Category Archives: Weather & Sky

How Will Birds React To The Eclipse?

Bird Behavior, Books & Events, Weather & Sky
Asleep: mallard and European coot (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
Two birds roosting, mallard and European coot (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

How will birds and animals react to the solar eclipse on Monday, August 21?  Will they act differently during the total eclipse (from Oregon to South Carolina) compared to the partial eclipse here in Pittsburgh? You can help Science answer these questions.

We have anecdotes about animal behavior during solar eclipses but not a lot of scientific data.

People have noticed that birds stop singing, farm animals return to the barn, and night critters wake up.  Are they reacting to totality as if it’s a miniature night?  Or is it something else?

Science doesn’t have answers because the data has been hard to collect.  To reach a conclusion, the scientific method gathers data over and over again under the same conditions.  It’s hard to do for total eclipses because in any one location they occur as much as 400 years apart.

Scientific method diagram (image from Wikimedia Commons)
Scientific method diagram; Knowledge is Gained (image from Wikimedia Commons)

 

But this time will be different. On Monday August 21, thousands — or even millions of us — will collect data on animal behavior before, during, and after the eclipse thanks to the Life Responds: Solar Eclipse 2017 project and the iNaturalist app. The project will analyze our data and repeat the experiment during the next eclipse.

Here’s how you can help.  (Instructions are from the Life Responds: Solar Eclipse 2017 project.  Click the link for more information.)

Before the eclipse. Day(s) ahead of time.

  1. Download the free iNaturalist app to your Android (Google Play) or iPhone (App Store)
  2. Open the app and create an account at iNaturalist.org
  3. Practice using the app. Here are some instructions.
  4. Inside the app, join the Life Responds project
  5. Decide where you’ll be observing the eclipse and know when it’ll be at maximum darkness.

On the Day of the Eclipse:

  1. When you get to your observation site, choose the birds and animals you’ll observe.
  2. Post at least 3 observations of the birds/animals in iNaturalist at the times below. Add anything interesting you notice in the Notes.
    1. 30 minutes before maximum darkness.
    2. During maximum darkness or totality
    3. 30 minutes after maximum darkness.
  3. Make additional observations if you wish.

The cool thing about this project is that you don’t have to be in the path of totality to provide useful data.

Do the birds stop singing at dark and restart when it’s light? (This is a trick question! Few of them sing in August.) Do the chimney swifts dive into chimneys to roost?  Do the squirrels go to bed?  Do the deer come out?  What about your pet?  And if you’re a beekeeper, how are your honeybees?

I’ve downloaded the app and I’m ready.  I sure hope it isn’t cloudy on Monday, August 21!

 

(photo from Wikimedia Commons; click on the image to see the original)

p.s. Observing Machines:  If you’re in a city in the path of totality, the street lights will come on.  Will they come on in Pittsburgh?

Get Ready For The Solar Eclipse, Aug 21

Books & Events, Weather & Sky
Map of the Total Solar Eclipse on 21 August 2017 (image from NASA)
Map of the Total Solar Eclipse on 21 August 2017 (image from eclipse2017.nasa.gov)

By now I’m sure you’ve heard …

Two weeks from today on 21 August 2017 there will be a total eclipse of the sun across the United States.  The moon will pass between Earth and Sun, casting its shadow on our continent.

In a narrow band 70 miles wide, from Oregon to South Carolina, the sun will disappear completely for about two minutes. Folks eager to witness the total eclipse have made plans to visit sites in its path including Nashville, TN and Charleston, SC.

Pittsburgh will see only a partial eclipse but there will be plenty to watch. The moon will move across the sun from 1:10p to 3:55p with maximum coverage resembling the crescent below at 2:35p.  Don’t watch without special glasses and, for your scope and camera, special filters!  See below.

Mockup of partial eclipse at maximum as it will be seen in Pittsburgh on21 Aug 2017 (image from Wikimedia Commons)
Mockup of partial eclipse at maximum as it will be seen in Pittsburgh on 21 Aug 2017 (image from Wikimedia Commons)

Where to watch the eclipse in Pittsburgh, 21 August 2017 … some of the many locations.

