Why Spring Begins Early This Year

[madokie]

Lately, around this time of year, I often get letters from people wondering why spring begins early this year. Many folks assume the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere — also known as the vernal equinox — has always come on March 21. But this year seems to be an exception, for in 2013 the first day of spring comes on Wednesday, March 20 at 11:02 UT, or 7:02 a.m. EDT/4:02 a.m. PDT.

Now this doesn't seem right. When many of us were growing up, the first day of spring was always on March 21, not March 20, right? Now, all of a sudden, spring comes on March 20. How did that happen?

While it's true that we've tended to celebrate the beginning of spring on March 21 in recent years, astronomers and calendar manufacturers alike say that this year, the spring season starts one day earlier, March 20, in all time zones in North America.

Unheard of, you might think. But not if you look at the statistics.

The rest: http://www.space.com/20279-spring-begins-early-2013.html

[Loudly]

1. Saw a great NOVA tonight about eco satellite intelligence.

Those old astronomical spring, summer, fall and winter dates are so miniscule in comparison to what is actually going on!

They play a part for sure, but when the narrator says winter that could be southern hemisphere winter!

Watch as the salty brine is wrung out of a particular freezing bay in Antartica and turns into an engine of worldwide ocean currents.

[longship]

2. Tell that to the Michigander weather reporters.

It's supposed to fucking snow all week, just like every week since January. No! We're not getting buried; it's just an inch a night, or so.

But I live on a dirt road amongst the national forest and one doesn't like snow too much around here, although we pretty much ignore an inch or two.

But I'm sick and fucking tired of not seeing the sky and having to get all bundled up to trudge through the snow to my mailbox, my garage, or to take the garbage out. In summer I can do those things in my pajamas.

Can hardly wait for it to end this year.