The Climate Prediction Center’s official winter forecast has been released, and it splits the country in two: hot and dry down south, and a mystery up north. Let’s take a look at what that means for Iowa and the rest of the nation.
The 90-day-outlook was published Thursday morning by the Climate Prediction Center, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service. It gives people a rough idea of what November, December and January will look like across the country.
The last two winters in Iowa have been influenced by La Niña. If you liked the winter last year, that means this one is setting up similarly.
Last year’s La Niña led to average snowfall for the state. That means around 40 inches of snow for most of the state in between December and March. When La Niña is strong, Iowa tends to get less snow. When La Niña is weaker, the state gets more snow than average.
The temperatures tend to lean colder when the state is experiencing a La Niña-influenced winter.
The nationwide forecast is heavily influenced by the presence of La Niña, which forecasters recently said was 75% likely to stick around through the winter months.
La Niña tends to split the country in half, bringing a dry winter to the southern half and a wetter winter to the northern half.
You can see that pattern in the forecast map released Thursday (below): A band of dry conditions is expected from coast-to-coast, impacting the entire southern half of the U.S.
While La Niña looks like it will bring bad news to the already drought-plagued southwest this winter, it’s a different story in the Pacific Northwest. La Niña winters tend to bring more precipitation, not less, to the region.
The rest of the country is a bit of a mystery. Every state shown in white on the map above has equal chances of having above-average precipitation and below-average precipitation.
When it comes to temperature, it’s looking like it will be a warm winter this year for many states, according to the new NOAA outlook. The West, South and Northeast all have a good chance of above-average warmth between November and January.
The hottest conditions are expected in the southwest (Arizona, New Mexico and Texas).
If forecasters’ predictions hold true, and La Niña sticks around through January, it’ll be the third La Niña winter in a row – a rare phenomenon we’ve only seen twice since 1950. However, new research suggests recurring La Niña year are growing more common due to climate change.


We use the cloud naming system invented in 1802 by Englishman Luke Howard. To describe clouds he used Latin names: the first part of the name describes height, and the second part describes shape.
Prefixes for height
cirro = high clouds - above 6 km
alto = midlevel clouds - between 2 and 6 km
no prefix = low level clouds
Names for shapes
cirrus = curly or fibrous
stratus = layered
cumulus = lumpy or piled
To indicate that a cloud can produce precipitation, you should add nimbus.


Pollution of the environment is a serious problem, but did you know that the air inside your home could have up to five times more pollutants?
Poor air quality can make you feel fatigued, congested, or ill. For Americans, who spend the vast majority of the day indoors, the negative effects of poor air quality can be dramatic.
How can you make sure you and your family are breathing clean air when you’re relaxing at home? Start with an air quality test.
Learn more about indoor air quality tests and how to tell when you need one.
What is an Indoor Air Quality Test?
An indoor air quality test (IAQ) collects particle samples from your home’s air. These particles can include pollen, smoke, mold spores, pet dander, and more.
Indoor air quality testing determines the number of pollutants and allergens in your air. Some irritating particles come from outside sources, including smoke, pollen, soil, dust, and even radon. Your home can also become polluted from indoor allergens.
Do you often burn candles or use insecticides? The volatile compounds in these products don’t just disappear after use. Harmful chemicals, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens can linger in the air we breathe.
When to Perform a Test
If you or your housemates are suffering from chronic ailments like sore throat, runny nose, or headaches, it may be time to test your air quality. Ideally, you should test the air quality in your home or office at least once per year. Perform an air quality test if you see any signs of mold or mildew or when renovating bathrooms and old buildings.
Air quality tests are an important aspect of caring for chronic illnesses. People with chronic illnesses generally spend more time indoors and at home than the rest of the population. Poor air quality can exacerbate symptoms of asthma, COPD, and cystic fibrosis.
Air quality tests should be part of the routine maintenance of your office, school, or church building. When you consider that our brains need oxygen to thrive, it’s easy to see how clean indoor air can actually improve employee focus and productivity.
After the Air Quality Test
So you’ve conducted the air quality test; what’s next? Improving air quality isn’t as simple as “airing out” your home. As mentioned earlier, outdoor pollutants are a major contributing factor to poor air quality.
The first step is to check your office or home’s HVAC system. Poor ventilation and filtration can lead to an increase in indoor allergens. Old or damaged HVAC systems can emit foul odors and pump mold and mildew back into the building.
After repairing or updating your HVAC system, there are a few more essential tips you can follow to maintain good air quality:
- Regularly clean carpets, bedding, and drapes
- Change air filters monthly
- Invest in air purifiers or dehumidifiers
- Keep indoor plants to a minimum
- Use gentle cleaning products
- Ventilate bathrooms and basements
Say goodbye to grogginess, sniffles, and sneezes. Conducting an air quality test is a huge step toward making your home or office more relaxing and productive.
Schwantes Heating and Air Conditioning is here to help you achieve healthy air. We’ve delivered exceptional air to the greater St. Paul area since 1947. Contact us today for your professional air quality test!


