THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, WE'RE TRACKING THE TROPICS AS WE APPROACH PEAK HURRICANE SEASON IN THE ATLANTIC AS THE 3RD NAMED STORM FORMS.

WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TROPICAL WAVES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING IN THE PAST FEW DAYS.

IT'S A BEACH FRONT INVASION.

COYOTES WREAKING SOME HAVOC ON SANIBEL ISLAND AS THE PREDATORS PUT THEIR MARKS ON THIS YEAR'S TURTLE NESTING SEASON.

AND LOOKING FOR LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS, YOU'RE GOING TO WAKE UP EARLY PER APPS TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF ONE OF THE PREMIER ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS PASSING OVER OUR HEADS THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT TIME HOURS.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

I'M MIKE WALTER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'RE APPROACHING PEAK HURRICANE SEASON AND DEVELOPMENTS ARE ALREADY BREWING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC EARLIER TODAY, CRYSTAL BALL BECAME THE 3RD NAMED STORM OF THE SEASON.

ANOTHER SYSTEM MAY FOLLOW THIS WEEK, BUT THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, THOSE NOT EXPECT EITHER TO DEVELOP INTO ANYTHING SERIOUS.

THE WATER AND WIND REALLY FROM ANY STORM COULD POSSIBLY HELP THE GROWING HEAT CONDITIONS.

KIND OF LESSON THAT HEAT A BIT AND ALSO DROUGHT CONDITIONS NEARLY AND THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA IS UNDER A HEAT ADVISORY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYING ADVISORIES ISSUED WHEN IT GETS ADVISORIES ISSUED WHEN IT GETS SO HOT.

THE TEMPS AND HIGH HUMIDITY CAN MAKE YOU SICK.

>> TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF THE HEAT AS WELL AS HURRICANE SEASON.

>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY CERTIFIED METEOROLOGIST IRENE.

THE SOUNDS FROM THE FLORIDA PUBLIC RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK IRENE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

I LIKE TO I WANT TO START WITH THOSE HEAT ADVISORIES COVERING MUCH OF THE STATE.

WOULD YOU CALL IT'S JUST A HOT SPELL OR IS THIS THE NEW NORMAL THAT WE'RE GOING TO FACE AND MAYBE EVEN WORSE EVERY SINGLE SUMMER INTO THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

>> WELL, IT'S A IT'S A MIXTURE OF BOTH ANSWERS AND THE CORRECT THEN THE MIXTURE OF BOTH CAN ALSO BE CORRECT.

WE ARE DOING THE HOTTEST SOME PERIOD OF THE YEAR DURING THE HOTTEST WEEKS OF THE YEAR.

LET'S SAY A NATURALLY RIGHT.

BUT WE ARE.

10.

WE TEND TO SEE MORE ARE HOTTER DAYS, NOT ONLY HOTTER DAYS BUT ALSO HOTTER EVENINGS AND THE TEMPERATURES HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN REALLY HOT THIS LAST FEW WEEKS ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INCLUDING SOUTHEAST FLORIDA, ENTIRE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA REGION HAS BEEN UNDER HEAT ADVISORIES.

ENTIRE STATE PRETTY MUCH HAVE HAD HEAT ADVISORIES ON ON TUESDAY AND TODAY AND IN JUST FOR PERSPECTIVE OVER HERE, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI, WHICH IS OUR OFFICE THAT TAKES CARE OF US HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS ISSUED 28 HEAT ADVISORIES SO FAR THIS YEAR FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES IN 2024, I'M SURE MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THE YEAR 2024 THAT SUMMER THAT IT WAS JUST EXTREMELY HOT ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA.

WE HAD THOSE ITSELF OF WEEKS ON END WITH HEAT ADVISORIES IN EFFECT THAT THAT YEAR, 32 WERE ISSUED IN TOTAL.

SO WE'RE TRAILING RIGHT BEHIND THAT.

AND I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS YEAR WE SURPASSED THOSE 32 THAT WERE ISSUED IN 2024.

YEAH.

LET'S TRANSITION TO STORM SEASON UNDERSTAND WE HAVE ANOTHER BATCH >> SO HAIR AND DUST UPON US.

HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO DECREASE OUR STORM CHANCES IN SOUTH FLORIDA?

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF WE ALSO HAVE A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN JUST TAKING OVER THE REINS OF OUR WEATHER PATTERN.

AND THIS IS WHAT'S CAUSING THE HEAT AS WE HAVE SINKING AIR THE AIR ONCE HE STARTS THINKING IT WARMS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE EXPERIENCE IN THIS HEAT ADVISORIES ACROSS MUCH OF THE STATE, INCLUDING HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

AND THEN OVER THE WEEKEND, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HAZY SKIES.

US A HAND DOES.

WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT INSTANCES OF THOSE PALMS STUFF OF SAHARAN DUST MOVING OUR WAY.

BUT WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS THAT DURING EL NINO YEARS, THE WINDSHEAR TENDS TO INCREASE OVER CERTAIN REGIONS NO CANDIDATE CAN OCCUR IN THE CARIBBEAN.

IN THIS CASE THIS WEEKEND, POSSIBLY EVEN INTO NEXT WEEK.

THE CARIBBEAN, IT'S INVADED BY GWEN SHARE.

THIS IS A CHANCE TO WIN DIRECTION AS WE GO UP IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

SO ASKED THE WINDS ARE STRONGER ABOUT THE STORM.

IT TENDS TO PROHIBIT THE STORM FROM HAVING THAT NATURAL DEVELOPMENT FROM FROM STRENGTHENING.

SO WE ARE WATCHING THOSE 2 TROPICAL WAVES THAT ARE MOVING IN FROM AFRICA.

ONE COULD MAKE IT INTO THE CARIBBEAN.

WOULD BE REALLY WELCOME FOR THE ISLANDS IN THE CARIBBEAN SINCE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING A DROUGHT DURING EL NINO YEARS.

WE HAD WE TEND TO SEE MORE DROUGHT CONDITIONS OVER THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

THE GOOD THING IS IT'LL BE IT'LL BRING RAIN BEEN WITH THE WIND SHEAR PRESENT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO ALLOW TO THE STORM IF IT FORMS TOO.

THE VERY STRONG.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO GET WHAT THEY NEED OUT OF IT, WHICH IS THE RAIN.

NOW, ONCE IT'S NOT IN THE PAST, THE GREEDY AND IT'S NOT GONNA GET TO LA.

SO THAT DOESN'T THAT NEWS FOR US HERE IN FLORIDA.

AND YEAH, RIGHT.

THE 3RD STORM, CRISTOBAL THAT'S HEADING TOWARD.

>> THE OTHER WAY, RIGHT?

SO THAT WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT THAT.

LET'S GET BACK.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL?

WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A SIGNIFICANT STORM HEADING TO SOUTH FLORIDA IN THE U.S.

FAIRLY NEAR FUTURE, MAYBE THE NEXT WEEK OR 10 DAYS OR SO.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOT.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

DURING THE NEXT 10 DAYS.

DEFINITELY.

I WOULDN'T.

I WOULDN'T THINK SO.

WE HAVE THIS PROTECTIVE BARRIER IN THE CARIBBEAN AND THIS IS A TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE START TO SEE MORE TROPICAL WAVES COMING IN FROM AFRICA.

YES, THAT WE COULD ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING MORE HOMEGROWN RIDE, SOMETHING THAT THAT THAT'S THAT THE IT'S BORN.

WHO KNOWS WHERE TO LAND IN THOSE WE NEED TO MONITOR ALWAYS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SEASON.

BUT AS OF NOW, CONDITIONS CLOSER TO HOME ARE CALM AND WE JUST CONTINUE TO MONITOR.

BUT RIGHT NOW IT THERE'S NOTHING THAT WORRIES ME AT LEAST WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK HE ROSE TO FLORIDA.

>> GOOD, GREAT CARE THAT THANKS.

IRATE.

