Weather

How To Be A Storm Chaser Or Weather Spotter For The National Weather Service

You've seen storm chasers and weather spotters featured on the local and national news. Plenty of times, right?

What is the definition of a storm chaser?  A storm chaser is defined as a person who pursues imminent or existing severe thunderstorms, for any reason, and operates independently or as part of a research effort.  Source

Ever wonder how you can become an official weather spotter for the National Weather Service?

Well, I did it. I became an NOAA weather spotter. Here's how I did it...

Continue reading: Become An NOAA Weather Spotter

Fun Things To Do With Clouds

Here are some really fun pictures you can create using just a blue sky, some clouds in the sky, and various props of your of choosing. The best part: No photo editing is needed! Yet the end result will look so amazing, that people will think your photos aren't real. Have a look...

Continue reading: Fun With Clouds

Renewable Energy For The Future Of Planet Earth

Renewable energy effectively uses natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat, which may be naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity/micro hydro, biomass and biofuels for transportation. Source

Who knew that there was a difference between the concepts of alternate fuel and alternate energy? Not many people on Planet Earth!

We have made ourselves so dependent upon power from fossil fuel sources, that the entire world is being held captive by a very few oil-rich countries. How did these few sources come to have so
much and other countries so little?

They got it by eminent domain -- it was on their land when they arrived.

Continue reading: Renewable Energy

Watch For Emergency Broadcast Text Messages From The FCC On Your Cell Phone

I think this is a great idea... especially in this day and age, where people are using cell phones like crazy. I mean, it's hard to find anyone who's not carrying a cell phone these days. Even kids carry cell phones everywhere they go!

So, for me, there is a small feeling of relief knowing that the FCC will soon be broadcasting emergency warnings on our cellphones.

The plan stems from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires upgrades to the emergency alert system. The act requires the Federal Communications Commission to develop ways to alert the public about emergencies. Source

Continue reading: FCC Emergency Txt Messages

Global Warming: The Untold Story

When an ice cube melts in Greenland, it's the lead story on the evening news because it was caused by human-induced global warming. When a polar bear hibernates 50 yards farther north than last year, we're told by news commentators it is because not enough people have purchased hybrid vehicles. When a tornado hits the deep south in February, certain scientists tell us on cable tv it is because the United States did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. But when a large group of internationally acclaimed scientists get together to discuss the shortcomings of the IPCC's report on climate change, they are absolutely ignored by the national media.

Continue reading: Global Warming: The Untold Story

Flying Through The Clouds

From the ground, it just looks cloudy. But as you go up in an airplane, you see the makeup of the atmosphere is much more complex, with several layers of clouds making up the overcast we see from our backyard. If you know how to read the Skew-T weather map, you can figure out exactly how high those clouds are, layer by layer!

Continue reading: Flying Through The Clouds

Rain Gauges: A Guide To The Best Rain Gauges on the Internet

For some, knowing how much rain fell in the backyard is just a matter of curiosity. For others, it is essential to their day to day lives.

Whether you are a weekend weather warrior, or someone whose makes a living based on rain which does or does fall, there is a rain gauge out there for you to measure the rainfall just like the pros.

Continue reading: Best Rain Gauges

Let it #$@$% Snow!

Large white snowflakes falling from the sky - meandering slowly to the ground below. The brown grass below slowly turning snow white. People hustling to and from their cars into their homes and stores.

It's beautiful! To a southerner. But as I found out this week, it's all a matter of perspective.

Continue reading: Let It Snow... Or NOT!

Weather Maps: Understanding Weather Symbols

Gee whiz that weather map looks cool.

Ever wonder what all of those numbers and symbols mean?

Here are the answers! 

Continue reading: Weather Maps & Weather Symbols

Global Warming: Real or not?

We could probably do a daily Global Warming Update, but there are plenty of places already doing that. Instead, I promise to continue to keep a look out for pertinent articles, books and stories about the Climate Change and from time to time give you the good stuff here on TheFunTimesGuide.com. Here is information about a new book, a recent article about the ice age of the 1970s and other goodies to help you build your knowledge about Global Warming.

Continue reading: Global Warming: Real or not?