  • On your computer: See the entire eclipse from coast to coast on NASA’s Eclipse Live Stream. The shadow begins in Oregon at 9:04a PDT (12:04p in Pittsburgh) with totality from 10:16a PDT (1:16p here) to 2:48p in South Carolina.  You don’t need filters to watch online.
  • At Carnegie Science Center: The weather won’t matter at Carnegie Science Center. Outdoors, watch through special solar observation equipment.  Indoors at Buhl Planetarium. Click here for info & directions.
  • Sidewalk Astronomy: Weather permitting 1:30p to 3:00p outside the Staghorn Garden Cafe, 517 Greenfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15207.   John English will set up his scope to project the sun’s image on the wall so you can watch its shadow without looking at it.
  • In your own backyard:  Prepare in advance! Read Eclipse2017: Who, What, Where, When and How and get …

Special solar eclipse glasses, filters or pinhole viewers to watch the solar eclipse.

Don’t risk going blind or damaging your camera or scope by viewing the eclipse without protection! Click here for NASA’s list of safe viewing methods including solar eclipse glasses, pinhole viewers and filters for your equipment + how to use them.

Solar eclipse glasses are inexpensive (only a couple of dollars) at the Carnegie Science Center Gift Shop or online but only buy from reputable vendors listed at American Astronomy Society! Sunglasses and fake glasses won’t protect you.

Here’s an example of the real thing from B&H Photo Video on the reputable vendor list.

Lunt solar eclipse viewing glasses from B&H Photo
Lunt solar eclipse viewing glasses from B&H Photo

I hope it isn’t cloudy on Monday August 21!

 

(photo credits: Click on the images to see the originals. Globe from eclipse2017.nasa.gov. Partial eclipse image from Wikimedia Commons. Lunt solar eclipse glasses from B&H Photo Video)

Gulf Tower Fledge Watch: The Forecast

Books & Events, Weather & Sky

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY!

It doesn’t look good for Gulf Tower Fledge Watch this weekend.  As of this writing I have altered the schedule.

Today, Friday May 26:  yes, I’ll make the attempt AFTER NOON.  See you downtown at 1100 Liberty Avenue after the rain stops.  (It’s pouring now.)  Click here for directions.

Saturday May 27:  no

Rain and thunder forecast, May 26-27, Pittsburgh (mage from weather.gov)
Pittsburgh rain and thunder forecast, 26-27 May 2017 (image as of 26 May from weather.gov with relevant times framed in orange)

 

Sunday, May 28: yes.  The forecast has changed for the better. See you at Flag Plaza.

Monday, May 29, Memorial Day: yes. See you at Flag Plaza.

 

 

(screenshots of the Hourly Weather Forecast for Pittsburgh, PA from weather.gov as of 8am 26 May 2017)

Fewer Mild Weather Days

Climate Change, Weather & Sky
Mild weather during the Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C., 2006 (photo by Andrew Bossi via Wikimedia Commons)
Mild weather during the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., 2006 (photo by Andrew Bossi via Wikimedia Commons)

Ah, the mild days of spring!  You know the days I’m talking about, the ones that are perfect for birding, gardening, picnics and outdoor weddings.  The not-too-hot, not-too-cold, not-too-wet weather that makes you happy to be outdoors.

Unfortunately Pittsburgh will have fewer of them in the future. That’s what scientists from NOAA and Princeton University found out when they studied how the warming climate will affect our pleasant weather.

The loss has begun already though you may not have noticed it. For the last 35 years (1980-2015) earth’s climate has been converting 1 nice day per year into something unpleasant, mostly in Brazil, Africa and the Middle East.

By the end of the century the change will affect us.  The world will lose 10 mild days out of 74 but the loss won’t be evenly distributed.  The tropics will lose even more mild days while Canada, Maine and the Rockies can look forward to a pleasant future.

Here’s what our future looks like on the map.  Notice how the eastern U.S. is light orange indicating a net loss.

Change in Number of Mild Weather Days by 2090 (map from Van der Wiel/ NOAA/ Princeton)
Map showing the change in the annual number of mild days across the globe comparing 1986-2005 to 2081-2100. Areas of blue have increased in mild days. Areas of brown see a decline. (Van der Wiel/ NOAA/ Princeton)

That map shows the annual change but in fact it will vary by season.  For instance, Pittsburgh will gain some mild days in the fall (maybe 15) but lose more than that in the summer (25 to 50).  June-to-August will be hot!

Changes in the number of mild weather days by season by 2090 (map from Van der Wiel/ NOAA/ Princeton)
Changes in the number of mild weather days by season for 2090 (maps from Van der Wiel/ NOAA/ Princeton)

The full report includes details on mild weather in major cities at: Shifting patterns of mild weather in response to projected radiative forcing.

Now, more than ever, mild weather is a gift.  Enjoy it while you can.

