Just the Facts, Ma'am

I've posted about the different opinions on climate change, but you may be sitting there wondering, what exactly is climate change?  Good question!

First lets define climate.  Dictionary.com tells us,

1. the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure,humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years.
2. a region or area characterized by a given climate: to move to a warm climate.
3. the prevailing attitudes, standards, or environmental conditions of a group, period, or place: a climate of political unrest.

The first definition is the one that applies to the topic of climate change. Here is how Dr. Heidi Cullen explains climate in her book The Weather of the Future, "weather is concerned with the immediate whereas climate is more focused on the long term."

Basically, weather is the day to day conditions we experience outside, like the things listed above in the definition.  Then climate is those conditions in a larger area averaged out over time.  The short video below from Climate Central, explains more.

NOAA The National Weather Service has a great brochure about climate change that I thought I would summarize for you.

• The climate is changing.  This decade and the last have been the warmest since the start of recording in the mid 1800's.
• Some of the change is natural.  This is because of how the different parts of the Earth interact, the land, the oceans, and the atmosphere. The sun and solar radiation also play a part in the changes. 
• Some of the change is caused by people.  This is where greenhouse gases come into play.
  "Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O), trap heat in the atmosphere causing a greenhouse effect."
• These gases are released by burning coal, oil, and natural gas.
• 
  

Here are some other interesting facts and tidbits I gathered from the US EPA website:

• NASA and NOAA both agree that climate change is occurring and that humans are playing a role in the change.
• The average temperature has risen 1.4F degrees, which has led to increased rainfall, heat waves becoming more frequent and more intense, warmer and more acidic oceans, and an increase in sea level due to arctic ice melting.
• While the sun does have periods of warming and cooling, it does not appear to have as much of an impact on Earth as human activity.
• A warmer climate does not mean no more cold winters. Actually, the slightly warmer climate means that there is more water up in the atmosphere, which can mean more snow when the temperature does drop low enough.  But, as the climate grows warmer and warmer the length of our winters will grow shorter and shorter, but be snowier and snowier!
• There is a natural carbon cycle, where carbon dioxide is naturally emitted but then also taken back up by plants and put into the ground. Humans burning fossil fuels is not part of this cycle and has thrown it out of whack!
• Yes, the Earth was once warmer than it is today.  But it was still stable back then, and it isn't stable now. It is projected to warm up faster than has ever been recorded. 
• The hole in the ozone, and thinning ozone layer is a negative consequence of human actions.  While it is dangerous, and poses risks to our health, it is not significant to climate change.
• IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

In my next post I plan to address different steps that are being taken to stop climate change.  We will look at different government programs, and what you can do to make a difference.

8 Arguments Against Global Warming

In this post I wanted to take a look at some of the arguments against climate change, or against our role in it as a species.  Some scientists agree that our world is getting warmer, but not everyone agrees on why.  Then there are some that believe the climate is actually growing colder!

Peter Ferrara wrote an article for Forbes.com titled, Sorry Global Warming Alarmists, The Earth Is Cooling, in May of 2012.  His article is about how the Earth is actually starting to cool down, due to naturally occurring temperature cycles. He attended the International Climate Change Conference sponsored by the Heartland Institute, that month, and came to his conclusions after hearing the speakers.  It appears that, not only did he attend, he spoke as well.  Mr. Ferrara is also a director for the Heartland Institute.  This institute considers itself the "international headquarters of the climate realists".

The article states at one point that the oceans undergo a natural process where the colder water deeper in the oceans cycle up to switch with the warmer water.  That then affects the air temperature and can cause it to change by the degrees currently seen.

The article goes on to discuss more but I had to stop reading.  He keeps calling the other scientists alarmists, and accusing them of things like, "personal attacks, ad hominem arguments, and name calling, combined with admissions that they can’t defend their views in public debate".  He doesn't seem to be behaving much better in his article.

So moving on...

One point that keeps coming up in my research is that climate is a confusing issue that we really do not know enough about.  Also, there are other factors involved such as politics and economy.  The video below was posted on Youtube in 2011 and is a news report from Fox Business.  The video presents the idea of global cooling but then adds in economic issues, even mentions "the mob"! Apparently, global warming is better for the economy than global cooling...

Oh boy... I really did want to try to remain impartial and research and write this post with an open mind, but it is getting really difficult.  Kill all the cows because of methane? Really?? I think Vermont (Cow Power!) would have something to say about that!

