For Friday, Oct. 4, 2019

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1 – An interactive online map will tell you when fall colors are coming to your area. 

The map, highlighted by the American Geographic Society, includes predictions for all 50 states. 

The society notes that fall foliage tends to occur at different rates across the U.S. The map uses factors like daylight hours, temperature and precipitation data to make predictions. You can adjust the map to look ahead by weeks at a time. 

The society says northern states like Michigan and Washington are well into fall foliage. However, climate change has been delaying the time it takes for the leaves to turn. 

For Michigan, the map shows partial colors stretching to the Bay City area this weekend, with near peak and peak colors to the north. Near peak colors are forecasted for Oct. 12 up to Bay City, with peak colors to the north. 

Find the map at SmokyMountains.com. 

 

2 – You also can see people’s opinions about climate change on a map. 

New opinion maps from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication show state and local data on views of climate change causes, risks and solutions in all 50 states, down to the county level. 

The estimated percentage of adults who think global warming is happening? 65 percent in Michigan, or 2 percent less than the national average. The highest county is Washtenaw County at 78 percent. Bay County is at 60 percent. 

The number of adults who think global warming is mostly caused by human activities? 53 percent in Michigan, on par with the national average. Bay County is at 49 percent. The highest counties: Washtenaw and Ingham counties at 64 and 61 percent, where the University of Michigan and Michigan State University are located. 

The public opinion estimates are produced using a statistical model based on national survey data gathered between 2008 and 2019 by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication. 

 

3 – The National Solar Tour is happening this weekend. It’s put on by the American Solar Energy Society and Solar United Neighbors and is said to be the largest annual grassroots solar event in the nation. 

Open houses at locations in Michigan are included this year. Homes and businesses on the tour use solar energy, green building design, energy efficiency, electric vehicles and other technologies and efforts.  

Michigan locations include a home in Port Austin in the Thumb on Saturday, Oct. 5. The home features a 10-year-old roof mount system that has reportedly given great returns. 

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Q-90.1 FM NPR (now streaming). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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