It’s an age-old question that has likely been asked in every tongue and dialect, by young and old, since time began. \u00a0 And, while we think of ourselves as uniquely able to think and interpret such complex questions and responses \u2014 not so.\u00a0 While the twitter and calls of our birdlife ask it, and insects and fish sense it, we humans are likely among the <\/span>least<\/span> attuned, <\/span>least<\/span> able, and <\/span>slowest<\/span> to sense an impending change in the weather.\u00a0 No wonder we turn to science, satellites, and computing to help us.<\/span><\/p>\n As best we know, most [if not all]\u00a0living things \u2014 including plants \u2014 <\/span>react to the environmental signals of weather change<\/span>.\u00a0 Cats, dogs, and most other animals are more sensitive than humans to sounds, smells and changes in atmospheric pressure, their heightened senses allowing them to detect that a storm is coming long before we can catch wind of it \u2014 though a sudden drop in temperature or change in the wind direction <\/span>will<\/span> clue most of us to put on a jumper or take in the washing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Nor are plants denied sensitivity to the weather.\u00a0 Oak leaves curl in high humidity, just like frizzy hair does, while other plants and flowers open to sunshine or close to rain.\u00a0 Other more urgent signals, like a sudden drop in air pressure, cause animals to behave differently, with the vulnerable fleeing or seeking shelter.\u00a0 <\/span>For example, birds and bees instinctively seek cover in their nests or hives when sensing a drop in barometric pressure.\u00a0 Birds also use changing air pressure when deciding when to migrate.<\/span><\/p>\n One group of researchers studying the behaviour of sharks during a tropical storm observed <\/span>“… that after <\/span><\/i>the barometric pressure dropped just a few millibars \u2014 which corresponded to a drop in hydrostatic (water) pressure \u2014 sharks swim out into deeper water where there is more protection from the storm.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Last week, I tempted readers of this column with Belphegor’s Prime \u2014 a fascinating titbit of useless information.\u00a0 The ‘Devil’s Prime’… 1000000000000066600000000000001 … is the only known palindromic prime number: [see SCT: 27\/10\/23].\u00a0 As if that wasn’t enough useless trivia, I offer you another extraordinary piece of meticulous but weird research …\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n An American physicist, Amos Dolbear, found that: <\/span>“… the relationship of a cricket’s chirp to temperature is perhaps the most fascinating example of how in tune the animal kingdom can be with environmental change.”<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 In an article he published in 1897 called “<\/span>The Cricket as Thermometer”<\/span><\/i>, later to become known as Dolbear’s Law, he found that <\/span>“… the chirp\/temperature relationship can be expressed as Tf = 50 + (N60 \u2013 40)\/4, where Tf is the temperature degrees Fahrenheit, and N60 is the number of chirps per minute.”<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 <\/span>Reformulated to give the temperature in degrees Celsius (\u00b0C), it is:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He maintained that <\/span>“… the relationship between temperature and chirps results from a rise [or fall] in the cold-blooded cricket’s metabolic rate that occurs when the temperature rises [or falls].\u00a0 A higher metabolic rate provides more energy for muscle contractions and chirping.\u00a0 Dolbear spent hours observing his field crickets to determine his equation, which is believed to be accurate within one degree”<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On a warm summer evening in Lorne, if [or when] your red has taken you beyond a safe driving limit, you might enjoy calculating the ambient temperature by counting the number of chirps a cricket makes in your garden chirps over 60 seconds, then add 37 and divide by 7.\u00a0 The resulting number will roughly equal the current temperature in degrees Celsius.\u00a0 If you crave more … Google – Dolbear\u2019s Law!<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, rather than becoming better attuned to the hints of weather change, we have tended towards an ever-lazier use of our senses \u2014 we now simply consult our favourite weather app on our smartphones, even before leaving the warmth of the doona.\u00a0 I use two … WeatherLive<\/span>\u00ae<\/span> and Rain Parrot … with a consultation with the latter an absolute imperative before walking the dog.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Once, we would look <\/span>up<\/span> at the sky, do our best to interpret the cloud patterns, look at the bay for the tell-tale caps of a coming southerly change, hold a wetted finger skyward for wind direction, listen for the cackle of a kookaburra, or scan the heavens for a passing flight of yellow-tailed black cockatoos.\u00a0 Now, we all look <\/span>down<\/span>, our shoulders hunched and eyes aching, at the screens of our tiny smartphones.\u00a0 Small truisms \u2014 like this \u2014 make me wonder if we really <\/span>are<\/span> progressing or if we are at the brink of losing the very instinctive skills that got us here in the first place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n All this brings me to why I began this rather odd article on ‘things weather’ \u2014 the Great Australian Bight [GAB].