Many of us are still staying close to home due to the coronavirus pandemic. While we may be connected virtually to friends, family, and work we’re disconnected physically. This lack of physical touch is hard on everyone, including me. For six weeks, on each Monday beginning May 4th, I’ll offer a prompt to help you get “in touch” with the place where you live, to cultivate a deeper connection with the natural world around you. For this week, get in touch with the climate of your place. What season are you in? What’s the weather like?
Climate
The Earth is warmed by sunlight and the temperatures on land change more than those in the oceans. These temperature differences generate pressure patterns that cause winds to blow, and they set in motion the vast circulation of the atmosphere, which in turn produces weather and climate. The climate of your place and the daily weather are an integral part of your everyday life.
The length of the days and seasons, their dryness and wetness, fluctuate each year. Climate is considered to be the typical weather pattern for a region, based on averages over thirty years or more. Noticing fluctuations from the norm gives the concept of climate change relevance in our lives and activates our relationship with the earth.
How is your climate changing? There have been extreme weather events for all of Earth’s history, yet today they’re more frequent and extreme. And, by most accounts, it’s only going to get worse. Not a pleasant thought, I know. How is climate change affecting your area? How will people, animals, and plants have to adapt to these changes? This pandemic has brought up lots of questions about how it’s related to the changing climate. Read this post from Emergence Magazine on the roots of coronaviruses by David Quammen.
Obviously, we always have to adapt to change. But what are we doing today to make life better for future generations? We’re creating the future with the decisions we make today. Something to think about.
- What do you like and don’t like about the climate where you live?
- What is the average rainfall/snowfall in your area?
- What time of year do you experience the most precipitation?
Seasons & Weather
Weather refers to the conditions that exist in the air around you at any one time. It includes the temperature and pressure in the atmosphere, the amount of moisture it holds, and the presence or absence of wind and clouds. Weather seems to be something we all like to complain about. It affects how you live, where you live, and how things grow. It can even change your mood. What’s the weather like where you are today? I’ll bet your answer might determine what you do today and how you do it.
In terms of weather, a season can be defined as “a time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature.” Depending on where you live, you may experience the four seasons of winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Or, you may have a wet season and a dry season. The seasons quite naturally frame your life. With the advent of systems to moderate heat and cold, we’ve become less impacted by seasonal changes. Even so, where I live, in a town of many retirees, many escape the winter by travelling south to warmer climes.
- How long is the growing season where you live?
- How do the seasons affect activities?
What’s your current season? Where I live, we experience all four seasons and it’s currently spring, a season when the earth comes alive, trees and flowers blossom and leaf. Temperatures range from 10 – 30 (Celsius). The days are lengthening. In Japan, they don’t think in terms of four seasons like we do. Instead, they have 24 small seasons (sekki), each lasting around 15 days. Breaking it down further, there are 72 micro-seasons (ko), each lasting around 5 days. Each of these micro-seasons has a name which paints a picture of what is going on at that time. For example, “east wind melts the ice” or “silkworms hatch.” See a complete list here. For today in Japan, the season is “Wheat ripens and us harvested.” Check out this lovely app called 72 Seasons. It’s free.
In her book, Wabi Sabi, Beth Kempton offers questions to help you tune into nature and the current season. I’ve adapted them here and answered them for myself.
- What is the weather like? Warm. 20C – 30C
- What is the light doing? It’s sunny.
- What is the night sky doing?
- What phase is the moon? Heading into first quarter
- What types of clouds are in the sky? Very few, soft and wispy
- What plants are in bloom? Lilacs, dogwoods, tulips
- What animals have you noticed recently? Rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, butterflies, birds
- What ingredients are in season? Asparagus
- What clothes are you wearing? Light pants and short sleeves
- What are the seasonal colours, sounds,smells, and textures? Lime green, pink and white blossoms, birdsong, fresh grass, lilacs
- How is your mood? Restless
- What traditions or observances are being celebrated? My birthday
- When does the sun rise and set? 5:45 am and 8:45 pm
Use the answers to these questions to name this week’s micro-season where you live. Look beyond the obvious. For example, this week for me … Scent of lilacs in the air. Take a representative photo and post with the name of the season.
You may be restricted as to where you can go this week or what is open. So, just focus on getting outside, at different times of day, no matter the weather. Walk in the rain. Feel the wind on your skin and the sun on your face. How does it feel to embrace the weather? How do things look different depending on the time of day or weather conditions? Go outside one night and look at the stars. Make a meal from what’s in season. Witness a sunrise and sunset on the same day.
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