AND THE HEAT OF THE SUN FROM THE FLORIDA PUBLIC RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> FROM THE SURGING HEAT TO ANY APPROACHING WEATHER EVENT.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ALL OF THE WEATHER HAPPENINGS BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

PROVIDING COMMUNITY CARE THROUGH SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

MEET THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA GROUP THAT'S ASSISTING FAMILIES IMPACTED BY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

PREVIOUSLY, WE HAVE INTRODUCED YOU TO LEGAL OBSERVERS.

THOSE ARE CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO TRACK AND MONITOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

BUT THERE ALSO CARVING OUT TIME TO ASSIST IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.

THE IMPACTED BY IMMIGRATION RAIDS AS WGCUS ON ANDREW PARK LEARNED THAT ALSO MEANT PREPARING CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS AS THEY GOT READY TO HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK.

SENATORS ARE ALL THESE VOLUNTEERS IN FORT MYERS WHERE ON A BACK-TO-SCHOOL MISSION.

>> AN ASSEMBLY LINE FASHION.

THEY FILLED BACKPACKS WITH CRAYONS, PENCILS, AND NOTEBOOKS.

THEY FILLED THEIR CARS WITH THE BACKPACKS AND CLOTHES.

THEN THEY DROVE TO APARTMENTS AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AFFECTED BY ICE DEPORTATIONS.

JOANNE BOMB SAYS SHE FELT COMPELLED TO BE A PART OF IT.

CAN'T JUST.

>> WRITE LETTERS, RIGHT?

POST CARDS.

I NEED TO DO SOMETHING MORE.

AND SO I GOT INVOLVED IN.

THERE'S JUST SUCH A BIG NEED HERE.

>> THE VOLUNTEERS ARRIVED IN THE HOUSING COMPLEX AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME AS AN ICE CREAM TRUCK ON THIS HOT AFTERNOON.

IMMEDIATELY GATHERED THE CHILDREN BY A FROZEN TO SEARCH FOR EACH AND LETTING THEM PICK OUT A BACKPACK.

MEANWHILE, THE FAMILY'S QUEUED UP AT THE DISTRIBUTION.

MY VOLUNTEERS CHECK ITEMS OFF THE LIST THAT CONTAINED CLOTHING AND SHOE SIZES OF EACH FAMILY MEMBER.

SARPY NIGHT OUT WAS THE SOLE VOLUNTEER WHO COULD SPEAK SPANISH.

SO HE GUIDED THE RESIDENCE AND MY MOM IS A DYNAMIC THAT HAS BEEN A SWEATER.

>> SO THAT'S WHY I DO THIS BOUND IS.

BUT I GREW UP IN THE MIDWEST AND YOU KYLE.

>> SO THEY NEED SOMEBODY TO, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR OWN NAME.

WAS THAT NOT EVERY LANGUAGE AND I'M UNABLE TO MOVE THAT OTHER CHRISTMASES MONTHS AWAY FOR THESE FAMILIES.

>> THE VOLUNTEERS WERE LIKE SUMMER SANTAS AFTER THE EVENT JOANNE BOMB REFLECTED ON WHY SHE THINKS THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE ASSISTANCE THAN EVER BEFORE.

THEY ARE DECIMATED.

BY WHAT ICE IS DOING AND PICKING UP PEOPLE ON THE STREET SOMETIMES WITH PAPERS.

AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR RELATIVE HAS CON.

WOMEN ARE BANDING TOGETHER AND LIVING.

>> TOGETHER AS PANETTA, LISTEN TO THE STORIES OF THE IMMIGRANTS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.

HE FELT INSPIRED TO CONTINUE HIS VOLUNTEER EFFORTS.

THIS RHINO, I MET A LADY IS IN.

>> HAVE FINALLY GET A VEST TO BLAME A GRADUAL AND SHE'S TAKING CARE TO CAUSE THE I KNOW HER DAUGHTERS.

IN TUESDAY'S PULLS OVER FOR 2 MORE, YOU KNOW, KICKS SO FAR.

AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THEY WAY THEY ARE SO GRATEFUL ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IT FOR A DAY.

THAT'S BEAUTY FOR FOR WGCU NEWS.

>> I'M JAN JU PARK.