The Australian government is to provide $2.2 million over three years to strengthen the capacity of Pacific Island countries in climate prediction.
The Prime Minister, John Howard, made the announcement today.
Text of statement released by the Prime Minister, John Howard.
I am pleased to announce an initiative by the Australian Government to assist Pacific island countries to cope with the impact of weather extremes and to better understand the threat of climate change.
Australia will fund a $2.2 million project over three years, expected to begin late 2002 or early 2003, to strengthen the capacity of Pacific island countries in climate prediction. The project aims to upgrade the National Meteorological Services (NMS) of participating island countries to enable them to provide better climate prediction support to industry, government and the people of the Pacific island region.
Better meteorological services will enable Pacific communities to deal more effectively with extreme weather events such as El Niño and droughts, and to anticipate the impact of climate change, climate variability, cyclones and storm surges.
This project responds to recent research by the South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) and is funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
It complements a suite of Australian funded climate-related activities in the Pacific including the South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project Phase III, the Vulnerability and Adaptation Initiative and support for the Disaster Management Unit at the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission.


Tucson Sunset last night
Monsoons are not here in Tucson yet, but the clouds are starting to become interesting.
Follow the Tucson Dew Point Tracker at NOAA. We need three days in a row of dew points at 55 deg or above. That used to be the Official Monsoon Season (dew points), but has since changed to June 15th.
Posted on June 26, 2010, in arizona, nature, phoenix, scottsdale, sedona, tempe, tucson, weather and tagged arizona, arizona monsoon, arizona weather, dew point, flagstaff, Green Valley, monsoon, monsoon season, phoenix, santa cruz valley, scottsdale, sedona, southern arizona, tucson, weather. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.


Climate positive activities are aimed at not only achieving but surpassing net zero emission goals through eradicating additional carbon dioxide (CO2) and/or greenhouse gases (GHG) from the atmosphere. In short, it’s about saving more GHG emissions than your actions produce, in order to create an environmental benefit.
When developing a climate positive strategy, the first stage is to apply a carbon accounting framework. For instance, if a building product manufacturer wants to develop a climate neutral or positive product, they must determine the total carbon footprint of that product. The carbon footprint covers everything — from the energy needed to source the original material/s as well as to produce, supply, use and dispose of the product — to the emissions related to product original material/s sourcing as well as product production, usage and disposal.
Once the total carbon footprint is calculated, as well as what needs to be counteracted to become carbon neutral, then an additional measurement number, such as an extra 10% for example, can then be tagged on to estimate what is needed to go climate positive.
How enterprises actually achieve climate positivity can differ. Usually, however, they meet the requirements via a mixture of reducing carbon emissions, shifting to renewable energy, producing locally, investing into offsetting, and purchasing carbon credits.
Transforming Your Real Estate
Buildings can realize climate-positive results in a number of ways, and simply put, the steps to climate positive are the steps to net zero plus that extra mile, whatever takes the building to remove more greenhouse gas (GHG) than it is producing. The building’s strategy should include a mixture of the following steps:
CHOOSE: the optimal building location, design, energy modelling, eco-friendly materials, renewable energy and intelligent energy management systems
MAXIMISE: the structural efficiency, insulation and greenhouse gas reduction systems
MINIMISE: the material and operational wastage and water usage
MAINTAIN: the hardware and software
RE-USE: upon current-use obsolescence


The climate of the Greater New Orleans region can best be described as humid and subtropical. Though rainfall can occur throughout the year, the area is largely shielded from extreme weather conditions by surrounding waterways.
January through March of each year is characterized by mild winter conditions that gradually warm into comfortable spring temperatures. Snowfall is extremely rare (last occurring in December 2008), though nighttime freezing can be normal in the beginning of each year.
It’s no coincidence that springtime in Greater New Orleans tends to be filled with the most outdoor activities and events each year. The pleasant temperatures each day, followed by very comfortable evenings, provide an ideal atmosphere for long hours enjoying the cultural riches of the region.
The summer months bring the most rainfall each year, averaging over 6 inches each month (bringing precipitation on more than 10 days per month), and highs in the low- to mid-90s. Most notably, hurricane season begins June 1, ending November 30.
Historically, October is the driest month, yielding an average of only 4 inches annually. Through the remainder of each year, average temperatures begin to drop to cool, sometimes cold, levels. Due to these comfortable temperatures, residents enjoy many annual festivals, sporting events, and other outdoor activities in the late months of the year.
|Average High||Average Low||Rainfall (Inches)||% Sunshine|
Source: Weaver Official Publications, 2003


