Spring has sprung!

fatlazyless · 04-03-2008, 08:14 AM

Hey, today's www.unionleader.com has an article from the old Channel Seven weather guy, Fred Ward, who has a phd in meteorology from MIT, that says that the winter average temps for the last ten years have gotten colder. It's a detailed scientific type of an article.

So, where do I go to get a 'Think c

ld!' bumper sticker?

phoenix · 04-03-2008, 04:36 PM

so is this Global " Warming"

KonaChick · 04-03-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenix

so is this Global " Warming"

It actually is..there was more water content in the snow thus indicating warmer than normal winter temps.

ITD · 04-04-2008, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KonaChick

It actually is..there was more water content in the snow thus indicating warmer than normal winter temps.

That's pretty funny.

hilltopper · 04-04-2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KonaChick

It actually is..there was more water content in the snow thus indicating warmer than normal winter temps.

Tipper, is that you?

Weirs guy · 04-04-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KonaChick

It actually is..there was more water content in the snow thus indicating warmer than normal winter temps.

Last season when we had less snow but it was colder was an indication of?

CanisLupusArctos · 04-04-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

Last season when we had less snow but it was colder was an indication of?

Arctic cold air.

As we all know in summer, the warmer air gets, the more humidity (moisture) it can hold. Extremely cold air has a very low capacity for moisture. When it is "in control" as it was last winter, it's usually pretty dry. Any snow we get is also usually pretty dry. In order to have snow you need warm air trying to move in... this brings the necessary moisture. Since the cold air can't hold the new moisture it falls out of the air (precipitates) as snow. If the arctic cold air is well-established over a large area like it was last winter, it tends to deflect other weather systems and air masses because it's heavy, dense air that doesn't move easily.

KonaChick · 04-04-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanisLupusArctos

Arctic cold air.

As we all know in summer, the warmer air gets, the more humidity (moisture) it can hold. Extremely cold air has a very low capacity for moisture. When it is "in control" as it was last winter, it's usually pretty dry. Any snow we get is also usually pretty dry. In order to have snow you need warm air trying to move in... this brings the necessary moisture. Since the cold air can't hold the new moisture it falls out of the air (precipitates) as snow. If the arctic cold air is well-established over a large area like it was last winter, it tends to deflect other weather systems and air masses because it's heavy, dense air that doesn't move easily.

thank-you

ITD · 04-04-2008, 01:04 PM

CLA, thanks for your reasoned well thought out and balanced response to a topic that can and has spiraled out of control here before. I enjoy your posts, your web cam and your weather info. I also enjoy sailing by your cam many, many times during the summer, let's hope for good sailing weather, warm would be nice too.

Rose · 04-04-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

Last season when we had less snow but it was colder was an indication of?

One season does not a climate make.

Oh my God, I sound like Yoda.

CanisLupusArctos · 04-04-2008, 03:29 PM

Rose, I love your response! It doesn't have to be Yoda... I could imagine such words spoken by the kind of Karate master no one can overcome.

To add to what Rose said, even a lifetime is usually not long enough to tell if a climate is changing. The climate has varied a lot over several thousand years, and even within the last 500 years it's gone through cycles. This is what makes it so hard to prove "what caused the most recent global warming and is it going to continue?" If we caused it, then the answer is yes. If we didn't, then we need to find the cause and figure out what it plans to do next.

ITD, thank you. My cam's viewers (the ones that email) like it when you and other people ride past in sailboats. They say that seeing a sailboat in the view is pleasantly distracting while they are at work... so think of yourself as indirectly lowering workplace productivity as you sail back and forth in my cam and the other lake cams that distract people at work.

Getting back to the "spring has sprung" theme....

1) Today's weathermap has a classic spring pattern of severe weather across the south (warm air surging north from the Gulf) and clashing with cold air further north (lots of heavy rain and snow up and down the east coast.) Today's snow was normal spring weather here in NH... part of the back-and-forth battle that started in the last few days. The battle will continue with spits of snow alternating with 50+ temps. Eventually this battle will give way to sunny and 80 degrees... just a question of how soon.

2) Moths are outside now.. just a few... and I saw the first few flies yesterday. Lots of spring bird species now. About 2 weeks ago I saw the first robin while driving through Madbury.