>> WITH THE SCHOOL YEAR BACK IN SESSION, YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL EDUCATION STORIES AT WGCU DOT ORG THE BEACHES AND WATERWAYS ARE BIG BUSINESS FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

A REPORT FROM FGCU USED BUT CURRENT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS FINDS THAT COASTAL COUNTIES GENERATED 9.2 MILLION DOLLARS IN TOURIST TAX REVENUE, SO-CALLED BED TAXES THIS PAST APRIL ALONE WITH 3 NOURISH BEACH IS PLAYING A MAJOR FACTOR.

HOWEVER, THREATS.

TO BOTH FLORA AND FAUNA ARE NOW AFFECTING THOSE SAME SHORES ON SANIBEL.

THE COYOTE POPULATION HAS EXPLODED AND IT'S DIRECTLY IMPACTING SEA TURTLE NESTING.

ACCORDING TO THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION.

COYOTES HAVE DESTROYED NEARLY 200 NESTS ON THE ISLANDS.

WGCUS TO THE BURN LEARNED OF MEASURES BEING MADE TO KEEP THESE PREDATORS IN SHOCK.

>> WITH US NOW IS TOM BAYLISS SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM, IF WE WERE TO TAKE A SNAPSHOT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES IN OUR AREA, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> LET'S START OFF WITH THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION'S EFFORTS TO STOP COYOTES FROM RAIDING THE SEA TURTLE NESTS ON SANIBEL ISLAND.

WHAT THE ANIMALS ARE AFTER THE EGGS.

THEY'RE READY MADE SOURCES OF ENERGY JUST FILLED WITH CONCENTRATED.

THAT'S PATTY ESSENCE AND PROTEIN.

ACCORDING TO STATE DATA FROM LAST YEAR TO BEACHES AT EACH END OF SANIBEL AND ON CAPTIVA ISLAND ARE WITHIN THE TOP.

DOESN'T OF ALL BEACHES MONITORED FOR NASTY PREDATION AND THAT'S A PLATE WAY TO SAY THE COYOTES ARE TAKING THESE HATCHLINGS STILL DEVELOPING IN THEIR SHOWS.

SO BIOLOGISTS AT THE FOUNDATION ARE WORKING TO FRUSTRATE THE COYOTE IS INTO LOSING INTEREST IN THE NEST USING DECOYS ONE IS MATCHING THE LOOK OF THE REAL ONES WITH 4 WOODEN STAKES AND THE BRIGHTLY COLORED TAPE STRUNG BETWEEN THE 4 BUT NO AG REWARD UNDERNEATH.

TURNS OUT IT'S THE CODY'S THAT ARE FRUSTRATING.

THE SCIENTISTS I TALKED WITH LILY HEPWORTH, A MEMBER OF THE FOUNDATION'S SEA TURTLE TEAM WHO TOLD ME THE ANIMALS LEARN QUICKLY TO USE THEIR KEEN SENSE OF SMELL TO LOCATE EGGS, BURIED IN THE SAND AND ARE NOW LARGELY IGNORING THE DECOYS ON BOWMAN'S BEACH.

>> SO WE PICKED THIS SECTION BECAUSE LAST YEAR IT HAD THE HIGHEST DEPREDATION RATE OF ALL OF THE PLACES BETWEEN SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA.

OUR GOAL WITH THIS WAS TO OVER SATURATE THE BEACH WITH MASKS AND HOPEFULLY.

THEY WOULD BE DIGGING INTO THE DECOYS JUST ABOUT AS MUCH AS THE REAL MASKS AND THEIR RETURN OF INVESTMENT WOULD BE LAST AND HOPEFULLY THEY WOULD.

SO NOT DIG INTO THE REALNESS THAT ALL ANY EARLY HOW THEY'RE WORKING.

THERE WAS DEFINITELY MORE INTERACTIONS WITH THE SEQUEL IS IN THE BEGINNING.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED AND IT'S KIND OF STARTED TO SLOW DOWN LONG.

AND THEY'VE JUST BEEN GETTING THE THE REAL LESSON, NOT MESSING SO MUCH WITH THE DECOYS.

>> SO, TOM, WHAT'S NEXT?