Download Tutorial (.pdf)
New England Climate Query
Welcome to the New England Climate Portal. The portal allows users to ask questions about recent and historical climate within the 6 New England states. Users specify the type of information they would like to see by choosing options from drop down menus. The Portal converts these selections to an SQL query and retrieves the subset of data from the database. Data is from the NOAA National Climatic Data Center.
To view a list of stations, click here. Each station has information about location, time period of record and which of the 5 primary measurements (see step one) are present at that station.


The EPA passed Title V of the Clean Air Act in 1990. The emphasis of Title V was to standardize the permitting process for major sources of air emissions. Regulated emissions include carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxide compounds (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and particulates (PM). The result was to force businesses, industries and institutions away from coal burning boilers and toward cleaner sources of energy.
In the 1990’s The University obtained Synthetic Minor Operating Permits from ADEM. These allowed UA to operate stationary boilers under certain provisions. The conditions are as follows:
- All individual sources greater than 10 MMBTU/HR require permitting.
- Permitted boilers at UA shall burn no more than 2472527 gallons of fuel oil in any 12 month period.
- Permitted boilers at UA shall burn no more than 1260 MMSCF of natural gas in any 12 month period.
These permits require that detailed records of natural gas usage are required for permitted boilers. Currently the University exclusively burns natural gas in permitted boilers. There are seven boilers on campus; which is permitted and for which natural gas usage records are maintained.
In order to permit these boilers exacting calculations are done based upon natural gas usage for BTU/HR output and hours of operation. By using these factors amounts of CO, NOx, SO₂ and particulates in tons per year are determined. These figures are provided to ADEM as part of the permit application process.
In addition greenhouse gas emissions are also calculated for each boiler and provided to ADEM. Greenhouse gasses include particulates, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and VOC’s. These are calculated and reported as metric tons per year. The overall CO₂ equivalent is also provided.
EHS is responsible for obtaining Title V permits, recording fuel usage and managing the Clean Air Title V Program. As the campus grows and expands we are getting closer to the permit fuel limits. It is very important to plan for the future installation of large boilers.
If you need any additional information or have any questions, contact EHS at 205-348-5905.


Maura E. Hagan is a Professor of Physics and Dean of the College of Science at Utah State University. She is a Fellow of both the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union, and was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2019.
Early life and education
Hagan studied physics at Emmanuel College, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1975, before joining Boston College as a graduate student. She earned a master's degree in 1980 and a doctorate in 1986. Hagan worked on exospheric temperature with William L. Oliver, using measurements made at Millstone Hill between 1970 and 1980. Hagan joined the Haystack Observatory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a staff member in 1986.
Research and career
In 1992 Hagan was made a Senior Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) High Altitude Observatory. She held various roles at NCAR, including acting as Director of the Advanced Study Program, Deputy Director and Interim Director. She developed the Global Scale Wave Model (GSWM), which describes the Rossby waves and solar tides within the Earth's atmosphere. Her model incorporated a gravity wave stress parametrisation and adaptions to the atmospheric background using Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) climatologies. She studies several layers of the atmosphere, including the mesosphere, Ionosphere and thermosphere. She is interested in how these atmospheric layers couple together, as well as how they influence tides and Rossby waves. She also studies the downward effect of space weather.
In 2006 she was part of the team who identified the first global connection between space weather and weather on Earth. The collaboration used the IMAGE spacecraft to study plasma bands in the upper atmosphere, finding ultra bright areas that were located above thunderstorms in tropical rainforests. Atmospheric tides are global-scale waves that are excited by the heating of the lower and middle atmosphere due to the absorption of solar radiation and the latent heating of evaporation when raindrops form in tropical clouds. Hagan used her GSWM to simulate the atmospheric tides produced by thunderstorms in tropical rainforests, finding that some of these tides would deposit their energy in the Kennelly–Heaviside layer. This results in a disruption of the Kennelly–Heaviside layer plasma currents and creates bright, dense zones. Hagan was also a member of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite team, studying the dynamic chemical signatures of the middle atmosphere.
Hagan joined the Utah State University in September 2015. In 2019, her atmospheric waves experiment was selected as a NASA space weather experiment.
In 1993 Hagan was made Associate Editor of Geophysical Research Letters. She is a member of the Aspen Global Change Institute. She was appointed to the Committee on Solar Terrestrial Research in 1996. She has also served on the CEDAR Science Steering Committee. Since 2008 Hagan has worked as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Colorado Boulder. She was appointed to the National Academy of Sciences Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate in 2014. She is Co-Chair of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on Solar and Space Physics. Hagan was elected Dean of the College of Science at Utah State University in 2016.
Awards and honors
- 2006 NASA Group Achievement Award
- 2008 MIT Michael J. Buonsanto Memorial Lecturer
- 2008 NASA Group Achievement Award
- 2011Fellow of the American Meteorological Society
- 2011 Fellow of the American Geophysical Union
- 2012 University of Wyoming Robert A. Jenkins Memorial Lecturer
- 2013 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Outstanding Accomplishment Award for Mentoring
- 2014 Space Physics and Aeronomy Marcel Nicolet Lecturer
- 2016 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Science Advancement Winner
- 2018 Elected member of the National Academy of Sciences


