The collection of articles about climate and ecology
Read the collection of articles about climate and ecology on the Windy.app blog from the experts of the leading pro weather forecast app for wind sports and outdoors recognized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as the best in its category.
Climate
What is the difference between weather and climate, and seasons
Weather is one of the most commonly used words. Its meaning seems obvious, but only until one thinks about what the weather exactly is. It’s the same with climate — one of the hottest topics nowadays, from WhatsApp chats with your friends to international conferences dedicated to climate change. And then there are the seasons. What do they refer to?
In this article, you will learn precise definitions of all of these terms and understand the difference between weather and climate, and seasons.
Find out what climate you live in by the Koppen classification
As you already know, weather and climate are two different but related things. The first is the state of the atmosphere here and now, and the second is its average values over decades. In turn, the climate is also not a uniform phenomenon, it is different in this or that part of the planet. In a nutshell, this is why it is always hot in Africa, cold in the Arctic, and in temperate latitudes we see and experience the whole range of weather phenomena. Koppen climate classification is used to classify various climate types.
In this article, we will understand what they are and how to read them.
The cold breath of global warming: how winter frost is connected to the warm Arctic
February 2021 in Europe was three and a half degrees colder than normal, and the first thaw of the month came only on February 26. There were huge snowfalls in Spain, Denmark, and Switzerland. It was cold not only in the EU: there were news from freezing Texas makes. Why is this so? Isn't the climate on our planet getting warmer?
In this article, you will learn how winter frost is connected to the warm Arctic and other few things about climate on Earth.
What is extreme weather and what does it have to do with climate change
It is believed that the climate has been influenced by humans for centuries and now we can face the results of this effect. The question is: What is man's role in it? A new 2021 United Nations report and other studies says: "It is a big role".
In this article, you will learn what extreme weather is, what are the main types of extreme weather events and how it relates to climate change.
It finally happened: the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for climate modeling
The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics has already become legendary. It’s the first time when climate studies were mentioned in the Physics section of the Prize, which makes us all witnesses of a unique event, that we’ve been waiting for years.
In this article, you will learn what the Nobel Prize actually is and to mention the most noticeable inventions and ideas in Physics that were acknowledged since 1901 when the award was given for the first time.
Ski resorts and climate change. How they survive and help to fight it
In short, global warming leads to melting snow. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, beneath which lurks a whole series of related questions and problems (but also innovations) that ski resorts face and have to deal with — on a regular basis as of late. Yes, getting rid of plastic is not the only way to be more environmentally friendly.
In this article, we'll break down in short how ski resorts are surviving climate change and how they are helping to combat it with five examples, although it's clear there are ten times as many.
How to use weather history for better weather forecasting
The history of the weather is statistical data on the state of the atmosphere and the ocean, collected on the basis of regular meteorological observations made from hour to hour, day to day, month to month, year to year — continuously. The purpose of data collection is the same as any other statistical information: to better understand the current weather situation and make better forecasts.
In this article, you will learn what is weather history, why do you need it for weather forecasting and where to get it in Windy.app.
Check the weather history for the best ski resorts in Europe
Will there be snow at the ski resort? And the wind? For how long? Where is the best skiing at the end of February? These are the questions every skier or snowboarder asks when planning a trip to some ski area or a particular resort. But the weather forecasts so far cover a period of maximum of 10–14 days, the last of which is already much less accurate than the first few. It is simply impossible to predict the weather well in advance even with the best weather models. But there is a way out — weather history.
In this article, we present an archive of forecasts for seven major ski resorts in Europe.
Ecology
What is Air Quality Index in the area of your living and outdoor activities
The good air in the weather forecast for today is not just about the comfortable temperature or humidity, but also an Air Quality Index (AQI) that shows you how clean the atmosphere around you in a particular place. It helps you plan your outdoor activities and life in general. This data is also presented on an Air Quality Index map.
In this article, you will learn what is AQI and how to read such a map, as well as where the best and worst air on the planet is.
What you have to know about plastic in the ocean
It is believed that plastic makes up most of the garbage that gets into the ocean. When it comes to the specific amount of plastic that enters ocean waters each year, people often cite a study dating back as far as 2010 and an interval between 4.8 and 12.7 million tons. But it is impossible to say for sure how much plastic actually gets into the ocean now. The same applies to many other important indicators, which makes it difficult to consider the problem objectively.
In this article, you will learn if the plastic is really as dangerous to the oceans as is commonly thought.
Text: Windy.app
Cover photo: Kalen Emsley / Unsplash
