Summary of the book " The Secret World of Weather" - By Tristan Gooley
Key concepts in this book:
- You'll be able to anticipate the weather better than any meteorologist if you learn to discern local microclimates.
- Clouds are your best friends when it comes to predicting weather patterns.
- Our environment has a big influence on the wind we get.
- Dew, frost, rain, and snow are all meteorological phenomena that are closely related.
- Animals and plants can contribute to our understanding of local meteorological conditions.
- Extreme weather, such as fog, storms, and hail, can teach us vital lessons from a safe distance.
- Different terrain, such as woods, islands, and towns, create their own unique microclimates.
- Hikers, bikers, and wandering spirits
- City dwellers looking to reconnect with nature
- Anyone who doesn't quite trust their weather app!
Have you ever left the house expecting a whole day of sunshine after checking your weather app, only to be wet later?
Because they rarely discuss the weather you really experience, weather forecasts rarely feel accurate. Meteorologists are more interested in studying huge climatic patterns over large areas than in informing you if you need to bring an umbrella. Your weather, on the other hand, occurs on a far smaller scale. It's shaped by the environment around you, which includes everything from buildings and trees to localised winds and rock formations.
The good news is that you can learn to read these patterns.
This summary offer secret and hints that will assist you in making more precise forecasts than any computer-based forecast could.
- Along the way, you'll discover why clouds blow in different directions should scare you.
- Why do prey animals turn their backs to the wind?
- And why summers in the city are so hot.
The storey of how the weather forecast came to be is not a happy one.
Robert FitzRoy, the legendary Royal Navy vice admiral who piloted Charles Darwin's voyage on the Beagle, was appointed to the newly founded Meteorological Office in nineteenth-century Britain. FitzRoy was given the responsibility of formalising earlier, less scientific attempts at weather prediction. He was able to produce more detailed and precise predictions than his contemporaries by collecting daily weather data on land and utilising his own nautical charts. His predictions were dubbed "forecasts" by him.
Many people didn't believe weather predicting was possible, and FitzRoy paid a terrible price for it: whenever his predictions were incorrect, the public ridiculed him so harshly that he became sad. He committed suicide in 1865.
Meteorologists today have far more tools than FitzRoy did. Despite this, we frequently lament the weather forecast's inaccuracy. Is it true that meteorologists aren't very good at what they do? Or, like FitzRoy's detractors, are we holding them to an unattainable standard?
Here's the main point: You'll be able to anticipate the weather better than any meteorologist if you learn to discern local microclimates.
The reason that our own observations frequently contradict the weather report is that meteorologists create predictions on a macro scale, taking into account large weather patterns over large areas. We, on the other hand, are subjected to weather on a micro-scale. For example, in a large metropolis, it may rain in one region but remain entirely dry in another. It all comes down to microclimates.
Our surroundings and its various features – whether trees, buildings, hills, or different types of soil – directly shape microclimates. Microclimates can fluctuate dramatically across just a few metres. Consider the 800-meter-high ridge in the Jura mountains near the French-Swiss border. It's only 50 centimetres wide, yet the climates on both sides are so dissimilar that they've developed two completely separate ecosystems.
You've probably experienced the power of a microclimate if you've ever sought shade under a tree on a hot day. Trees provide more than just a soothing shade in the summer; because to a phenomenon known as the "tree fan," any breeze is amplified around their trunk.
Even the smartest meteorologist with the fastest computer can't properly map microclimates because they have their own set of clues. You must be able to decipher these signs if you want to know what the weather will be like in reality.
And that's where these blinks come in: they'll inspire you to pay attention to the weather indications in your area and show you how to understand them, starting with our fluffy sky friends: clouds.
2. Clouds are your best friends when it comes to predicting weather patterns.
Looking at the sky is generally your first impulse when you want to know what the weather is like - and it's a good one! The three major components of weather are air, water, and temperature, and clouds are the best indication of all three.