❒ Gases exert pressure on any surface with which they come in contact, because gas molecules are constantly in motion. We humans have adapted so well physiologically to the pressure of the air around us that we are usually unaware of it, perhaps as fish are not conscious of the water’s pressure on them.
❒ It is easy to demonstrate atmospheric pressure. One everyday example is the ability to drink a liquid through a straw. Sucking air out of the straw reduces the pressure inside the straw. The greater atmospheric pressure on the liquid pushes it up into the straw to replace the air that has been sucked out.
SI Units of Pressure
❒ Pressure is one of the most readily measurable properties of a gas. In order to understand how we measure the pressure of a gas, it is helpful to know how the units of measurement are derived. We begin with velocity and acceleration.
❒ Velocity is defined as the change in distance with elapsed time; that is,
❒ The SI unit for velocity is m/s, although we also use cm/s.
❒ Acceleration is the change in velocity with time, or
Acceleration is measured in m/s2(or cm/s2 ).
❒ The second law of motion, formulated by Sir Isaac Newton † in the late seventeenth century, defines another term, from which the units of pressure are derived, namely, force. According to this law,
force = mass × acceleration
In this context, the SI unit of force is the newton (N), where:
1 N = 1 kg m/s2
Finally, we define pressure as force applied per unit area:
❒ The SI unit of pressure is the pascal (Pa), defined as one newton per square meter:
1 Pa = 1 N/m2
❒ The following table shows the different units of pressure:
❒ The atoms and molecules of the gases in the atmosphere, like those of all other matter, are subject to Earth’s gravitational pull. As a consequence, the atmosphere is much denser near the surface of Earth than at high altitudes. (The air outside the pressurized cabin of an airplane at 9 km is too thin to breathe.)
❒ In fact, the density of air decreases very rapidly with increasing distance from Earth. Measurements show that about 50 percent of the atmosphere lies within 6.4 km of Earth’s surface, 90 percent within 16 km, and 99 percent within 32 km. Not surprisingly, the denser the air is, the greater the pressure it exerts.
❒ The force experienced by any area exposed to Earth’s atmosphere is equal to the weight of the column of air above it. Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by Earth’s atmosphere ( Figure 1). The actual value of atmospheric pressure depends on location, temperature, and weather conditions.
Does atmospheric pressure act only downward, as you might infer from its definition?
❒ Imagine what would happen, then, if you were to hold a piece of paper tight (with both hands) above your head. You might expect the paper to bend due to the pressure of air acting on it, but this does not happen. The reason is that air, like water, is a fluid. The pressure exerted on an object in a fluid comes from all directions—downward and upward, as well as from the left and from the right.
❒ At the molecular level, air pressure results from collisions between the air molecules and any surface with which they come in contact.
❒ The magnitude of pressure depends on how often and how strongly the molecules impact the surface. It turns out that there are just as many molecules hitting the paper from the top as there are from underneath, so the paper stays flat.
How is Atmospheric pressure measured?
❒The barometer is probably the most familiar instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure.
