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You are presently viewing the 1st day in a series of 7, day-long field trips exploring the geoscience of Massachusetts. Use the navigation area to the left to view the entire series. For more information about this site, please visit the Geoscience Tour Overview.
As time passes, I will be adding content to this site in the form of
HTML presentations, digital photographs, and reference materials & sites. I hope you find this information of value.
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Climate & Weather
Massachusetts is usually classified as one Köppen climate, Dfa, described as humid continental climate characterized by hot summers and cold winters, with consitent precipitation throughout the year. The coastal zone, inclusive of Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket is not usually differentiated in the Köppen System despite its milder summer and winter temperatures due to the moderating effects of the Atlantic ocean - one of the controls of climate. This coastal headland is closer to that of a Maritime climate. For example, typical winter temperatures in the western Berkshires average 22°F while the Cape and Islands average 32°F, and the growing season increases from ~150 days in the west to ~200 days on the coast.
Because of Cape Cod's position as something of a headland, it is often affected by severe ocean storms inclusive of Hurricanes and Nor' Easters. On average, the Cape is affected by hurricanes every 5 years, and directly hit every 35 years. It is affected by almost all of the Nor' Easters. Massachusetts averages 2.9 tornadoes per year (ranked 35th) with the interior portions of the state seeing the vast majority of the total number (~100 of the 134 since 1953, or ~75%) as well as the majority of stonger storms (Fujita Scale). The central portion of the state is known as "New England's Tornado Alley" and, believe it or not, Massachusetts is ranked as the worst state for tornado mortality.
This geoscience tour begins at the Blue Hill Observatory and will focus on weather observation and data collection, climatic records, local weather resources, and forcasting tools. The information, tools, and skills covered at the observatory will be utilized at the start of each subsequent day of the tour as we attempt to forecast that day's weather. This tour includes related background science, as well as a virtual field trip, available via the links (located to the left) as follows:
Background
A brief tutorial on Climate and Weather is provided, inclusive of how to use forecast products available from the National Weather Serivce.
Field Trip
Building upon the provided background information, I have put together a
virtual (or actual) field trip highlighting key features demonstrative of
weather observation and forecasting located at the Blue Hill Meteorologal Observatory. This is the oldest continuously operated weather observatory in the US and offers historical data that will be examined to gain a basic understanding of the regional climate. Specific activities at the observatory will be described and a tour of the facility is presented. Information about Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory is provided for those who live in the general area and would like to visit, participate in the numerous on-site programs, and perhaps become a member.
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FIGURE 1: Travel Map