Posted on 02/02/2006 9:52:02 AM PST by cogitator
A nice illustration of where it was hot and where it was not last month. Click on the image for the big picture (only 2 MB, so it shouldn't crash a browser).
From the linked article:
"The dramatic difference in January temperatures between the northern halves of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres is revealed in this image of land surface temperature data collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor on NASAs Terra satellite. The image compares the temperatures between January 1-24, 2006, to the average temperatures for that period from 2001-2005. Regions where temperatures were up to 10 degrees Celsius colder (18 degrees Fahrenheit) this year are dark blue, while places where it was 10 degrees Celsius warmer are shown in dark red. Places where temperatures matched the 5-year average are white. Most of the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains are much warmer than the 5-year average, while Eastern Europe, much of Russia, and central Asia are decidedly chillier."
"According to climatologist David Rind of NASAs Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the unusual January 2006 temperatures are linked to the position of the polar jet stream. The polar jet stream is a fast-flowing river of air that whips around the planet at high altitudes at speeds equal to or greater than 50 knots (92.6 kilometers/hour, 57.5 miles/hour). This current of air generally divides cold, polar air, and warmer, mid-latitude air. The jet stream doesn't always stay at the same latitude; it has peaks and valleys in it like a wave. In January 2006, an unusually persistent peak in the latitude of the jet stream across North America often kept polar air from creeping southward into Canada and the United States. In Eastern Europe and Russia meanwhile, a persistent valley kept the jet stream flowing at more southerly latitudes, allowing cold air to dip deeply in the region."
[This doesn't explain why southern Africa and western Australia were particularly cold during the Southern Hemisphere summer.]
Thank You, God, for all blessings, great and small!
Looks like the Republicans took over the east coast to me.
"Australia has a very bipolar temperature distribution."
Just like my wife.
Imperative that everyone buy into dialetical logic.
Eg The existence of evil proves the existence of good. Without evil, it would be impossible for good to exist.
The ying proves the yang.
I'm sure you are glad. You know, I was just thinking about that yesterday. I remember the frantic talk shortly after Katrina and Rita took out so much production about how terrible heating costs would be in the NE this winter. Who'da thunk it back then that the winter would have been so mild (so far). I heard the weather channel say it was in the 40's in Minnesota yesterday. And that was + not -. What's up with that?
Up until three weeks ago we were in a severe drought condition down here in the south, but lately we've gotten several all day nice soaking rains to cut the wildfire threat. We're getting more rain today. It's been a real blessing here as well. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
You have to wonder how they get anything done, being upside down all the time and all. :P
It's proof that licking your finger and sticking it in the air is not a very good measure of determining the global weather state. (I wasn't accusing you of doing that, but it seems that a lot of people think that THEIR weather pretty much summarizes what's happening around the world at any given time.)
This wasn't a particularly notable year for volcanoes. Decent activity in various places, but nothing major.
Well, I sure hope that one month's weirdness is not a clear hallmark of global warming. Several years of weirdness might be.
Lets hope there's not another dry summer for the Midwest. We'll have no hay for the cattle and no fishing for the rest of us! Not to mention the grass fires that are still ongoing.
You reckon that's why they talk so funny? ;o)
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