I think this gives you a pretty good idea of the war that is raging between the two sides. Both sides claim to have science on their side. There are economic issues, political issues, social issues and so much more involved in this topic of global warming/cooling.  Lets break down this "realist" side of the argument with a good ol' fashioned list.

American Policy Roundtable summed up 8 Arguments Against Global Warming from Heartland Institute (and then I summed it up some more):

1. We, the people, are not the cause.  There are scientists that just don't believe there is enough evidence to support the theory that gases released by people are causing climate change.
2. Pffft, you can't prove that it's getting warmer!  There is no temperature data that proves the climate is getting warmer.
3. Computers are puppets.  Predictions based on computer models are not accurate.  People can manipulate the data to make the results say whatever they want.
4. The opposition is reading it wrong.  A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is often quoted incorrectly by "alarmists". In fact, it should be interpreted to support the "realists".
5. A little warmth might not be bad...   Warmer temperatures + Vikings = Settling of Greenland
   Even warmer temperatures were experienced during the development of the first civilizations. Obviously, warmer temperatures make people want to settle down and work harder. So forget Obama, all we need is a little warming of the climate to boost the economy!
6. It costs too much to fold, so let it ride!  Let us say, for the sake of this list, that gas emissions are causing climate change.  It would cost way too much to try to stop emissions now, and it wouldn't lead to much of a change; just a lowly reduction of .14 degrees Celsius.
7. States will suffer and budgets will burst! States went on shopping sprees in the 1990's and now can't pay their credit card bills. Still, they continue to spend money on frivolous things like, "greenhouse gas reduction programs".  These programs do nothing except waste hard-earned money and take away jobs.
8. Don't live your life with regret!  Why try to stop climate change now? Let's do some research, and then, once the ice-caps have melted, the coral reefs are all bleached, and NYC is under water, THEN let's do something about it! 

Screenshot from The Day After Tomorrow 

Alright, I may have come off as sounding a little biased, but I did try!! If I squint reaaallly hard, some of those points may make some sense.  I know where I stand on the issue of climate change, and am comfortable in my beliefs.  I encourage you to do some of your own research and take a stand.  Even if that stand is on the other side. 

**Update 5/7/13 - I just wanted to make sure that I was clear about my beliefs on the topic of climate change. I believe that climate change is happening. I believe that it is a naturally occurring phenomenon that we have accelerated. I believe that we can still do something about it, but we also need to start adapting to the changes in our climate and weather. 

Guaranteed to Keep You Up at Night...

When I was a kid I always thought the weather was pretty cool. I especially loved learning about lightning at the Museum of Science in Boston, MA. I never considered weather more seriously though, and wasn't even really paying attention to the issue of climate change.

All that changed in August of 2010.

At that time, what I WAS into was, The Colbert Report.  One night that August, Stephen Colbert had a woman come on the show to talk about her new book.  Her name was Dr. Heidi Cullen and her book was, The Weather of the Future: Heat Waves, Extreme Storms, and Other Scenes from a Climate-Changed Planet. 

After listening to her short interview I knew I HAD to read her book!

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Dr. Cullen was smart, funny, and not only knowledgeable, but able to talk to non-weather people (like you and me), and not leave us going, "uhhhhhh, whaaat?"

Her book made it to my Christmas list that year, but once again, Santa let me down.  I ended up buying it for myself, and had no buyers-remorse.  It was an excellent read.

Dr. Heidi Cullen is a research scientist for a nonprofit organization called, Climate Central.  They actually have some great videos on their site. I have already borrowed one for a previous post, and will definitely be using more in the future.  Dr. Cullen has worked for The Weather Channel, lectures at Princeton, is a member of the American Meteorological Society, has spoken on all sorts of television programs, and my favorite tidbit, lives in Princeton, NJ! All of this information can be found on the back cover of her book.

Her book focuses on climate, climate change, and the possible future of our planet and weather.  She does an exceptional job of explaining what climate change is and how it works.  I did not take any physics or chemistry classes in college, am absolutely horrid at math, and yet I was able to understand the concepts in this book. Not only did I understand the book, but I enjoyed reading it as well!

I certainly can't say that about all the non-fiction books I have read, or have tried to read.

The second part of her book was a look at weather predictions around the world.  One that really stuck with me was about The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia.

