Even if you're not a naturalist, you'd be able to spot a large, dark rain cloud looming overhead. But deciphering what Micronesian navigators refer to as "sky speak" is a skill in itself.
Let's start by learning about the three major cloud families. Cirrus, stratus, and cumulus clouds are all diverse types of clouds that tell us different things about current and future meteorological conditions.
The takeaway here is that clouds are your best friends when it comes to predicting weather patterns.
Cirrus clouds are wispy, icy-white strands that resemble feathers, hair, or cotton candy and are found high in the sky. They're sometimes shaped like a comma, with a larger head and following tail. The tail can tell you which way the wind is blowing from above. The stronger the wind becomes as the day progresses. Cirrus clouds that develop longer, thicker, and more numerous are often a precursor to impending poor weather.
Stratus clouds are huge, flat sheets that cover large areas of the sky. These slow-moving clouds indicate a very stable climate. You can be confident that the weather won't change for a while if you have one above you. Unfortunately, this might sometimes result in a whole day of rain.
Cumulus clouds have large bulges and flat bottoms and are fluffy and white. Consider the clouds in The Simpsons' opening sequence. Cumulus clouds occur when warm air rises from the ground due to localised heating. That's why you'll often see them over cities, and especially in the afternoon, when the sun has warmed the ground.
Cumulus clouds are always a warning that the atmosphere isn't fully stable because they form due to localised heating. The more the insecurity, the taller they are. And the more the humidity, the lower they hang. When these two factors come together, severe rain storms are expected to follow shortly.
Other varieties exist, but if you can recognise the big three, you're well on your way to comprehending sky talk. However, if you observe all three cloud kinds at the same time, the atmosphere is unstable, and bad weather is on the way.
3. Our environment has a big influence on the wind we get.
When you start studying clouds, you'll realise how quickly they can move. They even move in separate directions at times.
There are three forms of wind that shape our weather, just as there are three sorts of clouds: ground wind, main wind, and high wind.
The cirrus clouds are moved by the strong wind. It blows so high up that the terrain below has no effect on it. The main wind sweeps over large regions of land, closer to the ground. That's the one they're talking about when they say wind in weather forecasts.
Ground winds, on the other hand, are local winds that are shaped by the terrain they blow across, such as mountains, valleys, buildings, and even small rocks.
The main point here is that the wind we perceive is heavily influenced by our surroundings.
Wind is funnelled, deflected, accelerated, and delayed by the items it comes into contact with. Remember how awesome Blink 1's "tree fan" was? This is an example of ground wind speeding up as it goes through a tree. Many local wind phenomena are distinct enough to have their own moniker. The tramontane, for example, is the wind that blows across the Alps' gaps in northern Italy.
But, first and foremost, where does all this wind originate? When a high pressure air mass – a warm front – collides with a low pressure air mass – a cool front – wind is created. Around high pressure systems, air flows clockwise, and around low pressure systems, air flows counterclockwise. As a result, when the two collide, things get tumultuous.
It's a sign that the air masses surrounding us are shifting when the wind is particularly powerful or changes direction, or when the main wind and the high wind blow in opposite directions. When that happens, the weather will change as well. When the wind swings from south to north, it usually means inclement weather is on the way.
Your surroundings will have their own distinct wind patterns. Compare what you hear on the weather prediction with what you see on the ground as you read them. When a change in the weather is expected, pay attention to the wind immediately before it happens. You may notice over time that when the wind blows from the church to the hill rather than the other way around, it begins to rain a few hours later. You won't need the forecast any longer!
4. Dew, frost, rain, and snow are all meteorological phenomena that are closely related.
Many of us prefer warm, dry weather over cold, wet weather. While we can't control the weather, being aware of when we're about to become chilly or wet might make life a little simpler.
There are numerous varieties of cold and wet weather. You'll learn how to read a handful of them in this blink: dew, frost, rain, and snow.
When the air around you reaches its dew point, dew forms. This is the temperature at which air vapour condenses to become water. The air must be extremely humid and the ground must be extremely cold for this to occur. These are also ideal elements for fog, as we'll discover later, which is why dew and fog are frequently associated.
