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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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How was the 2020 hurricane season?
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season ends today and will go down as the most active hurricane season on record.
A total of 30 named storms, 13 hurricanes, and six major hurricanes have formed throughout the season have formed throughout the seasons. Twelve of the named storms made landfall in the contiguous United States, breaking the record of nine set in 1916. Continue reading
What causes a mid-latitude cyclone to develop?
Our recent weekend storm on Nov. 14-15 was the first strong storm of the autumn/winter season.
As you found yourself caught in the strong winds, you may well have wondered how do storms like this one come to be?
That has been the central motivating question in meteorological science for most of the past 100 years. During that time, meteorologists have learned a great deal about how such storms are formed. Continue reading
Category: Meteorology, Seasons, Severe Weather
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