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Category Archives: Meteorology
What is the Coriolis force?
Newton’s laws of motion mathematically describe how objects move when forces are exerted on them.
Earth is spinning like a top, even though to us who are standing on Earth, it seems that we are not moving. Newton did not account for Earth’s spin in his equations. The Coriolis force appears as an extra term when Newton’s laws are transformed to account for Earth’s spin. Continue reading
Why are icicles shaped like long skinny carrots?
Icicles typically form on days when the outdoor air temperature is below freezing but sunshine warms and melts snow or ice. Thus, you may notice that more icicles form on the sunny south-facing side of your home than on the … Continue reading
What is the best weather forecast model?
If you are not a student of meteorology, you should rely on your local weather forecasters for a good weather forecast — and southern Wisconsin has some very good local forecasters. It is their job to interpret the various numerical weather prediction models.
Numerical weather prediction models, or NWP, solve a complex set of mathematical equations that are based on the physics that drives how the air moves and how heat and moisture are exchanged throughout the atmosphere. Continue reading
Is there energy in snow?
Since the beginning of this year, Madison and Dane County have received about 35 inches of snow.
Snow is a form of solid water and water is the only substance that occurs naturally in all three phases — solid, liquid and invisible gas — in the Earth’s atmosphere. Of course, that means that the 35 inches of snow began as the equivalent amount of water in the invisible vapor (gas) phase before it was transformed into solid water. Continue reading
How good are the groundhog predictions?
The predictions made by this folk forecast are correct only about 40 percent of the time — vastly inferior to what is delivered by modern science. If you flip a coin, you’ll be right close to 50 percent of the time.
This year’s prediction by the furry animal is for an early spring. As for a more scientific approach, temperatures over the next six weeks look about average. Continue reading
