Meteorology, Climatology
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ArticleCan a tornado be made out of fire? Yes, although not all atmospheric scientists or fire experts agree on the exact definition and terminology. True fire tornadoes are rare and are always associated with extreme fire behavior. Extreme Fire Behavior.... -
ArticleCan it rain frogs, fish, and other objects? There have been reports of raining frogs and fish dating back to ancient civilization. Of course, it doesn’t “rain” frogs or fish in the sense that it rains water – no one... -
ArticleCan you tell the temperature by listening to the chirping of a cricket? Yes! Life stages of the Mormon cricket: egg, first instar nymph, third instar nymph, and adult female. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The frequency of chirping varies according to temperature.... -
ArticleCan a groundhog's shadow really predict if there will be six more weeks of winter? No, the shadow-observing lore has no scientific basis and will not tell you if there will be six more weeks of winter. However, seeing wild groundhogs out and about during winter months... -
ArticleIs it true that no two snow crystals are alike? The scientific consensus states that the likelihood of two large snow crystals being identical is zero. Winter scenes: Snowflakes. ca. 1920-1950. Theodor Horydczak, photographer. Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress. The... -
ArticleIs the old adage "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailor's warning" ... Within limits, there is truth in this saying. A small coastal freighter plying its way through a placid sea at sunset. Photo by Commander John Bortniak, NOAA Corps (ret). NOAA Photo Library.... -
ArticleWhat causes the sound of thunder? Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the path of a lightning bolt. Monsoon storm producing a forked lightning bolt from the Red Hills Visitors Center at Saguaro... -
ArticleWhat is the origin of the phrase "it's raining cats and dogs?" We don’t know. The phrase might have its roots in Norse mythology, medieval superstitions, the obsolete word catadupe (waterfall), or dead animals in the streets of Britain being picked up by storm... -
ArticleWhy do I see my breath when it's cold outside? Cold air causes the warm moisture in our breath to condense into tiny droplets of water that appear like a small, misty cloud. Airman Keith Miller, 52nd Security Forces Squadron, catches his... -
ArticleWhy is it hot in summer and cold in winter? Because the earth’s axis is tilted. Earth at the beginning of each season. From National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Web site. It is all about the tilt of the...