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Category Archives: Phenomena
Can subtle changes in sky color impact summer high temperatures?
There are spring and summer afternoons when very thin clouds appear overhead and turn the sky a bit white. These types of skies are physically interesting in at least two ways that are worthy of note.
First, the whiteness is a function of the fact that the cloud cover is a thin cirrus cloud. Cirrus clouds are composed of tiny ice crystals that scatter visible light without preference for any of the colors of the visible spectrum (the colors of the rainbow). This particular property is shared by snowflakes as well as by haze droplets. Individual snowflakes look clear but even a small collection of them is white since all of the light that hits the collection of snowflakes is scattered in all directions equally. The same is true of haze droplets which are most common in the summertime in southern Wisconsin. Continue reading
Category: Meteorology, Phenomena
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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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Why was part of the sky green on Tuesday night?
Why was part of the sky green on Tuesday night? Continue reading
What are geomagnetic storms?
Our sun is an active star that has storms. Sometimes the sun ejects a cloud of gas, called a coronal mass ejection or CME. CMEs are often associated with solar flares, and it takes about two to three days for the charged particles in this gas to reach Earth. Earth’s magnetic field deflects these particles toward the North and South Poles.
Unfortunately, solar electrons and protons from CMEs collide with the Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere and can stir up electromagnetic storms in the Earth’s magnetosphere. These geomagnetic storms can result in the Northern Lights but also disrupt satellite-based navigation, communications, air travel, power grids and even pipelines. A geomagnetic storm in March 1989 shut down the Hydro-Quebec electric grid in Canada, leaving people without electricity. Continue reading
