Whether it be Atmospheric or Not...

Predicting the weather is almost a mystery, but not quite.

It is true that the weathermen are, for the most part, fairly accurate. The truth is, it is an inexact science, in that it is quite difficult to make completely accurate forecasts.

A good starting point is to go over what we DO know.

Atmospheric pressure is a good indicator, and yes, here comes the blessed calculus again, because it is the rate at which it changes that gives us more of a clue as to what will happen.

On many weather charts you see "high" and "low" often with a number under it. So what is this number? Well, the answer is that it is how much the atmosphere is pressing down on the earth, and on us.

The normal number, that is, "normal" atmospheric pressure, the pressure that equals normal blood pressure, is 1016 mb (millibar). The numbers to look out for (in the normal northern hemisphere, in winter) are 990, 980, and, in rare cases, 970, the last being a really low pressure system. Expect typhoons.

For good weather, (in the northern hemisphere, in summer)look out for 1020, 1030, and in rare cases , 1035. Watch out for heat waves.

The key to further understanding in knowing whether the pressure is falling or rising. A "barometer" is an old-fashioned device for measuring this. For the most part, there is a box inside with no air in it. The box's size is determined by how much atmosphere there is above it. The weight of this bends the box and the bending is mechanically transmitted to a needle. To really find out what is happening, lightly tap the glass front. Most times the needle on the dial moves one way or another, indicating "rising" (good weather) or "falling" (bad weather) pressure.

Thermometers in the modern era are made from bimetallic strips. These consist of two different metals welded together to look like a single piece. The metals are chosen to have different expansion rates as the temperature rises. The upshot is that the thing bends the hotter it is. Attached to a needle, this registers the temperature.

Now, there are digital thermometers using temperature sensitive liquid crystals.

The World is divided into several climate "types".

America is classed as "Continental" and is influenced by the fact that the land heats up and cools quickly. Result, (for the interior) is hot summers and cold winters.

Almost the opposite is the Philippines, sometimes classed as "Tropical", and is influenced by the fact that the water all around the islands takes time to heat up and cool down. Result, temperatures are fairly constant all year round and hot. Because of the moist air, Typhoons (US: Hurricanes) are common.

In between, are countries like the UK, which is classed as "Cool Temperate Western Margins", and is influenced by the North Atlantic Drift (warm water) and the Jet Stream. Result, lots of mild rain from the moisture of the Atlantic.

As for Korea, it is similar to America only by virtue of the fact that it attached to China, and the climate here is influenced by the "Continental" climate of that huge land mass, with the added effects of Siberian (cold) winds in Winter, and Asian (warm) winds in the summer. Korea often gets the tail ends of Philippine Typhoons in the summer.

Of course, the tilt of the earth affects these effects also, the more northerly the country, the bigger the effect.

For instance, in England in summer, darkness falls at about 10 pm, and dawn breaks at around 4 am. Latitude is about 55.5 degrees. In Winter, it gets dark at 4 pm, and does not get light until 8.30 am.

In contrast in the Philippines, Latitude from 6-15 degrees, darkness falls at about 6 pm, and dawn breaks at 4 am, with almost no variation all year round.

In Korea, the sky is almost always cloudless blue. In London, if the sky is grey, it will be cold and maybe rainy. In the Philippines, if the sky is grey, it will still be blisteringly hot.

However, there are different kinds of heat. In Korea in summer, it is as hot as the Philippines, but because the air is so dry, the heat comes directly from the sun (it is cooler in the shade). In the Philippines, the heat comes from the air temperature, as the air is humid, often coming from across the sea. Standing in the shade makes no difference at all!

In Los Alamos, elevation 3500 m, the air is so dry that the snow evaporates without melting at all!

The Great Weather Switch

I do believe it has happened again.

The weather has turned from uncomfortably hot to unfashionably cool. In one Swell Floop (watch out, Douglas, and I don't mean of the Babel Fish variety) the ambience has turned from one of balmness to one of barminess.

I am sure there is some sort of Celestial Switch up there. Or at least a climatalogical one (Gates, be it David or Bill, watch out!).

The weather somehow, at this time of year, suddenly changes from high summer to mid-autumn. I mean, here I was, last night, sleeping (yes, I do sleep from time-to-time, as C3PO would say) in my more or less nether garments, and, come this morning (please do!), I had to wear several layers just to wake up "not cold"!

What is it with Korea? I mean, in England, the difference in these types of changes was a matter of months. Here. it seems to be overnight.

It is like someone has just turned the power off with like, erm, a "switch".

For those of you who don't know me, there were eleven allusions in this post. For those who do, twelve.

About my average, I would say!