A Natural Map of Canopy Gaps
Gaps in the canopy can be a real blessing, especially when navigating under dense coniferous woodland. You might also enjoy: The Beginner’s Guide to Natural…
Tag: snow
What Caused These Patterns in the Snow?
Study the photo above, taken in Finnish Lapland, and see if you can work out how these patterns in the snow formed. For the answer,…
In Nature, Everything is a Compass!
Nothing in nature is symmetrical. When we stop to ask ourselves what causes the asymmetries we find outdoors, suddenly everything we see becomes a compass.…
How Do Trees Know When It’s Spring
How Do Trees Know When It’s Spring? Broadleaf trees have to work out the best time to come into leaf each year, they need to…
Big Snowflakes Mean Mild Air
Really large snowflakes can only form when the edges of smaller snowflakes are still sticky and liquid. This happens when snowflakes pass through air that…
Natural Navigation using Snow on Trees
In winter there are lots of new clues formed by the snow, including the strips of snow we find on the windward side of trees.…
The Temperature Rises Before Snow Arrives
The temperature often rises just before it snows, but why? When it is very cold in winter, we instinctively feel that snow is likely. It…
Ice Wall in Finland
I’ve just received another fascinating email from ‘Chris in Finland’: I took this photo a few days ago on Lake Näsijärvi, Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland. This…
Snow Signs in Finland
My thanks to Chris, who writes with some very interesting observations from the Kangasala region of Finland: “In the first picture (above), if you look…
The Case of the Lost Flamingo
Have a good study of the picture above. Something looks out of place, but what is it? It is tempting to think that this snowy…
Snow that Survives
There is plenty of snow on this tree stump, but very little nearby, why? The stump means that the tree that was once there has…
Sign of a Barefoot Runner
My thanks to Tim Crook for his very interesting emails and for permission to share here. Hi Tristan You suggested getting in touch if we…
The Foehn Fish
Another very interesting email from Prof. Otta Wenskus: Hi Tristan, I just read your paragraph on altocumulus lenticularis. Sadly, while Ifind them beautiful, my feelings…
The Warm Sign
The temperature climbed 5 degrees just before the snow started. I describe how this snow warning works – the ‘Warm Sign’ – in Chapter 9…
Using Snow and Snow Shadows to Navigate
We can navigate using both snow and the absence of snow, zones known as ‘snow shadows’. There are two types of snow shadow, those caused…
Which Way Are We Looking?
Which direction are we looking in the picture above? Spoiler alert… answer next… Answer: 1 Point for W. 2 Points for WNW. The snow has…
Snow Tells Tales About Trails
There are many different kinds of snow, as the Inuit know only too well. You are probably familiar with how easy it is to track…
“Gorse is out of bloom, when kissing’s out of fashion”
There was heavy snow in the early hours of Sunday morning. We didn’t need any more encouragement. The Gooley family set off for an explore…
The Secret World of Weather
How to Read Signs in Every Cloud, Breeze, Hill, Street, Plant, Animal, and Dewdrop The weather changes as we walk around a tree or turn…
Avalanche Warning Signs
In some areas niche expertise is vital, literally. The signs that warn of avalanches can be life-saving. Nik Huggins spoke to Alan Halewood (pictured) for…
Nieves Penitentes – A Rare Snow Compass
Nieves penitentes are an unusual snow formation, found only in dry air at high altitudes in areas exposed to intense sunlight. In the right conditions…