Dazzling Days at the Duckpond

Not long ago, several layers of clothing including thermal pants, a winter jacket, and a stocking cap were necessary in order to navigate around campus.  Fortunately, the weather patterns have shifted for the time being, and Blacksburg, Virginia spent most of this week basking in the sunshine.  The Duckpond, as its name suggests, is home to many species of ducks and fish, as well as a variety of other wildlife.  This high-pressure weather system that recently moved through the area, composed of relatively dry air along with clear skies, has allowed the many animals and other creatures to venture out into the open and enjoy the habitat that they call home.  The increased temperatures melted the once frozen pond and allowed the ducks to frolic in the water and search for food to satisfy their hunger.  Additionally, the recent warmth has resulted in vegetation springing to life, eager to bloom and thrive.  Unfortunately, it is common for vegetation to die due to the vast fluctuations in temperature in this area.  Temperatures seem to be relatively warm for this time of the year, given that it is not out of the ordinary for the month of February to deposit large amounts of snow here.  Surprisingly, according to the Weather Channel, every state excluding Texas, Louisiana, and Florida is expected to undergo below average temperatures for the early portion of Spring.  This prediction was made for the months of March, April, and May, so it will be interesting to monitor the weather in the upcoming months.  Even though it is nice to enjoy the warm weather, there is no doubt that it will likely have an adverse effect on the vegetation and wildlife as temperature continues to fluctuate until the summer months arrive.

Sources:

“Spring 2018 Temperature Outlook: Cooler-Than-Average Temperatures Expected in North With Above-Average Warmth Confined to South.” The Weather Channel, The Weather Channel, 16 Feb. 2018, weather.com/forecast/national/news/2018-02-14-spring-2018-temperature-outlook-march-april-may-the-weather.

Fog Over the Football Field

Fog, a seemingly complex natural phenomenon, can be simply defined as the existence of a cloud at or near ground level.  For this reason, it is logical that fog formation is more likely to occur in higher altitudes than in lower elevations.  A large portion of the development of fog can be attributed to the accumulation of water vapor which condenses just above the earth's surface.  There are many common types of fog, such as radiation, valley, advection, upslope evaporation, freezing, and forecasting.  This picture, taken on Saturday, February 10^th, portrays a blanket of fog that settled in the Blacksburg area, specifically over Lane Stadium.  Blacksburg is located in the Appalachian Mountain Range, and not surprisingly, this area experiences plentiful amounts of fog all year long.  While fog may not seem as harmful as some other serious weather conditions such as snow or ice, it can undoubtedly have a significant impact on everyday activities.  Fog, depending on its severity, can significantly reduce vision capabilities and provide a serious obstacle that must be managed carefully.  Vehicles traveling in foggy areas are at an increased risk of an accident, and serious fog can delay or even cancel commercial flights.  Afton Mountain, a stretch of highway on Interstate 64 near Charlottesville, was the sight of one of the most horrific traffic collisions in Virginia over the last forty years.  The lack of visibility due to extreme fog created adverse traveling conditions causing a fifty-four-vehicle crash which killed two people and injured forty others.  Besides the extreme life-threatening conditions initiated by fog, it often provides many other less significant, but schedule altering experiences nonetheless.  As an avid golfer, I have often completed my early morning tournament preparations, only to travel to a site to discover that my competition had been cancelled or significantly delayed due to the lack of visibility created by the impact of fog.  Although seemingly benign, fog is certainly a hazard that must be navigated using extreme caution in order to prevent unnecessary damage which may be prevented if a little patience is exercised.

Sources:

Pressley, Sue Anne. “IN I-64 PILEUPS, DEATH WAS SWIFT, SHROUDED IN FOG.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 23 Apr. 1992, www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1992/04/23/in-i-64-pileups-death-was-swift-shrouded-in-fog/77e5cfb8-a544-4f8a-a836-85c1af111669/?utm_term=.07d2c0028587.

Society, National Geographic. “Fog.” National Geographic Society, National Geographic, 9 Oct. 2012, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/fog/.

“What is fog?” Met Office, Met Office, 10 Jan. 2018, www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/fog.