HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: korins@pop.cis.yale.edu (Russ Korins)
Subject: Re: Thick Air
Followup-To: sci.geo.meteorology
Organization: Yale University (Class of 1994)
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 21:24:23 GMT

In article <92310.144615MRS9@psuvm.psu.edu>, <MRS9@psuvm.psu.edu> wrote:
> 
> This is a question from a layman.  It seems that when I bicycle
> in the winter time, the air feels thicker and more dense.
> Is this a phantom feeling on my part--or is there some basis
> for my feeling?  How is this related to barometric pressure?

Wow, I didn't know you could FEEL air thickness!  

Seriously, it's true that barometric pressure is generally higher in the
winter.  Here in the northeast, air pressure accompanying dense Canadian
high pressure cells, which bring Arctic blasts, can raise pressures to
30.80 or more.  Usually, 30.50 is considered high in the northeast for any
season.  But, on the coldest days in January or February (like when you
have highs in the teens along the ocean and near 0 well inland), a pressure
reading of over 30.80 is not out of the question.

Still, I'm not sure whether pressure changes THEMSELVES are noticeable to
humans, but maybe you're extra-sensitive to air density!  Here's the
question:  during a hurricane, does the air NOT feel thick and dense?   :)

--------------
Russ Korins, PO Box 520 Yale Station, New Haven CT 06520-0520
korins@pop.cis.yale.edu
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
From: ritley@uimrl7.mrl.uiuc.edu ()
Subject: Spatial variation of atmospheric composition
Reply-To: ritley@uiucmrl.bitnet ()
Organization: Materials Research Lab
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 14:44:31 GMT


Apologies for this question....I'm not a climatologist, just curious.

There have been many reports in the popular press regarding the
build-up of CO2, pollution, and other greenhouse-type gases.
Additionally, it has been reported that it is "possible" to detect
an "ozone hole".

Is it possible to detect, or has anyone ever detected, a spatial
variation in the levels of constituent atmospheric gases (such as oxygen
and nitrogen)?  For example, is there more oxygen in the
southern hemisphere? 

The so-called "ozone hole", as I understand it, is a region at high
altitudes depleted in ozone.  Do large-scale spatial variations in the
composition of the atmosphere only occur at high altitude?
I can easily imagine that small-scale variations exist
(for example, that Los Angeles in August might be
a little CO2-rich), but I am curious about the larger-scale
differences which might depend on wind, etc.
(more oxygen in Brazil than in the Sahara).

Many thanks!


Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
From: pmh2962@tamsun.tamu.edu (Pat Hayes)
Subject: Re: Lightning strike frequency
Organization: Meteorology, TAMU, CS, TX
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 00:41:56 GMT

Howdy!
	Lightning data are archived at SUNY, among a couple other places.
Several commercial companies can provide turn-key systems similar to
what you need.  From any recent Bulletin of the AMS, check out Alden
(508) 366-8851; LLP in Albuquerque, NM (602) 741-2838; Zephyr, (508)
898-3511; Marta Systems, (805) 933-1792.  Good Luck!
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pat Hayes, Meteorology, Texas A&M University.....................<whoop!>  
net: phayes@tamu.edu -or- O&M 1008, TAMU, CS, TX 77843-3150 (409)845-1680 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
From: ilana@kiowa.scd.ucar.edu (Ilana Stern)
Subject: Re: Spatial variation of atmospheric composition
Organization: NCAR/UCAR
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 18:57:16 GMT

In article <BxI8y8.2D8@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, ritley@uimrl7.mrl.uiuc.edu () writes:
> 
> Apologies for this question....I'm not a climatologist, just curious.
> 
> There have been many reports in the popular press regarding the
> build-up of CO2, pollution, and other greenhouse-type gases.
> Additionally, it has been reported that it is "possible" to detect
> an "ozone hole".
> 
> Is it possible to detect, or has anyone ever detected, a spatial
> variation in the levels of constituent atmospheric gases (such as oxygen
> and nitrogen)?  For example, is there more oxygen in the
> southern hemisphere? 
> 
> The so-called "ozone hole", as I understand it, is a region at high
> altitudes depleted in ozone.  Do large-scale spatial variations in the
> composition of the atmosphere only occur at high altitude?
> I can easily imagine that small-scale variations exist
> (for example, that Los Angeles in August might be
> a little CO2-rich), but I am curious about the larger-scale
> differences which might depend on wind, etc.
> (more oxygen in Brazil than in the Sahara).

