Archives
Categories
WeatherGuys Links
Author Archives: WeatherGuys Editor
What is clear air turbulence?
Clear-air turbulence, or CAT, is the turbulent movement of air masses in the absence of any visual clues such as clouds. The atmospheric region most susceptible to CAT is at altitudes of around 23,000 to 39,000 feet. This is the region of jet streams — fast-moving, narrow bands of wind high in the atmosphere that blow from west to east.
Wind shear refers to a sudden change in wind speed or direction across a short distance. When an aircraft encounters wind shear, it may experience abrupt vertical or horizontal movements, resulting in unanticipated changes in altitude or velocity. While wind shear is commonly observed in the vertical dimension, it can also manifest horizontally. Continue reading
How might climate change impact insects?
Global warming can result in a multifaceted set of pressures on insect populations. Insects are cold-blooded and rely on ambient temperatures to regulate their internal body temperature. Unlike mammals, insects are more at the mercy of a hot environment because they can’t cool themselves by sweating or panting. That makes them vulnerable to extreme weather and temperature fluctuations. Their main defense strategies for excessive heat involve finding shade or burrowing underground.
Most insects are susceptible to heat stress between 82 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The observed warming trends contribute to an increased frequency of heat waves, which threatens some insect species. The increased heat waves can push some insect species beyond their thermal tolerance. Some recent research indicates that 25 out of 38 insect species studied may face increased extinction risk over the next century, driven by temperature changes in their habitats. Continue reading
Was the February 23 snowstorm in the Northeast really unusual?
The northeast United States experienced a once-in-a-generation storm on Feb. 23-24. It would take too much space to list all the remarkable snowfall records that were set during this event, though mentioning a couple is both irresistible and instructive.
Southeast Massachusetts and most of Rhode Island were hardest hit by both the snow and winds associated with this event. T.F. Green International Airport at Providence, Rhode Island, ended up with 37.9 inches of snow — its all-time two-day and single-day records — and suspended all operations on Feb. 23. Hurricane-force wind gusts were widespread in the region, with Wellfleet, Massachusetts recording a peak gust of 98 mph. Continue reading
Category: Meteorology, Seasons, Severe Weather
Comments Off on Was the February 23 snowstorm in the Northeast really unusual?
Comments Off on Was the February 23 snowstorm in the Northeast really unusual?
What is a mesonet and what are they used for?
The term “mesonet” is a blending of the words “mesoscale” and “network.”
In meteorology, “mesoscale” refers to weather events that range in size from about one mile to about 150 miles. Mesoscale events last from several minutes to several hours. Thunderstorms, snow squalls and wind gusts are examples of mesoscale events. A mesonet refers to a network of collectively owned and operated automated weather stations that are installed close enough to each other and report data frequently enough to observe mesoscale meteorological phenomena. Continue reading
What did the Endangerment Finding suggest about global warming?
On Feb. 12 President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency revoked the so-called “endangerment finding,” issued in 2009, asserting that “CO2 and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare.” This scientific finding served as the basis for limits on tailpipe emissions and power plant rules enacted under President Barack Obama and committed the United States to a national effort to arrest the kind of pollution that contributes directly to global warming.
Based on an extensive body of scientific evidence, in the EPA in 2009 singled out six greenhouse gases for the danger they pose to public health and welfare. Continue reading
Category: Climate, History, Weather Dangers
Comments Off on What did the Endangerment Finding suggest about global warming?
Comments Off on What did the Endangerment Finding suggest about global warming?
