The berg wind brain-teaser
He could never understand the concept that hot air rises but descending air heats up.
Needless to say, a few minutes was not enough to explain the concept to him.
If his teacher could not help him understand this concept, he barked up the wrong tree by asking me to explain it.
Imparting knowledge to others must be one of my weakest traits. This is possibly because throughout my career I have had to learn most things for myself.
This is from the days that they shipped the first real computers to the Weather Office, through to correspondence courses at Technikon RSA and the like.
I understand concepts but often battle to explain them in a way that others understand.
Mrs Guru has realised this after leaving the cooking industry and joining me in the weather industry.
It's not easy to explain Excel to somebody that insists that a printed copy is still King. I am sitting with a dilemma of teaching an old dog new tricks.
I must say, she has excelled quickly in Excel (couldn't resist the pun) and is well past beginner's level in a very short time.
Back to Daron's dilemma and going back to basics, the biggest driver of weather is temperature, and more specifically the sun's uneven heating of the earth's surface.
Thus, his question is important in obtaining a better understanding of weather.
This is why climate change experts are most concerned about global warming as it effects all aspects of weather.
This can be seen by the effects of El Nino on weather in different parts of the globe.
Yes, it is true that hot air rises, but the statement should rather read that air that is less dense than its surroundings will rise.
This can be seen in a body of water where air bubbles rise to the surface no matter what the temperature of the air or water is. This is because air is less dense than water.
We might then ask why hot air is less dense and the simple answer is — because its molecules move faster and spread out, occupying more space. The opposite is true with cold air.
Essentially then, because of its density in comparison to its surroundings, a hot air parcel will rise to the top of a cooler air environment.
Now how does air heat when it descends? Basically, air within an area of high-pressure generally descends.
This downward motion is associated with convergence in the upper atmosphere.
In other words, the coming together of air at a height of about 5 to 10km above mean sea level.
This action forces the air below it downwards, thus causing it to warm.
Naturally, this limits the amount and depth of clouds, thus high-pressure systems are mostly associated with fair weather.
Ridging highs are another subject entirely on their own and we would not want to confuse Daron too much on this one.
Then why does it get colder the higher one goes up in the atmosphere?
The simplest answer is that you are further away from the heater, which is the surface of the earth.
Also, the higher one goes, the thinner the air and the lower the pressure.
Essentially this means that the air molecules have less energy and the overall temperature drops.
Thinner air is the reason why additional oxygen is essential when climbing Mount Everest.
I know that many will argue using the plight and flight of Icarus in Greek mythology. He was the son of Daedalus, who crafted the wings for both as a means of escape from imprisonment.
As the story goes, the wax holding the wings together melted when he flew too close to the sun.
This is a lesson of the dangers of over self-confidence and overreaching one's limits, using an analogy, rather than a solid scientific fact.
This week in history:
1981: Flood in Plettenberg Bay, just months after severe floods in Nelson Mandela Bay
Dam levels
69.79%, slightly down from previous week's 70.24%. Impofu down to 52.30%
Weather safety tips:
If you have no water to douse a fire, use sand to smother it and deprive it of oxygen.
Now on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: WEATHER GURU
Email: info@wgawx.co.za with feedback or requests
The Herald
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mail & Guardian
6 days ago
- Mail & Guardian
People back climate policy when weather events feel personal, new study finds
The effects of extreme weather events are disproportionately felt in countries in the Global South. Most people are more likely to support A few extreme weather events also seem to influence support for climate policies in different ways, according to the team of authors, which included Marina Joubert, an associate professor at the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology at Stellenbosch University. The Nature Climate Change , found that although extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense because of climate change, little is known about how experiencing these events — and attributing them to climate change — affects support for climate policies, particularly in the Global South. The effects of extreme weather events are disproportionately felt in countries in the Global South. 'Even though the The study shows that when people connect extreme weather such as heatwaves, floods and droughts to climate change, they're much more likely to support climate action, Joubert said. 'This matters for countries like South Africa where climate impacts are already being felt. One surprising finding from our study is that people in Africa, especially in South Africa, are less likely to say that climate change is behind extreme weather events,' she said. 'That's not because the weather is not changing, but because climate change awareness is still low.' To build support for climate solutions, there is an urgent need for better public communication that explains to people what is happening and why, Joubert said. The researchers assessed support for the following five climate policies: increasing taxes on carbon-intense foods, raising taxes on fossil fuels, expanding infrastructure for public transportation, increasing the use of sustainable energy, and protecting forested and land areas. They used combined large-scale natural and social science data from 68 countries to develop a measure of how many people were exposed to extreme weather events — and to explore whether this exposure, along with people's beliefs about whether climate change has affected extreme weather events over the last decades, predict their support for climate policies. They also comparatively assessed the link between the size of exposed populations, defined as the average annual proportion of a country's total population exposed to a specific weather-related hazard, to several extreme weather events and support for climate policies. They found that in line with previous research, increasing carbon taxes received the lowest support, with only 22% and 29% of people, respectively, indicating they very much supported increased taxes on carbon-intensive foods and fossil fuels. Protecting forested and land areas, by contrast, was a popular policy option, with 82% supporting it very much and only 3% not supporting it at all. The second-most supported policy was increasing the use of sustainable energy, with 75% supporting it very much, and only 5% not supporting it at all. The research showed that not all climate policies are equally popular, revealing that people around the world, including in Africa, are far more supportive of clean energy and forest protection than carbon taxes. 