❒ A simple barometer consists of a long glass tube, closed at one end and filled with mercury. If the tube is carefully inverted in a dish of mercury so that no air enters the tube, some mercury will flow out of the tube into the dish, creating a vacuum at the top ( Figure 2 ). The weight of the mercury remaining in the tube is supported by atmospheric pressure acting on the surface of the mercury in the dish.
❒ Standard atmospheric pressure (1 atm) is equal to the pressure that supports a column of mercury exactly 760 mm (or 76 cm) high at 0°C at sea level.
❒ In other words, the standard atmosphere equals a pressure of 760 mmHg, where mmHg represents the pressure exerted by a column of mercury 1 mm high. The mmHg unit is also called the torr, after the Italian scientist Evangelista Torricelli, who invented the barometer. Thus,
1 torr = 1 mmHg
1 atm = 760 mmHg
❒ The relation between atmospheres and pascals (see Appendix 2) is:
1 atm = 101,325 Pa
1 atm = 1.01325 × 105 Pa
and because 1000 Pa = 1 kPa (kilopascal)
1 atm = 1.01325 × 102 kPa
Why 1 atm = 101,325 Pa ?
By definition, the standard atmosphere is the pressure exerted by a column of mercury
exactly 76 cm high of density 13.5951 g/cm3, in a place where acceleration due to gravity is
980.665 cm/s2. However, to express pressure in N/m2 it is necessary to write:
The standard atmosphere is given by:
❒ A manometer is a device used to measure the pressure of gases other than the atmosphere.
❒ The principle of operation of a manometer is similar to that of a barometer.
❒ There are two types of manometers, shown in Figure (3) . The closed-tube manometer is normally used to measure pressures below atmospheric pressure [ Figure 3 (a)], whereas the open-tube manometer is better suited for measuring pressures equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure [ Figure 3 (b)].
❒ Nearly all barometers and many manometers use mercury as the working fluid, despite the fact that it is a toxic substance with a harmful vapor. The reason is that mercury has a very high density (13.6 g/mL) compared with most other liquids. Because the height of the liquid in a column is inversely proportional to the liquid’s density, this property enables the construction of manageably small barometers and manometers.
❒ The figure (3) shows Two types of manometers used to measure gas pressures.
(a) Gas pressure is less than atmospheric pressure.
(b) Gas pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure.
❒Pressure is defined as force per unit area.
❒Fluids (gases and liquids) exert a pressure at any point within them in all directions.
❒ We can measure a gas pressure by the vertical height of mercury it can hold up.
❒ The most important units of pressure in this course are the atmosphere (atm) and the torr (1 atm = 760 torr)
Example (1): The pressure outside a jet plane flying at high altitude falls considerably below standard atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the air inside the cabin must be pressurized to protect the passengers. What is the pressure in atmospheres in the cabin if the barometer reading is 688 mmHg?
Because 1 atm = 760 mmHg, the following conversion factor is needed to obtain the pressure in atmospheres
The pressure in the cabin is given by
Example (2): The atmospheric pressure in San Francisco on a certain day was 732 mmHg. What was the pressure in kPa?
Here we are asked to convert mmHg to kPa. Because:
1 atm = 1.01325 × 105 Pa = 760 mmHg
the conversion factor we need is:
The pressure in kPa is:
Reference: Chemistry / Raymond Chang ,Williams College /(10th edition).


