European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 8, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine talk Raul Gaa grappa far own flown facade am part of the United stores aav0 Awn up it Encinal it Vrna of Wintar a Frier much colder or much warmer than Normal. Meteorologist have not bean soft to Una tin to Plantation. Erratic Winters Snow meteorologists som motorists would lore e Lott try own Winter. Byjoe Waschenbach National geographic hat happened to Winter during the past dozen seasons Sheie has been an unprecedented Tipell of abnormal Winters across i to United slates either much colder or much warmer than usual such erratic extremes in such a shot i period Are not expected 1o occur again for More than a thousand years i the climate patterns of the 20h Century continue says Thomas r. Karl a research meteorologist at the National oceanic and atmospheric administration s National climate data Center in As Hewlet. . Karl s assessment is based Man analysis Diho weather record since 1895 of Winter temperatures in Iho contiguous 46 slates averaged by area. The abnormal swings which began with the Winter of 1075-76. Followed an extraordinary 20-year period of relatively stable seasonal temperatures Karl says. During the eight year period from 1975-76 to 1982-83, three Winters were much warmer than Normal and three consecutive Winters were unusually cow he says. Since then two Winters Hava been slightly colder than Normal and one has been slightly warmer. Las Winter waa tha ninth warmest since 1985.  define Winter in the Northern hemisphere As the months at december january and february. Astronomically Winsor is the season Between the Winter solstice about dec. 22 and the Vernal Equinox march20 this Yea this spell of abnormal Winter temperatures had coincided nationally Wilh a period of extremes in piece Pillion Karl says. But there is Little direct correlation Between Iho Hoo he Points Cut. A very cold Winter is nol always very  Why these win Lara of extremes Karl says meteorologists do nut yet have a Complete understanding of Why Anoma tag in Jet streams occur. Jet streams Ore Strong High Altitude winds that tend to steer weather patterns suchs Winter storms and Polar outbreaks of Arctic sir across the Northern hemisphere whether the recent variability Isa moderately rare event in a reasonably stationary climate or represents a climate Achane vie Don t know he Saya. He la Uncertain he says whether shia erratic pattern has ended is ending or will continue. The Winter of is Fojt Lor example was the Mildest since 19b5fr die live neighbouring slates of Minnesota Honiara. North Dakota and South Dakota says Frank t. Quinlan chief of the a la Center s Qimat logical analysis division. Across the Border in Canada to says Farmers in i Haj southwestern Prairies complained that last Winter s warmth combined Wilh Fillon Snow cover exposed the soil to wind driven erosion. In Minnesota where people Irhe on cold or Al least Are used to it the Winter of 1986-87 waa both one of the warmest and driest and it followed a five year period of extreme wetness says Jim Zandlo the stale . Normally Snow Cavers much of Minnesota continuously from late november a Early december it rough March to says. But last Winter Large regions of the stale did t have any Snow cover Ond few areas had More than a loot of  averaged at least 10degreesabove Normal. Although Iho destructive and sometimes fatal effects of excessive cold and Snow Are devastating an open Winter too can take us toll. Zandlo says. Without Iho Snow Blanket As insulation from cold dry air. Last Winter s wheat end Alfalfa crops were damaged. Without the Snow shield More wildlife than usual died. It would have been worse Zandlo says had the absence of Snow been accompanied by prolonged periods of 20-Bolow-Zero temperature. The Winter warmth resulted in a it Malure Start to tha Spring growing season including Early emergence of weeds and insect posts. The dryness touched Oil Prairie grass fires. The Lack of Snow meant virtually m Spring melt and no replenishment of the water Supply. Without week Long stretches of subzero temperatures tha ice on Many Minnesota lakes never froze to a Safe thickness last Winter Zandlo says. Thi vice accidents too he Ftp a us 11 people about double in number in Normal Winters most of those who died were in cars or on snowmobiles thai plunged through to ice. Lea is Tricky. Even in Normal Winters it s difficult to know when ice is sate because ii Seldom freezes Al a uniform Rale says Kim Elverum boat and safety coordinator Lor the Minnesota department of natural resources. Ii can to a foot thick in one spot and just to eel away Only on Inch  usually Clear solid ice Al least 2 inches thick will support a single person on loot to says. But a snowmobile requires 5 inches of ice. And cars and Light trucks at least 8 to 12 indies. Unusually a Nike Winters Are generally considered a massing. Douglas be comte. Chief of the National oceanic and atmospheric administration s climatic assessment Branch says hat some of the benefits Are Tower Energy consumption greater housing construction increased safes of cars and real estate ewer travel dangers and delays and less Road damage and zip Csc for Snow removal. Very cold Winters is says usually have Iho opposite effect. Winter cold has claimed More lives than hurricanes tornadoes floods and All Oiler weather Phenomena. Many parts of the Ltd ipod states wore reeling this week under the Impact of a severe Arctic cow wave accompanied by record Low temperature. A big chill moved from the my Wool to the Easl White a new storm promised More Snow Horn the Rockies to the Plains. Friday january 6,19sb the stars and stripes Page 13