Download Trivia and Stories

Jet Stream
Primary Points
Current of fast moving air in the upper levels of the atmosphere
In the US there is two Jet streams (Subtropical Jet and Polar Jet)
Polar jet is boundary between warm air mass and cold air mass
Jet streams are usually found between 10-15 km (6-9 miles) above Earth’s surface
Jet Streams can steer storms
Airplanes fly faster when traveling typically eastward on the Jet stream
Jet Streaks are the faster winds embedded into the Jet Stream
Stronger during the winter months because of the bigger temperature contrast
Jet stream shifts Northward during summer and Southward in the winter
Zonal pattern is a straighter jet stream while meridional contains more curves
Trivia and Stories
A volcano eruption helped discover the Jet stream
Used to be called the equatorial smoke stream
American pilot given some credit to discovering Jet stream
Flyers during World War II noticed tailwinds in excess of 100 mph during flights
Sound Bites
The sky’s River
Hop on the jet stream for a faster ride home
Sluggish Jetstream due to poor temperature contrast
Sources of Additional Info
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/cyc/upa/jet.rxml
http://www.livescience.com/27825-jet-stream.html
Tornadoes
Primary Points
Violent rotating column of air
Forms at the bottom of cumulonimbus cloud (thunderstorm)
Can be dangerous to life and property
Most tornadoes have wind speeds of less than 110 mile/hour
Extreme twisters can exceed 300 miles/hour
Types of tornadoes include waterspouts, dust devils, and fire whirl
In the US Tornado alley is where the mass majority of tornadoes occur
Tornadoes have been observed on every continent except Antarctica
Can have a wide range of colors depending on where the tornado develops
Lightning may not be present during a tornado
Trivia and Stories
Enhanced Fujita Scale was introduced in 2007 to assess damage more closely
Some people have seen inside tornadoes
Usually a tornado matches the color of the ground
US averages 1200 tornadoes every year
Sound Bites
Twisted up chaos after tornadoes tear through
Off the scale winds due to violent vortex
Sources of Additional Info
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/
Hurricanes
Primary Points
Measured using the Saffir-Simpson scale
Winds from hurricanes can be over 160 miles/hour
Atlantic’s Hurricane season peaks from mid-August to late October
Atlantic Ocean averages five to six hurricanes per year
Hurricanes are fed energy from the warm seas
90 percent of all hurricane deaths result from storm surges
Hurricanes can also spawn tornadoes
The eye of the hurricane is relatively calm
The strongest winds take place just outside the wall
Hurricanes weaken rapidly over land
Hurricanes forecasts are not as accurate for farther out tracks
Trivia and Stories
Hurricanes are also called Typhoons and Cyclones in other parts of the world
Medicanes (similar to hurricanes) for over the Mediterranean Sea
Hurricanes were first given names in the19th century by Clement Wragge
Hurricanes rotate clockwise in the southern Hemisphere
Sound Bites
Storm surge strikes coast from destructive Hurricane
Raging winds wait outside the eye.
Sources of Additional Info
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
http://coast.noaa.gov/hurricanes/
Radar/Doppler Radar
Primary Points
Radar is used to detect precipitation in the atmosphere
Modern radars are pulse-Doppler Radars
Can be used to determine the structure of storms
Dual-Pol radar can detect shape and size of precipitation
Sends pulses of microwave radiation
Radar pulses spread out as they move away from the radar station
The duration of the “listening” cycle is about a millisecond long
Used in different modes to adjust to outside conditions. (Clear Air Mode)
Colors on radar is measured in reflectivity or dBZ
Trivia and Stories
There are also mobile Doppler radars (DOW)
Radars can detect insects, buildings, and birds
Radars have a velocity product, which can detect winds
Sound Bites
Rotating Radars show real results
Radar detects detailed hook echo to signify tornado
Sources of Additional Info
http://www.wunderground.com/weather-radar/united-states/
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/radar/radinfo/radinfo.html
El Niño/La Niña
Primary Points
El Nino and La Nina are opposite phases of ENSO (El Nino-Southern Oscillation)
These phases take place in the east-central Equatorial Pacific
El Nino is the warm phase when water temperatures are warmer than average
La Nina is the cold phase when water temperatures are cooler than average
These phases typically last 9 to 12 months
Phases begin to form between June and August
Peak strength is reached between December/April and decay between May/July
ENSO phases occur every 3 to 5 years
North America weather conditions can be affected due to ENSO phases
Not associated with Global Warming
Trivia and Stories
El Nino means The Little Boy or Spanish Child in Spanish
Fishermen off of South America first recognized El Nino in the 1600s
La Nina means The Little Girl in Spanish
La Nina seasons usually mean a more active Hurricane Season
Sound Bites
Elusive El Nino arrives
It’s time to fire up the Super El Nino chatter again
La Nina conditions spin up springtime Twisters
Sources of Additional Info
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ninonina.html