As it turns out the GBR and its beautiful corals are very sensitive to temperature and the acidity of the ocean water.  When the water gets too warm, and it doesn't even have to be that much warmer, the algae that lives in the coral leaves and takes all those gorgeous colors with it. Now you only see the white of the coral itself.  The coral then weakens and can die, because not only does the algae provide colors but also nutrients.  This is called coral bleaching.

The book explains so much more than what that video covers.  Dr. Cullen talks to scientists working with the GBR, and explains how they are working to protect this treasure.  She also predicts what could occur if climate change continues unchecked.

For those of you more interested in issues closer to home she also covers Central Valley in California and New York, New York.  The book was published in 2010 and she actually made this prediction for September 2013, "And in September 2013, with the Yankees not even looking to play in the postseason, the Atlantic Ocean reawakened and one specific hurricane seemed to be in a New York state of mind."

Hmmm, Superstorm Sandy, October 2012? Sure, she was off by little over a year, and her storm was Category 3 Hurricane Homer, but she did predict the flooding.  She even states in her book, "managed to flood the subway as well as the PATH train systems at the station in Hoboken, New Jersey, shutting down these transportation systems for almost a week."  Pretty eerie.  Not all her predictions are worst-case scenario though.  She has NYC learn from the storms and adapt by building storm-surge barriers, raised airport runways, re-zoned coastal areas, and so forth.

Dr. Cullen has been referred to as an alarmist, but honestly, sometimes we need to hear about the worst that could happen.  Will all these tragic predictions come true? Will the coral reefs die, the ice caps melt, and many more plants and animals become extinct? Possibly. We need to be aware of all predicted outcomes, and understand all the possible consequences of our actions.  This book instructs, and opens your mind to possibilities we many not want to consider, but should.

After flipping through the book again to write this post, and looking at the different predictions, I think I am going to give it another read! I highly recommend that you give this book a try too.

Is It Getting Warm In Here?

Climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases, polar ice caps melting... these are all buzz words that we hear tossed around. But what do they mean? Is the climate really changing?

This is is really an extensive topic. There are people who believe that climate change is real, its not good, and we are the cause.  There are people that think the whole thing is a hoax, that its not that big of a deal. Then there are people who may concede that the climate is heating up, but are hesitant to blame it on people.

Let's start with the, "climate change is real and happening", argument. According to the EPA, "Earth's average temperature has risen by 1.4°F over the past century, and is projected to rise another 2 to 11.5°F over the next hundred years".

Oh wow, a couple degrees warmer! That doesn't sound like very much, why is it so important? I mean sure that video up there shows things have heated up, but its still pretty cold in the arctic! And, its still snowing in the north; pretty sure Winter Storm Nemo proved that one...

Well, first the rising of 1.4°F is an average. In some areas, like the arctic regions, that number is actually higher. Second, while we may not think a couple of degrees makes a difference, Mother Nature doesn't agree. Animals such as penguins and butterflies are feeling the effects. National Geographic reports that the number of Adélie penguins have declined.

Say whaaaat?

Species of foxes, butterflies, and arctic plants have been found farther and farther north, trying to find cooler weather. There are some species that are enjoying the warmer weather like the Spruce Bark Beetle. (I was going to post a picture of these, but yuck! If bugs don't give you the heebie-jeebies then go ahead and do a Google Image search, have fun.) These beetles have had a huge increase in numbers and are destroying forests in Alaska.

Animals aren't the only ones feeling the change.  The weather is starting to make a statement too.  In 2008, National Geographic released an article, Strong Hurricanes Getting Stronger; Warming Is Blamed.  Warmer ocean temperatures means stronger hurricanes.  Some scientists believe that climate change is the cause of the warmer temperatures and nastier hurricanes, while others say this is "a natural storm cycle".  But, with a naturally cooler North Atlantic ocean with its typically weak hurricanes, now flinging much stronger storms at the East Coast, it does make you wonder...

According to a nyc.gov hazards web page:

Many hurricane experts say the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico have begun to spin off more frequent and destructive hurricanes than in previous decades. Tropical storms have been on the rise since 1995, and a record 15 hurricanes made their way into the North Atlantic in 2005.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is also concerned.  Heat waves can be extremely dangerous, like the heat wave in Australia early this year that was so extreme, "Australia weather forecasters had to add a new color to their heat maps to show temperatures between 123 and 129 degrees."  (That link leads to a great article, check it out.)