Well, to give you a trivial example, humidity (water vapor) has large-
scale spatial variations in the boundary layer.  (The boundary layer
is meteo-speak for the atmospheric layer relatively near the earth's 
surface.)  The water vapor content of the air over Utah, for example,
is likely to be very different from that over Louisiana.

Some gases are well-mixed in the atmosphere, some aren't.  If you 
think about it for a moment, you will see that this depends a great
deal on the relative time scales of mixing processes such as winds and
storms (which vertically mix atmospheric constituents) versus creation/
destruction processes, such as condensation (in the case of water vapor)
or photochemical processes (in the case of ozone).

Ozone is an interesting case.  Assuming that the destructants of ozone
are uniformly distributed, you ought to have a uniform distribution of
ozone if formation/destruction were purely chemical.  But ozone chemistry
is photochemistry (dependent on light), so there is a gradient from 
poles to equator.  Finally, the dynamics of the polar vortex introduce
another factor which isn't present elsewhere, so you have the "ozone
hole" at the south pole (and somewhat less strongly at the north pole).
The point is, that all that large-scale spatial variations of any
gas means, is that the ratio of creation/destruction processes to 
distributive processes isn't uniform.

This is not meant to be a comprehensive dissertation on atmospheric
constituents, just an answer to the question posed.

-- 
/\     There may be honor among thieves, but there's none among politicians.
  \_][ <--NCAR Ilana Stern dod#009 r.b. cliff swallow ilana@ncar.ucar.edu    
      \______________________________________________________________________
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
From: hamm@weejordy.physics.mun.ca (Craig Hamm)
Subject: Re: Thick Air
Organization: Ocean Sciences Centre
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 18:45:36 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.004543.21248@cid.aes.doe.CA>, afsfpel@cid.aes.doe.CA (Yves Pelletier) writes:
|> 
|> My two cents...
|> 
|> Aircraft aerodynamic performance improves very noticeably in cold air. 
|> This suggests to me that, beyond the physiological effects that you mention,
|> the aerodynamics of a cyclist in cold air may well undergo a large enough
|> change to be noticeable as well.
|> 
|> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
|> Yves Pelletier                               afsfpel@cid.aes.doe.ca
|> Centre Meteorologique Canadien
|> Dorval, Quebec, Canada
|> 
|> Environment Canada has no influence whatsoever on my policies.
|> *********************************************************************
|> "I am resplendent in Divergence."  
|>                             D.B.

	Same as it ever was.
|> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
|> 

	I think this effect is from decreased Reynold's number, which
	decreases with increasing viscosity, or higher fliud density.
	Thus, the flow should become more laminar.  I don't know how much
	of an effect would be produced, however.  It may be noticeable on a 
	plane, but because of the complicated shape of a cyclist, form drag
	probably far exceeds air viscosity variations.

	That's my $.03


-- 
  Craig Hamm, Memorial University, | I'm a spud man, I've got eyes all around.
  Newfoundland,              ______| De-evolution, execution, no solution.
  DoD #1500,                / 
  1981 Maxim 650            | 
  __________________________| 

Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
From: gordin@medici.ils.nwu.edu (Douglas Gordin)
Subject: Request for Weather Data Sets in HDF Format
Organization: The Institute for the Learning Sciences
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 01:23:55 GMT


I'm searching for weather data sets that are in HDF format.
I hope to use these as part of an ongoing project called
Collaborative Visualization.  This project is bringing the NCSA
Scientific Visualization tools into several high schools in order to
teach meteorology through projects based science.  The 
visualization tools are used to both motivate inquiry and as tools to
collaboratively construct meaningful accounts of weather phenomena.

All suggestions are appreciated.

Douglas Gordin
gordin@ils.nwu.edu
(708)467-197
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
From: sherwood@space.ualberta.ca (Sherwood Botsford)
Subject: Thick Air
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 18:30:15 GMT

<MRS9@psuvm.psu.edu> writes
> This is a question from a layman.  It seems that when I bicycle
> in the winter time, the air feels thicker and more dense.
> Is this a phantom feeling on my part--or is there some basis
> for my feeling?  How is this related to barometric pressure?

