Watching the Weather

Watching the Weather. . , Not only does weather influence the estuary, the estuary can influence the weather as well. How they interact with each other plays a critical role in determining who and what lives here., Cooler by the Water , On hot summer afternoons it often feels noticeably cooler right by the river than it does even a little ways inland. This is because waterbodies heat up (and cool down) slower than land. The air above water stays cooler than the air over land in summer, and warmer than the air over land in winter., Nature's Air Conditioning , Both Native American and early European settlers showed a preference for settling on the north side of the Pamlico River. One reason was that prevailing southwesterly winds in summer blew the cooler river air in all the water, making the north shore a little more comfortable during hot Carolina summers., Smoke on the Water , Eerily beautiful morning mists often blanket the Pamlico while bright sun shines inland. This occurs when warm air moves across a body of cool water. The water chills the air and causes condensation – better known as fog., Thermometer , Measures temperature. Temperature affects all other weather conditions, causing changes in air pressure, wind, and humidity., Barometer , Measures air pressure. Air exerts a downward pressure on the earth. When a warm air mass meets a cold air mass, the warm air rushes upward, and reduces air pressure, causing the barometer reading to fall. The lower it falls, the stormier the weather., Hygrometer , Measures moisture in the air (humidity). The river is a constant source for evaporation, thus air near the river is unusually more humid than air further inland., Anemometer , Measures wind speed. Most wind is from areas of high air pressure moving to "balance" areas of low air pressure. The greater the difference in air pressure, the faster the wind blows., Local Wind Direction Vane , Indicates the direction of the wind. At 0° the wind is from due north; 90° due east; 180° due south; 270° due west. Wind direction at the surface may differ from high altitude winds., Depthometer , Measures water level in inches above or below mean (normal) level. Water level in Pamlico is more strongly influenced by wind than rain.