Extreme heat can lead to dehydration, and even trouble breathing for people who have asthma and other respiratory conditions.

The WHO also predicts a rise in sea levels and more extreme storms that will cause people to move away from the coast and other low-lying areas.  This can lead to, "the risk of a range of health effects, from mental disorders to communicable diseases".  The water supply may be affected by drought and changes in when we get rain or snow and how much we get. People don't always realize that a snow-less winter can lead to drought conditions in the summer. Flooding will occur more often in some areas, which can contaminate drinking water, cause injury and death, and even cause an increase in mosquitoes.

Not only are mosquitoes incredibly annoying, but they can also carry diseases such as West Nile Virus.  With the higher temperatures and increase in insect activity, we will continue to see more and more of these viruses, like West Nile and Malaria, over here in the United States.

And the list of changes goes on! I could keep writing this for hours and have the longest blog post EVER! But, I think its about time to wrap this up before I put you to sleep and you have a nightmare.  There is so much more to cover on this topic and I will get there.

Next I want to take a break from all this info, and review a great book on the topic by Dr. Heidi Cullen.

From there we will take a look at the other side of the climate argument and see what other people are
saying on the topic.

I know this is a disturbing issue and some people have strong opinions about it. I urge you to keep an open mind, consider both sides of the argument, and draw your own conclusions... so come back soon!

Naming Nemo

I discussed why the Weather Channel  (TWC) started naming winter storms in my post, The Nor'Easter Ate My Homework.  I thought I was done with the topic of nor'easters and would be moving on.  However, the weather had other plans for me.

Enter Winter Storm Nemo.

Here I was sitting at home working on this post, having already been shoveled out, waiting to hear how my family in NH is making out with all that snow. While, waiting I decided to check out Wikipedia. Now, I don't use information from Wikipedia when I write my blog posts, but sometimes I will go there and check out what sources they used for their articles when it relates to my blog topic.  I wondered how much information Wikipedia would have about Winter Storm Nemo, and was shocked. The article is huge!

I then tried searching for Winter Storms 2012, to see if there was a list of all the storms and their names. There isn't one! I did find an article on Winter Storm Athena but it redirects to November 2012 nor'easter.  I then realized that the article for Nemo also redirected! Wikipedia is redirecting Winter Storm Nemo to February 2013 nor'easter.  It would appear that Wikipedia does not plan to participate in the Weather Channels naming of the storms.

Interesting.

I then went to the Weather Channel article, and waaaaaay down at the bottom, found a short paragraph about the named winter storms:

2012–13 naming winter storms

Beginning in the fall of 2012, the Weather Channel has named major winter storms. It officially named the nor'easter that hit the East Coast of the United States in November 2012 after the Greek goddess Athena. In response, the National Weather Service announced on November 7, 2012 that it would not recognize the Weather Channel’s name for winter storms, stating in a press release that "it does not use the name of winter storms in its products."^[23][24][25]

There is really so much more to it than that! This doesn't mention why TWC chose to name the storms, or what determines when a storm is named. It also hasn't been updated to mention the named storms since Athena.  I decided to update this section as a way to wrap up my discussion on winter storms.  This is what the article looked like after I finished editing it today (9 Feb 2013):

2012–13 naming winter stormsBeginning in the fall of 2012, the Weather Channel has named major winter storms. The decision to start naming notable winter storms came as a way to more easily spread knowledge and raise awareness. By naming winter storms, the public will find it easier to follow storm information, social media will be able to refer to, and discuss the storm, more easily, and people will have an easier time referring to the storm after it occurs. ^[23]

It officially named the nor'easter that hit the East Coast of the United States in November 2012 after the Greek goddess Athena. So far, in the 2012-2013 season, the Weather Channel has named fifteen winter storms: Athena, Brutus, Caesar, Draco, Euclid, Freyr, Gandolf, Helen, Iago, Jove, Khan, Luna, Magnus, Nemo, and Orko. ^[24]

Multiple factors are taken into consideration when deciding whether or not to name a winter storm. This includes, but is not limited to, predicted snowfall and other precipitation, wind speeds, and the timing of the storm. ^[24]

The Weather Channel has provided the reasoning behind why they named some of the storms: Athena ^[25], Brutus ^[26], Gandolf ^[27], Iago ^[28], Khan ^[29], Luna ^[30], Magnus ^[31], and Nemo ^[32].