It is thicker, (More dense.  See other posts) but I don't think that is  
what you are perceiving.

There are several physiological events that you may be interpreting as  
thick air:
	1.  In cold weather, exposed skin tends to chill, getting  
either numb, or at least having reduced sensitivity.
	2.  Some people's asthma is triggered by cold dry air.  This  
would cause breathing to be difficult, much like when you have a bad  
chest cold.  I tend to feel this way during the first cold snap of the  
year.
	3.  If you are used to warm, moist air, you would hardly have  
any sensation of air at all from skin's nerves.  Cold air is providing  
some sensation, which you may interpret as being 'thick'.  This could  
be especially true if much of your experience of cold is connected with  
water, a thicker media.  (No I can't back up this claim with any  
reports.  Just speculating...)
From: gwv@eastrg2.cray.com (George Vandenberghe)
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
Subject: Re: Thick Air
Date: 5 Nov 92 23:57:29 GMT
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.

In article <92310.144615MRS9@psuvm.psu.edu>, <MRS9@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
|> This is a question from a layman.  It seems that when I bicycle
|> in the winter time, the air feels thicker and more dense.
|> Is this a phantom feeling on my part--or is there some basis
|> for my feeling?  How is this related to barometric pressure?

      Your feeling is real.   Density is proprotional to barometric
pressure and inversely proprotional to ABSOLUTE (kelvin or rankine)
temperature.  Barometric pressure means do not change much from winter to summer
but their variance does; it it higher in winter and that is when you will
see your highest and lowest barometric pressures.  Temperature is obviously
lower in winter.

      THe magnitude of this effect can best be shown with a few  calculations.
The range of pressure is from about 1055 to 950 millibars in your area.
The range of temperature is from about 313K (104 F.) to about 248K (-13 F)
313/248 is  1.26 so, at constant pressure, the air is about 26% denser
at the extreme low temperature than at the extreme high. (Yes I know it gets
a little hotter and colder than I said but not very often)

      At constant temperature the air is about 11% denser at the higher
pressure.
     
        You would see your highest densities under high pressure and
cold temperatures and you can see they are significantly higher.

*****************************

    Actually what I said isn't quite true.  There are two second order
effects here which SLIGHTLY modify my numbers.

1.   Winter air is almost always drier.  The density of water vapor is
only 60% of the density of dry air and the percentage of water vapor in
the air ranges from less than a quarter of a percent in dry cold air
to about 4 percent in hot humid air.   The effect is to add about 2.5% to
the increase in density from the temperature effect alone.  Pressure has
no influence on this effect.

2.   Your area is at some elevation above sea level.  I don't know
where you are so I am, going to assume an elevation of 100 meters.
Barometric pressure decreases with height and the rate of decrease
is directly proportional to density.  Therefore the pressure at an
elevated station will be slightly lower in  cold air than in warm 
if the pressure at sea level is the same.   The rate of decrease with
height is around 1mb/10 meters so your site's pressure
will be about 10 mb lower than sea level pressure (which is what your tv
weatherman and the newspaper always give).  From the density range calulation
above, you can see that the pressure difference will be about 3mb larger in winter
cold than in summer warmth to create a .3% decrease in density.


These two effects tend to cancel and anyway are dominated by the temperature
and surface barometric  pressure variations.
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
From: araichel@cser.encore.com (Alan Raichel)
Subject: Whats APT / HRPT system do you use?
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 14:22:06 GMT

	I don't know if this is the proper news group... But I would like
to know what is the BEST equipment to use to recieve APT and HRPT NOAA
satellites.  I am most interested in what scan converter is used, and
what processing software is used at your site.  I would like to know
what you like or dislike about your system so that I can determine which
system is best.

	I am also interested in knowing what people are doing with this data.
Besides pretty pictures, I know that there is software to make false color
maps of surface tempature, etc.  What other information can be extracted
from these pictures, and what software is used to extract it?  (or describe
what processing steps are necessary to extract the data so software could
be written.)

