Author Archives: WeatherGuys Editor

Do volcanic eruptions impact climate and weather?

There are some spectacular photographs and videos of the recent eruption of Calbuco in Chile. The impact of the eruption on our weather and climate depends on how explosive the eruption and how much sulfur dioxide is in the volcanic plume.

Eruptions can lead to cooler temperatures in the mountain’s vicinity. As the ash cloud enshrouds nearby regions, it will reduce the amount of solar energy reaching the surface and thereby reduce the daytime temperatures. Continue reading

Category: Climate, Phenomena, Weather Dangers

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Why does the wind adversely affect over-the-air television transmission?

Why does the wind adversely affect over-the-air television transmission? Continue reading

Category: Phenomena, Severe Weather

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What is permafrost?

Permafrost is ground that is frozen for at least two years. It remains frozen all year and contains plant material that has not yet completely decomposed.

Permafrost is mostly located in polar regions, though it also occurs in some high mountain tops where it is called alpine permafrost. There is no permafrost in Madison, though our ground does freeze in most winters. Continue reading

Category: Climate, Seasons

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Is water always present in the atmosphere?

Evidence of the presence of water in our atmosphere is ubiquitous. Water occurs in the Earth’s atmosphere in all three of its phases — solid (snow and ice), liquid (rain and dew) and gas (invisible water vapor).

As we begin to emerge from winter and enter spring, we may begin to see more dew on the ground and on the windshields of cars in the morning. The air nearly always holds some amount of water vapor. Dew is liquid water that condenses overnight onto objects when the air that contains the water vapor cools to a sufficiently low temperature. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Seasons

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Why was part of the sky green on Tuesday night?

Why was part of the sky green on Tuesday night? Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena

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