Synopses & Reviews
What is the difference between "partly cloudy" and "partly sunny" in a weather report?
The expression partly sunny was brought to you by the same folks who brought you comfort station and sanitary engineer. As a technical meteorological term, partly sunny doesn't exist. So while you might assume that a partly sunny sky should be clearer than a partly cloudy one, the two terms signify the same condition. You have merely encountered a weathercaster who prefers to see the glass as half full rather than half empty.
Actually, most of the meteorological terms that seem vague and arbitrary have precise meanings. The degree of cloudiness is measured by the National Weather Service and described according to the following scales: Percentage of Cloud CoverTerm 0-30clear 31-70partly cloudy 71-99cloudy 100overcast
Where does "fair" weather fit into this spectrum? Fair weather generally refers to any day with less than a 50 percent cloud cover (thus even some "partly cloudy" days could also be "fair"). But even a cloudy day can be termed fair if the cover consists largely of transparent clouds. On days when a profusion of thin cirrus clouds hangs high in the sky but does not block the sun, it is more descriptive to call it a fair day than a partly cloudy one, since one thick cloud formation can screen more sunshine than many willowy cirrus formations.
You might also have heard the aviation descriptions of cloud cover used in weather forecasts. Here's what they mean: Percentage of Cloud CoverTerm0-9clear10-50scattered clouds51-89broken sky90-99cloudy100overcast
Not many people know what the weather service means when it forecasts that there is a "chance" of rain. Precipitationprobabilities expressed in vague adjectives also have precise meaning: Chance of PrecipitationNational Weather Service Term0-20%no mention of precipitation is made21-50%"chance" of precipitation51-79%precipitation "likely"80-100%will not hedge with adjective: "snow," "rain," etc.How does the National Weather Service determine the daily cloud cover in the space age? Do they send up weather balloons? Satellites? Not quite. They send a meteorologist to the roof of a building in a relatively isolated area (airports are usually used in big cities) and have him or her look up at the sky and make a well-informed but very human guess.
Synopsis
Imponderables
The Solution to the Mysteries
of Everyday Life
Did you ever wonder why you never see baby pigeons? Or why a thumbs-up gesture means "OK"? At last the solutions to some of life's most baffling questions are gathered here in one volume. Written in an informative and entertaining style and illustrated with drawings that are clearly to the point, Imponderables gets to the bottom of everyday life's mysteries, among them:
- Why is a mile 5,280 feet?
- Which fruits are in Juicy Fruit' gum?
- Why does an X stand for a kiss?
- Why don't cats like to swim?
- Why do other people hear our voices differently than we do?
Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and almanacs don't have the answers --Imponderables does! And in answering such questions, it touches on an astonishing variety of subjects, including sports, science, history, politics, television, radio, and much more. No trivial pursuit, Imponderables takes a surprising, illuminating, and humorous look at ourselves and the world around us.
David Feldman has a master's degree in popular culture from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. While at Bowling Green, he taught the first-ever college course on soap operas, and when he pursued his doctorate in American studies at the University of Maryland, he also taught the course there. Feldman has written about a wide range of popular-culture topics. Formerly in the programming department of NBC-TV, he consults and lectures on the media. He lives in New York City
Synopsis
Imponderables
The Solution to the Mysteries
of Everyday Life
Did you ever wonder why you never see baby pigeons? Or why a thumbs-up gesture means "OK"? At last the solutions to some of life's most baffling questions are gathered here in one volume. Written in an informative and entertaining style and illustrated with drawings that are clearly to the point, "Imponderables" gets to the bottom of everyday life's mysteries, among them: Why is a mile 5,280 feet?Which fruits are in Juicy Fruit' gum?Why does an X stand for a kiss?Why don't cats like to swim?Why do other people hear our voices differently than we do?
Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and almanacs don't have the answers --"Imponderables" does! And in answering such questions, it touches on an astonishing variety of subjects, including sports, science, history, politics, television, radio, and much more. No trivial pursuit, "Imponderables "takes a surprising, illuminating, and humorous look at ourselves and the world around us.
About the Author
David Feldman is the author of Imponderables and How to Win at Just About Everything. He has a masters degree in popular culture from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Formerly in the programming department of NBC-TV, he consults and lectures on the media and writes about a wide range of popular culture.