'That's an important message for governments. If you want public buy-in, you have to focus on solutions that people understand and support,' Joubert said. The study provides global evidence that subjective attribution of extreme weather events to climate change is associated with greater policy support for climate mitigation, the researchers said. 'Overall, different extreme weather events appear to have different relationships with climate policy support. This pattern highlights the importance of comparative analyses that consider different types of events,' the study said. 'In line with previous studies we also found that subjective attribution interacts with exposure to European winter storms, heatwaves, heavy precipitation and tropical cyclones to predict climate policy support.' Mere exposure to extreme weather events might therefore not suffice to increase policy support unless individuals link these events to climate change. While larger exposure to extreme events was not found to be related to policy support, except for wildfires, the researchers could not rule out that changes in the frequency of extreme weather events over time might be sufficient to shift support. 'Nevertheless, our data suggest that if individuals attribute extreme weather events to climate change, support for climate policies is higher regardless of whether the events are more frequent.' The reverse causal relationship is also possible: people who are supportive of climate policies are more likely to attribute extreme weather to climate change, the study said, noting that longitudinal panel studies are needed to investigate the nature and direction of this relationship. The research also found strong differences in support across countries and policies. Support for climate policies was particularly high in African and Asian countries, average in Australia, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, and below the global average in several European countries, such as Czechia, Finland and Norway. 'Participants who identified as men, were younger, more religious, had higher education, higher income, left-leaning politics and who lived in urban areas were more likely to support climate policies,' the report said. For some events, such as heatwaves and tropical cyclones, the effects of exposure on climate policy support were stronger for individuals who attribute extreme weather events to climate change more strongly. 'One possible explanation is that these types of extreme weather events allow for management strategies that can directly reduce the hazard itself, such as man-made flood protections, irrigation systems, prescribed burn-offs and land-use policies. 'Therefore, people may be more likely to support policies pertaining to law enforcement or economic regulations instead of climate change mitigation.' The researchers however pointed out that exposure to most types of extreme events did not predict people's support for climate policies. The extent to which people attributed extreme weather events to climate change varied across regions of the world. People in South America most strongly agreed that the occurrence of extreme weather events has been affected by climate change over the last decades, especially in Brazil and Colombia. This might be explained by the fact that belief in human-caused climate change and self-reported personal experience of extreme weather events are high in Latin America. People in Northern Europe and Africa, on the other hand, were less likely to attribute extreme weather events to climate change. In Africa, this could be explained by low levels of climate change awareness and belief in human-caused climate change across the continent. The researchers called for more studies about effective climate change communication on types of extreme weather events that are not typically associated with climate.
Mail & Guardian
12-07-2025
- Mail & Guardian
From rules to results: How to make maths and programming easier
Picture it: An example of a visual learning wall used to reinforce logic-based subject rules. It's no secret that maths, programming and other logic-based subjects feel like a mountain climb for many students. Meanwhile, subjects like English and life orientation feel more like a gentle stroll. Why is that? Are some people just 'not wired' for logic? Or is there something deeper — and fixable — at play? South Africa's own numbers raise the alarm. In the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study study, grade nine learners were among the lowest-performing in maths globally. Only around a third of matric students register for pure maths — and even fewer achieve strong marks. Many university students continue to struggle with first-year logic-heavy subjects such as maths, programming and physics, despite performing reasonably well in high school. There's clearly a disconnect between how these subjects are taught and how they need to be learned. Let's unpack that. Here's the real problem — we teach what to learn but rarely how to learn. In text-based subjects, you can often get by through memorisation — even if understanding is minimal. But in logical subjects, there's no shortcut. You can't fake solving an equation or writing a function — you either get it or you don't. That's where the method matters. Step 1: Learn the rules and make It visual All logic-based subjects — whether maths, physics or programming — run on rules. But rules are only useful if they're internalised. Try this: Write down key rules (eg the distributive property, coding syntax structures) on coloured cards or sticky notes. Use different felt-tip pens — colour-code different categories (blue for algebra, green for loops, red for errors, etc). Stick these notes visibly on a