Atmospheric Circulation & Weather Systems - Chapter 10 Geography NCERT C...

How to Explain El Niño

Advisory/Reminder

Thus far, all of the videos on this and my other blog are from YouTube and other external sources.  [When I get over my stage fright, I plan to do a few short videos on selected subjects.]

On the other hand, most of the digital images are mine (even if unlabeled) or from friends, usually cited with "xxxx@georgiascience.com".  In the rare event I borrow a photo from another source, I will tell you.

As for consistency issues - in font sizes and paragraph spacings - I am seeking to counter them.  When I originally started blogging - on a now-retired blog - in early 2005  I was more attuned to the methods and formats of this particular platform.  I was able to "make some sense" of the "HTML code" at the time.  After a few years of blogging, I became largely inactive for a few years and format changes "left me behind".  Now I am trying to get caught up.  

IOW, when confronted with these inconsistencies, I burrow into the HTML code to attempt a fix.  The font variations are easy to find, with a little diligence, but the spacing-codes (or whatever they call them) are harder to find and fix than they used to be.

Thanks for your patience.

A Purpose in Posting the Weather Videos - Part 1

Number 1: For a change of pace.
Number 2: To provide a hint as to the complexities of weather processes, including El Niño/La Niña Cycles.
Number 3: After watching these videos (and hopefully taking notes), you will probably know more about Weather than the average politician and/or media talkinghead.

Especially yesterday's video (Paul Beckwith), which was - for me - a refreshing change from the computer-generated graphics.  (Pardon my bias.) 

Previous postings on Weather and Climate on this blog (before this "series" informally began on January 24, 2020) include:

12/24/19 - Flash Flood video
12/19/19 - Wind Erosion and Arid Climate Landforms post
12/18/19 - Eolian Processes video
12/17/19 - The Jet Stream and Weather video
12/02/19 - Big Bend National Park video

12/02/19 - Chihuahuan Desert video
12/01/19 - Atmospheric Processes and Deserts post
12/01/19 - Global Wind Circulation - Part 3 video
12/01/19 - Global Wind Circulation - Part 2 video
12/01/19 - Hadley Cells and Deserts video

12/01/19 - Global Wind Circulation - Part 1 video

11/30/19 - Mountain Effects on Climate video
11/30/19 - Rain Shadow Effect video - Part 2
11/30/19 - Rain Shadow Effect video - Part 1
11/20/19 - Johnson Canyon Flash Flood video

11/03/19 - Chemical and Physical Weathering - Part 2 video
11/02/19 - Chemical and Physical Weathering - Part 1 video
08/03/17 - What is a Micro-Climate - Part 1 post (Part 2 got put on the "back burner", will attempt to revisit soon.)

On my other blog "Itinerant Geologist", there are a few Weather and Climate posts.  As that blog is intended to be more about travels (my past travels, hoped-for future travels, and travels of other people), long-term Climate and its natural changes are important processes in the formation of the fascinating features seen on the videos and in the posts, though they may not specifically be mentioned.

A few Itinerant Geologist posts: 

12/23/19 - Flash Flood, Farmington, NM video 
12/22/19 - Escape From Zion Narrows Flash Flood video
12/21/19 - Northern Arizona Flash Floods video
12/21/19 - Zion National Park Flash Flood video
12/19/19 - Loess video and post

Some of the early-December and late-November videos are the same as posted above, about Atmospheric circulation and such.

[There are other posts and videos that are Climate-related on both blogs.]

[Advisory: At times in some of these videos, political views can creep in.  As I favor a "free and open" discussion of scientific views (including diverse, sometimes unorthodox opinions), I may personally disagree with some of these opinions.] 

P.S.:  Next time I pause during posting weather videos, I plan to add them to a subsequent post, similar to the above-posted list, to facilitate any search efforts.  That will be Part 2.

Understanding Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

How Does El Niño Affect California?

El Niño and La Niña

El Niño - What is it?

Weather Basics: Clouds and Precipitation

Weather 101: A Tutorial on Cloud Types

All the Cloud Types

What are Cloud Streets? - Part 2

As it takes a certain confluence of conditions to cause Cloud Streets, you don't see them often, at least in the North Metro Atlanta area.

What are Cloud Streets? - Part 1

A follow-up to yesterday's post on Cloud Streets.

What is a Derecho?

A "Derecho" is an active weather event that remains coherent for hundreds of miles (and dozens of hours).  This particular one was from 2012.

Here is a National Weather Service description of a Derecho.

And here is a description of a 2019 Derecho, from The Weather .

3 cumulonimbus cloud life cycle (timelapse)

Translating Cloud Streets

[Completing a previously started post.]

The above video, being a weather cam, doesn't have any commentary.

One of tomorrow's posts will offer a TV weather forecaster's explanation of how "Cloud Streets" form.

The images below were taken by me (in the NE Metro Atlanta area) on November 4, 2018.

 Figure 1.

 Figure 2.

 Figure 3.

 Figure 4.

Figure 5.

A Pause 'Cause...

Turning 66 yesterday has given me much to contemplate.

Some points of ponderance:

1) I have outlived my Dad.

