AIR MOVEMENT

Novemeber 22, 1963 was the date that C.S. Lewis died. In 2002, it was the date John Dodge wrote "Canal gets vital dose of oxygen," in The Olympian (Olympia, Washington).

Dodge's article

He was referring to Washington State's Hood Canal, of course. A "first of its kind for Hood Canal" fishing closure had been imposed on October 21, and was still in effect a month later.

The "vital dose of oxygen" he referred to came because "Recent stormy weather breathed some life back into oxygen-starved Hood Canal." If you read on, you learn "storms have stirred up the water column." Ummm, "column?" Oh, really? Whatever. At least it should be safe to assume that air movement is important. Should we go so far as to even say that "violent" air movement is important? Let's, and then let's digress for a bit.

If the oxygen level is low as revealed in this article, is there another level that is high? There must be, but it is never revealed. Why is that? What do you make of this quote, "The warm sunny weather in the late summer and early fall triggered extensive algal blooms, which in turn, gobbled up oxygen when they died." Is that all that they did, "gobble up oxygen?" Think. Did they gobble oxygen when they were alive? How did they gobble oxygen after they died? What would then be in the water? Would this substance be more likely to kill the aquatic life than reduced oxygen? What happens when you climb a high mountain? What happens when you are sealed in a cave? End of this digression.

Now, just how important is air movement? If it is involved in the mixing of two different masses, then it makes a difference. But, what good is a fan that mixes the air for miners who are trappped in a sealed mine with no fresh air allowed in? Might help cool them, but would be no help to their breathing. No dose of oxygen is forthcoming because of the presence of the fan and the movement of air.

It was while pondering the importance of air movement and the concommitant subtleties, that I heard "Ask the handyman" on the radio stating to a caller that there were two conditions required for the growth of mold. The first being moisture and the second being a lack of air movement! Wow! Factor that, all you school leak/mold liars! You cannot have mold even where there is moisture, if there is air movement. Think about that. You would not even have the moisture which is the result of condensation if there were sufficient air movement. (Anyone who remembers hanging laundry outside and noticing the quickness with which it dries when there is a breeze could vouch for this).

So, now ask yourself whether there is even adequate air movement in some schools let alone adequate ventilation (an influx of "fresh air"). Why can a discussion of problems lesser life forms are experiencing mention a lack of oxygen when it never is when the subject is kids and staff in schools, etc.? Is it a lack of oxygen? Why is it that an over abundance of carbon dioxide is rarely mentioned, and when it is, nobody runs with it? Why is it that we are unable to expose and punish those responsible?

Fear? Well, fear of what?

Copyright © 2002, Donald L. Beeman. All rights reserved.

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