CERTAINLY THE FOUNDATION ISN'T JUST GOING TO REST AFTER ALMOST HALF OF THEIR NESTS ARE BEING RAIDED.

WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE TO PROTECT HATCHLINGS AS THEY TRY TO SURVIVE?

>> WELL, SCCF IS IS NOT DONE.

>> THEY WILL TRY NEW IDEAS DURING NEXT YEAR'S NESTING SEASON.

>> AND THEY'RE GETTING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL HELP FROM THE SANIBEL CITY COUNCIL.

NOW, IN WHAT WAY IS THAT FINANCIAL HELP COMING?

THE COUNCIL RECENTLY VOTED TO GIVE THE FOUNDATION $75,000 TOWARDS THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

THE FOUNDATION SPENDS ON DEVELOPING AND TESTING WAYS TO KEEP COYOTE EASE AND OTHER ANIMALS FROM THE EGGS.

WHETHER SEA TURTLE OR SHORE BIRD AND THE COUNCIL WILL HELP TO PAY FOR A COYOTE POPULATION STUDY THAT WILL COST SOMEWHERE AROUND $150,000.

SO THAT JUST SHOWS SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING PUT IN TO PROTECT OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS.

AND THAT MIGHT HAVE TO HAPPEN.

NOW, AS I UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE A START AS SOMETHING APPROACHING.

>> AND THIS IS THOSE ALGAE BLOOMS, ACCURATE.

THOSE SMELLY BEACH SITUATIONS.

AND COULD THEY BE POTENTIALLY COMING TO OUR SHORES?

ONE OF THE SEVERAL DEVELOPMENTS THERE.

DESPITE.

>> HERE'S THAT THIS SUMMER'S SARGASSUM INUNDATION WOULD BE WORSE THAN LAST YEAR'S RECORD-SETTING BEACH SPOILING SEASON UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA EXPERTS IN THE THICK FLOATING SEAWEED NOW BELIEVE THIS YEAR'S PEAK HAS PASSED.

BRIAN BARNES LEAD SCIENTISTS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA'S SARGASSUM WATCH SYSTEM SAID 2026 IS NOW EXPECTED TO LAND SECOND ALL-TIME FOR THE TONNAGE OF SARGASSUM WASHING ONTO SOUTHEAST FLORIDA AND THE CARIBBEAN BEACHES DAILY.

IN RECENT SUMMERS, MORE THAN 70,000 TONS, 70,000 TONS OF SARGASSUM PER DAY REACH COASTLINES THROUGHOUT THE TROPICAL REGIONS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC WITH THE CARIBBEAN AMONG THE HARDEST HIT AREAS.

BESIDES WALKING BACK THIS YEAR, SARGASSUM TOTALS, BARNS AND OTHER RESEARCHERS INTO THEM MASSIVE, MASSIVE FLOATING SEAWEED ARE REPORTING A MAJOR NEW DISCOVERY.

SOME OF THE RECORD BLUE LAST SUMMER'S SURVIVED IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA AND GO LONG ENOUGH TO HELP REDUCE THE SARCASM THERE THIS YEAR.

THE REMAINING MATS ACTED LIKE SEED STOCK GROWING AND BREAKING INTO NEW LIVING PIECES.

THAT MEANS THE REGION MAY NOT ALWAYS HAVE TO WAIT FOR A NEW CROP TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC FROM THE SARGASSO SEA.

IF THE PATTERN CONTINUES, THE SARCASM SEASON COULD BEGIN EARLIER.

WARNING TIMES COULD SHRINK AND ONE EXCEPTIONALLY BAD YEAR COULD PERPETUATE ANOTHER HEAVY SARCASM SEASON.

THE NEXT SUMMER.

AND THAT'S BAD NEWS FOR THE CARIBBEAN AND SOUTHEAST FLORIDA RESORT ALREADY DEALING WITH THE DAILY ONSLAUGHT OF THE STINKY THICK SEAWEED.

THAT MUST BE RAKED UP BY AN EARLY EVERY DAY BEFORE GUESTS HIT THE BEACH.

