Our home planet Earth is the third planet out from the Sun and is the largest and densest of the four inner planets. Earth is also the first planet out from the Sun that has a Moon and is the only planet in our Solar System where liquid waters exists in large quantities on the surface. It is generally agreed that the existence of liquid water is the main reason why Earth is the only place in the known universe where life exists.
The structure of Earths interior consists of rock and metal arraigned if layers. At the center is the solid inner core which is composed of nickel and iron and is 1200 kilometers in diameter. Remarkably, the inner core of the Earth is actually hotter than the surface of the Sun. The next layer out is the outer core and it is compose of liquid nickel and iron. The mantle sits on top of the outer core and is made mostly of dense, solid silicate rock. The crust of Earth rests on top of the mantle and is thin, solid layer of mainly silicate rock.
Earth orbits the Sun at a distance of about 149.6 million kilometers and its axis is tilted 23.45 degrees away from the plane of Earths orbit. The result of this tilt is the change in the climatic seasons here on Earth with the Moons gravity providing the ocean tides. The Earth has an average diameter of approximately 12,742 kilometers with a slight bulge around the equator created by the centrifugal force caused by the Earths rotation on its axis. This bulge makes the Earth about 43 kilometers great in diameter at the equator than if you measured pole to pole. The highest point on Earth is Mount Everest at 8,848 meters above sea level but due to the equatorial bulge the summit of Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador is actually farther away from the Earths center.
The atmosphere surrounding planet Earth is composed of 77 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen and 2 percent traces of other gases including argon and carbon dioxide. Earths atmosphere is divided into five layers starting with the troposphere which begins at sea level and rises up to an altitude of about 16 kilometers. The troposphere is where the weather patterns form and the temperature in the troposphere is relatively mild with a global average temperature at the surface of 15 degrees centigrade. At the top of the troposphere is the tropopause which is the boundary layer between the troposphere and the stratosphere.
The stratosphere starts at the tropopause and extends up to an altitude of about 50 kilometers. Unlike the troposphere which is warm at the bottom and gets cooler as you go up, the stratosphere is cool at the bottom and gets warmer higher up. Within the stratosphere is the ozone layer that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Without this ozone layer life would not be able to exist here on Earth. At the top of the stratosphere is the stratopause which has a temperature of about 3 degrees centigrade, just above the freezing point of water.
Above the stratopause is the mesosphere which starts at 50 kilometers up from the surface of the Earth to an altitude of 80 to 90 kilometers. The mesosphere is too high to be reached by aircraft and much of what we know about it was gained by launching sounding rockets up into it. The data from these rockets tells us that the temperature in the upper mesosphere can fall as low as -100 degrees centigrade. We also know that countless meteors burn up in the mesosphere every day and at night we see them as meteoroids. The mesosphere ends at the mesopause.
The thermosphere rests atop the mesopause and rises up to as much as 1000 kilometers above the surface of the Earth. The thermosphere is also where the ionosphere resides, which allows some radio waves to propagate far over the Earth by reflecting them back down. The thermosphere has a very low density and the International Space Station orbits right through it at an altitude of about 320 to 380 kilometers. Beyond the thermosphere is the exosphere that simply blends into outer space.
Bee Colonies May Contain Tens Of Thousands of Individual Bees.
This rough treatment of the hive and honeycomb also resulted in the honey being full of contaminates. But, there wasn't any grounds to concern themselves since they did not need to keep the honey for long periods. They ate what they gleaned and they simply ravaged another hive and got more.
Early endeavors at havesting the honey from domestic beehives were not much better. Fixed frame beehives were usually used, this meaning that the complete hive was demolished to havest the honey.
After the structure was yanked from the beehive, it was crushed and the honey removed. This demolished the larva and eggs of the bees and left the keeper with impure honey. Purification of the honey was only fairly efficient and did not store well for long periods.
The greatest trouble with this kind of beekeeping idea is that the whole colony is devastated come harvest time. Obviously, the whole process had to be started all over again. Beehives would need to be rebuilt, and a new colony of bees had to be obtained and introduced. Honey simply could not be delivered on a consistant agenda, it was far too inefficient.
The breakthrough of the top bar beehive by Langstroth in the middle of the 1800's was just what apiculturists where needing. This man really changed everything in the beekeeping world. His advanced design granted for a top access and removable frames. Not only did this allow for convenient removal of the honey, but the hive and colony would not be done in.
Total Colonies Are Kept In Man-Made Hives.
In addition, Langstroth's design allowed the beekeeper inspection of the colony. At long last, beekeepers could control diseases and parasites in the hive. Honey production and durability of the colony both increased dramatically.
Beekeepers could now maintain a steady supply of honey instead of the on-again-off-again production of the past. The caliber and purity of the honey that was reaped accelerated as well.
That basic beehive creation is still being employed in about 75% of beekeeping operations around the world. Regionally, the beehives may seem different, but the idea is the same. One such version is called a bar and frame beehive. It has a slanted cap like a cottage would have. This keeps rainfall out of the beehive.
Determining the size of beehive to construct for your bees is a subject of climate. Bees will continue to live in their hive year round and will require security from extremes. In bitter weather areas, what are known as double-deep boxes are used. In other places, a single box unit works all right. The thought is to make your bees are comfortable in their abode.
Apiaries House Groups of Hives Comprising Several Colonies.
In some cases, several colonies of bees and their hives are live in what's known as a bee house. This is an open construction that serves as shade and protection from the elements. Hundreds of hives are kept at commercial apiaries, while a home apiary may have only a just a few.
With good apiary plans, a apiculturist can comfortably build his own apiary to the size he requires.
Groups of bee hives are also kept in appropriate settings such as alongside a flower-filled meadow or agriculture field. Groves of trees or the edge of timberland around wild flower fields make the best natural apiaries. They offer shade and security as well as a nearby food resource. Bees need to drink and having a stream or other body of water nearby is crucial.
One thought for just where the beehive is located, is the honey you would like to produce. Bees that feast off of flowers such as clover produce light colored, mild flavored honey. In contrast, bees feeding from plants such as buckwheat give rise to a very dark honey. This deep dark honey is highly strong in flavor and is said to contain more antioxidants.
Once established in the hive, your bees can start to work for you. Sure, they'll be producing honey and beeswax almost constantly, however they can do more. Quite a few beekeepers load up their beehives and contract them out to local farmers for pollination.
Bees are a neccesity to pollinate about 50% of the food that we eat. These dynamic little creatures secure the farmers crop produces fruit that he can harvest. Meanwhile, the bees get a free meal that they turn into combs full of rich, golden honey. It is a near ideal union between man and nature.
Honey collection has come quite a way since our early forerunners first raided a beehive. Today, apiculturists are easily equipped and have more understanding of bees and their natural habitat. That really means that almost anybody can raise bees now and harvest honey, beeswax or cater bees to others.
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