Internet of Things (IoT) based air quality index measurement system for Dhaka city
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Air pollution is a burning question for the environment nowadays, requiring paramount interest. Air pollution can be controlled by monitoring the level of pollutant gases (NO2, SO2, CO2, CO, O2, PM 2.5, PM 10, etc.) in a periodic manner. Sensing air quality is a major concern for environmental monitoring. In this study, the air quality has been measured for 5 points of Dhaka city by using air quality sensors using IoT platform. The sensed data is then sent to the Thinkspeak cloud platform. The collected data is first processed and then analyzed for obtaining the value of the air quality index (AQI). The generated results are then visualized by the graphical representation. On the basis of this, an individual can take precautionary measures for a healthy life. Finally, the overall scenario for a monthly analysis has been depicted in a location-based mapping. The studied areas are Mirpur 6, Uttara Sector 6, Mohakhali Wireless, Nikunjo 2, and Uttara 12. All the setups are located in the residential areas. The result shows that the Mohakhali has the highest AQI value which is unhealthy for the inhabitants according to the standard index. The real-time data can be observed remotely by using the IoT platform. The output of the study can be further utilized for public health monitoring purposes.


Hurricane Newton has felled trees and damaged power lines in western Mexico after making landfall near the popular resort of Cabo San Lucas on Tuesday. But it has caused only “minor damage in infrastructure,” President Enrique Pena Nieto tweeted.
There were no injuries despite the heavy rains and strong winds, he added. The hurricane had registered maximum sustained winds of 150km/h (90mph) as it approached the state of Baja California Sur.
“It would appear that we won’t have major damage except for what we have already reported,” National Civil Protection Co-ordinator Luis Felipe Puente told Milenio television.(BBC,2016)


The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather alert, signaling an orange alert for the states of Assam and Meghalaya. According to the alert, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in these regions on the 8th, 11th, and 12th of August. Residents and authorities are urged to take necessary precautions to ensure safety and preparedness in light of the forecasted adverse weather conditions.
The IMD’s announcement serves as a vital reminder for residents of Assam and Meghalaya to stay vigilant and proactive. An orange alert signifies a significant potential for heavy rainfall, which could lead to localized flooding, landslides, and other weather-related hazards.
The susceptibility of Assam and Meghalaya to heavy rainfall highlights the importance of staying proactive and taking safety seriously. The IMD’s orange alert acts as a pivotal advisory, empowering residents to prioritize their well-being and the safety of those around them.
By heeding the IMD’s warning and adhering to recommended safety guidelines, residents can navigate through the forecasted heavy rainfall with resilience and preparedness. As Assam and Meghalaya brace for these weather events, the emphasis on safety remains paramount, ensuring that individuals are well-equipped to face the challenges posed by inclement weather conditions.


Venus’s atmosphere is very, very dense. It is composed of about 96% carbon dioxide, 3.5% nitrogen, and trace amounts of other gases, including sulfur dioxide. Although Earth’s atmosphere is composed of over 75% nitrogen, Venus’s atmosphere is so dense that the 3.5% of its atmosphere that is composed of nitrogen has around 4 times the mass of the nitrogen found in Earth’s atmosphere. The density of the atmosphere on Venus also means that there is about 90 times the atmospheric pressure on Venus’s surface than on Earth’s, which is pressure similar to what would be experienced if you dove about 1000 meters under the surface of one of Earth’s oceans.
The composition of Venus’s atmosphere is also largely responsible for its surface/planetary heat. In the past, the increasing brightness of the early sun, as well as the composition of Venus’s atmosphere (carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which warms the planet), contributed to a runaway greenhouse effect. This effect is essentially a positive feedback loop that caused the planet’s ocean(s) to evaporate and the surface temperature to rise higher and higher. Because of this, Venus’s surface is even hotter than Mercury’s, despite the fact that Mercury is closer to the Sun. The carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and trace amounts of water vapor in Venus’s atmosphere also react with each other to form clouds made up of sulfuric acid, a corrosive compound that can result in severe burns and skin tissue damage; however, acid rain never reaches the surface of Venus since the intense heat evaporates it all before it can reach the surface.


Air Quality Monitoring
Current air quality data for Pend Oreille County locations are based on modeling from a stations located in the Spokane, WA area. To provide a more local air quality monitoring option, the Pend Oreille Conservation District has purchased and installed a Purple Air Quality monitoring unit in downtown Newport, WA. Readings from this unit are produced live and available to the public on the purple air map - linked HERE.
In addition to providing the Newport, WA area with a local reading, we hope to expand on this network of air quality monitoring units county-wide by partnering with private, non-profit, tribal and government entities to install more monitoring units, in more places throughout our landscape. To learn more or even host a unit, review this program page and reach out to our natural resource staff.
Current Sponsored Monitoring Stations List
Newport, WA - Pend Oreille Conservation District
Cusick, WA - Kalispel Tribe Natural Resource Dept.
Metaline, WA - Town of Metaline


Sustainability Consult Organises Successful Copernicus Climate Change Service Workshop
- Friday, 19 June 2015
On behalf of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Sustainability Consult organised a workshop for the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) in Brussels on 16-17 June 2015.
C3S is the European Union's flagship programme on monitoring the Earth's environment using satellite and in-situ observations. The main users of Copernicus services are policymakers who need information to develop environmental legislation.
The first day of the workshop saw speakers from diverse fields present on the opportunities and challenges of communicating on climate change. Topics discussed included how to communicate uncertainty, which visuals and channels are best for communicating climate change and whether to frame climate change positively or negatively.
On Day Two, a roundtable discussion on the cost of climate change was followed by group discussions, as participants devised climate change communications campaigns for different audiences such as industry, policymakers, youth and media.
Throughout the workshop, participants were encouraged to outline what tools were missing for effectively communicating on climate change. This will help Copernicus produce a consistent, comprehensive and credible description of the past, current and future climate, providing its users with reliable and up-to-date information.