WILL TOM, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> AND FOR MORE ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES FROM TOM BAYLISS.

BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

WELL, THIS BALL WHO USE PREMIERING A NEW DOCUMENTARY CALLED KIMBERLY'S REEVE AND UNDERWATER LIVING LABORATORY IN PREPARATION.

WE'RE REVISITING SOME OF THE FIRST DISPATCHES OF THIS ARTIFICIAL REEF LAUNCHED BY FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY AND 2023 IN THIS DISPATCH, WE GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHED IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF THE SITE'S DEPLOYMENT.

>> ONE OF THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF AN ARTIFICIAL REEF IS TO ATTRACT FISH FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES LIKE FISHING OR DIVING.

BUT ONE OF THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF KIMBERLY'S REEVE IS FOR EXPERIMENTATION AND THE SCIENTISTS AND STUDENTS AT FGCU HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS.

>> THE ENTIRE KIMBERLY'S REEF PROJECT IS REALLY AN EXPERIMENT TO ITSELF BECAUSE THE WATER SCHOOLS, INTERDISCIPLINARY, WE'RE KIND OF APPROACHING THIS FROM ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SETTLEMENT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WATER.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE INVERTEBRATES, THE STUFF THAT'S GROWING ON THE REEF.

AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FISH THAT KIND OF TAKING A WHOLE ECOSYSTEM APPROACH.

>> SO HE'S GOING THE WATER, THE STRUCTURE, THEIR FISH, LIKE STRUCTURE STUFF GROWS ON IT.

SMALL FISH, EAT THAT STUFF OR HIDE IN THE STUFF THAT GOES ON A BIGGER FISH COMING AT THEM.

WE COME FOR THE BIGGER FISH WE TO MAKE OF IT.

SO IS THAT TRUE?

IT DOES THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

WILL RATE DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT.

>> IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING TO SEE FROM THE TIME THAT THE BARE CEMENT BLOCKS WERE FIRST PUT IN UNTIL NOW, HOW THEY WERE FIRST COLONIZED BY ALGAE AND THEN OTHER INVERTEBRATES BEGAN TO COLONIZE THEM.

AND WE SAW FISH BEGINNING TO VISIT THEM AND SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME WE GO OUT AND VISIT THE REEF, WE SEE MORE LIFE COLONIZING.

>> SO WE'VE NO GRANTS TO DO SOME PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ON KIM'S REEF AND THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE GRANT IS TO TRY TO TIE AND CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY AND HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS WITH THE REEF AND SO THINKING ABOUT LIKE WATER DISCHARGED FROM THE CALOOSAHATCHEE >> THE CHEMISTRY MATTERS.

THE BIOLOGY MATTERS.

THE ED MATTERS.

AND THEN THERE'S ALWAYS THE GENERAL WATER QUALITY, RIGHT?

SO JUST GENERAL PARAMETERS, TEMPERATURE SALINITY, PH DISSOLVED OXYGEN IN AND THEN THE WHOLE OTHER PART IS PHYSICS.

RIGHT?

SO HOW WERE THE KEARNS GO?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A HURRICANE DOES CALM.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN JUST A COLD FRONT COMES?

WHAT DOES THAT DO?

WE DON'T KNOW WELL, ALL THAT THINGS ARE MEASURING ALL HAVE A BIG INTERACTION TOGETHER.

THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ANSWER WITH THIS.

>> AND GETTING THIS YEAR OF DATA THAT WE'VE DONE >> IT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP US SEE NOT ONLY EFFECTS FROM THE HURRICANE, BUT ALSO THESE MORE LONG-TERM EFFECTS FROM THE NUTRIENTS AND ALL THE OTHER POLLUTANTS BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE CALOOSAHATCHEE ON THE THINGS THAT LIVE ON THE BOTTOM.

>> ONE THING N?

>> BEING OUT ON THE REEF DOING THE WORK WE'RE DOING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

CAUSING US TO EXPAND OUR THOUGHT PROCESS AND IT'S CAUSING US TO EVOLVE.

