The Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory

In recent decades, lakes have experienced unprecedented ice loss with widespread ramifications for winter ecological processes. The rapid loss of ice, resurgence of winter biology, and proliferation of remote sensing technologies, presents a unique opportunity to integrate disciplines to further understand the broad spatial and temporal patterns in ice loss and its consequences. Here, we summarize ice phenology records for 78 lakes in 12 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia to permit the inclusion and harmonization of in situ ice phenology observations in future interdisciplinary studies. These ice records represent some of the longest climate observations directly collected by people. We highlight the importance of applying the same definition of ice-on and ice-off within a lake across the time-series, regardless of how the ice is observed, to broaden our understanding of ice loss across vast spatial and temporal scales.

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First Page

The 16 snowstorms yielding 9 inches or more of snowfall at Blue Hill in the months November to March were all associated with cyclones forming south of Lat. 40° and passing 70 to 265 miles south or southeast of Blue Hill. Half of them were young secondaries.

Abstract Detection of precipitation by radar is possible because of the scattering of high-frequency radio waves by precipitation forms. Radar echoes being thus directly related to precipitation may be classified in a simple manner according to meteorological origin. Precipitation echoes from thunderstorms, showers, cold fronts, and warm fronts are described, classified, and illustrated. Radar equipment suitable for meteorological use is briefly described, with suggestions for application in forecasting and research.