Sunday, May 15, 2016

Thinking About The Weather

This afternoon I spent some time gardening, and then sat on one of our garden benches to recover. It was such a lovely afternoon --mostly sunny, a really blue sky, and some white puffy clouds moving through. There was a breeze, and it was in the mid-50s. Sitting there and contemplating the gardens, listening to the birds, and feeling the breeze, made me think about how weather affects us.

I'm into weather. I always have been. If it weren't for the fact that I've always had trouble thinking in mathematical equations, I would have majored in meteorology. I'm fascinated by the physics of how our atmosphere works, and also fascinated by the experience of dramatic weather events, like thunderstorms.

Photo Credit: https://christophermartinphotography.com/tag/sky/page/3/
I'm also currently taking a MOOC, called Climate Change: The Science, through the University of British Columbia.  I find what I'm learning so interesting. With a science background, there are some concepts I'm already familiar with, but there is a lot about the way our climate works that is new to me. Our first essay assignment was to discuss an element of climate change that was affecting our local area, and this meant I had to do some basic research about what changes northern Illinois is experiencing. Since they aren't dramatic (we're not a submerging island, we don't experience hurricanes, etc.) I wasn't aware of the changes until I did the research.

However, I also think it's so interesting how people are influenced in more subtle ways by weather. I grew up in Ann Arbor, which is in the southwestern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. The weather is milder than it is here in northern Illinois, and it has a lot of cloudy days. When I was 18 I moved to South Carolina for a few years. One day my boyfriend and I were walking somewhere, and I remarked on how it felt more like home than it had previously. He laughed and said it was because it was cloudy --and he was right! In South Carolina it's almost always sunny, and it tired me out. In Ann Arbor if it was sunny, you made the effort to get outside and do something active. But in South Carolina I felt that same push ALL THE TIME! It was exhausting. There was never a day where my pysche said "hey, it's a great day to sit on the couch and read a good book because it's not very nice outside".
I can't find an artist to credit for this one.
I'm sure people eventually adjust to these differences, and certainly if you live in an area with mostly nice weather, you likely end up more active and healthier. But I really like having a balance of days where the weather gives me permission to pursue my favorite more sedentary pursuits, like reading or artwork.

On the other hand, Rob and I both grew up in areas where the weather is influenced by the Great Lakes. This meant winters with a significant amount of snow, but temperatures that never spent significant stretches of days well below freezing. The snow was wet and messy, but you weren't in danger of frostbite when you filled the bird feeders in January. Lately we've been missing those warmer winters, and thinking about where we might relocate to after Emma has finished with college and we've both retired from teaching.  And while climate change is bringing slightly warmer winters to northern Illinois, I'm not sure it's happening fast enough to be significantly warmer in the next 10 years :-)

There are certain things I do like about living in higher latitudes. I like that there is a significant temperature change between summer and winter, although I would be okay with a less extreme temperature change. And I also really enjoy the very long days of summer that come with higher latitudes. It would seem strange to me, to live near the equator and never experience those long summer nights. What is your ideal place to live with respect to the weather and seasons? Do you find that the weather influences your activity in any subconscious way?

8 comments:

  1. Holy smoke, the weather was heavily influential on me today! I mean, I like being in a place that has seasons. I like that it gets cold enough to kill off mosquitoes. But having winter in May is just ridiculous, especially on a day when we had to walk all over the city.

    I, too, was fascinated with weather when I was a kid. In middle school I did a big report about all the different kinds of clouds. If I had discovered stats sooner, maybe I could have been a meteorologist.

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  2. I'm pretty happy where I am in So Cal. We get a bit hot in the summer but it's a short drive to the coast to cool off. And as they say, it's a dry heat.

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  3. The more I get to know you, Cassi, the more I realize we have in common. Meteorology was one of my career considerations, too. My family members often consult me for explanations of why the weather is doing this or that (not that I'm an expert or formally educated on the subject--I just find it interesting). I've also considered being a storm chaser. For many years, I thought I wanted to retire in a warm climate. But that comes with pests we don't have here, like fire ants and scorpions and others. Also, like you, I think I would be bored if every day was the same. That said, I'm seriously considering spending parts of my post-retirement winters in warm places. I could see leaving in early February and coming back in mid-March every year. Great post!

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    1. Rob's parents went to the Gulf coast during that Feb-March season and it does seem like a great way to stay farther north, but not suffer quite so much from these bitter winters!

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  4. Yes, I love weather, too! Severe weather is endlessly interesting to me, to study, talk about, and experience. I don't know where that gorgeous first photo was taken, but it really hits me right in the nostalgia, making me want to visit Kansas something fierce. I need a bumper sticker that says something like "I *heart* wall clouds."

    I like living in a place with distinct seasons, but winter gets pretty wearing, especially when the spring has been so chilly- it feels like a continuation of winter, and that makes me pretty cranky. That's so interesting that you felt the push to be outside and not waste the sunny weather! When we first came to Iowa to house-hunt, I was amazed at how many people were outside biking, walking, etc, but it was May, and the realtor explained that it was one of the first really warm days, so of course everyone was out and about!

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  5. I like having cold winters, but not painfully cold. Also I prefer milder summers, and not so humid. Perhaps some day we should live at a higher elevation. But at this point Judy and I want to stay in our house as long as we can.

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    1. And not surprising, with that amazing garden. Well, and the city isn't too shabby either :-)

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  6. If the weather is nice, I feel compelled to be outside but sometimes I'm just outside in the hammock with a good book. :o)

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