ICY SCIENCE: SCIENCE SPACE ASTRONOMY Spring 2014 | Page 71

71

Chasing Cloudbows
I have always been obsessed with anything in the sky, whether it is astronomical
or meteorological. I probably wouldn’t go as far as saying I was a plane spotter, but
I also have a keen interest in military aircraft so I would describe myself as a skywatcher. So when everyone else was moaning about the thick fog outside…I was
busy packing my camera equipment and tripod. The kids were rather intrigued as
to why I was bringing this along on the school run on such an “awful day”. They
are generally used to me having a quick glance out of the window, abandoning my
current activity (usually their dinner, much to their disgust) and running outside
with my camera…but t here was no sunrise, sunset, clear sky, Moon or sound of a
jet…just a blanket of grey.
I was hoping the reason for my excitement would be revealed when we reached
the school bus stop. As we drove up the steep lane from the house the fog was
still like pea soup and I squealed with delight! When we reached the pull in at the
top of the lane to wait for the bus the fog was just starting to clear, it was becoming daylight and the reason for my excitement was evident. A clear sky!
I should probably explain my reasons on why this morning was particularly different. It is all to do with location. We live at about 700ft on the side of a west
facing hill. When I look out of my window and see fog it can be a good thing or a
bad thing. It is normally determined when driving up to the top of our access lane
(some may call it a drive but that to me means smooth, coiffured home entrance).
This is a potholed, weather beaten track which leads to the top of the hill…and
civilisation! Usually at the top (around 900ft) the ‘fog’ can usually be identified as
Stratus- the bad thing…or radiation/ valley fog- the good thing! Stratus is when the
ICY SCIENCE | QTR 2 SPRING 2014