The importance of tidy air in maintaining a healthy lifestyle can not be overemphasized. While lots of people are aware of the requirement for clean outdoor air, the top quality of indoor air is usually neglected. However, taking into consideration that individuals invest most of their time inside your home, whether in the house, work, or in various other interior atmospheres, making sure good interior air top quality is necessary for general well-being.
Indoor air quality refers to the condition of the air within buildings and frameworks, especially as it connects to the health and wellness and convenience of residents. Poor indoor air quality can have considerable adverse effects on health, varying from minor irritabilities to extra significant respiratory system concerns and lasting illness. Usual interior air toxins include allergens, particle issue, unpredictable natural substances (VOCs), and various gases.
Among the primary action in improving indoor air top quality Example link text is recognizing the sources of interior air contamination. These sources can differ depending on the environment however might include cigarette smoke, house cleaning products, developing materials, furniture, and even outdoor pollution that seeps inside your home. By determining these sources, people can take targeted actions to reduce or remove them, consequently decreasing interior air pollution levels.
Correct air flow is vital for maintaining great interior air quality. Adequate air flow aids dilute indoor air contaminants and eliminate them from the structure. Opening up doors and windows when climate permits, using exhaust fans in bathroom and kitchens, and ensuring appropriate air flow in encased rooms such as attics Whole House Air Filtration Systems and creep rooms are effective methods for boosting air circulation and decreasing interior air contamination.
Air cleansers are one more beneficial tool for enhancing interior air top quality. These gadgets function by removing air-borne toxins and contaminants, capturing them within the cleanser’s filters. High-efficiency particle air (HEPA) filters are especially efficient at eliminating small bits such as dirt, plant pollen, and animal dander from the air. Some air cleansers likewise incorporate activated carbon filters to adsorb smells and VOCs, better improving air top quality.
Along with lowering indoor air contamination, preserving a clean and healthy and balanced interior setting is important for advertising great air quality. Routine cleansing and dusting assistance remove accumulated dust and irritants from Indoor Air Quality Testing Service surfaces, stopping them from ending up being air-borne and circulating throughout the interior room. Vacuuming with a high-efficiency hoover geared up with a HEPA filter can likewise aid record dirt and dust more effectively.
Managing humidity degrees is another essential facet of maintaining good indoor air high quality. High humidity can advertise the growth of mold and mildew and mildew, which can release spores and irritants into the air. Utilizing dehumidifiers in moist locations such as basements and bathrooms can help reduce humidity levels and inhibit mold development. Alternatively, in dry climates or during the winter months when indoor air tends to be drier, making use of humidifiers can include dampness to the air and avoid dry skin and discomfort.
Indoor air top quality surveillance can supply valuable understandings right into the efficiency of indoor air quality renovation efforts. By determining crucial indications such as particulate issue degrees, VOC concentrations, moisture degrees, and carbon dioxide levels, individuals can analyze the quality of their interior air and determine areas for renovation. There are different indoor air quality checks offered on the market, ranging from simple, mobile devices to more advanced systems that supply real-time surveillance and information analysis.
Along with private actions, policymakers and structure supervisors play an important duty in making sure great indoor air top quality in public and commercial buildings. Executing building codes and policies that need appropriate air flow systems, low-emission structure products, and normal upkeep can help reduce interior air pollution and safeguard passengers’ health. Education and recognition campaigns can likewise help raise public understanding regarding the relevance of interior air top quality and motivate people to take aggressive steps to improve it.
Ultimately, focusing on interior air top quality is necessary for promoting a healthy living atmosphere. By recognizing the resources of interior air pollution, applying effective air flow and filtering systems, keeping tidiness, controlling moisture levels, and checking air top quality, individuals can develop indoor rooms that sustain their wellness and wellness. Whether in your home, work, or in various other interior atmospheres, clean air is fundamental to a healthy way of life.


