The weather might be the single most common topic of conversation. That’s because if there’s one thing everyone suffers through and enjoys together, it’s the weather.
We talk about the weather because it affects our daily mood—and because it’s so difficult to predict. From memorable rhymes like, “Red sky at morning, sailors take warning, red sky at night, sailors delight,” to advanced computer-modeling systems, people have been searching for a more perfect method of predicting the weather since the beginning of time.
Today, with concerns about global warming and an increasing number of extreme weather events throughout the world, the topic of the weather and how to predict it has found itself in the spotlight. In this series of posts, we’ll explore some of the most relevant and interesting aspects of weather prediction. They include:
- Weather Forecasting: Art or Science?: In this post, you’ll learn how everyone from ancient Greeks to modern scientists attempted to predict the weather throughout the years.
- The Limitations of Weather Forecasting: Who hasn’t been thrown off by a forecast that misses the mark? In this post, we’ll look at why the forecast can be wrong in the face of so much technology and to what degree this advanced science is still an art.
- What About The Old Farmer’s Almanac?: As the oldest continually published periodical in North America, The Old Farmer’s Almanac is a yearly treasure trove of astrological tips, gardening advice, tide tables, planting schedules and, of course, weather forecasts. We’ll take a look at the role this longstanding publication has had in predicting weather patterns and whether or not modern forecasters think it has any credence.
- Making Sense of El Niño and La Niña: Like two mischievous siblings, these two weather systems are notorious for causing confusing weather patterns. Learn more about them and gain some insights into how they’re playing out this year.
If you’ve ever wondered why some years it’s warm in December instead of cold or if you’ve ever been frustrated by a forecast that misses the mark by a long shot, these posts will provide a fun and fascinating look into all things weather related. Let’s get started.