wall or cupboard. Keep adding to this visual board over time. What this does is transform passive reading into active engagement. It's fun. It's visual. And it becomes a regular reminder every time you walk into the room. Step 2: Practise, practise, practise Once the rules are up, you're not done. In fact, that's where the real work begins. Logical subjects demand repetition. Think of it like preparing for a driver's licence: You study the rules (theory); You write a test on them; and Then you practise behind the wheel until it becomes second nature. Likewise, once you know the math laws or code syntax, you must apply them. Don't just glance at solved problems — do them. Over and over. With pen and paper. From textbooks, worksheets, online study guides and past papers. Try coding small apps or solving the same equation using different methods. The goal is to go from 'understanding in theory' to 'I can do this without thinking.' Text-heavy subjects often reward surface learning. Even if you don't fully grasp the material, you can memorise quotes or definitions and recall them in an exam. That taps into what psychologists call System 1 thinking — the brain's fast, intuitive, automatic mode. But logic-based subjects demand System 2 thinking — slow, effortful, rule-based reasoning. It takes time, patience and consistency. No shortcuts. That doesn't make them harder — it just makes them different. Studies in neuroscience suggest that logical reasoning primarily engages the left hemisphere of the brain, responsible for analytical and sequential thinking. In contrast, the right hemisphere is more involved in creative, verbal and emotional processing. This doesn't mean people are 'left-brained' or 'right-brained' — we use both sides. But it does explain why some students thrive in writing essays and others in debugging code. And it's also why cross-training your brain by using visual tools, verbal reinforcement and kinesthetic practice (like writing by hand) can make logical learning easier for everyone. Let's stop saying, 'I'm just not a maths person.' Instead, let's teach people how to learn logic the right way. Learn the rules, visually and actively; practise them consistently and treat it like a skill just like driving or playing a musical instrument. Because, once you unlock that process, you don't just succeed in school — you gain tools that help you reason, analyse and solve problems in every part of life. Dr Zakia Salod is a medical AI research scientist, software developer, artist and philanthropist. Salod is also a Mail & Guardian Power of Women 2024 alumni, a youth leader and multi-awarded STEMI advocate in South Africa.
Mail & Guardian
10-07-2025
- Mail & Guardian
Prof Bismark Tyobeka appointed chairperson of Ministerial Expert Panel on Nuclear
Prof Bismark Tyobeka. In a landmark development for South Africa's energy transition, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU) and former CEO of the National Nuclear Regulator, has been appointed both a member and chairperson of the Ministerial Expert Panel on Nuclear. The appointment, announced by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, places Prof Tyobeka at the helm of a body tasked with advising government on the pace, scale and procurement approach for new nuclear capacity. Prof Tyobeka's selection reflects not only his nuclear qualifications, skills and deep regulatory expertise, but also his stature as one of Africa's foremost authorities on nuclear safety and governance. This non-remunerative appointment is for a 12-month term. Minister Ramokgopa noted that in recent months, his ministry has been shaping its strategic objectives in support of the government's Medium-Term Development Plan, with nuclear energy playing a key role in that vision. 'The Ministry will aggressively expand research and development, innovation and partnerships to reassert South Africa's capability and global positioning as a leader in nuclear technology, and use this nuclear expertise to drive industrial development and growth,' he said. The panel will advise the Minister on strategic issues across the entire value chain of nuclear technology development. Of Professor Tyobeka, the Minister remarked: 'I am aware that Professor Tyobeka fulfils a vital role as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the North-West University, and I am confident that the two roles will complement each other significantly, given the NWU's strong focus on nuclear technology and its contribution to energy security, as well as the broader goals of job creation and localisation within the nuclear sector.' Prof Tyobeka expressed his appreciation for the trust the Minister has placed in him and reaffirmed his commitment to helping steer South Africa's just energy transition. 'According to the Minister, the role of this expert panel extends beyond nuclear energy alone. It is intended to provide comprehensive advice on all nuclear-related matters, including nuclear science, technology and power. This is an exciting opportunity for us to support the Minister in enhancing the country's nuclear capabilities, particularly in advancing the production of medical isotopes at NECSA. Our goal is to reaffirm South Africa's leadership in radiopharmaceuticals, a position we have proudly held for many years. 'Moreover, the panel comprises esteemed experts, both local and international, within the nuclear field. I believe this will bring renewed momentum to restoring South Africa's position as Africa's leading nuclear power. As many are aware, Egypt has recently made substantial progress with its nuclear build programme and is currently constructing four nuclear power stations, each with a capacity of 1 200 megawatts. Once completed, Egypt will become the continent's largest producer of nuclear electricity, a position South Africa has held for more than four decades. 'This appointment – mine and that of my distinguished colleagues – augurs well for the revitalisation of South Africa's nuclear power programme. More than just revival, however, it must also inject urgency and direction into our efforts, while being mindful of the appropriate pace and scale. 'We look forward to working closely with the department's policy developers and implementers. We acknowledge the commendable work already achieved. Our task is to build on that foundation and help take the country's nuclear ambitions to the next level through expert, strategic guidance to Minister Ramokgopa.' • Find attached a voice recording from Prof Tyobeka on his appointment. • Follow the link to the article here:
