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Capital Weather Gang Archive: Science
The "SuperMoon" and the Japan earthquake
On March 19, the moon's orbit will make its closest approach to Earth in 18 years while at the same time be in full phase. Such a coincidence has been named a "SuperMoon" by astrologer Richard Nolle. As entertainingly chronicled by John Metcalfe over at TBD, Nolle predicts all kinds of weather and natural hazard mayhem, including strong earthquakes, in conjunction with the Supermoon. So the questions that emerge are: 1) Is there any legitimate science linking the Supermoon and extreme natural hazards? and, 2) Did the upcoming Supermoon play a role in this morning's horrific earthquake in Japan?
By
Jason Samenow
| March 11, 2011; 1:45 PM ET |
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Categories:
Environment, Latest, Science
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Image of day: Space station & Discovery overhead
Look quick! According to Frank Roylance at the Baltimore Sun, both the International Space Station and shuttle Discovery - pictured above - will be simultaneously visible this evening between 7:23 and 7:26 p.m.
By
Jason Samenow
| March 8, 2011; 7:00 PM ET |
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Comments (17)
Categories:
Latest, Science
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Should global warming send us to the bunker?
Last Sunday, the Washington Post ran a provocative essay on the front page of the "Outlook" section by climate activist Mike Tidwell, executive director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. In it, Tidwell reveals the lengths to which he is going to prepare himself and his family for what he sees as the now inevitable consequences of climate change. For example, he is stockpiling food, testing guns, and invested in an emergency generator - all in an effort to stave off social unrest that he sees coming down the pike due to climate change-related extreme weather events. The essay is surprising - and completely wrong - in two main respects.
By
Andrew Freedman
| March 7, 2011; 12:30 PM ET |
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Comments (64)
Categories:
Climate Change, Freedman, Latest, Science
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Solar Flare 2011: Aurora alert
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (part of NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS), has issued an alert for an increase in solar activity to moderate levels with a chance for an isolated major solar flare over the next few days. The consequent solar wind, consisting of charged atomic particles, is expected to intersect the upper atmosphere over Polar Regions February 17-19, leading to the possibility of brilliant auroras. Whether or not we will be able to see an aurora locally in the northern sky depends upon several factors.
By
Steve Tracton
| February 17, 2011; 9:40 AM ET |
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Comments (42)
Categories:
Latest, Science, Tracton
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Amazing U.S. snow cover retreat in six days
In a blink of an eye, snow cover extent has diminished from nearly two thirds of the lower 48 states to just not even one third.
By
Jason Samenow
| February 15, 2011; 1:15 PM ET |
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Comments (4)
Categories:
Latest, Science, U.S. Weather
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40 below zero: One coincidence & two oddities
We've just experienced (endured) one of our coldest nights of the season in the mid-Atlantic, but prospects are increasing for a very mild period ahead. As a result, this may be one of my last opportunities this winter to say "How low did it go?" after a very cold night (for the record: Reagan National 22, BWI 13, Dulles 11). According to Infoplease, 27 states, including Maryland (but not Virginia and obviously not D.C.), have seen low temperatures of forty degrees below zero or lower.
By
Don Lipman
| February 11, 2011; 10:15 AM ET |
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Comments (8)
Categories:
Latest, Local Climate, Science
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