You have touched upon a pet peeve of mine.



There is more than one definition of seasons. The method of measuring
seasons from the solstices and equinoxes is an astrological definition.
The meteorological definition is based on temperature. The coldest months
in temperate climates in the northern hemisphere are December, January,
February, so those are the winter months.



Ecologically, the meteorological definition makes more sense. In most
papers in ecological journals in which a study is done in a northern
temperate zone, the winter months are December, January, and February.
Spring months are March, April, May, etc. I go with the meteorological
definition. Winter starts December 1 for me. We are halfway through winter
now. I don't think hardly anyone feels, emotionally, that winter doesn't
start until Dec 21 or thereabouts.



Every solstice and equinox, the weather guys on TV proclaim the start of
whatever season it is. That would be okay, if they would also add that
those starting dates depend on how one marks the seasons and not everyone
thinks they are good markers! Instead of calling them the start and end of
seasons, why not just call them the equinoxes and the solstices?



Grumble, grumble,

Kelly Cassidy



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Eric
Kowalczyk
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 8:07 AM
To: tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] early spring?



In my mind, spring is always "early".



Winter "officially" begins when the days begin to get longer; summer begins
when days begin to get shorter......that is the way it is....but for
me....winter begins in November and Spring begins in February.......I find
it hard to think that on Dec 20th...we are still in "autumn" and on March
20th, it is still winter! A meteorological oxymoron perhaps!





Eric Kowalczyk

Seattle