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Tuesday, June 26, 2001

Green Thunderstorms
Here is an interesting article from Weatherwise magazine on the origin of the green color sometimes seen in thunderstorms.
The Green Menace
"If you've ever seen a green sky, you would have no doubts about its eerie pall, but do you know what makes it green? And can anyone really tell what it predicts of the storm at hand?
Since 1995, it has been my job to find out. I began searching for green skies as a meteorology graduate student at the University of Oklahoma in hopes of shedding some light on the green menace."
posted at 6/26/2001 11:14:59 AM

Tuesday, June 12, 2001

Steam Balloons
Here is a different take on lighter than air craft, using steam instead of hot air/helium/hydrogen as the lifting gas in a balloon.
The Flying Kettle Project - balloons and airships filled with steam!
"The Steam Balloon is a sort of hybrid between a hot-air balloon and a gas balloon. It is our contention that a steam balloon will have certain definite advantages over the hot-air balloons that are in common use today. It must be admitted that it also will exhibit certain disadvantages. What the balance between these turns out to be, in various circumstances, can only be properly assessed after much experience in actual operation."
posted at 6/12/2001 12:25:11 PM

Rubber Band Ball Web Ring
Not only is there more than one Rubber Band Ball website, there is even a Web Ring devoted to this hobby. At the moment there are only 5 websites on the ring, but this is sure to expand. Check in often to see the balls grow and see the ever changing statistics. FYI, a 45 lb rubber band ball is a bit over 13 inches in diameter, the world record weighs over a ton.
The SUDftw Rubber Band Ball Page
posted at 6/12/2001 11:24:17 AM

Monday, June 11, 2001

Dr. Bill Gray's Atlantic Hurricane Forecast Updated June 7
The latest forecast predicts higher probabilities for everything since the April forecast.
UPDATED FORECAST OF ATLANTIC SEASONAL HURRICANES
posted at 6/11/2001 11:54:14 AM