What is a Temperature Inversion?
A temperature inversion occurs when a layer of warmer air traps a layer of cooler air near the surface. Temperature inversions are most common after…
Tag: temperature
Temperature Changes in Woodland
The trees we walk under have a dramatic effect on the temperature we feel. I passed from broadleaf trees to conifers and felt the temperature…
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…
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…
Predicting Animal Behaviour
It is much easier to predict animal behaviour when we learn certain simple patterns. Most animals see the world in terms of basic things like:…
A Big Green Dew Machine
My thanks to Peter Gibbs for this gem of an email: I thought you might like this observation from today. I’ve been working in the…
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…
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!…
Temperature Inversion in Yellowstone
My thanks to George Bumann for sending over this great pic of a temperature inversion in Yellowstone Park. During temperature inversions cool air becomes trapped…
The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs
The ultimate guide to what the land, sun, moon, stars, trees, plants, animals, sky and clouds can reveal – when you know what to look…
When a Low Pressure Goes Through
There have some intense winter low pressure systems barrelling onto UK shores recently, going by the name of Storm Angus. Below are some images that…
Sensing Lots When We Can See Little
Could this photograph of distant trees be the worst one I have taken this year? Maybe not. When the fog descends there is a great…
The Rich Smell of Inversion
Early yesterday morning I was struck by the strong smell of smoke outside. It was not the smell of fresh fire, more the heavy scent…