BBC | 23 Degrees

The final post...

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The aim of this last post is to essentially thank everyone for participating in our project. We set out, marking our distance through space, every step of the way throughout the year of 2011.

From the early stages of Aonach Mor, bringing you the first video blog from the team on location, to our first call to action for your iwtiness severe weather footage, during the February Scottish storm - several snow storms, tornadoes, monsoon events, tropical storms and aurora's later, we are very grateful for all the footage sent in to help us document Earth's extraordinary journey on this blog.

A selection of the footage can be viewed on the 'severe weather videos' page and remain available to flick through on our 'photography pool' and on the blog. We want to remind you that you can continue to send your up to date severe weather footage and astronomy photos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk where they may form part of future weather and astronomy stories across the BBC.

We also want to thank everyone who joined us on twitter at the beginning with #bbc23degrees and then later with #bbcorbit - the latter hashtag will remain available to you as archive.

For all the comments on the blog posts across the entire production, we thank you for sharing your opinions with us to create an informed series, and raising points worth consideration for future BBC Science projects.

This post as with the three episode posts will remain open for comments until the end of this week, after which commenting on the blog will be closed.

All that is left to say is, Goodbye, and remember that you're hurtling through space at over 100'000 kph.

Orbit: Episode Three

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:45:00 +0000

In our journey so far we have explored the impacts of the Earth's Spin and Orbit on the weather and climate.

The final instalment of the series explores the influence of the tilt on the Earth's weather and climate, and how the Earth's relationship with the Sun affects the way we live our lives.

Originally the series was called 23 Degrees, (the angle of the tilt) as we considered this factor extremely significant to the variability in seasons our planet experiences. Although the series is now called Orbit, the tilt of the Earth continued to be an extremely important factor of the series. What do you think?

From the arrival of spring in the Hay river to the affects of the monsoon to the people in India, we wanted to uncover how Nature and culture respond to the variations in the Sun's energy.

Kate takes us through the ancient archeological site Chichen Itza, Yacatan region of Mexico. At its peak, in the 10th century AD it was a thriving city that sprawled over 25 square kilometres and was home to more than 40000 people.

We wanted to explore how ancient civilizations had developed a great understanding of our Earth's journey around the Sun, and Kate takes us there on a significant day; the March Equinox. How significant are sites such as temple of Kukulkan and Stonehenge to us today?

In this episode we also wanted to breakdown the key factors that drive the extremes of weather like the Monsoon, Dust storm and the Tornado.

Helen travels to Kerala, South of India to discover what drives the Monsoon and visits Tornado Alley with atmospheric Scientist Josh Wurman to explain 'What causes a tornado?'

A record six EF-5 tornadoes were confirmed in 2011, the most deadly being Joplin Missouri tornado (158 killed, 14 mile path length.)

What do you think about Episode three? How significant do you think the Earth's tilt is to our climate and weather? How far are we in understanding why one supercell drops a tornado and another doesn't? Has our cultural relationship with the Sun changed over time? Leave your comments on this post.

Orbit: Episode Two

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 21:30:00 +0000

The second instalment of the series follows the Earth's journey from the start of January to the Spring Equinox in March. Available on iplayer. What did you think?

Kate begins the film on a day with a very significant point in our Earth's journey - Perihelion. Kate climbs Aonach Mor mountain, one of the highest mountains in Scotland, which brings her as close to the Sun as she'll ever be for the entire year.

This however is not because of where she is but because of the point the Earth has reached in its orbit around the Sun. In fact we kick started our blog on this day just over a year ago, when we explored the elliptical shape of our planet's orbit and how significant this was to our understanding of Earth's climate.

Later in the film Helen explains how the proximity of the Earth to the Sun doesn't guarantee warmth - which brings us to the tilt of the Earth (23.4 degrees) - a theme we explore in further detail in episode three.

Throughout this episode Kate and Helen explore the increase in solar radiation and how land and ocean respond to it.

Kate drives over a frozen lake in Canada with an ice road trucker in one of the coldest places in that region and learns how important this ice formation is to connecting communities.

In this film we also tackle ice ages and how over time, as Earth has repeated it's annual journey, it's climate has changed.

Helen dives under water in Belize to discover how sea levels have risen and fallen over time due to ice age - and explores the three cycles that need to be right in order for another ice age to exist.

What did you think of episode two?

(There are a total of three episodes in this series)

Orbit - Episode One

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0000

The first episode of Orbit aired on BBC Two, 4th March 9pm, and is now available to watch on iplayer. What did you think?

In the first episode we travel from July - the height of summer in the Northern Hemisphere - to December, and the darkest days of winter. As well as following the seasonal change from summer to winter, the film explores one of the most everyday but significant aspects of our journey around the Sun - the fact that the Earth is spinning on its axis.

We start just inside the Arctic Circle in northern Norway, on a special day. We wanted to film the day when the Sun set for the first time in more than two months - an evocative moment that captures both the seasonal change from summer to winter, and the importance of the Earth's daily 24 hour cycle.