\u00a0 As I study the coming fronts across the lower half of our continent on WeatherLive<\/span>\u00ae<\/span>, my eye is ever drawn to the Bight and what I have always imagined as a potent ‘weather machine’ for southern Australia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Have a look sometime on your favourite weather app.\u00a0 Watch as front after front, heavy with rain, curls up from the Roaring Forties towards the GAB before \u2014 as if taking fright of the mainland \u2014 stretches out, weakens, then slides demurely away to the south and east of Victoria, clipping Tasmania, and disappearing into the Tasman Sea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Holding that thought, I went hunting for information about ‘the GAB Weather machine’.\u00a0 Does one exist?\u00a0 What [if any] are the effects of the Bight on our Victorian weather patterns?\u00a0 Oddly \u2014 at least to me \u2014 I found a dearth of information and data.\u00a0 The best explanation I could find comes in an article from the Bureau of Meteorology on ‘Blocking Highs’… see: [http:\/\/www.bom.gov.au\/climate\/about\/?bookmark=blockinghigh].\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In paraphrase, the BOM article states that <\/span>“… a b<\/span><\/i>locking high is a strong high-pressure system that sits stationary [often for ages] over the centre of Australia and the Nullarbor region.\u00a0 These highs “block” the west to east progression of weather systems across southern Australia.\u00a0 As a frontal system sweeps up from the south, it butts into the blocking high to its north, slows down, weakens, then slips away to the south of the high-pressure system.\u00a0 Blocking highs are common, affect all of southern Australia, can occur at any time of year, and can last from several days to several weeks.”<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n In this respect, the GAB \u2013 or, rather, the drier, warmer air that sits to its north over the Nullarbor and central desert areas \u2014 <\/span>is<\/span> akin to a continental weather machine.\u00a0 The BOM explanation points to why, especially in our drier months, so many hopeful fronts peter out to our west and fail to bring us cleansing rain.\u00a0 And, as we enter a new El Nino pattern, this will translate into even more incredible frustration for our farmers and heightened anxiety for our firefighters.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Welcome to another Australian summer.<\/span><\/p>\n John Agar – Feature Writer<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hello<\/span><\/p>\n The Committee for Lorne held its bi-monthly meeting last week.<\/span><\/p>\n We received reports from Carly Stafford, our school principal, Sandy Chamberlin, the CEO of Great Ocean Road Health and Gary Allen, our Lorne Ward councillor. <\/span><\/p>\n Gary also reported that the Council has commenced a project to explore the options for placing Tiny Houses on Wheels on land within the Surf Coast Shire, under existing legislation.\u00a0 The pilot is scheduled to be considered by the Council in December 2023.\u00a0 The proposed two-year pilot would inform us as to where and how to consider Tiny Houses on Wheels as a lawful and safe contribution to housing affordability and diversity in the Surf Coast Shire.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Through conversations with schoolies.com and Lorne accommodation providers, it is estimated 600 school leavers will visit Lorne from November 25 to December 2.\u00a0 The Good Times, Great Breaks (GTGB) harm reduction response is in place to both support school leavers when required and minimize the impact to residents and the environment.\u00a0 The GTGB core team has been meeting regularly since August and is well placed to deliver the response.\u00a0 Thank you to the Lorne Community Op Shop for funding the presence of the Red Frogs team who will keep our visitors safe and supported.<\/span><\/p>\n ******<\/span><\/p>\n Our cricketers continue their fine form with an amazing 300 (yes 300!) run win over City United.\u00a0 This puts them on top of their Division after 2 wins.\u00a0 This week they head to Irrewillipie to play Tomahawk Creek.\u00a0 We wish them well.<\/span><\/p>\n ******<\/span><\/p>\n Congratulations to Little Picket and Totti\u2019s on being awarded One Hat in the 2024 Age Good Food Guide for the first time, joining Ipsos in this distinguished category and building on Lorne\u2019s reputation as a foodies\u2019 destination.\u00a0 Congratulations also to Jo Barrett, chef at Little Picket on being named Victorian Chef of the Year at the awards.<\/span><\/p>\n Cheers<\/span><\/p>\n John Higgins Chairman<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n November<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 12 for 12.30pm at Stribling Reserve Community Pavilion.\u00a0 Two course lunch $40 per person. Drinks at bar prices.\u00a0 To book, email nicole@greatoceanroadrealestate.com.au<\/p>\n 9-4pm More info: lornemarkets.com<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/1.jpg?_t=1698920564\")
<\/p>\nA word from the Chairman<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
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Lorne Ward Events Calendar – <\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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