2) I used to think that as I got older, life would get "easier", as I would have "everything figured out".

3) As I expected to have "everything figured out" and be holding a wealth of "life experiences", finding meaningful full-time employment would have been easier.

4) There are things I can no longer do.

5) There are some things that I still want to do.


(More may be added as the stream-of-delirium allows...)

The Most Important Geological Site in the World

James Hutton : Deep Time

Earth.Parts #15 - Relative age-dating of rocks; sediments, superposition...

Siccar Point - the birthplace of modern geology

As it is my 66th birthday, I decided that it was appropriate to post videos pertaining to Geologic concepts of time, as interpreted by James Hutton. 

There will be more related videos posted today.

45) Relative Age Dating

Principles of Relative Dating 1 - Superposition, Horizontality, Cross-cu...

Law of Superposition

Rock & Fossil Correlation

Geology: Rock Formations and Units

Geology of Franconia Notch

Valley and Ridge Geology

Geoscience Imaging presents a Field Trip checking out the Copper Creek Thrust Sheet, Eastern Tennessee.

Just a Personal Reminder:

I intend to post more of my own commentary and photos when time permits.  Maybe some future videos, too.  On both of my Geology blogs.

Due to family obligations and chores, I usually don't get to sit down at my laptop until 10 PM or so and by then, my energy is flagging.  [With my 66th birthday just a week away, I have a most interesting (and sometimes hectic) life.]  

After being married for almost 31 years, I was widowed about 4 and 1/2 years ago.  I remarried 2 years ago and my 2nd wife and I are the primary caretakers for her 90-year-old Mom.  Though not entirely by choice, I am semi-retired with a couple of small jobs outside the home (both of which fit my need for a flexible schedule).  

My wife's twin sister lives in the basement apartment and when she is not working outside the home, she helps with cooking and other tasks, as well.

Not complaining, but due to our obligations and my wife's Atypical Parkinson's Disease and the effects of a recent car accident (not her fault), blogging is the best way for me to engage in Geology, for right now.  Maybe the Spring will bring about a few rockhounding and photographic opportunities.

[One more consideration:  As I finished Grad School almost 30 years ago and I have been away from almost-daily teaching in a junior college setting for 6 years, I have the need to revisit and refresh (and check for changes in interpretations, too.)  In other words - homework.]

So please keep checking in.  Thanks.

The Grenville Orogeny and rifting of Rodinia, Virginia

Appalachian Tectonics (Part 4)

Appalachian Tectonics (Part 3)

Appalachian Tectonics (Part 2)

Appalachian Tectonics (Part 1)

Assembly of the Appalachians

The Alleghanian Orogeny

The Most Dangerous Road in the United States - U.S. Hwy 550

U.S. Hwy 550, between Durango and Ouray, Colorado is the subject of numerous recent posts on my companion blog, Itinerant Geologist.  Largely as a way of reminiscing travels from 1973, 1977, and 1979.  (The series also includes photos of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, just east of Montrose, Colorado on U.S. Hwy 50.)

1973 was the time of my family's last "family vacation", as in 1974 I went west with my college roommate and my sister was getting ready to go off to college, herself (the family "diaspora").  Our 1973 vacation took us from Durango to Grand Junction and then west into Utah.

1977 was the time of a 10-day field trip after my UTEP Geology Field Camp, where we made a brief visit to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, but we didn't visit the San Juan Volcanic Field (aka San Juan Mts.). 

1979 was the time of my Summer Job in a Fossil Recovery Project in the Bisti Badlands, south of Farmington, NM.  On my days off, I often spent time in the Durango and Silverton area and went back once to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. 

Geology of Virginia 2014

Continuing with the Appalachians theme.

Appalachian Geology: Part 5, Resurrection

The final video of this series.  (With Thanks to WildwoodClaire1, while not agreeing with some of her views and methods.)

Appalachian Geology, Part 4

Part 4 of the 5-part series.

Appalachian Geology, Part 3

Part 3 of the 5-part Appalachian Geology videos, presented by "WildwoodClaire1".  (Any political views are her own.)

Appalachian Geology, Part 2

Part 2 of a 5-part series to open 2020.

Appalachian Geology, Pt 1

Part 1 for a 5-part series, to be presented in the coming days, perhaps interspersed with other posts, as time permits.

Continents Collide: The Appalachians and the Himalayas

More on the Appalachians to come in the next 5 days.

Catastrophic Geology: Megafloods

I enjoy the Geology information from this particular source, so I try to look past her snarky attitudes in regard to particular the views of a particular set of people (that I generally tend to ignore).  [As my Mom said, "If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all."  It doesn't always work, but I try.  In other words, I don't post with any intention of ridiculing anyone (or at least not yet).]  

[This video is from 2011.  Another video (from 2012) addressing the Lake Bidahochi (or Hopi Lake) controversy is here.  In the interest in the dynamic (but sometimes slow) nature of the learning process (aka The Learning Curve), here presented is a 2019 National Geographic video promoting the "Spillover Effect" in regard to Lake Bidahochi.  And here is a 2008 National Geographic video on the "Spillover Theory".]

I am a firm believer in free-and-open scientific debates and the archiving of reasonable (though discounted) views.