tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572286363399496963.post6464391197708322305..comments2024-03-28T07:09:59.093-08:00Comments on Deep Cold: Alaska Weather & Climate: Warm NightsRickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946704894714514716noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572286363399496963.post-17937472521594642362016-08-06T16:30:07.075-08:002016-08-06T16:30:07.075-08:00Yes they accessed the gravel via draglines and oth...Yes they accessed the gravel via draglines and other equipment to raise the operating surfaces above the flood plane during construction...I assume per some Q** predicted flood level. It opened in 1951 and I believe somewhere here is a history of the various obs locations. <br /><br />The main floatplane pond has been lengthened and deepened since inception, while similar ponds to the south have been filled to discourage waterfowl. <br /><br />Look at an aerial shot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbanks_International_Airport) or Google Earth to see the urbanization effect due to dark surfaces (paved areas, cut vegetation, and structures) plus the ponds and nearby rivers. <br /><br />All that development affects surface temperature and wind at the obs site located between the southerly ends of the two main runways (to the left on the pic in the link above). <br /><br />GaryNL7Yhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874712728971005352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572286363399496963.post-55255976325814875752016-08-06T13:21:12.955-08:002016-08-06T13:21:12.955-08:00Excellent comments, Gary. The float pond is a new...Excellent comments, Gary. The float pond is a new consideration for me; I wonder if that was constructed at the same time as the airport.<br />Richard Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08313902028896263276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572286363399496963.post-10442076487783152502016-08-05T18:33:21.080-08:002016-08-05T18:33:21.080-08:00My comments from 8/13 still apply to the airport-d...My comments from 8/13 still apply to the airport-driven heat island surrounding the weather obs station. The surface water temp in the airport float pond was +68F today. <br /><br />That heat source, a high pond water level/volume from the recent rains, and nearby river levels almost bank full surely has a delayed warming effect on surface air temperature at night if the winds are right.<br /><br />Gary NL7Yhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874712728971005352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4572286363399496963.post-51334521562779184252016-08-05T07:15:02.014-08:002016-08-05T07:15:02.014-08:00Some background discussion on Urban heat islands, ...Some background discussion on Urban heat islands, thermal inertia, and albedo:<br /><br />http://www.urbanheatislands.com<br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_heat_island<br /><br />Gary<br /><br />NL7Yhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874712728971005352noreply@blogger.com