2019 has just begun, but the superstitions from our ancestors still thrive in our culture. Even an everyday thing such as the weather isn’t immune to such baseless beliefs. To help us debunk some weather-related superstitions, we consult experts from no less than PAGASA.
- “Bawal magsuot ng pulang damit o gumamit ng pulang payong kapag umuulan. Baka tamaan ka ng kidlat.” (Don’t wear red or use a red umbrella when raining to prevent getting hit by lightning.)
This is a usual saying we hear before heading out during the rainy season. Maybe this is rooted in the fact that red is a strong color and attracts whoever sees it—even lightning.
What PAGASA Weather Specialist Chris Perez says:
“Lightning can strike anything, anywhere. It is dependent on the concentration of charged particles–positive and negative charges within a thunderstorm cloud and on the ground. The negative charges at the bottom of a thunderstorm cloud are attracted to the positive charges on the ground. These positive charges can be from anything (trees, metal objects, even people)
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Regardless of your shirt’s or umbrella’s color, we have to be extra careful whenever we go outside during a thunderstorm. https://panahon.tv/beta/v2/web/blog/2015/06/squat-if-you-must-how-to-keep-yourself-safe-during-thunderstorms/
- “Sasakit ang tiyan mo kapag nakaamoy ka ng alimuom.” (The damp ground’s smell will give you a tummy ache.)
The earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil is called petrichor. Such odor may smell unpleasant to some people.
What PAGASA Weather Specialist Ariel Rojas says:
Petrichor is not known to cause any bodily harm – chemical, biochemical or otherwise. So have no fear of getting those tummy aches when inhaling that scent because it’s a bluff!
- “Kapag kumanta ang taong hindi maganda ang boses, uulan.” (When someone sings off-key, it will rain.)
Nope, this one doesn’t need a scientific explanation. A person’s singing voice doesn’t have anything to do with the weather. This superstition may have been coined to discourage people who can’t sing to belt out tunes.
- “Kapag umuulan habang umaaraw, may ikinakasal na tikbalang.” (When the sun is shining at the same time it’s raining, it means a werehorse is being wed.)
This myth, involving a tikbalang (a half human, half horse creature from Philippine folklore) is probably the most popular weather-related superstition. Across the globe, it is generally believed that such weird weather indicates the wedding day or birthday of a trickster figure (e.g. witch, monkey, fox, etc.). That is why on these characters’ special day, the weather pulls its own prank on us, humans.
What PAGASA Weather Specialist Chris Perez says:
This scenario usually happens during the Hot and Dry, and Monsoon seasons. Isolated thunderstorms, which brings rain showers, can occur anytime during a hot, sunny day. Winds associated with a thunderstorm can blow raindrops into an area with no clouds, resulting in a sunshower.
Now that the expert have given their two cents, you can now face the day with your head held high, knowing that what you wear or how you sing won’t affect the weather. But remember, whatever the weather, it’s best to prepare for it to ensure your safety.
By: Pamela Avigail E. Jayme
Panahon TV Intern
Once in a Blue Moon? You mean once every two and a half years. Blue moons are rare occurrences, but are not as rare as people think.
Tonight, the world will experience a “blue moon”, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
But in this case, the moon doesn’t literally turn blue. The moon is called blue when it’s the second full moon within a month. Usually, there is only one blue moon in a month, with of course, the exception of blue moons.
The lunar cycle is 29 days long, which means that eventually, there will be an appearance of two moons in one month. This usually happens when a full moon appears at the very start of the month, either on the first or second day.
A blue moon happens roughly once every two and a half years on average, the last two happened in August 2012 and July 2015. In rare cases, there are two blue moons in one year. The “double blue moon” occurred last 1999, and will happen again this year – one tonight, and another in March. On the other hand, when double blue moons occur in January and March, February does not have a full moon, partially because it only has 28 days.
Bluer than Blue
There have been cases of an actual “blue moon,” which are rarer than its conventional meaning. The moon changes hue when there are volcanic eruptions or large fires that leave particles in the atmosphere.
One of the longest times a blue moon occurred was when the Indonesian volcano Krakatoa erupted in 1883, equal to the blast of a 100-megaton nuclear bomb. People reported to have heard a cannon-like noise up to 600 kilometers away. Ash and particles about 1 micrometer wide rose up to the Earth’s atmosphere, causing selective light to pass through and reach the surface. The moon “turned blue” for days in areas near Krakatoa.
Reported sightings of a “blue moon” also happened after Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991. Forest fires are also a cause for blue moons because of the smoke and particles they create. In these occurrences, “lavender suns” are also reported to be seen, also caused by particles in the air.
Historical Mix-up
Originally, the blue moon was considered the third out of four full moons in a season (winter, spring, summer, fall). Each season usually experiences 3 full moons, hence the appearance of a 4th moon, or the Blue Moon, which came rarely and is considered the 13th moon in a year. This was based on Maine Farmer’s Almanac from 1819, which farmers used as reference for agricultural purposes.