Indian Cloud-seeding Project Aims to Produce Rain to Clear Pollution
Indian scientists plan to add substances to clouds above the capital New Delhi in an effort to produce rain to reduce pollution.
The method to artificially produce rain is called cloud seeding. The process involves adding different chemicals to clouds to cause rain. When rain falls from the sky, water ｄroplets can attach to pollution particles and bring them down to the ground.
New Delhi has been rated the city with the most air pollution in the world. Reports say the problem has worsened across the city in recent weeks.
Air quality decreases in the city ahead of winter each year. During this time, cold air can trap many pollutants, including gases from vehicles, industry, building projects and agricultural burning.
Scientists expect some clouds over the city around November 20. They hope the clouds will result in heavy rainfall – when sprayed with a salt mixture.
The project is being led by Manindra Agrawal, a scientist at the Indian Institute of Technology in the central city of Kanpur. He told Reuters news agency the salt mixture will include silver iodine to help produce rain. It is to be sprayed on clouds over a 100 square kilometer area. Agrawal said the project will cost about $120,000.
The local government in New Delhi, a city of 20 million people, has already closed schools, stopped building activities, and said it will place restrictions on vehicle use to control pollution.
The air quality index in the city was 506 on November 9. This level is considered "hazardous" by IQAir, a Swiss company that describes itself as an “air quality solutions” business.
Gufran Beig is head of the Indian government's air-quality measuring agency SAFAR. He told Reuters the city needs heavy and widespread rain to wash away the pollutants. Beig added that light rain could worsen the situation.
The SAFAR head said current airflow is carrying smoke from crop burning in the states of Punjab and Haryana to Delhi. This smoke adds to the city’s existing pollution sources. "So, unless a huge pressure is established by intense rain, this chain of transport from Punjab to Delhi will not be broken,” Beig said.
About 38 percent of pollution in the capital has been caused by stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, a recent government statement said. Farmers carry out stubble burning to clear material left behind from rice harvests so they can plant other crops. Indian officials directed leaders in both states to "take effective actions" to identify and limit stubble burning, the statement added.
Officials in New Delhi are seeking approval for the project from the Supreme Court, Reuters reported.
Several countries have used cloud seeding in an effort to produce rain, improve air quality and water crops in times of extreme dryness. These include Mexico, the United States, China, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Words in This Story
artificial – adj. not natural, but made by people
salt –n. a word for one of many chemical combinations of two elements; sodium chloride
stubble – n. small pieces of dried plant stems left behind in a field after it has been cut


Earth & Atmospheric Science
Lassonde School of Engineering
Want to address major global challenges and solve problems everywhere from Earth to outer space? If you’re curious about the world around you and interested in topics like climate change, satellites and weather forecasting, this is the perfect program to develop your passion. You’ll study the processes driving severe weather and global climate change and learn how to forecast weather. Enhance your degree with a Certificate in Meteorology. Through this program, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to take on a wide variety of important and challenging careers in government and industry.
What You’ll Learn
Atmospheric Science explores meteorology from the turbulent micro scale to the large synoptic scale weather systems. In our program, you will learn how we use computer models to forecast the weather and will develop a deeper understanding of the processes that drive severe weather, climate and climate change. You can top off your degree with a Certificate in Meteorology.
After second year, you can pursue co-op opportunities, gaining professional experience to get a head start towards becoming a licensed Professional Engineer.
Some Courses You'll Take
Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology
Cloud Physics and Radar Meteorology
Numerical Weather Prediction
Climate and Climate Change
Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere
Storms and Weather Systems
Note: Many students combine a degree in Earth & Atmospheric Science with a certificate in Meteorology (the only undergraduate Meteorology program in Ontario).
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We are proud to see Ortelium on the cover of the latest issue of the expert journal "Gefahrstoffe - Reinhaltung der Luft - Air Quality Control", which is published in close co-operation with the VDI/DIN-Commission on Air Pollution Prevention.
Topics dealt with in the journal include:
- origin, dispersion, capture and separation of hazardous substances,
- sampling and measuring methods,
- effects of air pollution,
- safety technology,
- risks due to dusts and gases at the workplace, including the discussion of limit values both from the technical and occupational medical viewpoint,
- technical and personal protective measures,
- occupational medical prevention.


A deadly winter storm gripped the southeastern United States, knocking out power and disrupting early commutes, forecasters said.
‘Unusual’ ice storm
According to local authorities, the weather was blamed for deaths in the region which included three people killed in northern Texas.
“It’s unusual to have an ice storm that far east in the Deep South,” National Weather Service meteorologist Roger Edwards said in a statement.
The storm brought heavy snow, freezing rain, and potentially historic accumulations of ice.
More than 2,700 U.S. flights were cancelled and hundreds more were delayed, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com.
State of emergencies
Government officials declared state of emergencies and were quick to create plans to deal with the impact of the storm, which left more than 11,000 students in Alabama to spend the night in schools.
About 59,000 Georgia Power customers were without power, with nearly 8 inches of snow expected.
In the path of the storm, some road accidents were reported, but there were no fatalities.


The Eastern and Northeastern parts of Sri Lanka are highly vulnerable to cyclones that develop in the Bay of Bengal during the months of November and December. The North central and Northwestern partshave also been affected by the cyclones but to a lesser degree. The Department of Meteorology under the purview of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, was mandated to issue warnings in the case of cyclones.
Major floods in Sri Lanka are associated with the two monsoons. During the Southwest monsoon season (May-September), the Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces have high risk of being affected by the floods. During the Northeast monsoon (December-February), the Eastern, Northern and North central Provinces are also prone to the floods. Rivers along the Western slopes of the hilly central areas also cause floods to the lower plains of Kalu Ganga and Kelani Ganga, particularly during these periods. For more information: http://www.meteo.gov.lk/index.php?lang=en