WHAT WE THINK ABOUT KIMBERLY'S READ WHAT WE THINK ABOUT OUR COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS AND THAT SCIENCE AND EDUCATION AND THE WAY YOU STAR GETTING CURIOUS.

YOU WHAT ABOUT LOOK AT THIS.

THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING THING THAT KIMBERLY'S REEF PRESENT SAYS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE KNOWLEDGE FORWARD AND CURIOSITY FORWARD.

>> AND HERE'S ANOTHER ECOLOGICAL FACT ABOUT CAMPERS LEADERS RE FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

IN ORDER TO CREATE A BETTER RESEARCH SAMPLE SIZE THE 18 CONCRETE CULVER'S WERE ARRANGED IN 6 SEPARATE CLUSTERS ARE CALLED VILLAGES AND THEY'RE SPACED ABOUT 150 FEET APART.

SHOW FISH CANNOT OVER GRAY'S ONE AREA FOR MORE ON THE IMPACT, KIMBERLY, HIS REEF IS HAVING ON OUR LOCAL WATERWAYS.

PLEASE VISIT WGCU DOT ORG.

AFTER THE BREAK, EARLY RISERS ARE GOING TO WANT TO KEEP THEIR EYES TO THE SKY AS THE RETURNING PERSEID METEOR SHOWER IS EXPECTED TO DAZZLE WITH A YOU MIGHT WANT TO SET YOUR ALARM CLOCK A LITTLE BIT EARLIER TOMORROW MORNING AS IT WILL BECOME PEAK VIEWING FOR THE PERSEID METEOR SHOWER.

NO TELESCOPE KNOW BINOCULARS NEEDED.

BUT IF YOU WANT THE BEST CHANCE TO SEE A FIREBALL STREAK ACROSS THE MORNING SKIES, YOU'LL WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE AROUND 2 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING WGCUS EDDIE BYRNE IS MORE ON THIS YEAR'S ASTRONOMICAL ABOUT.

>> SO FOR MORE ON THE UPCOMING PERSEID METEOR SHOWER, I'M JOINED BY ROBERT LUNSFORD WITH THE AMERICAN METEOR SOCIETY.

SO THANK YOU FOR STAYING UP WITH US.

>> NOT A PROBLEM.

NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL.

THAT WAS OUT THIS MORNING FOR 4 HOURS AND COUNTED 65 METEORS.

SO IT WAS PRETTY PRETTY GOOD HAUL.

>> THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

AND ESPECIALLY SONS, I BELIEVE IS THE 12TH AND 13TH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE PEAK VIEWING FOR THE SHOWER.

SO NOW IF YOUR TALKING TO SOMEONE LIKE ME, WHO'S A NON EXPERT, WHEN THEY GO STARGAZING, WHAT YOUR THEY LOOK FOR.

WHEN YOU LOOK INTO THE NIGHT SKY.

>> YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR SHOOTING STARTS COMING UP FROM THE NORTH.

THE EASTERN HORIZON THE THE APPEAR IN ANY PART OF THE SKY BUT ACTUALLY THE BEST TIME TO DO IT IS IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS WHEN THE METEORS A SHOOTING HIGH IN THE NORTH, THEY ARE VISIBLE ALL NIGHT LONG.

BUT DURING THE EVENING HOURS THAT NORTHERN HORIZONS BLOCKING A LOT OF THEM.

SO THE LATER YOU WATCH, THE MORE YOU WILL SEE.

>> SO THEN DOES THAT HELP TO WITH SAY LIGHT POLLUTION IS I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT POP OUT MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, BUT IT COULD BE STUCK WITH A BIG BATCH OF THAT GLOWING OR THAT ALWAYS SURROUNDS THERE.

SO IS THERE ANY WAY TO MAYBE SKIP OUT OF THE LIGHT POLLUTION TO GET THAT BEST VIEWING IS ADJUST THOSE MORNING HOURS.

>> IF YOU KNOW, WELL.

>> AND THE ACTUALLY THE MORE A STAR, YOU CAN SEE THE MUMMIES YOU SEE BECAUSE MOST THE METEORS ARE ARE ACTUALLY FEIN.