The main message is that dew, frost, rain, and snow are all weather phenomena that are closely related.
Frost occurs when the temperature is sufficiently low that dew freezes or the moisture in the air freezes immediately. If you go around a landscape, you'll notice that frost thins out behind trees and on higher terrain, and that some plants have more frost than others. This is due to the tiny temperature differences that occur as a result of differing heights, substances, and wind conditions.
When moist air comes into contact with cold ground, dew and frost form. Rain and snow, their cousins, originate when moist air collides with the cold at high altitudes. The bottom of a cloud denotes the point at which the air is chilly enough to reach its dew point.
Rain clouds can be divided into two categories. Cumulonimbus clouds are large, dark cumulus clouds. They produce brief but powerful rain showers that are quite localised. The fact that they are taller than they are wide is their most distinguishing trait. The rain becomes more severe as they grow taller.
Stratonimbus clouds are large, grey clouds that produce rain blankets that can remain for several hours. Broader weather patterns, such as when a warm and cold front collide, shape them.
Snow is caused by the same clouds; all that is required is for the rain drops to freeze and stay frozen as they fall to the ground. The snowflakes become smaller and dryer as the temperature drops, until you have very fine, powdery snow like you see in deep winter.
5. Animals and plants can contribute to our understanding of local meteorological conditions.
Have you heard the old wives' tale that cows lie down before it rains?
Farmers and scientists have attempted to predict the weather by observing animal behaviour for ages.
Unfortunately, the cow storey isn't entirely true. Cows have the freedom to lie down anytime they wish. However, many animals have distinct reactions to the weather and can provide us with a wealth of information for our forecasting.
Spiders spin smaller webs when it's windy, which is one of the most basic and scientifically proven links between animals and weather. Other animals are affected by the wind as well.
The main point is that animals and plants can assist us in completing our image of local climatic conditions.
Horses, for example, prefer to stand with their backs to the wind. It's not because they enjoy a cool wind; it's because their back ends draw attention to their blind spots. They can hear predators approaching better with the wind behind them.
Birds, on the other hand, prefer to face into the wind since it makes taking flight simpler, therefore if they face in different directions during the day, it could indicate that the weather is about to change.
Other small signals about the atmosphere are provided by birds. If they glide freely through the air, for example, the air is stable. However, if they fly high, it usually indicates an unstable environment and can even signal storms.
Let's move on from fauna to flora now. Plants, it turns out, can also help us predict the weather. When it rains or the temperature drops, many flowers, such as dandelions, daisies, and buttercups, close their petals. Plants also provide us with information about the typical meteorological conditions in a certain place. For example, grass stops growing at 5 degrees Celsius and ceases growing at 32 degrees Celsius. So, if you see a lot of long grass, you're in a relatively temperate zone.
You're in a hot and arid area if you see plants with thick, meaty leaves. If the leaves around you are unusually large and pointed, you're in a moist, shady environment, such as the rainforest.
Animals and plants aren't usually the first to notice changes in the weather. We'd be better off gazing at the clouds or listening to the wind for that. However, they can help us complete our image of local microclimates by providing information about usual weather conditions.
6. Extreme weather, such as fog, storms, and hail, can teach us vital lessons from a safe distance.
On a sad December night in 1990, a mass collision on a Tennessee interstate resulted in the deaths of 99 people. A total of twelve individuals were killed, with another fifty injured. Who's to blame? The road was shrouded in a dense, impenetrable fog that looked like a white blanket.
Storms, hail, and yes, even fog, may be fatal, which is why it's critical to recognise their early warning signs. These events also reveal a lot about weather physics.
Fog, for example, occurs when the air becomes too saturated with water to retain any more. Water vapour condenses into small droplets that linger in the air when the ground is especially cold or moist, or when the temperature lowers. They distort light and obscure our view, sometimes to the point where we can't see the route we're on.
What is the most important message? Extreme weather, such as fog, storms, and hail, can teach us vital lessons from a safe distance.