However, in 1946, an article on Sky & Telescope misinterpreted the blue moon as the 2nd moon in a month, inferring from the idea that the blue moon appeared as the 13th full moon in a year. The article was titled “Once in a Blue Moon”, a phrase which integrated itself into pop culture meaning something that happens very rarely.
From this misinterpretation, a blue moon can be considered either of the following:
1. It is the extra full moon within a season, which usually has three moons (Maine’s definition); or
2. It is the second full moon within a month (Sky & Telescope’s definition).
The latter is the more popular and commonly used definition for a blue moon nowadays, with the other definition practically defunct.
Catch the blue moon tonight, peaking at 8:51 PM (Philippine Standard Time).
SOURCES:
http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-glossary.html#B
www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/what-is-a-blue-moon/
PAGASA
NASA
The Northeast Monsoon or Amihan has slightly weakened but continues to blow through extreme Northern Luzon, while the warm and humid Easterlies, dominate the remaining parts of the country.
In the next hours, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Davao Region will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms that may trigger flash floods or landslides. In Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands, cloudy skies with scattered rains will prevail. The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, can enjoy generally fair weather as partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail only with chances of isolated rain showers.
Gale warning has been lifted as well, as Amihan weakens. However, colder days are likely to prevail in February as Siberian winds reintensify.
In today’s interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Robert Badrina, he mentioned that no weather disturbance is expected within the next three day.
Two weather systems will continue to bring lights rains to Northern and Central Luzon today.
According to PAGASA, the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan has intensified, bringing cloudy skies with light rains in Cordillera, Batanes, Babuyan, Cagayan and Isabela. In Eastern and Central Visayas, Bicol Region, Aurora and Quezon, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced due to the Tail-End of a Cold Front. In Metro Manila, Ilocos Region and the rest of Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will be experienced with light rains. In the remaining parts of the country, generally fair weather will be experienced only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Because of the surge of Amihan, gale warning is still in effect in the seaboards of Northern Luzon where wave height may reach up to 3.4 to 4.5 meters. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves in Batanes, Babuyan Group of Islands, Cagayan, the northern and western coasts of Ilocos Norte, the northern coast of Isabela, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, and the eastern coast of Quezon including Polilio Island.
In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Mendoza, he said that the country is expected to remain storm-free in the next two to three days.
After a short break last week, the Northeast Monsoon is back and has further intensified.
Today, the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan brings cool breezes and rains in Northern and Central Luzon. Meanwhile, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and Easterlies dampen Mindanao, and the eastern sections Southern Luzon and Visayas, respectively.
Today, Quezon, the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. In Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will be experienced with isolated light rains. In the rest of the country, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers will prevail.
Gale warning is still raised in the northern seaboards of Northern Luzon. These include Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, and the northern coasts of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte. Due to rough to very rough seas, fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out while larger vessels are alerted against big waves.
Cooler Days Ahead
Temperatures continue to dip as the Northeast Monsoon, the cold and dry air from Siberia, intensifies. Yesterday, a chilling 16.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in Baguio City. In Tanay, Rizal 17 degrees Celsius was recorded, while the temperature dropped to 21 degrees Celsius in Infanta, Quezon. The surge of Amihan is expected in January and February.
The Low Pressure Area (LPA) southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan has developed into a Tropical Depression and was given the local name #TinoPH.
At 10:00 AM today, the Tropical Depression was located at 245 kilometers east-southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. It has maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) with gustiness of 80 kph, moving in a west-northwest direction at a speed of 28 kph. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow morning.
This weather disturbance is expected to make landfall in Southern Palawan this afternoon, between 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1 was hoisted in the said province.
Meanwhile, residents of MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Panay Island are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides. Metro Manila, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and the province of Aurora will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms.
Sea travel is risky in the seaboards of Palawan due to moderate to rough seas brought by Tropical Depression #TinoPH.
ITCZ dampens Southern Mindanao
Lightning, occasionally heavy rains, strong winds and flash floods are possible in Southern Mindanao as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affects the region today.
The ITCZ is an area where winds coming from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet; this interaction results in rains in the affected areas. ITCZ is also composed of a series of Low Pressure Areas (LPA) which can develop into weather disturbances.
As this weather system prevails, the Zamboanga Peninsula, SOCSKSARGEN, ARMM and Davao Region will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of Mindanao, all the way up to Visayas and Luzon will have generally fair weather except for chances of localized thunderstorms.
In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez, he mentioned that no weather disturbance affects the country today but a cloud cluster is being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
(As of 9:00 PM today) Due to the inclement weather brought by Tropical Depression Maring, here’s a list of schools and areas where classes have been suspended for tomorrow, September 13, 2017.