In response, the National Weather Service announced on November 7, 2012 that it would not recognize the Weather Channel’s name for winter storms, stating in a press release that "it does not use the name of winter storms in its products."^[33][34][35]

I have to say, this was not an easy task! I used the help documents that Wikipedia supplied extensively, and still my citations at the bottom of the article were not perfect. They looked sloppy compared to the other citations. I went back and changed them all using the format that the original links used.  When I hit "Save" my browser timed out and the changes did not go through! I had to go back in, but this time I noticed that in the editing box there are citation templates!! This time I went through and used the templates provided, which was much easier. Now I think my citations look even better than the ones that were already there!

I encourage people to be bold and make corrections and edits to Wikipedia, just be prepared to spend some time on it! We will have to come back at some point and see if my additions stuck! Also, if you see anything that you think I should change, or if there is more information I could include, please leave a comment below. Don't be shy, I welcome the help!

P.S. Check out what a fellow blogger wrote about Winter Storm Nemo in her blog about NYC-Times Square! 

Happy National Weatherperson's Day!

Today, February 5th, marks the birthdate of one of America’s very first weathermen, John Jeffries born 1974. Jim Allsopp, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS Chicago wrote a wonderful article about Jeffries and this special day. 

 

Photo taken from wired.com GeekMom's blog post, check it out!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the weather people out there. Weather forecasters can often take a verbal beating from the public. We can become quite frustrated and even angry when the weather doesn’t turn out as predicted. I often hear people saying that forecasters are always wrong. My response to that is, “you try predicting the weather”. It is easy to dismiss something we don’t fully understand. There are so many factors that play a role in weather, like the jet stream, temperatures of the oceans, high and low pressure areas, etc. and all these factors are ever changing. Scientists have determined different patterns these factors follow and such, but there is always a chance that the weather may do something unexpected, or behave in the manner that was determined as less likely.

But, enough of my rambling; let’s just remember that predicting the weather is not easy and is not going to be an exact science. So, try not to get angry and if there is a slight chance of rain… bring an umbrella!

Let us also remember to thank the meteorologists, climatologists, other scientists, and the people helping them with their research. There have been many strides forward in understanding weather, storms, climate, and so forth, not just here on Earth but also the weather in space like solar storms.

Lastly, thank you to the weather enthusiasts. It is a fascinating topic and there will always be those of us who love it and are fascinated by it.

Thank you to everyone who loves the world we live in and the weather that shapes.

And just remember,      

Whether the weather be fine
Or whether the weather be not.
Whether the weather be cold
Or whether the weather be hot.
We'll weather the weather
Whether we like it or not.

~Anonymous

Other Links to Check Out:

·         13 Things Your TV Weatherman Won't Tell You

·         Weather Fun

·         The Weatherman Is Not a Moron

 

 

The Nor’Easter Ate My Homework!

All of us living on the east coast have experienced many a winter storm.  Some of the worst, or rather many of the worst, we have called a Nor'easter.  But, what exactly is a Nor'easter and why are they so severe?

According to The Weather Channel’s weather.com a Nor'easter is a storm that starts with a large area of low pressure in the Gulf Stream or of the East Coast.  But what is an area of low pressure?

About.com’s Education: Geography page tells us that air pressure refers to how much force is being applied to the surface of the Earth by the weight of the air.  

Wait, what?! The air doesn't have weight!

Actually, it does! 

See, the air is made up of molecules, such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane. These are not always present uniformly, meaning the amount of the different gases can change. They also differ in size from one another and move differently.  These factors combine to give the air weight by changing the temperature and density of the air mass in different areas. The air over Utah may be colder and have more carbon dioxide today, while the air over Tennessee may be warmer and have more nitrogen than carbon dioxide. Therefore, the pressure of the air over Utah will be different than the pressure of the air over Tennessee.

When there are a lot of air particles up there movin' around the pressure increases, and when there aren't a lot of air particles the pressure then decreases.  Check out the 10 minute video below for further explanation:

OK, so that’s easy enough, low pressure means an area of less air particles. But, how does this make a storm? 

Something has to make the area of low pressure and these things are typically warm air and high winds, which sounds to me like the beginning of a storm. Now, there is a lot more to atmospheric pressure, more details and more attributing factors, but this will get us started in understanding a Nor'easter.

