The seasons of spring, summer, and fall, represent an aspect of weather where conditions can range greatly in the Mount Washington Valley region. A hot and humid morning can finalize to become a cold and dry nighttime. Though New England is known for such extreme weather, the area can receive long stretches of calm conditions. During such a time, Mother Nature can perform a phenomenon that occurs before sunrise, yet continuous its effect shortly thereafter.
All who reside in the North Conway area have had an encounter with the water droplet substance known as dew. Many, including myself, seem to either underestimate its presence or find it to be of an annoyance. The reasoning behind dew is not to explore either option, but to aid in balancing the air. Dew also contributes a moisture supplement upon the ground, but during most cases, it fails to do so in a substantial way. Nevertheless, dew is an important attribute to nature's life cycle in the Valley.
Dew is a substance encompassed of water. When the sky is clear and the temperature is cool, prime conditions begin to occur for the dew's development. The temperature can only contain a certain amount of water vapor, which is water in gaseous form. After a warm evening, the air that is nearly saturated with the water vapor then cools and drops below the temperature for which it is saturated. While the air continuous to cool, the vapor condenses. The finished result produces condensation as dew forms on any surface such as grass blades, windowpanes, and leaves. Of course, if the conditions are below the freezing temperature of water, then frost is formed.
You may have noticed that meteorologists refer to a scientific measurement known as the dew point. This is a very crucial aspect to observing the weather and the science of meteorology. The dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled for saturation to occur. The dew point measurement is an excellent method to measure the actual amount of water vapor in the air. Dew points of 65 degrees or higher are desirable for thunderstorm development. Dew points that are 40 degrees or lower are considered to be reasonable dry. Clouds can form at any dew point temperature as long as the air temperature decreases to equal the dew point.
Studies of dew have discovered that the substance has a life of its own. Some believe that the liquid "jumps" and emits a small "cry". Whether or not this is scientifically possible, what is known is that dew is an important attribute to our lifestyle in the Mount Washington Valley. Though dew usually forms during the spring and summer seasons, it's history did not hold true during the summer of 1816, which is considered to be a year without a summer. Next week's editorial will take a look at the summer of 1816, where record cold and snowfall occurred in New England.