Thanks
alan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME:  Alan Raichel        | ICBM: 76 30' W    39 10' N | You don't have
EMAIL: araichel@encore.com | CITY: Pasadena, MD         | the know to need!
CALL:  N3IKI               | #include <stddisclaimer.h> | 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 14:46:15 EST
From: <MRS9@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
Subject: Thick Air

This is a question from a layman.  It seems that when I bicycle
in the winter time, the air feels thicker and more dense.
Is this a phantom feeling on my part--or is there some basis
for my feeling?  How is this related to barometric pressure?
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
From: gwv@eastrg2.cray.com (George Vandenberghe)
Subject: Re: Thick Air
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 5 Nov 92 18:05:53 CST

    OOPS minor error.  In my previous post I assumed an altitude
of 100 meters after seeing  some relay point from Ohio scroll off my screen.
If this came from Penn State your elevation is probably higher; State
College is at 330 meters rather than the 100 meters I assumed.  Change
the .3% elevation effect to about 1%.
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
From: afsfpel@cid.aes.doe.CA (Yves Pelletier)
Subject: Re: Thick Air
Reply-To: afsfpel@cid.aes.doe.CA (Yves Pelletier)
Organization: Environment Canada
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 00:45:43 GMT

In article <1992Nov6.183015.24342@kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca>,
sherwood@space.ualberta.ca (Sherwood Botsford) writes:
|> <MRS9@psuvm.psu.edu> writes
|> > This is a question from a layman.  It seems that when I bicycle
|> > in the winter time, the air feels thicker and more dense.
|> > Is this a phantom feeling on my part--or is there some basis
|> > for my feeling?  How is this related to barometric pressure?
|> 
|> It is thicker, (More dense.  See other posts) but I don't think that is  
|> what you are perceiving.
|> 
|> There are several physiological events that you may be interpreting as  
|> thick air:
|> 	1.  In cold weather, exposed skin tends to chill, getting  
|> either numb, or at least having reduced sensitivity.
|> 	2.  Some people's asthma is triggered by cold dry air.  This  
|> would cause breathing to be difficult, much like when you have a bad  
|> chest cold.  I tend to feel this way during the first cold snap of the  
|> year.
|> 	3.  If you are used to warm, moist air, you would hardly have  
|> any sensation of air at all from skin's nerves.  Cold air is providing  
|> some sensation, which you may interpret as being 'thick'.  This could  
|> be especially true if much of your experience of cold is connected with  
|> water, a thicker media.  (No I can't back up this claim with any  
|> reports.  Just speculating...)

My two cents...

Aircraft aerodynamic performance improves very noticeably in cold air. 
This suggests to me that, beyond the physiological effects that you mention,
the aerodynamics of a cyclist in cold air may well undergo a large enough
change to be noticeable as well.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Yves Pelletier                               afsfpel@cid.aes.doe.ca
Centre Meteorologique Canadien
Dorval, Quebec, Canada

Environment Canada has no influence whatsoever on my policies.
*********************************************************************
"I am resplendent in Divergence."  
                            D.B.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From: phys58@jetson.uh.edu (Hortvet, Douglas Richard)
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
Subject: Lightning, Ball Lightning
Keywords: Lightning, Ball Lightning
Date: 11 Nov 92 19:11:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: jetson.11NOV199213115510
Distribution: world,usa
Organization: University of Houston
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

I am interested in references, current or past, regarding experiments and 
theory with lightning, specifically ball lightning. The literature on this 
topic is somewhat sparse, no doubt a result, in part, of the difficulty to 
artificially generate these phenomena.

Thanks in advance for any comments. 
Xref: sparky sci.geo.meteorology:3348 sci.geo.fluids:397
From: jlevit@alliant.backbone.uoknor.edu (Jason John Levit)
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology,sci.geo.fluids
Subject: Small-scale fluid dynamics
Date: 8 Nov 92 04:21:36 GMT
Article-I.D.: constell.1992Nov8.042136.25456
Organization: University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Originator: usenet@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu

Hi all.  I'm looking for a good book (or books) that deal with the
mechanics and dynamics of small-scale fluids and small-scale fluid
flows.  Does anyone out there in net-land have a suggestion?  Thanks!

