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Category Archives: Meteorology
When was the use of computers for weather prediction first considered?
As we have opined a number of times before in this column, the development of numerical weather prediction (NWP) — the use of computers to mathematically produce weather forecasts — is one of the most unheralded scientific advances of the 20th century.
Coupled with the ubiquitous mobile phones we all use, this revolution has enabled us, at a glance, to get a sense of the coming weather days in advance. Continue reading
Category: History, Meteorology
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How do ice crystals form and grow?
This question was considered by astronomer Johannes Kepler about 400 years ago.
Kepler published an article on the topic in 1611. He hypothesized that the crystals were made of subunits that combined to form the symmetrical shapes of ice crystals. Continue reading
What were the memorable U.S. weather events of 2020?
The year 2020 will be noted for some memorable and record-breaking weather.
This year saw the most active and seventh-costliest Atlantic hurricane season on record. There were 13 hurricanes, six major hurricanes and 12 storm systems that made landfall in the U.S., causing 409 deaths and more than $40 billion in damages. Hurricane Laura was the strongest land-falling U.S. hurricane of the season; it hit the Louisiana coast with 150 mph winds and higher than 15 feet of storm surge. Continue reading
Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather
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What created season’s first snowstorm?
Even if you are not a particular fan of winter weather, it is hard to deny that there is something about the first snow of the season. In fact, British author J.B. Priestley expressed its transcendent nature beautifully when he … Continue reading
Q: Who was Verner Suomi?
Verner Suomi was born on Dec. 6, 1915, and became a professor at UW-Madison. He is known as the “Father of Satellite Meteorology” because of his historic role in defining that field of study. In the late 1950s, he and … Continue reading
