Updraft: February 26, 2008 Archive

Loud & smoggy

Posted at 7:11 AM on February 26, 2008 by Paul Huttner

I had a couple of people ask me recently if different weather conditions can affect sound. The answer is yes!

The same temperature inversions that trap pollutants near the ground can refract or bend sound waves in the atmosphere. So that train you hear in the distance may sound closer when a temperature inversion is present several thousand feet above the ground.

Temperature inversions occur when a warm layer slides in over a cold layer near the ground. The atmosphere usually cools with height above ground level. Air of different temperature also has different density. As sound waves travel through the air, they move faster in the warmer air, bending them and allowing them to travel faster.

Refraction of sound waves

A fresh northwest wind is cooling us off a bit, and also improving our air quality. Colder iar is moving in, but you have to go way north to near the Arctic Circle to find any really nasty sub-zero stuff.

A few flurries may fly this afternoon, and a clipper may bring 1 to 3 inches Thursday into Friday.

Look for the 30's to return this weekend!

PH

Risky business

Posted at 1:17 PM on February 26, 2008 by Craig Edwards

On occasion, dealing with the whims of nature is indeed risky business. I’m not sure which is more wearisome trying to predict the weather or having an income that is closely aligned with an uncontrolled chaotic environment.

My west metro snow plow associate is having attacks of restlessness as he watches the Weather Channel cover snow storms from Kansas through Ohio to Upstate New York. Snow has been tantalizing close to the Twin Cities the past two months. Recently, I suggested he contact the overworked highway department workers in Madison, who surely need a break from the record snowfall.

Less than a quarter inch of liquid precipitation has fallen since January 1st on parts of west central Minnesota. It would not be a stretch to categorize this as a mid winter drought. Thus, we are cautious about getting our hopes up too high for a snow event on Thursday. At some point, you just have to let go of the past and focus on the future. Let’s see if nature can stir up some business for those who earn an income removing snow from roadways, parking lots and driveways.

Check out the latest thinking from the experts on snow forecasting.
Snowfall probability potential
CE