How Clouds Work
We all know there are rainy seasons and dry seasons and all types of weather in between. Moisture comes to us in all types, and most of us view clouds as the source. But have you ever thought of how clouds work? And what that means for your home? Clouds are formed when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into tiny water droplets or ice crystals. This process occurs when warm, moist air rises and cools, causing the water vapor to condense into visible clouds. There are several ways that this can happen. Convection is one of those ways. This occurs when warm air rises due to being less dense than cooler air. As the warm air rises, it cools and the water vapor it contains condenses to form clouds. Then you have frontal lifting. This occurs when two air masses with different temperatures and different humidity levels meet. The warmer, less dense air is forced to rise over the cooler, denser air. As the warm air rises, it cools and forms clouds. Here’s a term you probably haven’t heard of: Orographic lifting. This occurs when air is forced to rise over mountains or other topographic features. As the air rises, it cools and clouds form. Once clouds form, they can continue to grow and change shape as more water vapor condenses onto existing droplets or ice crystals. The type of cloud that forms depends on the temperature, humidity, and altitude of the air where the cloud is forming. Clouds can be classified into different types, including cirrus, stratus, cumulus, and nimbus, among others. Thunderstorms are usually associated with cumulonimbus clouds, which are commonly known as thunderstorm clouds. These clouds are characterized by their tall, anvil-shaped tops and can extend up to 50,000 feet into the atmosphere. Cumulonimbus clouds are formed by a combination of warm, moist air rising rapidly and cold air descending, which creates a strong updraft. And this is the typical situation when a storm hits your home, and you get a flooded basement or other water damage. When that happens, there’s not much you can do at that point but wait until the storm passes and then assess damage. Trying to clean it up yourself is possible, but there are hazards involved. It’s best to contact your favorite restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro! How Hurricanes Work
We all watch with trepidation and fear as hurricanes approach land… even if we don’t live in an affected area, the very thought of what others are about to go through is sobering. Hurricanes are devastating storms that are becoming more common in recent years. While hurricanes are somewhat predictable based on expert weather forecasters and keeping an eye on tropical storms, they are subject to changes in direction, strength, and potential damage over the period of time from forming to dissipating after hitting land. While you may not find a hurricane interesting as you hunker down as a storm approaches land, or perhaps are evacuating and heading inland, how hurricanes work is a scientific marvel. In a nutshell, warm ocean waters and thunderstorms are the building blocks of a hurricane. For one to form, there needs to be warm ocean water and humid, moist air, and as the humid air flows upward, water is released, creating storm clouds. As it rises because of the warm air, the air rotates. As the hurricane forms, it sucks heat from the water to fuel the storm. But it all starts as a tropical storm. When a tropical storm is announced, everyone looks to see where it is and what the projected path looks like. It is typically westward, and the storm can quickly grow in strength and when it meets certain criteria, such as 74 miles per hour, it is declared a hurricane. As it moves across the ocean, air rises and cools, forming clouds and thunderstorms, and up high in the clouds, water condenses and forms droplets, releasing even more heat to continue to power the storm. It’s all a powerful, rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms. During just one hurricane, winds can rage and churn and create nearly 50% of the energy capable of providing electricity to the entire world. What’s interesting is the cloud and rain formation from that same hurricane can release energy that is 400 times that amount. Hurricanes are interesting. But also deadly. They cause a tremendous amount of property damage and take lives. When one is on its way toward you, evacuate. Your home can be repaired. And when you return and discover you need help, call your favorite restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro! Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Don’t Forget these Spring-Cleaning Tasks
When the spring season finally arrives, most of us get into a cleaning mood. Others clean out of necessity. But regardless the motive, spring is a great time to spruce things up, clean areas or items that have been neglected during the long winter, and just get ready for a busy summer. However, besides the obvious things we clean, such as carpet, floors, windows, and the like, there are some chores we might either ignore (on purpose) or forget about completely. Spice rack and containers You use them all the time. Grab a nice spice and give your sauce a dash of flavor. Put the lid back on and put it back on the spice rack or wherever you store your spices. Did you clean that jar before putting it back? Have you ever? It’s one of those often-forgotten items that could use at least an annual cleaning. Imagine all the hands and fingers on all those spices during the year… Give your spice rack and contents a good spring cleaning. Stove and microwave hoods and filters The purpose of the hood, vent, and any filters is to collect debris, and it’s all greasy. Get a good all-purpose kitchen degreaser, some paper towels, and any other scrubbing tools you wish to use, roll up your sleeves, and get cleaning. You will be amazed how much a year of cooking and normal use will add to the grease build-up on these surfaces. Garbage disposal Just think of all that stuff you put into the sink and into the garbage disposal. While it grinds away and does its job without complaining, there is often a buildup of grime on the blades and in the mechanical parts of the disposal. An easy way to clean your disposal is with lemon wedges. Cut up a lemon and add a few wedges to your disposal, turn it on, and let it run with hot water. That should cut the grease and clean the disposal. The wedges may not get “disposed” of enough so after it is all done, you may have to remove them. Be sure to turn off the electricity to the disposal before reaching in, and never use your fingers. Use cooking tongs to be safe. Underneath stuff This is easy. Get down on your hands and knees and look under your kitchen table. Enough said. Get to work. When you need professional cleaning, don’t hesitate to call your favorite cleaning company, especially with surfaces like carpet and hard floors. After all, it pays to call a pro! |
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