Weather vs. climate change
In today’s Sound Off, a reader asks the difference between weather and climate change:
Dear Heloise: I’m confused. What is the difference between climate change and weather? We’re having nice fall weather, so I don’t seem to notice any climate change. -- Jessica H., Flint, Michigan
Jessica, according to U.S. Geological Survey (www.usgs.gov), “weather” means atmospheric conditions over a short period of time, while “climate is the weather of a specific region averaged over a long period of time.” For example, weather might be a chilly day, while climate change would be having warmer winters than the past generation.
Nasa.gov states that weather is minute to minute, day to day, season to season. But climate is the measure of weather over a long period of time. NASA shares that an easy way to remember the difference between the two is that “climate is what you expect, like a very hot summer, and weather is what you get, like a hot day with pop-up thunderstorms.”
Tropical storms have become stronger and more erratic due to warmer temperatures in the ocean water. Places that were normally packed with snow and ice, such as the polar regions, are now experiencing unprecedented melting. -- Heloise SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise P.O. Box 795001 San Antonio, TX 78279-5001 Fax: 1-210-HELOISE Email: Heloise@heloise.com
FAST FACTS Here is a list of things to check before the heavy winter weather:
-- Have a chimney sweep check your fireplace.
-- Have winter blankets washed or dry cleaned and ready.
-- Stock up on a few basic food supplies. -- Check windows and doors for drafts, and seal off any you find.
-- If you are snowed in, have a plan of action in case of an emergency. -- Make sure you have enough medical supplies and medications on hand.
SKATING RINK
Dear Heloise: I have four very active young children who go crazy if they are house-bound in the winter. Last year my husband made an ice skating rink in the backyard by banking the snow in a large circle and filling it with water from our hose. While I admit the water bill was high that month, I always knew where my kids were and who they were with when out of the house. -- Rhonda K., Mandan, N.D.
PICTURE PERFECT
Dear Heloise: Before I visit my doctor (I now have three I see), I line up my medications and take a picture up close of each one. Then I hand the camera phone to my doctor, and he can see what I take. This has saved a lot of confusion, and it’s easier on the doctor to see what I take. -- Patricia V., Shelton, Connecticut
CLING WRAP
Dear Heloise: After I had a total hip replacement, I was told I could take a shower in a couple of days but to wrap something around or over my wound site. I finally thought about the clear cling wrap I use over bowls of food and used that to cover the area of surgery. It worked perfectly! -- Joann S., Centerville, Massachusetts
TISSUE PAPER
Dear Heloise: Wrapping a gift can get almost as expensive as the gift! I try to reuse as much wrapping as possible. So I take the tissue paper and iron it on a very low setting (usually what’s called a “cool iron”). It comes out just like new and saves me from having to buy tissue paper for wrapping. -- Gloria N., Roswell, Georgia
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