Reading Ice Patterns and Compasses
Here is a selection of images from a recent dawn exploration of my local hills. I’ve explained how to read these patterns and signs in…
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Finding Direction through Bird Nests in Termite Mounds
A guest blog post from Brazil, by Pedro and Gersony C.Jovchelevich. Termites are insects belonging to the order Isoptera, also known here in Brazil as…
The Fish Cliff Clue
When John Pahl and I were sailing around Iceland, we noticed that you could use the puffins to indicate the direction of land very reliably,…
Winter Sea Cumulus
The clouds always make a map for us. On winter mornings, the cumulus clouds map the sea. A lot more about this and the other…
Winter Solstice in Texas
My thanks to Dan Acosta for this image of winter solstice sunrise yesterday from Corpus Christi, on the coast of Texas. The red arrow shows…
A Merry Tough Christmas Navigation Riddle
This time of year poses some logistical challenges for Santa and his team. Can you help him? Few people realise that in order to be…
5 Sea Colours That Are Easy to See
Every time we look out at the sea there are lots of colours. Our brain tends to mash them all up because it is busy…
Sulphur Tuft – Hypholoma fasciculare
Fungi represent a challenge when it comes to natural compasses. We can use them to make maps quite easily, but they don’t photosynthesise, so their…
Some Observations from Search and Rescue
My thanks to a helicopter pilot for this fascinating email and for permission to share it. And for adding the ‘ptarmigan altimeter’ to my collection!…