Category Archives: weather

A show and tell

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Alistair

I take pictures to better understand things seen. I post discussions to website and blog as a personal memory aid. That my notes are available publicly is incidental. Yet, the public is not incidental when one gives an illustrated talk; … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, mammals, weather, wildflowers | 9 Comments

Beach walk

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Alistair

On a beautiful sunny day, a walk along the beach at Kokanee Creek Park revealed old friends and a new delight. Three are illustrated below in the order seen. The view over the waters of Kootenay Lake often shows rather … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, weather | 1 Comment

Equinoctial sunrise

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Alistair

As if to proclaim the equinox, today’s sunrise was grand.  

Posted in scenes, weather | 6 Comments

Wave clouds

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Alistair

The (main) Kootenay Lake website has a page devoted to local wave clouds. In the summertime, cumulus clouds are the norm; in the wintertime, wave clouds (lenticular clouds) are more common. Alas, for those of us who are valley dwellers, … Continue reading →

Posted in weather | Comments Off on Wave clouds

Pileus

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Alistair

In ancient times, pileus was the name of a brimless felt cap worn first by Greek sailors and then by Roman freed slaves. The word is now applied to the cap of a mushroom and the cloud that forms over … Continue reading →

Posted in weather | 2 Comments

Rainbow panorama

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Alistair

I am a fan of rainbows. It is a rare bow that I will not record. Last evening’s bow was grand: well defined primary and secondary bows along with Alexander’s dark band (the dark region between the bows). Plus, this … Continue reading →

Posted in weather | 2 Comments

Uptick response

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Alistair

  A small change in the Lake’s level has produced a big response in the quantity of floating debris. For three days, the level drifted down some thirty centimetres. Then last night it came up five centimetres. The Lake suddenly … Continue reading →

Posted in weather | Comments Off on Uptick response

Cloud estimate error

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Alistair

We don’t have just one way of estimating the distance to an object; we have many. When objects are nearby, we use our stereo vision to judge spacial distribution. Beyond ten meters or so, we need other clues. If we know the … Continue reading →

Posted in weather | 2 Comments

Clapotis gaufré

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Alistair

The elements raged: Thursday afternoon brought lightning, thunder, graupel, strong west winds, waves, and best of all, clapotis gaufré. Clapotis is derived from the French, le clapotis, meaning standing waves. Gaufré means waffled. So, together it describes a waffled pattern of … Continue reading →

Posted in weather | Comments Off on Clapotis gaufré

Halo substitution

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Alistair

Today the cirrus contained columnar ice crystals, rather than plates. This meant no circumhorizontal arc, but other haloes compensated. At noon, for a few weeks around the summer solstice I watch for the circumhorizontal arc. This is a really very … Continue reading →

Posted in weather | Comments Off on Halo substitution