Scoop up a handful of snowflakes and you hold a miniature universe. Scientists believe there are one trillion, trillion, trillion different kinds of snowflakes, all from three basic ingredients; water vapor, ice crystals, and microscopic particles. Each flake begins as…
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In 1951, the International Commission on Snow and Ice, which is now the International Commission on Snow and Ice Hydrology, came up with the aptly-named International Classification System for Solid Precipitation. Many later physicists and meteorologists thought their system was…
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There is no definite answer to the question of how many types of snowflakes there are. Classifying snowflakes is a matter of convention. There is no objective taxonomy; different people have devised different systems of classification for snowflakes, and these…
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A storm surge, quite often, is the most dangerous part of a hurricane. Often it is the most damaging to property and the largest threat to life, according to the National Hurricane Center. During Hurricane Katrina, over 1500 were killed,…
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Hail is one of the three main forms of precipitation, the others being rain and snow. Precipitation of all types is caused as part of the natural water cycle. Water vapor enters the atmosphere by means of evaporation, transpiration and…
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Winter weather is harsh, and homes can take a beating, if they are not protected from the icy cold and wind. Freezing and thawing, wind, and heavy snow can cause expensive damage and energy loss. Insulation is probably the first…
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While there is no clear indicator for weather by the eye, it is possible to recognize an existing potential within a system, especially with clouds. Clouds – as many know through experience – are the one factor that remains consistent…
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When your region’s cold season is approaching, it’s time for the annual ritual of winterizing your home. There’s quite a lot you can do to prepare for winter, and it’s mostly do-it-yourself stuff. Most of the recommended tasks don’t cost…
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Tornadoes are never pleasant and often leave large amounts of devastation in its path. Within the heartland of the United States lies tornado alley, famous for experiencing multiple twisters annually. Although this may be a more vulnerable area, such a natural occurrence can…
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Tornados are the nature’s most violent storms, which can devastate landscapes and take away lives within a couple of seconds. The enormity of some tornados can be beyond imagination and the destructive power of the same is also unpredictable. Thus,…
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