JayStream

In theory, it sounds good: Combining wind speed and air temperature into one number, intended to indicate the rate a body cools on a chilly, windy day. But wind chill has become so misused and misunderstood as to render it meaningless as a legitimate meteorological value.

Wind chill was created in 1939 by Antarctic explorer Paul Siple, who measured the temperature effects that wind had on containers of water. Those results were later transformed into a complicated formula called the Siple-Passel equation, and the wind chill was born.

Siple’s equation was used until 2000, when it was discontinued because it was found to dramatically overestimate the chill caused by strong winds in a cold environment. The National Weather Service, which officially recognized wind chill in the 1970s, performed some tests on the skin of real human beings in simulated wind to come up with a new wind chill formula. In it, the conditions which used to create a wind chill of -40 now result in a wind chill of only -20. Wind chill values just don’t sound as ferocious as they used to.

The whole wind chill idea is flawed. The public (and some broadcasters) say the wind chill is what it “feels like” outside. But wind chill is aimed at determining the effects of wind on bare skin on a stationary person facing into the wind. To say that a wind chill “feels like” -20 assumes that a real person won’t turn their back on the wind, put a hand over their face, or wear a scarf. I assure you that those of us who live in a colder climate do those things (except for teenagers, who don’t let wind and cold interfere with attitude and fashion).

Another issue is that wind chill is generally calculated at the nearest airport. Since there are few trees or tall buildings on air fields, measured wind speeds are higher than in neighborhoods and business districts where people live and work. Again, we don’t “feel like” the wind chill says we do.

But people still love to refer to the wind chill. I guess it makes us all “feel like” we can stand up to the best that winter weather can bring our way. Or give us something to brag about the next time someone says, “Sure is cold this winter…”

Jay Weather wind chill, windchill

The National Association of Broadcasters says it donated tens of millions of dollars in free commercial time to get the word out about the pending conversion of television from analog to digital broadcasts. Even as television stations prepare to flip the switch to turn on their very expensive new digital equipment, politicians insist on a delay in the changeover. Despite all the publicity, they say the public just doesn’t get it. Government vouchers to pay for set-top conversion boxes have run out, and lots of TV viewers still haven’t figured out whether they need a box or not.

The problem, I think, is that a good portion of TV viewers simply decided to wait until the last minute (or even until their favorite program turns to snow). Now, with time running out on their old television sets, procrastinating viewers still haven’t figured out whether they need a converter box or not. For those still unclear, let me offer my simple guide to the digital conversion:

-Do you pay a monthly cable TV bill? If yes, you do not need a box.
-Do you pay a satellite TV bill? If yes, you do not need a box.
-Is there a set of rabbit ears on your TV? If yes, you need a box.
-Is your TV connected to an antenna on the roof? If yes, you need a box.

Maybe part of the reason the government has run out of vouchers is that people who do not need boxes mistakenly went out and bought them anyway. It would be pretty cynical to think that the 565 digital converter boxes up for sale on ebay today are there because somebody is just trying to turn a fast buck. Or is it?

Jay Television industry digital converter box, vouchers