Volume 23/Number 2/Summer 1999
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Tides—generally speaking, very predicable and relatively benign phenomena. But, add the right combination of landforms and atmospheric conditions and they can wreak havoc upon the coastline. |
Volume 23/Number 2/Summer 1999
|
|
|
Tides—generally speaking, very predicable and relatively benign phenomena. But, add the right combination of landforms and atmospheric conditions and they can wreak havoc upon the coastline. |
A great deal of national attention has been focused on this year’s drought
in this region of the country. Throughout much of the 1999 growing season,
moisture shortages (which generally began in the summer of 1998), have brought some serious problems to much of the Commonwealth.
But what really constitutes a drought and how do we keep track of its
magnitude? Notwithstanding the very real and significant impact to Virginia,
where does this drought stand in the longer-term and larger-scale scheme of
things? Leave it to the Advisory to provide some background as well as
bring a bit of historical and geographical perspective to the issue.
We all know, in a general astronomical sense, what drives the tides, but the
influence of the weather makes forecasting tides and dealing with their effects
a much more complicated matter. Here, we offer some explanation of the
atmospheric forces which can work to turn beachfront bliss into a raging
disaster.
In your Advisory
. . .
Advisory Staff
Dr. Patrick J. Michaels, State Climatologist
Philip J. Stenger, Research Coordinator and Advisory Editor
Paul C. Knappenberger, Senior Analyst
Dustin Hux and Stephen Gawtry, Research Assistants
The Virginia Climate Advisory is a service publication of the Virginia State Climatology Office, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia. The Advisory's purpose is to present information about our climate, its impact and related research findings. We reserve the right to do this in a humorous fashion. The Advisory is mailed to subscribers worldwide. We welcome your comments. Subscriptions are available by writing or calling this office (804) 924–0548.