SO IF YOU IF YOU CAN POSSIBLY DRIVE TO RURAL LOCATION, THAT'S SAFE AND THESE ARE FROM THERE LIKE I DID THIS MORNING, YOU'LL DO A LOT BETTER THAN THEM WATCHING FROM YOUR DRIVEWAY WITH A STREET LIGHT NEARBY.

>> SO NOW THE PERSONS ARE ONE OF SEVERAL MAJOR SHOWERS THAT HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.

BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE MOST POPULAR ONES.

SO WHAT SEPARATES IT FROM OTHER METEOR SHOWERS ON THE CALENDAR?

>> THE REASON THEY'RE MOST POPULAR AS THEY HAPPEN DURING THE SUMMERTIME.

A TIME.

WHEN IT'S NICE AND WARM, THE BEST SHOWER THE JIMENEZ, BUT THEY HAPPENED 2 WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS WHEN US A LITTLE BIT CHILLY OUTSIDE.

>> AND NOW SO THIS IS ALL REMNANTS FROM THE COMET SWIFT TUTTLE.

NOW, THAT'S NOT EXPECTED TO MAKE ANOTHER PASS NEAR OR UNTIL I BELIEVE.

21.

26.

SO HOW ARE WE HAD BILL SEEING FRAGMENTS OF THIS COMMENTS 30 YEARS SINCE ITS LAST PASS BY?

>> THE COMET HAS MADE MANY PASSAGES THROUGH THE INNER SOLAR SYSTEM.

SO THERE'S THERE'S DEBRIS ALONG ITS ENTIRE ORBIT.

SO IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHERE THE COMMENT IS.

YOU WILL SEE PERSEID METEORS NOW BACK IN THE EARLY 90'S WHEN THE COMMENT DID PASS A CLOSE CLOSE TO THE EARTH AND THE SUN RATES INCREASED UP TO 300 NOW ARE.

UNFORTUNATELY THE COMMENTS LONG GONE.

NOW WE'RE BACK TO A DEAL.

THEN PART OF IT.

BUT THERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS COMING UP.

JUPITER HAS PUSHED SOME PARTICLES OF THIS COMMENT CLOSER TO THE EARTH THAT WON'T AFFECT US THIS YEAR.

BUT IN 27 AND 28, WE'RE EXPECTING BEING MAYBE TWICE OR 3 TIMES THE NORMAL AMOUNT PRECEDED ACTIVITY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THEY PUT ON FOR NEXT YEAR'S CALENDAR.

BUT THEN FOR THIS YEAR'S DEADLY.

SO BUT WITH THIS YEAR'S EVENT, YOU HAVE ANY TIPS OR IDEAS WEREN'T ANY NAVAS ASTRONOMER SHOULD KNOW BEFORE THEY SPEND THE NIGHT CAMPING OUT THERE LOOKING, YOU KNOW WHERE THEY SHOULD POINT THEIR TELESCOPE.

>> FIRST THING IS YOU DON'T WANT TO USE THE TELESCOPE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SMALL FIELD OF VIEW.

SO WHAT HE COULD DO IS BRING A LAWN CHAIR.

>> OUT AND GET COMFORTABLE.

THE.

>> AND A LOOK ABOUT HALFWAY UP IN THE SKY AND JUST WAIT FOR THESE.

THE THESE SHOOTING STARS, THE SHOW UP.

THEY COME IN WAVES.

YOU'LL GO 10 MINUTES WITHOUT SEEING ANY.

AND THEN THE NEXT MINUTE OR 2, YOU'LL SEE 3 OR 4.

AND IF YOU'RE REALLY LUCKY, YOU'LL SEE SOME FIRE LIKE I SAW THIS MORNING.

I COUNTED 3 FIREBALLS WHICH ARE BRIGHTER THAN ANY >> OF THE PLANETS THAT ARE VISIBLE RIGHT NOW.

>> MISTER LUNSFORD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.

AND GOOD LUCK WITH CONTINUING OVER THE NEXT 2 DAYS WHEN IT HITS THE PEAK STRIDE.

>> MANY THANKS.

THEY CARE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HAPPY VIEWING.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WGCU DOT ORG OR YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.