When Weather Becomes Climate

Note: It has been a busy three weeks which included a week of much needed vacation.  Much has happened in the interim.  I am working on a number of posts which will be rolled out in May.

Meanwhile, many people often confuse weather with climate.  You have heard the refrains like it is so cold, how could the earth be warming?  Or how can we be in a drought when we’re having a flood?  Just when does weather become climate?  Good question!  Meteorologists at the European Space Agency have produced an answer to that question.

The following video is about 12 minutes long, but it is well produced and worth the time to view it.  They have a wealth of information with which to determine climate change and it is interesting comparing weather in the early 1800’s to weather today.  I hope you enjoy this production.

Click here: When Weather Becomes Climate

ISS: Double Pass This Weekend

Finally the weather is improving and time to get outside and enjoy spring.  This weekend offers the opportunity to see the International Space Station (ISS) pass over the area twice.  Both passes will be excellent and highly visible without the aid of binoculars.

ISS streaks across the sky.  Image Credit: Andreas Möller.

The first opportunity to see ISS will be Saturday evening.  If you have an unobstructed view of the southwest horizon, you will be able to see it rise immediately beginning at 9:27 p.m.  Most will be able to see ISS by 9:30 p.m. in the southwest moving toward the northeast.  About a minute later it will pass through the constellation Orion.  You might want to try taking a time exposed picture.  It will reach its maximum altitude at 9:32:52 p.m. about two-thirds above the northwest horizon.  However, just 17 seconds later it will move into the earth’s shadow and disappear.  If you are in a dark environment, this can be quite interesting to watch.