Jason J. Levit



-- 
Jason John Levit                    Undergraduate Research,
     N9MLA               Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms
University of Oklahoma        jlevit@alliant.backbone.uoknor.edu
Meteorology Major                jlevit@geoblue.gcn.uoknor.edu
Newsgroups: sci.comp-aided
From: jones@ils.nwu.edu
Subject: New Ph.D. Program
Organization: institute for the learning sciences
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 20:19:25 GMT

T h e   L  E  A  R  N  I  N  G    S  C  I  E  N  C  E  S    P h. D.   P r o g r
a m


Preparing individuals for productive work and a   high quality of life in
today's society is a complex  challenge for schools and corporations. To meet
this challenge, Northwestern University has established a unique Ph.D. program
in the Learning Sciences. Its purpose is to advance the research and
development of innovative educational structures and technologies.

Research in the Learning Sciences is aimed at creating environments that offer
all students a rich variety of opportunities for learning to think effectively,
both within and outside of formal learning settings. Graduate student and
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infrastructure and an unusual commitment to developing technologies that
function effectively within their intended settings. 

The Learning Sciences is a synthesis of computational and social science
disciplines including artificial intelligence, cognitive and developmental
psychology, educational research, linguistics, computer science, anthropology
and fields that develop strategies for teaching complex subject matter. 

Through research, field work and apprenticeships, the Ph.D. program will
prepare its graduates to assume leadership roles in advancing the scientific
understanding and systematic practices of learning and teaching.

Students are eligible for competitively-awarded multi-year funding. To qualify
for financial aid, candidates should apply by January 15, 1993. Applications
received after that date may be  considered. Individuals with relevant teaching
experience or a strong academic  background in a field related to the Learning
Sciences are encouraged to apply. For  application materials or for further
information, contact:

Professor Roy Pea
Ph.D. Program Chair 
The Learning Sciences 
Northwestern University
1890 Maple Avenue
Evanston, IL  60201
phone: 708-491-8152
fax:    708-491-5258
email: jones@ils.nwu.edu
  
Xref: sparky sci.comp-aided:199 sci.math.num-analysis:3278
From: drake@Autodesk.COM (Dan Drake)
Newsgroups: sci.comp-aided,sci.math.num-analysis
Subject: Re: Ab initio calculation of molecular structure?
Date: 10 Nov 92 22:32:54 GMT
Followup-To: sci.comp-aided
Organization: Autodesk Inc., Sausalito CA, USA

park@netcom.com (Bill Park) writes:
+ 1) How do you calculate the potential energy of a given molecular
+ model ab initio?
+ 
+ 2) How do you compute a graphic representation of the electron clouds
+ in a molecule?
+ 
+ 3) What software is available to do these things on a workstation?

You might look into HyperChem from Autodesk, Inc.  800-424-9737 for
information.

--
Dan Drake                 In software, the *complete* design *is* the software!
drake@Autodesk.com        --Hugh Lamaster
From: s462075d@edinboro.edu
Newsgroups: sci.econ
Subject: The global recession will last until 2000
Date: 7 Nov 92 13:32:34 GMT
Organization: Edinboro University of Pennsylvania


	With the talk I've just seen surfacing here about this new
slow groth economy being "normal", I was wondering what everyones opinion is
on this:

	My thinking is that the world will experience ho-hum growth until
2000-2005.  There will be little that can be done to stop it.  The
reasoning for this is simple:  Everyone wants to export their way
out of the current world recession.

	To make matters worse, the country that can best absorb such
imports, Japan, is in a recession of its own.  Furthermore, I 
believe the Japanese miricle is dead, and Japan will now have to
face problems the rest of the world has had for years (i.e.:  workers
getting paid for overtime, land values more realistic, people wanting
a more American style of life).  Japan is in its own "recession",
and its economy is begining to show shortcommings.

	The United States can ill affoard to import more.  Exports are the
only reason we haven't fallen into a worse recession.   Our fisical
debt is killing us, and any increase in trade deficits will send
Bill Clinton to that exclusive-but-growing ex-presidents club. (5
members strong in Jan.).

	Germany is preoccupied with reunification.  While she is importing
more, Germans don't seem to like the idea.  When unification is 
truly complete, the loss of govt. spending in the east, combined with the
debt carried for the project will eliminate the possibility of
a German import-boom.

	Countries with good foreign currency reserves (Far East: China,
Taiwain, S. Korea, etc.) each seem to be facing their own internal 
problems, and seem only to want to import military equipment.

So, does anyone out there see any way to come out of this recession/
slump?

Shawn Duffy
Edinboro University of PA
USA