Category Archives: Seasons

What is the status of the ozone hole?

Ozone occurs about 18 miles above the Earth’s surface and is both caused by and provides protection from damaging ultraviolet energy emitted by the sun.

The development of an atmospheric “ozone layer” allowed life to move out of the oceans and onto land. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Seasons

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When is the autumnal equinox?

This morning we officially entered fall as the autumnal equinox occurred at 2:50 a.m.

That means that today, in common with every location on Earth, we will enjoy exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Seasons

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Do storms impact Arctic sea ice?

As we head into the second half of August the days are noticeably shorter. That change is even more dramatic in the polar regions where the summer ice melt season is nearing its end.

This year’s melt has been particularly dramatic, with the Arctic sea-ice extent likely heading to its lowest level since satellite measurements began in 1979. The previous low extent record was set in 2012. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Seasons

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Has this been an unusually dreary spring?

With astrological summer set to begin on Friday morning at 10:54 a.m., it seems like a good time to consider the nature of this seemingly dreary and cold spring that we have just endured.

Almost no one will disagree that this year has had a memorably bad spring, not only locally but around the nation as widespread flooding has put elements of the agricultural sector well behind their normal schedules. Continue reading

Category: Climate, Meteorology, Seasons

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Is there a windiest time of year in Madison?

Given our recent weather, and with the pollen season dawning in southern Wisconsin, one may wonder if there actually is a windiest time of year in Madison.

Of course, a windy day can come along just about any time of year (the record gust of 83 mph in Madison occurred in June 1975) but the climatology suggests that March and April are the windiest months of the year with average wind speeds of 11.3 and 11.4 mph, respectively. November through February are not far behind, logging a four-month average of 10.5 mph. Continue reading

Category: Climate, Seasons, Weather Dangers

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