In most homes, the drain system has a vertical pipe which leads to an outlet on the roof. This pipe is called a "vent stack". It allows sewage gases to vent to the air outside your house rather than bubbling up through your sink and toilet, and allows air to pass through the pipes, which ensures that wastewater drains smoothly.

When the wind blows over your house, the air pressure changes because of the "Bernoulli effect". The Bernoulli effect says that pressure becomes lower when flow is faster. It's this effect that sucks loose objects out the car window when you open it while driving; it also creates the lift that allows an airplane to fly. As the wind blows over your house, the Bernoulli effect lowers the pressure at the top of the vent stack. This creates a slight suction throughout the plumbing system, which pulls against the water sitting in the trap in the toilet bowl. As the wind strengthens and weakens, it produces more or less suction, which causes the water in the bowl to slosh.

Recent weather woes in China: could there be any link to weather modification?



China has engaged in weather modification in the past, and has more recently undertaken efforts to control the weather for the Beijing Olympics.

Australia's warning regarding travel to Canada.

There is an upcoming conference (Atlantic Climate Change 2008: Risks, Responses and Tools for Action) that some of you might be interested in attending. I am not sure what the cost would be for students, however. Click here to find out where you can get more information.

Also on the topic of Climate Change, there is a new book out that is getting rave reviews. Although I haven't seen it myself, I think it might be worth a look.

There will be a lecture today, as the University remains open. If you can not make it due to bad roads or questionable traveling conditions, that's fine: I will be posting the lecture on the p:drive later today and you should speak with someone who is there or talk to me. We will be discussing weather forecasting and weather maps today.

This system will be a bit of a nightmare to forecast in terms of precipitation totals. Environment Canada has issued a weather warning for snow (10-15 cm) and then turning to rain in the morning (with likely freezing rain in the cross over). Accuweather is forecasting 8-10 cm before the turn to rain. In the meantime, it is going to be one extremely windy night tonight, with wind gusts possibly surpassing 100 km/hr. I'll be posting a few more graphics on this storm system later this evening.

Your questions fell into one of the following categories:

1. The Science:
"Climate change is a natural event: how much are we speeding it up?" (x2)

"How [will] other factors affect the level of temperature increase caused by CO2 emissions (i.e. water vapour, ocean currents, human action, ice melt).

"What will the specific impacts be on places such as the Maritimes or Nova Scotia if global climate change is occurring?"

"What data should we believe? When both sides have scientific data (i.e. net gain or loss of our cryosphere), especially when each source is a credible scholar?"

"Do [scientists] believe that GCC would not be occurring at all if humans weren't contributing [so much CO2]?

2. Preparedness and mitigation:
"Are people planning ahead for disasters?"

"What measures can be taken to implement climate change [reduction programs] for various governments to adopt?"

"What can individuals do to reduce the negative impacts?"

"If most of the actions to help stop climate change are small and minor, why is there so much resistance to do them?"

"How much can we really do to stop global warming/ climate change? Maybe we can slow it down some, but could it ever be really stopped?

"How can the biggest pollution contributors be targeted on an international level?"

3. Philosophical:
"Is concern about climate change a 1st world luxury?"

"Does it matter if GCC is "real" or if it is human caused? The issues associated with GCC are air pollution, water pollution and scarcity, social justice, overpopulation, disease, etc. These issues need to be resolved if the human race wants to continue."

4. Societal motivation to act:
"What is the one big thing or event that will really get the public moving toward a positive change? Is there anything that can really motivate people to change?"

"How can we convince people to do what's best for our homes, the Earth, without a catastrophe? Why are people unwilling to do anything unless they are reacting to a disaster?"

"If the cleaner technology is available, why is it not being used more?"

What do you think?...

So it is going to get warmer later tomorrow (not that I am complaining: I really prefer these freezing temperatures to a heat wave, that's for sure!).

Halifax Metro and Halifax County West5:32 PM AST Friday 18 January 2008Wind warning forHalifax Metro and Halifax County West issued Wind gusts to 100 km/h are forecast for the above regions for this evening.This is a warning that potentially damaging winds are occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.Strong southeast winds have developed ahead of a rapidly intensifying low pressure system in New Brunswick. Wind gusts to 100 km/h are forecast from Halifax county eastward to Cape Breton Island. The winds will diminish early this evening in Halifax county and by midnight in Cape Breton.In addition..Southeast winds..Les Suetes will gust up to 130 km/h in the Margaree Harbour to Bay St Lawrence area this evening before diminishing towards midnight.

Watch it here.

The forecast models are indicating that the system that will eventually impact us will stall around Cape Cod, and then move quickly past Nova Scotia. If this is true, then we would expect a delayed start to the snow tomorrow (perhaps beginning mid-afternoon) and less accumulation that originally thought. If we are to believe this graphic, we might expect 8 cm. Time will tell...

In the last post I spoke about Monday's impending storm and the fact that it will be a result of a classic "nor'easter". I received an e-mail asking what a nor'easter is. The following sites provide some reading for those of you who want to learn a little bit about the kind of storm system that will be moving through Halifax on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

The Weather Channel: Storm Encyclopedia

How Stuff Works...the Nor'Easter

Storm-E: Weather simulation

Environment Canada: Severe Winter Weather

An article about Nor'easters

Just don't go out in one like these fools!....

The medium-range weather models are indicating that Nova Scotia might be the target for a pretty significant "nor'easter" in the early part of next week. If we are to believe what the models presently indicate, then we might expect a snowstorm starting to move through the Halifax area by mid-day on Monday and lasting through Tuesday. I'll keep you posted!

Some long range models are indicating a return to cross-polar flow into eastern Canada after the 20th of January, which would mean the the gates to the Arctic air would be re-opened once again.

Can be accessed here.

This blog will temporarily be the host for GEOG 3343 (Weather and Climate). Welcome!