Through this film we wanted to find events which highlighted the importance of the Earth's spin. So Helen goes hurricane chasing to show how the Earth's spin sets weather systems rotating.

Hurricanes was a great way to highlight spin and last years season provided many events to explore - an Atlantic season which some argued was unusual.

Another way we wanted to explore spin was by visiting a place which has the biggest tides in the world. Kate travels to the Bay of Fundy in Canada to show how tides too are a consequence of the Earth's spin.

Whilst back home, Helen uses the Earth's spin to explain why Britain's winter weather is so unpredictable and changeable.

UPDATE 16:00 5th March: We've had a lot of feedback on twitter with a number of viewers asking why Episode One was not available simultaneously on BBC HD.

The HD Channel tries to promote the best of the portfolio of BBC Channels, but invariably, this can at times lead to clashes in simulcasts - this was the case with the 9pm Sunday slot, where they have been simulcasting the BBC 3 series 'Being Human' for some weeks now. 'Orbit' however has been given a peak repeat slot, on Fridays at 21:00 from the 16th March.

Other comments raised on twitter discussed the set up of having two presenters, and both female at that, which all in all seemed to be well received.

Not everyone was impressed however with all that Episode one had to offer, and, with such a landmark series as this, that was to be expected.

So, what did you make of Episode one? Leave a comment on this post.

(There are a total of three episodes in this series. Episode Two on BBC Two 11th March, 9pm.)

New series title! Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:30:00 +0000

We have finally decided on the title of our series. So long '23 Degrees' and hello 'Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey'.

23 Degrees was always the working title and with this change we're just about wrapping up.

Look out for more updates. What do you think about the title?

Make your submissions by the end of the year

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Distance travelled ~ 917'792'800 km

Who would have thought we'd be closing the submissions for the Flickr group so soon. It's only been a year, right? But that's what it's always been about. Our annual round trip. And sad to say, but 2012 is looking mighty close.

To all who have submitted photos to the pool, the team say a huge thank you! Over two thousand weather and astronomy images have been submitted by a selection of great photographers - photos that will continue to be available to view long after the production ends.

The date you want to remember for the photography pool is 31st December 2011 - as if you'd forget new years eve :-). Submissions after this date will not be able to be made.

I'll leave you with images of the Aurora Australis, acquired by astronauts on board the International Space Station September 11, 2011 as the ISS orbit pass descended over eastern Australia. Magnificent.

Wishing you all a Merry xmas!

Day 298: Thailand floods in pictures

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Distance travelled ~ 765'997'600 km

Across Asia, several areas are severely flooded after unusually heavy monsoon rains since July. Over 200 houses were swept away by flash floods in Burma, where up to 50 people are thought to have died. Thailand and Cambodia are also badly affected, with the worst flooding in 50 years.

The above images captured by Alexis Taylor 23 October. "They were taken in the center of Bangkok town...10 min from Khaosan road on foot. The hotel I was staying in on Khao San was bricking the doors up - 1 meter high. You have to enter over sand bags"

Ari Honka took this photo of the first signs of flooding in China Town, Bangkok on 23 October.

The above images were captured by Derek Armstrong 23 October. "The exact location is outside my house on the Rangsit Nakon Nayok highway which is normally a very busy road linking Bangkok with NE Thailand. It is located in Pathumthani province, just to the north of Bangkok and about 10km from the old Don Mueang Airport.

The situation has deteriorated somewhat as the level of the klong(canal) is now climbing up to near the brim of the temporary sandbag/clay dykes. The road is also flooding over both sides and spilling into the canal as a result of water run-off from the North (see attached pictures taken yesterday at 9.00 am, Monday 24th October). We are now virtually marooned as we cannot get out of our estate to travel to Bangkok. Vipavadee Rangsit Road, to the west, where Don Mueang airport is located is heavily flooded now. To the east, we cannot access the Outer Ring Road, as there is heavy flooding up to Rangsit Klong 6 where that road is located."

Behind the scenes: Shooting the pre-titles [video]

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

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Day 272: Typhoon Nesat in pictures

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Distance travelled ~ 698'568'800 km

"These pictures were taken on the Ocampo Street in Malate, Manila Philippines beside Rizal Stadium" by Abby Thompson.

iwitness image captured by Abby Thompson

iwitness image captured by Abby Thompson, Philippines

Nesat hit China earlier today and continues west:

After Typhoon Nesat made landfall near Casiguran on the east coast of the island of Luzon in the Philippines 27 September, earlier today it made landfall in the northeastern part of Hainan island, China. It is moving west towards the far north of Vietnam, where it is predicted to make landfall within the next 12 hours. Nesat is weakening and likely to be categorised as a tropical storm soon.

So it's not an 'Indian Summer', what's causing UK's unseasonal weather?

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Distance travelled ~ 693'959'200 km

Here's an interesting video by Paul Gundersen, Met Office Chief Forecaster which tackles this question and explores how long we can expect to see the current warm conditions in the UK.

