Tag: weather
What Causes “Pool of Water” Reflections on the Road?
Q: On a cross-country trip, my husband and I started wondering about those “pool of water” reflections on the road ahead. What causes that? A: These travelers have seen, as we all have, a very common mirage. There are two kinds of mirages: inferior and superior. Inferior means the object is displaced downward. Superior is the ...What Kind of Plant is a Tumbleweed?
Q: Are tumbleweeds a specific plant or is that a generic term for any dead plant that is blown around by the wind? A: New to these parts, stranger? Actually, so are tumbleweeds, relatively speaking. Tumbleweeds really are a specific plant, the mature form of the Russian thistle, Salsola iberica.We think of them as being a real ...How to Keep Scorpions Away from Your Home
Q: Help! My house is overrun with scorpions, and I hate them. A: How ungracious of you. First of all, the scorpions were here first, and secondly, they absolutely adore you. And what do they get from you? The back of your Reebok. And, in a way, it’s your fault there are so many of them in the ...Why Don’t Palm Trees Blow Down in the Wind?
Q: Why don’t palm trees blow down in strong wind as often as other trees do? A: I thought this was going to be an easy one, and I was prepared to pad it out with a lot of cheap jokes about my masters. Instead, it got kind of complicated, so I had to cut out the ...Why is Tucson a Few Degrees Cooler than Phoenix?
Q: If Tucson and Phoenix are both in the desert, why is it always just a little bit cooler in Tucson than it is in the Valley? A: Tucson is usually a little bit cooler than Phoenix because it is a little bit higher up. You may not actually have a sense of ascending when you ...Why Do People Paint Citrus Tree Trunks White?
Q: Why do people paint the trunks of their citrus trees white? A: HA! At last, a question we actually knew the answer to without having to look it up or ask somebody. It’s to protect them from the sun. We are soooooo smart. To celebrate, we asked an actual newcomer in the office if she knew why ...What’s That After-Rain Aroma in the Valley?
Q: What exactly causes that fresh/earthy scent when it rains in the Valley? It’s a real distinct scent, not flowery or sweet, but more like a fresh, clean smell. A: Your question worked its way to the top of the pile at just the right time — Tuesday, when we had that delightful morning rain. ...Frying, Not Flying, in High Heat
I think the last time we did the egg-frying thing was in 1990, when it hit 122 on June 26. It was so hot that some big jets were grounded at Sky Harbor International Airport. This is why, according to Arv Schultz, a retired commercial pilot and publisher of Arizona Airways and the Sky Harbor ...Roof Rocks Help Cool Hot House
Rocks on the roof? Who to call but the estimable Max Underwood, professor of architecture at Arizona State University, a specialist in Valley architecture, and hail-fellow-well-met. Underwood says your native friend is correct. Rocks on the roof can be traced to the Native Americans who lived here long before anyone dreamed of professional hockey and were ...Yes, it’s Hot. Famous People Who Said it Best.
The Arizona desert is known for its summer scorchers. "It's hot" is probably among the most uttered phrases this time of year, and when the mercury hovers over 110 degrees, "it's f***ing hot" seems a bit more appropriate. That's when neighbors start to fry eggs on the pavement and bake cookies on their car dashboards. ...
