Thinking about cloud streets

At Silloth the wind was coming in from the right. The cumulus clouds formed distinct lines. But are these cloud streets? This site seems to imply something closer and more tubular. However they seem to tie in with the description of formation. 

Calibrating my barometer

You are supposed to wait until there is a settled high pressure before adjusting but that hasn't happened in the last two months! I have set it to the Carlisle Airport figure given on the BBC Weather website. It seems to be staying about right. We were wondering whether modern double-glazed houses would affect the readings. I can't find anything on that but did find this site about where to put them. It is on an outside wall about head height and nowhere near a radiator so that should be right.

Euphotic zone data

 

I found this data at the aquarium in Maryport

I put the depth and intensity data into a spreadsheet. I'm guessing that light intensity will fall exponentially with depth in the form I = B.exp(-kd) where B and k are constants.

This seems to be true because I get a straight line.

Mercury maximum elongation

My book told me to get out at 7.30pm to see Mercury. The arrow shows Jupiter. Mercury was in the circle but the sky was to bright there for it to stand out in the photo. It has led me to find out what elongation means. It turns out that it refers to an angle. It is the biggest angle between the Sun and the planet as seen from Earth, so I suppose it must make it seem furthest from the Sun and in Mercury's case, makes it easier to see.

Testing the bin lid

I realised I have a dB meter on my phone. The bin is rated 89dB so not far off but my conversation was this loud! 

Comparing electricity supply sources

 It must be mandatory now to show sources on bills. Here are a couple I've been shown:

The second makes a point of being 100% renewables.

The bottom of a lightning conductor

 

I noticed that the lightning conductor was double thickness at the bottom - made of two parallel strips. I wondered if that was a standard feature but I haven't been able to find anything. However I did find this brilliant article. I hadn't considered what happens below the ground. So the system needs to take the current away from the building. In this case I'd hope towards the graveyard because directly away from the building was towards a house a few metres away!