile or peppermint in tea, is good for treating dry skin problem.Facial skin care for extremely dry skin is not just limited to application of moisturizer once in a day. You must wash your face 2-3 times a day, with a dermatological tested, moisturizing face wash. Follow each wash with application of a thick moisturizer with light massage. Also, add a sunscreen to your make-up pouch. Re-apply the moisturizer as required during the day. Exfoliating dry facial skin with a quality facial scrub, once in a week, is a good idea. Also, cleaning your skin and applying a deep moisturizer before going to bed is extremely essential and helpful to get faster results.
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service declared an excessive heat warning for much of the Southwest United States. The warning spans to Wednesday.In the ongoing saga of extreme heat in the United States this summer, the Southwest region of the country has taken center stage. In Arizona and California, temperatures have reached the triple digits. In Phoenix, the high for Tuesday was 115 degrees.
These extreme temperatures have led the National Weather Service to declare an excessive heat warning for survival kit of Nevada, Arizona, and California. In Death Valley, California, the hottest place the United States, Tuesday’s forecast high was an unthinkable 125 degrees.According to the National Climactic Data Center, the past 12 months has been the hottest 12-month span since the United States began keeping records in 1895. In the second half of June alone, at least 170 all-time high temperature records were broken. This has led many Americans to wonder why the unusual weather patterns have been occurring.
It may be difficult for climate scientists to reliably tell the difference between long term climate changes and short term weather patterns. The hot, dry conditions could be caused by large scale climate change and global shifts in weather, or it could be that we are simply experiencing a hotter-than-average year, without much long term change. Only time will tell.
In the meantime, people across the nation are becoming more familiar with the problems that can be caused when heat and drought combine. For example, creating defensible space around homes by clearing away leaves and dead branches could help prevent homes from burning in the case of fires like those recently witnessed in Colorado.