3) Wanna get rid of the snow in your yard? I just stumbled on a solution. I had reason to walk through the yard and found my feet "post-holing" through the crust into the deep snow every few steps. Now in the areas of the snow that I stomped down and loosened (with my feet) the sun has melted them down to bare ground. The snow that still has its crust is holding on. So... if you want to get rid of your snow faster, I say you should go out and start stomping it and kicking it around, loosening it up. Do a dance on it, get friends to join. Maybe have a snow-stomping BBQ, have a volleyball game on it... make a fun day of it. Break up the top crust and the sun will melt the granular stuff underneath.

codeman671 · 04-04-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanisLupusArctos

2) Moths are outside now.. just a few... and I saw the first few flies yesterday. Lots of spring bird species now. About 2 weeks ago I saw the first robin while driving through Madbury.

We are already getting ticks on the dogs in Dover. I have pulled off 5 this week. I was unpleasantly surprised.

'Tis the season...

Rose · 04-04-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

We are already getting ticks on the dogs in Dover. I have pulled off 5 this week. I was unpleasantly surprised.

'Tis the season...

It's amazing how early those things come out and how late they hang around even when you don't think the weather would allow. I've learned to start with the Advantix in March and continue applying through November. My dog did have a weak positive test for Lyme's years ago, so I'm extra cautious.

04-03-2008, 08:14 AM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,746 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	Hey, today's www.unionleader.com has an article from the old Channel Seven weather guy, Fred Ward, who has a phd in meteorology from MIT, that says that the winter average temps for the last ten years have gotten colder. It's a detailed scientific type of an article. So, where do I go to get a 'Think cld!' bumper sticker? __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

04-03-2008, 04:36 PM	#2
phoenix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: phoenix and moultonboro Posts: 1,551 Thanks: 60 Thanked 275 Times in 193 Posts	so is this Global " Warming" __________________ it's tough to make predictions specially about the future

04-04-2008, 01:04 PM	#9
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,927 Thanks: 476 Thanked 691 Times in 387 Posts	CLA, thanks for your reasoned well thought out and balanced response to a topic that can and has spiraled out of control here before. I enjoy your posts, your web cam and your weather info. I also enjoy sailing by your cam many, many times during the summer, let's hope for good sailing weather, warm would be nice too.

04-04-2008, 03:29 PM	#11
CanisLupusArctos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 15 Thanked 472 Times in 107 Posts	Rose, I love your response! It doesn't have to be Yoda... I could imagine such words spoken by the kind of Karate master no one can overcome. To add to what Rose said, even a lifetime is usually not long enough to tell if a climate is changing. The climate has varied a lot over several thousand years, and even within the last 500 years it's gone through cycles. This is what makes it so hard to prove "what caused the most recent global warming and is it going to continue?" If we caused it, then the answer is yes. If we didn't, then we need to find the cause and figure out what it plans to do next. ITD, thank you. My cam's viewers (the ones that email) like it when you and other people ride past in sailboats. They say that seeing a sailboat in the view is pleasantly distracting while they are at work... so think of yourself as indirectly lowering workplace productivity as you sail back and forth in my cam and the other lake cams that distract people at work. Getting back to the "spring has sprung" theme.... 1) Today's weathermap has a classic spring pattern of severe weather across the south (warm air surging north from the Gulf) and clashing with cold air further north (lots of heavy rain and snow up and down the east coast.) Today's snow was normal spring weather here in NH... part of the back-and-forth battle that started in the last few days. The battle will continue with spits of snow alternating with 50+ temps. Eventually this battle will give way to sunny and 80 degrees... just a question of how soon. 2) Moths are outside now.. just a few... and I saw the first few flies yesterday. Lots of spring bird species now. About 2 weeks ago I saw the first robin while driving through Madbury. 3) Wanna get rid of the snow in your yard? I just stumbled on a solution. I had reason to walk through the yard and found my feet "post-holing" through the crust into the deep snow every few steps. Now in the areas of the snow that I stomped down and loosened (with my feet) the sun has melted them down to bare ground. The snow that still has its crust is holding on. So... if you want to get rid of your snow faster, I say you should go out and start stomping it and kicking it around, loosening it up. Do a dance on it, get friends to join. Maybe have a snow-stomping BBQ, have a volleyball game on it... make a fun day of it. Break up the top crust and the sun will melt the granular stuff underneath.