Peak to Valley Peak to Valley Weather Weather The Official Newsletter of the National Weather Service Grand Junction 2844 Aviators Way Volume 1, Issue 3 Fall 2010 NOW Cast By Dea Bridge, Administrative Support/Joe Ramey, Meteorologist Special Points of Interest Snow Facts & Measuring Same Location - New Address Winter Weather Safety Vehicle Tips Teachers’ Resources NWS Researchers Going Bananas over Autumn Leaves? By John Kyle, Data Program Manager Just what do autumn leaves and ripening bananas have in common? Let’s take a look. The green color in unripe bananas comes from chlorophyll, the same pigment that gives green leaves their color. As bananas ripen, the chlorophyll breaks down and disappears, revealing the yellow color which has been there all along. Of course, other changes also occur as bananas ripen: the starches change to sugar and the flesh softens as pectin (a carbohydrate) breaks down. The yellows and oranges of autumn leaves are also revealed as their chlorophyll breaks down. Additionally, the brightest leaf colors are seen when late summer is dry, and autumn has bright sunny days and cool nights (low 40's Fahrenheit), when trees make a lot of anthocyanin pigments. A fall with cloudy days and warm nights brings drab colors. An early frost quickly ends the beautiful fall foliage color display. Q. Why do I see a green colored box labeled ‘Short Term Forecast’ in the key to the right of the weather map, but that color is not reflected directly on the weather map? A. The Hazardous Weather Outlook has a higher priority on the Point and Click Forecast Map, so it overlays the area where the Short Term Forecast is valid. Q. Why is the Short Term Forecast important? A. The Short Term Forecast highlights an impending weather event such as thunderstorms, precipitation, winds, extreme temperatures, winter weather, or fog, expected within the next six hours beyond the current forecast, and does not meet Warning or Advisory criteria. Q. How can Short Term Forecast be viewed? A. Click on the Short Term Forecast link at the right of the map (from the NWS GJT home page ) to see what locations are being affected and what the threat is. Q. What is the primary difference between the Short Term Forecast and the Hazardous Weather Outlook? A. The Short Term Forecast is issued for the next 10 minutes to six hours, while the Hazardous Weather Outlook covers a broader and more general timeframe over the next seven days. Q. Where can I find more information about hazardous weather Advisories, Warnings, or Watches? A. By going to http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gjt/?n=wwpw_co_day3 (the Weather Preparedness section of the Weather Safety link), you can obtain explanations of each product.
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Peak to Valley Peak to Valley
WeatherWeather The Official Newsletter of the
National Weather Service Grand Junction 2844 Aviators Way
Volume 1, Issue 3
Fall 2010
NOW Cast By Dea Bridge, Administrative Support/Joe Ramey, Meteorologist Special Points
of Interest
Snow Facts &
Measuring
Same Location -
New Address
Winter Weather
Safety
Vehicle Tips
Teachers’
Resources
NWS Researchers
Going Bananas over Autumn Leaves? By John Kyle, Data Program Manager
Just what do autumn leaves and ripening bananas have in common?
Let’s take a look. The green color in unripe bananas comes from
chlorophyll, the same pigment that gives green leaves their color.
As bananas ripen, the chlorophyll breaks down and disappears,
revealing the yellow color which has been there all along. Of course,
other changes also occur as bananas ripen: the starches change to sugar and the flesh softens as pectin (a carbohydrate) breaks down.
The yellows and oranges of autumn leaves are also revealed as their
chlorophyll breaks down. Additionally, the brightest leaf colors are
seen when late summer is dry, and autumn has bright sunny days
and cool nights (low 40's Fahrenheit), when trees make a lot of anthocyanin pigments. A fall with cloudy days and
warm nights brings drab colors. An early frost quickly
ends the beautiful fall foliage color display.
Q. Why do I see a green colored box
labeled ‘Short Term Forecast’ in the
key to the right of the weather map, but that color is not reflected directly
on the weather map?
A. The Hazardous Weather Outlook has
a higher priority on the Point and
Click Forecast Map, so it overlays the
area where the Short Term Forecast is
valid.
Q. Why is the Short Term Forecast
important?
A. The Short Term Forecast highlights an impending weather event such as
thunderstorms, precipitation, winds,
extreme temperatures, winter
weather, or fog, expected within the
next six hours beyond the current
forecast, and does not meet Warning
or Advisory criteria.
Q. How can Short Term Forecast be
viewed?
A. Click on the Short Term Forecast
link at the right of the map (from the
NWS GJT home page) to see what
locations are being affected and what the threat is.
Q. What is the primary difference
between the Short Term Forecast and the Hazardous Weather
Outlook?
A. The Short Term Forecast is issued for the next 10 minutes to six
hours, while the Hazardous Weather Outlook covers a broader and
more general timeframe over the next seven days.
Q. Where can I find more information about hazardous weather
Advisories, Warnings, or Watches?
A. By going to http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gjt/?n=wwpw_co_day3 (the
Weather Preparedness section of the Weather Safety link), you can