http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/
Long-range Weather Prediction (Monthly,
Seasonal)
Primary Points
Farmer’s Almanac is not a good way to look at long -range weather forecasts
The almanac is right less than half of the time
NOAA is a more reliable source to look at Long-Range Forecasts
NOAA uses Below Normal, Above Normal, Equal Chances for Long-Range
NOAA predicts Temperature and Precipitation for Long-Range
Monthly is more accurate due to it being closer in time
Long-Range is Much more inaccurate than Short-Range
Computer Models are used to create Long-Term Forecasts
Private Sector may create their own Long-Range forecasts
Trivia and Stories
Climatology is becoming more important for Long-Range
Many people rely on Farmer’s Almanac
Sound Bites
Rely on Long-range for reference
Meteorologists LOL at Long-range Almanac Forecasts
Sources of Additional Info
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/forecasts/
http://theweatherwiz.com/
Thunderstorms
Primary Points
Occur in cumulonimbus clouds
Sometimes accompanied by strong winds, heavy rain, and hail
Thunderstorms may line up in a series or rain band known as a squall line
Thunderstorms may also rotate (Super cells)
Can produce tornadoes
Result from rapid upward movement of warm, moist air
Can occur inside warm, moist air masses or along fronts
Can form and develop in any particular geographic location
Threaten life and property
Damage from thunderstorms is mostly from hailstones, flash flooding, downbursts
Maximum daytime heating occurs at night allowing for convection
Trivia and Stories
A thunderstorm has enough energy to equal 50 A-Bombs (Hiroshima)
Sometimes thunderstorms can build large enough to go into the stratosphere
Can produce softball sized hail
Sound Bites
If thunder roars go indoors
Rumble of thunder find some cover
Sources of Additional Info
https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/thunderstorms/
http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime
Climate Change
Primary Points
Change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns for an extended period
Referred to as global warming
El Nino does not represent climate change
Climate change is mainly caused from humans actions to pollute the atmosphere
Carbon Dioxide and Water vapor are the main causes of the warming Earth
General Circulation models used to link causes of climate change
Carbon Dioxide continues to increase
Every time you drive a car you are releasing carbon dioxide
The Greenhouse effect occurs when gases are trapped in the Earths Atmosphere
The melting of ice sheets is one thing climate change is affecting
Warmer global temperatures can actually bring more snow to the Northeast US
Ozone hole is formed from chlorine in the form of CFCs in the atmosphere
Trivia and Stories
Past couple winters were colder for eastern US not Western
Glaciers are most sensitive to Climate Change
Sound Bites
Climate Change Crippling America
Polar bears running out of room due to Climate Change
Sources of Additional Info
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
http://climate.nasa.gov/
Winter Precipitation
Primary Points
Snow can fall above freezing temps because overlying air may be colder and the
snow does not have enough time to melt when it reaches the ground
Snow, Sleet, Freezing Rain, Graupel is types of precipitation
Freezing rain can occur when the surface is below freezing and the air is above
freezing
Wintry Precipitation can cause hazardous driving conditions
Snow can have different shapes and sizes
10 inches of snow is equivalent to 1 inch of rain
Snow can disappear with temperatures below freezing due to sublimation
Sublimation is the process when solid turn into a gas
Snow is the hardest to forecast
Snow requires a column of air that is at or below freezing
Trivia and Stories
No snowflake is the same
The largest snowflake was 15 inches wide
Sound Bites
Winter Whiteout
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn
Mixed bag of precipitation
Sources of Additional Info
http://www.weather.com/safety/winter/news/types-winter-precipitation20120423
https://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/climate/winter_wx/Precipitation_types.php
Folklore
Primary Points
Only some folklore is true
Folklore began because back in the day there was no numerical data
Only instrument of reliability was human experience
Folklore refers to mid-latitude regions
Red sky at night sailors, delight; Red sky in the morning sailors take warning
Ring around sun or moon precipitation coming in
No weather is ill if the wind be still (False if there may be a calm before storm)
Groundhog is popular with folklore but is a false type of folklore
Decreasing pressure causes aches and pains and may signify storms on the way
Trivia and Stories
Many farmers used folklore to maintain their crops
Folklore may only be useful in certain seasons
Sound Bites
When sounds travel far and wide, a stormy day will betide
When clouds look like black smoke, A wise man will put on his cloak
Sources of Additional Info
http://www.stormfax.com/wxfolk.htm
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rnk/Newsletter/Fall_2010/folklore.html
Lake (Sea)-Effect Snow/Rain
Primary Points
Needs a warm lake, cold air, little shear, and location of where it falls depends on
wind