 

(photo by Andrew Bossi via Wikimedia Commons; click on the image to see the original.
Climate map screenshots from Shifting patterns of mild weather in response to projected radiative forcing)

(*) “Mild weather” is defined as temperatures between 64 and 86 °F, only a trace of rain (less than 0.04 inches) and low humidity (a dewpoint below 68 °F).

Solstice

Books & Events, Weather & Sky
Winter sunset at Kuznetsk Alatau, South Siberia (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
Winter sunset at Kuznetsk Alatau, South Siberia (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

By the time you read this, the winter solstice will have passed.

The sun paused it’s southward journey today at 5:44 AM Eastern Time and is already moving north.

Soon the days will be getting longer and the birds will begin to sing.

Listen for the song sparrow.  What day will he sing his first song?

 

(photo from Wikimedia Commons. click on the image to see the original)

Variably Icy

Climate Change, Schenley Park, Weather & Sky
Icy path in Schenley Park, Feb 2015 (photo by Kate St. John)
Icy trail in Schenley Park, Feb 2015 (photo by Kate St. John)

Snow, sleet, rain, freezing rain.

From 5 degrees F on Thursday night to 53 degrees with freezing rain today, we’ve had it all.  And there’s more to come.  Tomorrow night will be 15 degrees.

This yo-yo weather reminds me of what we learned during the polar vortex in January 2014:  Climate change is making the jet stream wobble so we get shots of very cold air and then warm air soon after, as shown in drawing(c) below.

Jet stream Rossby waves (graphic from Wikimedia Commons)
Jet stream Rossby waves (graphic from Wikimedia Commons)

 

Be careful today!  It’s variably icy out there.

 

p.s. I’ve used an old photo of ice because it’s too icy to step outside this morning!

(photo by Kate St. John.  Drawing from Wikimedia Commons; click on the image to see the original)

Uh Oh! Blue Light Isn’t Better

Musings & News, Weather & Sky
video embedded from TOMO news on YouTube

16 December 2016

Uh oh!  Blue light, though bright, isn’t better at night.

As cities switch from incandescent or mercury street lights to LEDs they’re saving electricity and money and providing more light.  But brighter isn’t better if it’s blue.

The video above shows how the color temperature of light matters to our eyes and sleep patterns.  Though the video doesn’t mention it, the color also matters to birds and animals.

It’s possible to buy yellow-toned LEDs but blue, because its bright, has been the default choice for city lights.  We didn’t know that color mattered when the world began switching to LEDs and the bulbs have such a long life it’ll be decades before it’s time to replace them.  Meanwhile humans, birds and animals will be coping with the change.

It makes me want to close my eyes.

(credits are in the captions)

p.s. Here’s a really helpful video showing the difference between incandescent, compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs in home use (the A19 screw base).  You’ll also see the inside of an LED bulb. I was surprised to learn it’s a tiny computer.

How We’ll See The Stars Again

Musings & News, Weather & Sky
video embedded from McDonald Observatory on YouTube

2 December 2016

In my blog two weeks ago, the night sky video Lost in Light made me wonder how we’ll ever see the stars again.

Since then I’ve learned that our outdoor lights waste money and energy, disrupt wildlife, and ruin our own sleep patterns.  What we can do?

The video above from McDonald Observatory shows a simple answer.  Use lampshades.

The quick demonstration below shows why.

video embedded from Dark Sky International on YouTube

Right now our cities and towns are switching out incandescent street lights for LEDs.  It’s the perfect time to put on lampshades.    You can shade your home lights, too.

p.s. The color of LED light matters too! Blue light versus red spectrum:  Uh Oh! Blue Light Isn’t Better.

(videos from McDonald Observatory and darksky.org)

We Cannot See The Stars

Weather & Sky

video by Sriram Murali on Vimeo

18 November 2016

Have you ever seen the Milky Way?

That question would have been absurd 200 years ago because billions of stars were visible on every clear night.

But now with the prevalence of artificial outdoor light most of us cannot see the Milky Way and many children don’t know what it is.

Because of this, some ancient stories don’t make sense.  In Genesis Abraham worried that he had no heir but God reassured him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. So many shall your descendants be.”   Today we look at the sky and count 50 stars, not realizing that Abraham saw millions and was overwhelmed.

So what are we missing?  Sriram Murali traveled in California recording time-lapse video of the night sky in places with high light pollution (San Jose) and almost no artificial light (Death Valley).

His video let’s us see the sky as our ancestors did.

Watch the stars come out.

(video by Sriram Murali)