Mohawk valley astronomical society
wild weather by carol higgins
Weather conditions in the Mohawk Valley during March can swing wildly, and the proverb “in like a lion, out like a lamb” is fitting because of a seasonal change on March 20. That’s when winter technically ends and spring begins. A search through regional records shows impressive temperature ranges and snowstorms. Record-breakers include a cold spell that dropped the temperature to -27 degrees Fahrenheit in 1950 and a toasty high of 86°F in 1945. Snowstorm Stella dumped 33 inches of snow in March 2017. But our weather is mild compared to other places in our solar system where wild weather is the norm. Let’s visit some of them. We begin at Mercury, a rocky planet with a very slow spin rate and egg-shaped orbit. It takes 1,408 hours to make one rotation. During those long days, temperatures can reach 800°F on the Sun-facing side and a chilly -290°F on the night side. However, its next-door neighbor has the record as the hottest planet. Venus is also rocky and has a very thick atmosphere comprised mostly of carbon dioxide (often called greenhouse gas) that traps heat. Its clouds release a rain of sulfuric acid, a corrosive ingredient used in automobile batteries. Temperatures reach about 900°F on the surface, hot enough to melt lead. Beyond Earth is Mars, where reddish-colored dust on its rocky surface
contributes to unique storms. Every day winds create dust devils that move the dust around, and dust storms are common. Occasionally one will grow and envelop the entire planet, a process that scientists don’t understand. In 2018, a week-long global dust storm was so intense it blocked sunlight and covered Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io. the solar panels on NASA’s OpportuniImage credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona ty rover. It prevented the batteries Hanny’s from Voorwerp. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, W. Keel, Galaxy Zoo Team charging and ended the mission. ing too. Titan has a thick atmosphere, Next is Jupiter and its most wellclouds and rain, and rivers and lakes on known feature. The Great Red Spot is a its surface. But that liquid isn’t water, it gigantic swirling storm, almost twice the is methane, ethane, and other hydrocarsize of Earth with winds over 400 mph. bons. Scientists believe there is an unOne of Jupiter’s 79 moons is quite active derground ocean of water, and Titan may too. The moon Io is the most active volsupport some form of life. canic world in the Solar System. It has If you enjoy supersonic winds, ice giover 400 volcanoes, with over 100 eruptant Neptune is the place to go. Its atmoing at the same time. They spew materisphere is mainly hydrogen, helium, and als like sulfur dioxide hundreds of miles methane, and winds reaching 1,200 mph into space and send molten rock flowing send its clouds of frozen methane zoominto lava lakes. Jupiter’s strong gravity ing across the planet. Storms also form, flexes Io’s surface, causing it to rise and and astronomers sometimes use the Hubfall up to 330 feet. If you take a look at ble Space Telescope to track them. In Jupiter and its 4 brightest moons through August 2020 one of those storms abrupta telescope, Io is one of those moons. ly changed direction and left everyone Saturn sports a weird weather system perplexed. in the atmosphere above the north pole. As we head back to Earth I am reIt is a huge hexagon almost 20,000 miles minded of the famous line in The Wizacross, with a spinning hurricane at its ard of Oz movie, “There’s no place like center and 300 mph winds. Scientists are home”. How true! having a difficult time explaining its odd Wishing you clear skies and good shape and the forces that drive it. The health! • weather on one of its moons is interest-
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