APRIL 25, 2008: OAK TREES AND LIGHTNING

Early Slavic and Norse cultures considered the oak to be the god of thunder. It was, for instance, thought that a charred oak log, kept on the hearth all summer long, would protect one's house from lightning. What these observant folks were noticing about the oak was that it was more likely than other trees to be struck by lightning, and more likely to survive a strike, than say an ash or a pine. And this is true. The Oak typically has a very deep central root that plunges straight down beneath the tree. Also, hollow water filled cells run up and down in the wood of the oak's trunk. These two qualities make oak trees better grounded and more conductive than trees with shallow roots and closed cells.

So the Oak attracts lightning, which passes through to the grounded root, the lightning causes thunder and the connection between the Oak and the God of Thunder must have seemed obvious. This is a point however that these days should not be used in lightning safety. The last thing you want to do when caught in a thunderstorm is pause for a little tree identification. Be it oak, birch or hemlock, you don't want to be standing next to an isolated tree in a thunderstorm. It's best to head for the woods or head inside.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

APRIL 24, 2008: ARBOR DAY IS FRIDAY

The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, when J. Sterling Morton, an agriculturalist, civic leader, and former newspaper editor, urged Nebraska residents to “set aside one day to plant trees, both forest and fruit.” Arbor Day was so popular that more than 45 states and U.S. territories were celebrating by 1920, and all 50 states and many countries celebrate today. Both National Arbor Day and Ohio Arbor Day take place on the last Friday in April - April 25th.

The Arbor Day Foundation has found that children who spend time outdoors develop better learning skills and are more likely to take care of the environment as adults. This is the perfect opportunity to take your family outside and get planting! Visit www.arborday.org to find tree planting tips and more.

Ohio's state tree is the Buckeye, named for its nuts, which resemble the shape and color of a buck's eye. It is thought that Native Americans called the nuts "hetuck," which means eye-of-buck. The tree is also sometimes called a "Stinking" or "Fetid" Buckeye, for the scent emitted by flowers, broken branches, or damaged bark.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

APRIL 22, 2008: EARTH DAY

Happy Earth Day! Earth Day is big with schools. On many school calendars, it is the third most activity-inspiring holiday, after Christmas and Halloween. Here are a few tips in keeping Mother Earth happy.

• Throwing away a single aluminum can, versus recycling it, is like pouring out six ounces of gasoline. Last year, Americans recycled enough aluminum cans to conserve the energy equivalent of more than15 million barrels of oil.

• The EPA estimates that 75 percent of what Americans throw in the trash could actually be recycled. Currently, only 25 percent is.

• Incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates one job; landfilling 10,000 tons of waste creates six jobs; recycling 10,000 tons of waste creates 36 jobs.

• The national recycling rate of 30 percent saves the equivalent of more than five billion gallons of gasoline, reducing dependence on foreign oil by 114 million barrels. This could be even higher!

• The aluminum can is 100 percent recyclable and can be used to make new beverage cans indefinitely – demonstrating recycling at is finest! “Every can, every time!”

• According to the EPA, recycling, including composting, diverted 68 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2001, up from 34 million tons in 1990.

• Recycling 35 percent of our trash reduces emissions equivalent to taking 36 million cars of the road.

• Every Sunday 500,000 trees could be saved if everyone recycled their newspapers.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

APRIL 18, 2008: A LOOK BACK AT MARCH

Temperatures Near Average in March as Global Land Temperature Sets Record Western U.S. Snowpack Healthiest in a Decade

An analysis by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center shows that the average temperature for March in the contiguous United States ranked near average for the past 113 years. It was the 63rd warmest March since record-keeping began in the United States in 1895.

The average global land temperature last month was the warmest on record and ocean surface temperatures were the 13th warmest. Combining the land and the ocean temperatures, the overall global temperature ranked the second warmest for the month of March. Global temperature averages have been recorded since 1880.

The complete analysis is available online at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2008/mar/mar08.html

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

APRIL 15, 2008: ALLERGIES AND WEATHER

Tree pollens are typically the first allergens to show-up in the spring, causing problems for up to 40 million Americans that suffer from seasonal allergies. In Southern parts of the U.S., trees may have begun producing pollens as early as January, while production may not begin until April farther north. Regardless of where you live, the weather can have a major impact on allergy season:

• A mild winter can result in earlier tree polination and an earlier start to the allergy season. If warm, mild weather continues into spring, pollen counts can rise.

• A late-freeze that follows a mild winter can reduce tree pollen production, or even halt pollen production completely for some trees.

• Windy weather increases pollen counts by spreading tiny pollens through the air.

• Rainy weather initially decreases pollen counts, but can increase pollen production later in the year by spurring growth of late-spring and summer grasses. If preceding fall or winter seasons were rainy, tree pollen counts may increase during the spring months.

Right now, Maple, Poplar, Aspen, Cottonwood, and Alder are the main allergy culprits in the Steubenville-Wheeling area, and pollen levels are medium to high. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, reduce your exposure to tree pollens by avoiding outdoor activities during the early morning when trees usually emit pollens, between 5:00 and 10:00 a.m. Keep windows closed at night to keep pollens out of your home, and keep windows closed when traveling in the car.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

APRIL 8, 2008: THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Between 1997 and 2003, there was a 50 percent decline in the proportion of children aged 9 to 12 who spent time hiking, fishing, biking, gardening, and participating in other outdoor activities.

Between 1981 and 1991, nature recreation per person declined by one to 1.3 percent each year, and since then, has declined by 18 to 25 percent. Despite these declines, there are numerous health benefits to getting outside and enjoying nature:

• Studies have found that adults and kids that spend time outside benefit from better mental focus and restored attention;

• Studies in Sweden and England have found that “Green exercise” – such as jogging in a natural setting – can result in less anxiety, anger, and depression;

• Contact with nature has been linked to better school performance – studies in California and nation-wide found that schools with outdoor nature classrooms or other nature-based programs saw student gains in social studies, math, language arts, and science.

Take it outside! Enjoy nice weather by visiting a park or nature center, hiking or fishing, taking a walk around the neighborhood, riding your bike, or finding another way to reconnect with the great outdoors. Not only will you benefit, but the environment will, too. A 2006 survey of urban adults, aged 18 to 90, found that participation in “wild” nature activities before age 11 helped to shape positive environmental attitudes and behaviors in adulthood.

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.

ARPIL 4, 2008: RAINY END TO THE WEEK

Flood watches remain in effect for counties south of I-70 through this evening. Rainfall amounts in these areas will reach an inch. Lesser amounts are expected north of this area.

Did you know that since 1910, overall precipitation in the lower 48 states has increased by ten percent? This extra ten percent has made heavy and extreme precipitation events more frequent and more intense. Extreme precipitation events are defined as a 24-hour period with more than two inches of rainfall, and over the last century the proportion of rainfall events that fall in this category has risen from nine percent to eleven percent. In the Northeastern and Southeastern Regions, heavy rainfall events are closely correlated with high stream flow events during the months of maximum streamflow. In other words, in these Regions, above average streamflow events are now more likely to occur during seasons when the streamflow volume is already high.

This weekend will be the warmest weekend in some five months! High temperatures will reach into the 50’s tomorrow and 60’s by Sunday. Clouds will give way to increasing amounts of sun Saturday while Sunday is expected to remain mostly sunny. Break out the golf clubs!

Email your weather questions toweather@wtov.com.
I'm meteorologist Jeff Oechslein.