How about this weather...

Have you ever pondered the difference between a nor'easter and a blue norther? Try this one. . . What distinguishes a blizzard from a lake-effect snowstorm? While most Western New Yorkers can answer the latter question, those of you who don't know might check out the Weather Channel Storm Encyclopedia at http://www.weather.com/breaking_weather/encyclopedia/. You'll find interesting facts and information about severe and extreme weather, including hurricanes, tornadoes, heat waves and, dare we say, winter storms.

Enjoy listening to "The Weather Notebook" on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition?" Visit the Web site http://www.mountwashington.org/notebook/brainstorms/index.html not only to catch up on segments you may have missed, but also to provide answers to the regular "Brainstorms." (A recent question: "We have rainbows when it's rainy and sunny, why don't we have snowbows when it's snowy and sunny?") Click on their "Mount Washington Observatory" link http://www.mountwashington.org/index.html and Buffalo in November will feel positively tropical, as the windchill is -5 F at this writing. If you want to feel really good about Western New York's weather, select the "Live View from the Summit" link http://www.mountwashington.org/cam/index.html-you won't believe your eyes!

Those with serious interests in weather and climate should access the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) homepage http://www.noaa.gov/. This is a comprehensive, research-oriented site, providing links to publications as well as grants and research opportunities available through NOAA and its numerous affiliates. Interesting features include a collection of more than 10,000 photographs and, for the concerned environmentalist, a link to legislative affairs involving climate and conservation.

Since few talk about Buffalo without some mention of our weather, it is only appropriate that UB's Science and Engineering Library has compiled a list of Internet resources relating to weather and climate http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/sel/sources/weather.html. One section, "Weathering Buffalo" http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/sel/general/weather.html inventories more than 60 sites on weather in the Western New York area. . . and not all relate to snow.

"Weather" (sorry) you're a novice storm chaser or a serious researcher, the Internet offers a wealth of weather and climate-related information.

For assistance in connecting to the World Wide Web via UB computer accounts, contact the Computing Center Help Desk at 645-3542.

-Brenda Battleson and Cindy Seitz, University Libraries