It’s been a cold winter so far here in the Midwest, and here’s proof: the Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse is completely encased in rime. Ain’t it beautiful?
Winter is icumin in
December 17, 2010 • 11:20 am
Why Evolution is True is a blog written by Jerry Coyne, centered on evolution and biology but also dealing with diverse topics like politics, culture, and cats.
I’ve heard the odd weather attributed to a la niña. Here in southern California we just had rain, which means that sometime down the road you folks can expect more bad weather of your own.
I just had to ask. . .
If an aged seaman got covered in the stuff would it be the rime of the ancient mariner?
:- )
Moar :-))
Rime.
Thanks for the new word!
Gee. Isn’t god’s handiwork beautiful? (…ducks…)
Winter is icumen in,
Lhude sing Goddamm,
Raineth drop and staineth slop,
And how the wind doth ramm!
Sing: Goddamm.
Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us,
An ague hath my ham.
Freezeth river, turneth liver,
Damm you; Sing: Goddamm.
Goddamm, Goddamm, ’tis why I am, Goddamm,
So ‘gainst the winter’s balm.
Sing goddamm, damm, sing goddamm,
Sing goddamm, sing goddamm, DAMM.
– Ezra Pound
He said rime, not rhyme.
😉
Wonderful
Thnx! Forwarded. 😀
“It’s been a cold winter so far…”
You’re aware that winter doesn’t officially start until next week?
The meteorological winter starts on December 1. Midwinter falls on December 21.
(So I suppose winter must end on January 10.)
Sadly this will only be grist to climate denialists’ mill.
Indeed, and the grist isn’t just from Cleveland, either, which would be no surprise to Lefty (of Pancho and Lefty).
In Sweden too – today’s paper there says it’s the coldest pre-winter in 150yr. Even if you can’t read Swedish, check the accompanying photo here! http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/kallaste-forvintern-pa-150-ar-skapar-problem-1.1228599
This is causing all the usual sorts of problems, and it’s not much different Vienna & Frankfurt. Explanations are apparently hard to come by, but high pressure over Iceland and low pressure over the Azores should be the other way around.
Truly beautiful! I wonder what kind of damage that does to the structure? Must weigh a ton!
This would all be more exciting if there were still a lighthouse keeper to be encased within…:D
In the interest of science, I must point out that “rime” is actually ice formations, on the windward side of objects. that forms out of freezing fog as the wind drives it against things like trees, buildings, wires, etc. — even, sometimes against mountain faces. It’s ice formations are very light and feathery, not unlike thin blades of snow all stuck together in fractal-looking formations. It is probably the most beautiful (and sometimes dangerous) forms of frozen water.
The video demonstrates pretty clearly that the ice is formed from liquid water )notice waves crashing over the scene) and the ice is solid and bulky. It looks more like a beautiful clear marble covering. wax dripped from a candle.
A wonderful video,by the way.