So, we are back to our area of low pressure in the Gulf or off the east coast of the Atlantic.  Warm air, high winds, and well, access to a lot of water.  This area of low pressure now starts to travel north, east, or northeast, which could bring it up into any of the states along the east coast, up into Canada, or just out to sea.  The Weather Channel (TWC) tells us that if the storm heads west of coastal cities like Boston or NYC then those areas will end up with rain, but if the storm stays just off the coast and has plenty of water in the clouds and enough cold air to make snow… BAM! Happy snow day children!

So I guess the storm is called a Nor'easter because it happens on the east coast and heads north? 

Well, not exactly.  The storm gets its name because of the northeasterly winds that blow in AHEAD of the storm.  The winds can be very strong, and the storm itself can pack a punch with continued high winds, large amount of snow, sleet, or even freezing rain.

Even though we frequently associate the Nor'easter with winter, it can occur any time of year! These storms have a peak season from September to April and storms occurring then are often stronger than storms at other times.  HowStuffWorks explains that when the low pressure system with its warm air collides with cold air from the Arctic Mass it “fuels” the storm. 

The HowStuffWorks article, written by Laurie L. Dove, brought up another interesting tidbit that I had also planned to mention.  You might have noticed that winter storms now have names! This started with the nor'easter that slammed into an already suffering east coast after Hurricane Sandy.  TWC called the storm Athena, and has continued to name winter storms all season.  According to The Weather Channel, they are naming storms in order to bring attention to them and the danger they cause.  Naming the storms will make them stick out in people’s minds, and make it more difficult to just ignore them.  TWC believes that these storms are dangerous and that people need to understand the dangers and how to protect themselves.  

These are the reasons for naming the storms listed on TWC’s article linked above:

• Naming a storm raises awareness.
• Attaching a name makes it much easier to follow a weather system’s progress.
• A storm with a name takes on a personality all its own, which adds to awareness.
• In today’s social media world, a name makes it much easier to reference in communication.
• A named storm is easier to remember and refer to in the future.

TWC took it upon themselves to create a list of names for the storm:

Take a look at the article for an explanation of each of the chosen names. 

From what I could find online we have had storms up to Magnus, though I could have sworn there was a winter storm Nemo too.  It can be difficult to find information on these storms by name because not everyone is using them. TWC is privately owned and did not receive backing from the National Weather Service to name the storms.  It will be interesting to see if other organizations end up joining in on the naming of the storms, or if TWC channel will have to continue on naming storms by themselves, or if this will end up being the only season with named storms.

Here are the links I used in writing this article and some additional links on the topic:

Cited Links:

• The Weather Channel - Nor'Easters
• About.com - Low and High Pressure
• HowStuffWorks - What's a Nor'Easter?
• TWC - Why TWC is Naming Storms
• TWC - Winter Storm Names for 2012

Additional Links:

• 10 Worst Nor'Easters of All Time
• The Perfect Storm (movie)

Alright, it’s about time to wrap this up.  Hopefully, you now know a little more about Nor'easters. I know I have learned quite a bit myself.  Please check out the pages where I gathered my information from.  They are linked above but I will also include the links again below, along with some other cool sites that are Nor'easter related. 

Please feel free to share any information you have about these storms, or any questions.  I also welcome your stories about the Nor'easters you've experienced!

 

Welcome Weather, How Are You Today?

Let me start off by saying that I am not an expert. I am simply a weather enthusiast.  When a storm is coming you will find me outside taking pictures of the sky and clouds.  I even take pictures of clouds out airplane windows.  My favorite way to relax is to listen to a thunderstorm, and if it’s warm enough, stand outside in the pouring rain.  One of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen was the New England town I grew up in covered in ice after the Ice Storm of ’98.  It also didn't hurt that because of the storm I didn't have school for a week!

 

Taken from the photo library at NH.gov

I hope to cover a wide variety of topics, from storms in the Northeast to tornadoes in Tennessee to the wildfires of Australia. I also want to touch upon climate change and the various opinions.  There will also be some posts about how to mitigate disaster and how to prepare yourself, your family, and your home. 

I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I am going to enjoy writing it.  Please feel free to comment. Add your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Also, ask questions and suggest future blog posts, as I am open to suggestions!