CMattscheckIS312
The Hydrologic Cycle
Well, it seems my second picture didn't upload for some reason, so here it is again!
I first took this picture as I sat outside, watching the sunset, because I thought the cloud rather reminded me of the Battlestar Galactica (NERD ALERT, right?). Then, as I watched it head out to sea, I thought more about the hydrologic cycle, how water had evaporated somewhere nearby (or far away), condensed in the cooler air of the high altitudes and formed the cloud I watched. Would it continue out to sea and gather more moisture? Dissipate? Or, perhaps, get drawn into a frontal clash and turn into a system that would rain water back down into the ocean?
I recently read Issac's Storm by Erik Larson (great historical narrative by an amazing author!) which, among other things, talked about some early beliefs in weather, like shooting cannons into the sky to either bring about or repeal storms. Hogwash as we know now, of course. But what if we actually *were* able to harness some part of the water cycle - prevent some of that moisture from emptying in the seas and redirect it to drought stricken areas? Maybe even dissipate cloud cover in our gloomier NorthEastern/Western states? Initiate small storms in the dry plains?
The Hydrologic Cycle
Well, it seems my second picture didn't upload for some reason, so here it is again!
I first took this picture as I sat outside, watching the sunset, because I thought the cloud rather reminded me of the Battlestar Galactica (NERD ALERT, right?). Then, as I watched it head out to sea, I thought more about the hydrologic cycle, how water had evaporated somewhere nearby (or far away), condensed in the cooler air of the high altitudes and formed the cloud I watched. Would it continue out to sea and gather more moisture? Dissipate? Or, perhaps, get drawn into a frontal clash and turn into a system that would rain water back down into the ocean?
I recently read Issac's Storm by Erik Larson (great historical narrative by an amazing author!) which, among other things, talked about some early beliefs in weather, like shooting cannons into the sky to either bring about or repeal storms. Hogwash as we know now, of course. But what if we actually *were* able to harness some part of the water cycle - prevent some of that moisture from emptying in the seas and redirect it to drought stricken areas? Maybe even dissipate cloud cover in our gloomier NorthEastern/Western states? Initiate small storms in the dry plains?