ALL-SKATE THURSDAY (7/15)
Written by: Brian Neudorff
It's been over a month since I've done an All-Skate Thursday. If you're new to the all-skate format it's pretty easy to participate. This is your chance to ask any weather or earth-science related question, (I almost put ask any question but that could get dangerous) and we will do our best to answer it. Scott is on vacation this week so he may not respond right away and I will answer questions that come in before 1pm. We try to answer all the questions, some we can answer right away, some we have to do a little research and others we may save for potential blog posts. Let's hear from you. I hope you are enjoying the hot summer weather.
ok so my question is do u think that this year hurricane season going to be a active?? because so far we have had one name storm is that normal for this time of year??
ReplyDeleteWhat causes the variations in temperature on a very micro scale? For example, when walking through a field, one can hit a small pocket of air that feels significantly warmer or cooler.
ReplyDeleteTo the first post, the hurricane season doesn't usually pick up steam until August or even September. Hurricane activity can ramp up very quickly in a short period of time. We have had some VERY active seasons that were quiet right through July and the first half of August - and then the parade of storms began. Also, we're especially concerned this year about the disturbances that will come off Africa and west. Again, hurricanes originating from Africa don't usually occur until around August.
ReplyDeleteTo the second post: In a field, it has to do with areas where the air is more moist - Whether from a patch where the soil is holding and evaporating more moisture, or a patch of vegetation that is giving somewhat more moisture. It traps the heat and moisture, making it feel extra warm through a higher dewpoint and heat index. Then once you pass through that patch of trapped heat and moisture, you walk through a more "ventilated" area, where the air feels more fresh, and thus cooler. Also, drier soil in a field can make the air feel hotter if it is heated from the sun, similar, but not to the same extent, as walking on hot pavement on a hot summer day.
DK
First of all thanks DK for answering these questions. I didn't see these post in my email until after I finished my day and checked my email right before I headed to bed at 7pm last night.
ReplyDeleteAlthough DK answered these questions I figured someone from our weather department would also take a stab at answering these.
The statistical peak of hurricane season is Sept. 10th you can see that here on this graph. (click here) This is very normal, even for an expected active year like this one is supposed to be.
DK points are good and are part of why you feel that but there are other factor that play a role. The field doesn't heat up uniformly, you are going to have areas the are hotter than others and this causes air to move around the field and also begin to converge (come together) in spots. Where these areas converge you can start to form warm air thermal pockets so when you walk through the field you can walk into one of these thermal pockets and notice an increase in heat and moisture.
Thanks, Brian. Are these themal pockets sort of like how bubbles pop up in a boiling pot of hot water, or am i way off?
ReplyDelete