Heaven above, earth below

© harrington

For those of you who just "tuned in," we're working on answers to a 20 question bioregional quiz know as Where you at. Today's question is:

"2.    How many days until the moon is full? (Slack of 2 days is allowed.)"

If you've recently been reading My Minnesota, and paying attention, you know that the last full moon was yesterday, August 20, 2013. The photo above was taken about 6:21 this morning, thanks to my wonderful wife who called me on her way to work to alert me. The "full moon" appears to continue for today. The Internet provides a range of answers about how long the moon is full. After reading a number of them, this one seems to me to make the most sense. To continue, the next full moon is September 19, 2013 which, as I'm sure you know, is close to the Autumnal Equinox (September 22 this year), the beginning of Astronomical Autumn. Meteorological Autumn begins September 1.

The next question took awhile to get a detailed answer. The Soil Survey for the county lacks a map. That had to be found separately. Here's the question and the answer along with some resources.

"3.    What soil series are you standing on?"

According to the Surficial Geology map, I think I'm standing on Qbc: Silt and clay facies—Silt and clay; interbedded with fine-grained sand in places; locally rhythmically bedded. Capped by less than 3 feet (1 meter) of fine-grained sand, and generally less than 10 feet (3 meters) thick. Deposited in deeper, quiet water of glacial Lake Anoka, in depressions on the lake bottom. Unit occurs at the surface likely where the overlying sand facies was stripped away by wave action as the lake level was lowered, and finally drained. Where present at the surface above the Hugo level, the unit was likely deposited in calm bays isolated from the main body of the lake, where the prograding sand facies was laid down. Interestingly, the map in no way that I can see matches the Minnesota Online Soil Survey Manuscript for Chisago County. To be candid, I have no idea whether or not to give myself credit for a correct answer to this question. Anyone want to help reconcile the sources by using the Comment option?

Tomorrow's question: "4.    What was the total rainfall in your area last year (July—June)? Slack: 1 inch for every 20 inches.)" is more straightforward and answerable.

Come back when you can. Rants, raves and reflections served here daily