ALL LEVELS
Muntinlupa
Las Piñas
Cavite Province
University of Santo Tomas
Laguna Province
Olongapo City
Zambales Province
Guagua, Pampanga
Bulacan: Meycauayan, Marilao
Rizal: Baras, Angono, San Mateo, Morong, Tanay, Taytay, Cainta, Binangonan, Pililla, Rodriguez
PRESCHOOL TO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Batangas Province
Of Aliens and Astrobiology
It may sound far-removed from reality, but astrobiology or the branch of biology concerned with the study of life on earth and in space, is actually quite practical. Though this field is relatively new compared to the long-established fields of astronomy, biology, physics, geology and planetary science, astrobiology is essential for securing the future of humans. That’s because it combines the search for habitable environments in the solar system and beyond while researching the evolution and adaptability of life here on Earth. Astrobiology seeks to answer fundamental scientific questions about life—including the conditions for it to flourish here or elsewhere in the galaxy.
Meet Earth, Our Planet
The oldest known fossils found on Earth are around 3.5 billion years old, 14 times the age of the oldest dinosaurs. Different theories and beliefs have sprouted on how life on Earth began. Before the 1800s, most people believed in “vitalism”, an idea that living things were endowed with a special, magical property that made them different from inanimate objects.
Another famous theory is Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species, which explains how the vast diversity of life could all have risen from a single common ancestor. Instead of each of the different species being created individually by God, the theory poses that all descended from a primordial organism that lived millions of years ago.
Flourishing life
Earth is often referred to as a “Goldilocks planet”. Like the third of the three bowls of porridge in the fairy tale Goldilocks, it is neither too hot nor too cold, but just right. This allows liquid water—which is essential to life— to flourish in our planet. But do you know that the Earth hasn’t always carried water? A theory suggests that asteroids struck the Earth, carrying this life-giving substance and other bacteria to our planet.
It is a fact that humans are outnumbered by bacteria. As Evolutionary Biologist Stephen Jay Gould wrote, “Our planet has always been in the ‘Age of Bacteria’ ever since the first fossils bacteria, of course, were entombed in rocks more than 3 billion years ago. On any possible, reasonable or fair criterion, bacteria are and always have been the dominant forms of life on Earth.”
A journal published online by the University of California Berkeley on April 11, 2016 reinforces that humans represent only a tiny percentage of the world’s biodiversity.
Life on Mars?
Martians or inhabitants of the planet Mars have long been the subject of pop culture, whether in jest or all seriousness. But recent explorations in Mars have found water bound in the fine soil of the “Red Planet”, particularly in the Gale Crater. This crater was created when a large meteor struck the planet 3.5 billion to 3.8 billion years ago. They discovered that Mount Sharp, a mound of rock in the middle of Gale Crater, was built by sediments deposited in a large lake bed, tens of millions of years ago. Experts believe that the crater itself was once a vast ocean. An analysis of rocks at the bottom of a mountain in the middle of the crater shows that water flowed at different levels over the course of millions of years. In fact, there are still substantial amounts of ice water at the Martian poles.
The mission of Curiosity, a car-sized rover that’s part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission (MSL), includes investigating Martian climate and geology, assessing whether the Gale Crater has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life, including the investigation of the role of water, and planetary habitability studies in preparation for future human exploration.
The question of whether there is, or was, life on Mars may finally be answered by the European Space Agency’s ExoMars mission, which will land a 300-kilogram rover on the Red Planet in 2019.
Chances of life beyond Earth
We assume that one-fifth of all stars have habitable planets in orbit around them. This leads us to conclude that there should be other advanced technological civilizations out there. In our very own Milky Way galaxy, the odds of being the only technologically advanced civilization are 1 in 60 billion. Thus, it’s very likely that other intelligent, technologically advanced species have evolved before us.
According to the History Channel, Frank Drake a notable astronomer, created an equation that was able to “estimate the likelihood of the existence of alien life, taking into account a number of factors including the average number of planets able to support life and the fraction that could go on to support intelligent life.” The equation found that “hundreds of thousands” of planets that could support extraterrestrial beings could and should exist.
So… do aliens really exist? This question has baffled humans ever since prehistoric man noticed the bright stars in our sky. Thousands of paranormal sightings have been recorded on video since then, with many conspiracy theories and fictional films such as E.T. and Alien generating much interest among UFO hunters. Hundreds of pictures and videos of UFOs are taken every year. While some have been debunked as fake, there are still dozens that have left even the experts scratching their heads and wondering if we really have been visited by creatures from another planet.
According to the Telegraph, Charles Bolden, administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was quoted: “I do believe that we will someday find other forms of life or a form of life, if not in our solar system then in some of the other solar systems — the billions of solar systems in the universe.”
As technology advances, our research probability also expands. If extra-terrestrial life exists, then perhaps, life on Earth can also exist in other planets. Rather than being a scary thought, aliens now give us hope—that we are not alone, and that with the gradual degradation of our planet, human life can still thrive elsewhere. Such is the possibility astrobiologists are now endeavoring to find out.
By Panahon TV Reporter Patrick Obsuna