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Category Archives: Meteorology
What is Madison’s longest stretch of frigid temperatures?
After a relatively mild start, this winter has suddenly turned a bit more menacing.
With last Thursday’s 3.5 inches of snow, Madison officially moved above its seasonal average snowfall for the first time all winter. We have received 36 inches, while the average to date is about 33 inches. Continue reading
Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather, Weather Dangers
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What is the status of Earth’s ice?
The amount of ice covering Earth varies from year to year, but over a few decades, trends emerge.
A recent analysis of satellite observations from the European Space Agency clearly shows the amount of ice on earth is decreasing. Those measurements indicate that the amount of ice, in the form of ice sheets on land, mountain glaciers and sea ice, is decreasing. Continue reading
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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