The storm cloud is another awe-inspiring meteorological occurrence.
Storm clouds arise similarly to cumulonimbus clouds, but they grow significantly taller and continue to grow until they reach the tropopause, a natural boundary in our atmosphere where temperature stops falling and begins to rise somewhat - usually between 9 and 17 kilometres above ground. When a storm cloud reaches the tropopause barrier, it expands out beneath it, covering the majority of the sky.
Storm clouds, on the other hand, don't last long: they only last about 90 minutes on average. However, at their most powerful, they have the same amount of energy as an atomic bomb. This energy manifests itself as lightning, thunder, rain, or snow — or all of the above. They can even spawn tornadoes and hurricanes in the correct conditions.
They're also to blame for hail, which occurs when the air in a storm cloud becomes so turbulent that water droplets are lifted to higher heights where they can freeze. A formed hailstone may be lifted numerous times in this manner, growing thicker and heavier with each additional coating of ice. The heaviest ones can weigh up to a kilogramme!
As a result, whenever severe weather threatens, your first reaction should always be to seek refuge. (Those one-kilogram hailstones should suffice!) But if you can, keep a safe distance and observe what's going on to learn a lot about the powerful elements that make up our weather.
7. Different terrain, such as woods, islands, and towns, create their own unique microclimates.
The unique characteristics of our environment shape microclimates. As a result, certain landscapes produce weather patterns that are distinct from others.
Trees, for example, excel at establishing their own climate. In the winter, their distinct sun and wind shadows keep woodland warmer, and in the summer, they keep it cooler. Did you realise, though, that temperature varies even among tree species?
Consider fir trees. They're great at retaining heat under their cover. In the winter, a fir tree can be ten degrees warmer than a bare oak tree.
Some trees are also better umbrellas than others; for example, the many narrow needles of a Norwegian Spruce actually hold water better than other trees' broad leaves. Something to keep in mind the next time you're caught in an unexpected downpour!
The main point is that different landforms, such as forests, islands, and cities, all produce unique microclimates.
Islands, like other places, have their own weather systems. For one thing, because the sea counterbalances warm and cold fronts, they frequently have more temperate temperatures than landlocked locations. The sea takes longer to chill in the winter than the air, acting as a heat battery for the ecosystem. In the summer, it takes longer to warm up and thus cools down the region around it.
For the same reason, islands produce unique clouds. Cumulus clouds form when the wet sea wind meets the heated earth, hanging just above the ground.
Buildings and roads heat up considerably faster than trees, fields, and the earth, therefore cities act as virtual "heat islands" in a similar way. A city might be up to 12 degrees warmer than the countryside in the summer. Cumulus clouds are frequently seen above cities due to this heating effect. The city breeze is created by the localised heating, which also creates its own wind.
Because there are so many flat, smooth surfaces to bounce off, city wind is particularly noticeable. When a powerful wind hits a tall building, it splits into six additional strong winds, one of which is known as "The Monroe Effect" because it bounces off the ground and creates an upwards waft of air capable of lifting skirts! Next time you're near a tall building, see how many others you can spot.
Urban surroundings, like the natural world, have a plethora of weather patterns to explore. It's as simple as tuning into your senses and listening to the hidden language all around you.
The important message in this summary is that our local environment — whether it's a forest, an island, or a metropolis - shapes the weather we experience. Clouds, winds, animals, and plants provide information about local weather patterns and can aid in forecasting future weather trends. With a little prior information and a lot of diligent observation, you can become your own weather forecaster thanks to these blinks.
Advice that can be implemented:
Make an effort to appreciate the beauty of weather.
You may find it difficult to care about all of the small visual features of the sky when you first begin your adventure of nature exploration. For a few minutes, study the sky extremely intently to practise the technique of reading it. Close your eyes and imagine you're describing the sky to a painter buddy who is preparing to begin a painting. If you do this often enough, you'll quickly recognise the sky as a one-of-a-kind work of art.
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