426 ] Understanding the Weather 



the night, the morning sun often evaporates the clouds and stops 

 the rain. However, the proverb does not apply to heavy storms 

 that are often connected with northeast or southerly winds. 



WHEN THE SUN "DRAWS WATER" 



Still another weather prediction we can depend on to a 

 certain extent is that rain is on the way if we see "the sun drawing 

 water." This expression, which is used to describe light rays 

 streaming toward the setting sun, is inaccurate. 



Actually the rays are formed by sunlight streaming through 

 openings in the clouds and shining on vapor. However, as the 

 rays appear when there is an exceptional amount of moisture in 

 the air and when the sun is hidden behind a cloud, it often hap- 

 pens that they precede rainy weather. But often, of course, they 

 do not. 



UNRELIABLE PREDICTIONS 



Among the many false notions is the one that we can tell 

 how many days will pass before it rains by counting the number 

 of bright stars within a ring that may be around the moon. An- 

 other entirely incorrect idea is that whenever the moon goes into 

 a new phase, the weather changes. 



If all these old tales were true, the weatherman could close up 

 shop. As it is, he has to stay on the job twenty-four hours a day, 

 using the most modern equipment devised by scientists; and at 

 that he cannot be as certain as he would like to be! But more of 

 this later. 



The Wind and Its Ways 



We can blame most of our severe storms on the wind. Rain is 

 not unpleasant unless it is lashed by strong winds. Snow usually 

 seems very beautiful unless wind turns it into a blizzard. Wind- 

 storms, unaccompanied by rain or snow, often do fearful damage, 

 especially in the form of tornadoes and hurricanes. 



The air that is all about us is made up of a number of gases 

 chiefly oxygen and nitrogen. Although we cannot see these gases. 