In photos: September Equinox 2011

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Distance travelled ~ 683'292'800 km

We recently launched our September Equinox photo challenge with the question: How can you reflect the equinox in a photo?

A few people on Twitter suggested taking a snapshot of all points of the world at exactly 09:04 UTC and sending us a photo of them merged into one; which we just loved the sound of - but - we hadn't given you enough time. Surely to coordinate such a masterpiece 'alone', you would need to be everywhere at once (superman style stuff). Or have a camera positioned and ready at all points of the world, set to click simultaneously at 09.04 UTC (i'm certain they couldn't have meant a lone project). Well because we're a reasonable bunch over here at 23 Degrees, one location was definitely enough. And here's our top photos, enjoy. Roll on Autumn.

Reflections: A lone tree reflects upon the summer months past

Above image captured by Colin Dixon, titled Reflections, on 20 September, Big Moor in Derbyshire Peak District.

Autumn sunshine through Forest trees

Above image captured by Claire McCartney, 10 September, Quebec. "As we walked through the woods the most amazing perfume of earth and sweetened leaves wafted past. And the sun seemed to drop down to kiss the mellow rusted orange of autumn in."

On the move: A flock of birds in the Summer sky

This image was captured by John Parish 18 September, Suffolk, UK titled Starlings. "I was at my grandsons birthday party and was distracted by this amazing flock of starlings . They are great to watch so I had to take a few photos!".

Last sunset of summer: Rail road tracks ablaze

Image captured by Jim Larson, Meridian, Idaho. Sunset over railroad tracks.

Post tropical storm Roke moves North East

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Distance travelled ~ 680'934'400 km

Radar image showing water vapour near Japan as Post tropical storm Roke moves North East into the Pacific. Great loop image showing the movement of Roke 21/22 september. http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/mtsat/flt/t2/loop-wv.html

Although Typhoon Roke was a smaller storm than Talas (which hit Japan early September), it was stronger in terms of wind strength. When Roke made landfall in the south coast of Japan, in Hamamatsu 14.00 JST 21 September, it reached speeds of 90kts ( 100 mph). Over the period of 48hours prior to Roke making landfall it dropped over 575 mm of rain in Tokushima. Japan received an average of over 400mm of rain, including Tokyo. Roke is currently moving NE at 45km/h.

Image captured by A.Wainwright

Image captured by A.Wainwright, Japan. "It was taken from my 4th floor balcony overlooking the tennis courts outside my apartment in Kawasaki City, Greater Tokyo during typhoon Roke, 21st. Sept. 2011"

Image captured by Aaron Robotham

The above photos captured by Dr Aaron S.G. Robotham of St. Andrew's University. The top image was taken "outside Shibuya station during our long walk home." The second image was outside Ebisu station in the taxi queue. We queued for a taxi for 1-1/2 hours but eventually gave up and decided to walk back to our hotel. We gave up using the umbrellas since they were just getting blown apart and we couldn't get any wetter."

More on this story: Typhoon Roke in pictures

Photo of the day: September's Northern lights

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Distance travelled ~ 657'564'800 km

Image taken by Bob Johnson, Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Canada, September 9 2011 with a Canon 40D camera and Tokina fisheye lens. "All the Solar activity happening lately causing all the Auroras, even with a nearly Full Harvest Moon they came through."

To submit your images and video into 23 Degrees for a possible feature or for Friday's 'weekly roundup blog' - email them to 23degrees@bbc.co.uk or add them to the weather photography pool.

Cyclone watch: 70% chance of tropical cyclone formation in next 48hrs

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Distance travelled ~ 639'876'800 km

Visible satellite images indicate that the shower activity associated with a low pressure area centred about 680 miles west-southwest of the southernmost Cape verde islands, is gradually becoming better organised and a tropical depression could form later today or wednesday.

NOAA

Chances are that this system will move toward the west or west-northwest at about 15mph and has a high chance..........70 percent.........of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours according to the National Hurricane Center.

Day 238 - weekly roundup - Top 5 Arizona monsoon photos/videos

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Distance travelled ~ 611'308'000 km

Some truly awesome Images and video sent to the 23 Degrees team by Netweather.tv monsoon chasers in Arizona, currently on day 9 of their chase...

Dust Devil, Arizona, captured by Craig Hough 18 August,
Casa Grande (near Phoenix).

Image captured by Paul Sherman, 18 August, Casa Grande."Upon heading into Casa Grande an amazing Haboob was pushing out Northwards from the Parent Thunderstorm and heading towards Phoenix."

Image captured by Craig Hough 21 August, Grand Canyon. "Think it's fair to say I realised a dream yesterday, lightning photography at the Grand Canyon, does it get much better than this?"

Image captured by Craig Hough, 23 August, Tucson Valley.

Image captured by Paul Sherman 23 August. Vantage point above the Tucson Valley. "Well it just keeps getting better out here, elevated view of lightning over Tucson"

To submit your severe weather images and video into 23 Degrees for a possible feature or for next week's 'weekly roundup blog' - email them to 23degrees@bbc.co.uk or add them to the weather photography pool.