Size of the bands depend on the shape of the body of water and prevailing wind
Snowfall may exceed 5 inches an hour
May not be snowing at all with clear skies a few miles away
Rain is also possible in spring and fall
Sea effect also occurs such as Cape Cod Bay and Chesapeake Bay
A band can stay in one location for several hours dropping several feet of snow
Snow bands can be 20 to 30 miles wide and extend 100 miles inland from lake
Ice cover stops or decreases snow activity
Ice cuts off the warm moist air needed to produce lake effect
Trivia and Stories
Thundersnow (Lightning in the snow) can occur with lake effect
Another area of extreme lake effect is in Japan
Sound Bites
Lake-effect bands make the skiers dance
Snow piles up due to Unrelenting Lake-Effect
Sources of Additional Info
http://www.noaa.gov/features/02_monitoring/lakesnow.html
http://scijinks.jpl.nasa.gov/lake-snow/
Optical Phenomena
Primary Points
Observable events resulting from the interaction of light and matter
Rainbows form when there is sun and rain
Occurs when light is refracted by the water droplets
Rainbows can be seen in the snow as well
Sun dogs create a rainbow around the sun and also around the moon at times
Sun dogs are visible when sunlight is refracting off ice crystals high up in the
atmosphere
Mirages occur when light rays are bent to produce a displaced image of distant
objects
Light rays bend downward when entering layers of cooler air
Rainbows can be full circles
Trivia and Stories
Sometimes mist can create double rainbows
A rainbow cannot be physically approached
Mirages sometimes look like puddles to the observer when it is really light being
bent from the object
Sound Bites
If you want the rainbow you have to put up with the rain
Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud
Sources of Additional Info
http://scijinks.jpl.nasa.gov/rainbow/
http://www.atoptics.co.uk/rayshad.htm
Heat Index/Apparent Temperature
Primary Points
Index that combines air temperature and relative humidity
Used to determine the human-perceived equivalent temperature
Also known as the “felt air temperature”
Heat index is assuming shady conditions and light wind
Higher relative humidity keeps the body from evaporating sweat, which cools us
Some people may mistake when the atmosphere is humid or dry
Used to determine how dangerous it is to be outside
Trivia and Stories
Heat index was developed in 1978 by George Winterling
Canada uses a humidex which is similar to the heat index
Heat stroke is imminent when heat index is above 54 Celsius (130 Fahrenheit)
Sound Bites
Don’t blame the heat index for melting your ice cream
It’s not the heat it’s the humidity
Sources of Additional Info
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ama/?n=heatindex
http://www.weatherimages.org/data/heatindex.html
Satellite Imagery/Data
Primary Points
The three main types of satellites images are visible, water vapor, and infrared
Two main types of satellites are geostationary and polar orbiting
Geostationary rotates with the earth
Polar orbiting orbits along lines of longitude passing the poles
Visible images can only be viewed during the night (unless a lot of moonlight Is
present)
Infrared can be viewed 24/7
Infrared measures the amount of radiation from cloud tops
Water vapor measures the amount of moisture in the atmosphere
Satellites can also be used to forecast (future Skew-T’s)
Satellites can help predict climate change
Trivia and Stories
The first weather satellite was launched in 1959
The first successful weather satellite was launched in 1960
Visible satellites can use moonlight to see nighttime images
Sound Bites
Meteorologist feast their eyes on satellite imagery to predict future weather
Consider meteorologists to be pilgrims before weather satellites
Sources of Additional Info
http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/
http://www.noaa.gov/satellites.html
WIND CHILL
PRIMARY POINTS
ATTEMPTS TO QUANTIFY HOW MUCH ENERGY IS BEING LOST FROM BARE HUMAN SKIN
ORIGINALLY FORMULATED BY ANTARCTIC RESEARCHER PAUL SIPLE IN THE 1930S
SIPLE HUNG PLASTIC BAGS OF WARM WATER IN VARIOUS TEMPERATURE/WIND COMBOS
NEW WIND CHILL VALUES WERE IMPLEMENTED IN 2001
NEW FORMULA USED DATA FROM REAL HUMAN SKIN AND MODERN HEAT TRANSFER EQNS.
NEW WIND CHILL TEMPS ARE NOTABLY “WARMER” THAN THE ORIGINAL VALUES
USEFUL FOR GENERAL GUIDELINES RELATED TO DANGERS OF WIND-RELATED HEAT LOSS
SHORTCOMINGS: DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR SUNSHINE, HUMIDITY, INDIVIDUAL HEALTH
SHORTCOMINGS: CONFUSION WITH ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURES
SHORTCOMINGS: ONLY APPLIES TO HUMANS, NOT ANIMALS OR AUTOMOBILES
TRIVIA AND STORIES
SIPLE GREW UP IN ERIE, PA, WAS AN EAGLE SCOUT AND ‘FRAT BOY’
SIPLE COINED THE TERM WIND CHILL FACTOR
SIPLE WAS OPPOSED TO WIND CHILL TEMPERATURE (WRONG UNITS) –“SCIENCE GEEK”
CANADA NOW USES THE SAME SCALE…BEFORE 2001 IT WAS DIFFERENT
SOUND BITES
NEW SCALE REQUIRED SOME PEOPLE TO “FREEZE THEIR FACE FOR SCIENCE”
WIND CHILL “ALLOWS METEOROLOGIST TO INFLICT FURTHER PAIN IN BAD WEATHER”
WIND CHILL “FURTHER CLUTTERS THE ALREADY CLUTTERED WORLD OF WEATHER INFO”
SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFO
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill/images/wind-chillbrochure.pdf
Slate magazine WIND CHILL BLOWS:
http://www.slate.com/id/2207326/