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Catching Up With the Weather
| Article
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12662 |
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Section : |
NATURAL SCIENCE
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| Issue
Date : |
6 / 1987 |
3,725 Words |
| Author
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Joanne Heckman
Joanne Heckman is a free-lance writer who lives in Washington,
D.C., and specializes in aerospace. |
The sky darkens. Angry winds sweep in from the sea, driving torrential rains that inundate coastal regions and only dissipate far inland. The storm uproots old trees, lifts off roofs, and sends a forsaken deck chair crashing through a window. Overhead electric wires have fallen into the street, threatening instantaneous electrocution.
Another sectional hurricane is striking the U.S. Gulf Coast. Earlier in this century, they often took a heavy toll in lives and property. Their severity has not abated, but death and major destruction are much rarer nowadays.
While precautions have been taken - modern building codes in hurricane-prone regions, for example, require storm-resistant construction - an important reason for the reduction in casualties is the improvement in weather forecasts. These make possible timely warnings so that residents can prepare and protect themselves. Where once the storms surprised an unwary population, they now arrive well announced.
The first part of the old adage - that everyone talks about the weather - may still hold true. But the second part - that no one does anything about the weather - is not quite accurate. There still are no ways to alter weather conditions, but major improvements have been made and are continuing in the tools and techniques for more dependable long- and short-term predictions.
The U.S. National Weather Service boasts that no storm anywhere on the earth goes by undetected. Modern instruments and techniques almost always detect embryo storms while they are still forming. Storm alerts are sounded in threatened regions well before the storm strikes there.
Global human and economic benefits are enormous. Sea, air, and ground transportation have become safer; millions of dollars are saved in fuel and man-hours through rerouting of traffic to avoid severely inclement weather; and farmers can better plan times for planting and harvesting, which pays off in lower food costs for everyone.
Indeed, weather conditions have an impact directly or indirectly on nearly everything we do. It can delay a space launch, postpone a parade or outdoor sports event, and disrupt construction and road repairs. Weather conditions affect vacations and tourism and may increase absenteeism and sick leave.
The National
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