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| Blue sky thinking: explaining the enduring appeal of Weatherwatch | Blue sky thinking: explaining the enduring appeal of Weatherwatch |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The British may be famous for their obsession with the weather, but meteorology has traditionally been neglected in the media. Forecasts and charts tend to be tucked at the back of newspapers or deep within websites, while floods, droughts and hurricanes are reported on the news pages along with doom-laden predictions but little scientific evidence or background. | The British may be famous for their obsession with the weather, but meteorology has traditionally been neglected in the media. Forecasts and charts tend to be tucked at the back of newspapers or deep within websites, while floods, droughts and hurricanes are reported on the news pages along with doom-laden predictions but little scientific evidence or background. |
| The worldwide extreme weather of the past few weeks — hurricanes, wildfires and floods — have generated major news stories, but you will have to search hard for any information as to why they take place. | The worldwide extreme weather of the past few weeks — hurricanes, wildfires and floods — have generated major news stories, but you will have to search hard for any information as to why they take place. |
| In 1988, the Guardian made its first steps in trying to report the weather in a different way. Tim Radford, who later became science editor, was asked to set up a new series of weather-reported articles. These, it was hoped, would appeal to readers in the same way as the Guardian’s Country Diary — which enjoyed a passionate following. | In 1988, the Guardian made its first steps in trying to report the weather in a different way. Tim Radford, who later became science editor, was asked to set up a new series of weather-reported articles. These, it was hoped, would appeal to readers in the same way as the Guardian’s Country Diary — which enjoyed a passionate following. |
| The result was Weatherwatch, our continuing series investigating the stories behind the weather, which has since spawned numerous associated columns from Butterflywatch to Spacewatch – all of which you’ll find in print on the back pages of the main news section. | The result was Weatherwatch, our continuing series investigating the stories behind the weather, which has since spawned numerous associated columns from Butterflywatch to Spacewatch – all of which you’ll find in print on the back pages of the main news section. |
| The orginal Weatherwatch brief, as described by Celia Locks, who took over as editor a couple of years later, was simple: “We want to cover all aspects of weather: current and historical, general and quirky, one-off and recurring.” | The orginal Weatherwatch brief, as described by Celia Locks, who took over as editor a couple of years later, was simple: “We want to cover all aspects of weather: current and historical, general and quirky, one-off and recurring.” |
| Reader feedback had shown there was an interest in reporting that included more than isobars and fronts – and so in came mythology, humour and history. | Reader feedback had shown there was an interest in reporting that included more than isobars and fronts – and so in came mythology, humour and history. |
| The team of writers recruited by Radford and Locks rose to the challenge with an enthusiasm and professionalism that has lasted nearly 30 years. | The team of writers recruited by Radford and Locks rose to the challenge with an enthusiasm and professionalism that has lasted nearly 30 years. |
| The naturalist Stephen Moss was among early contributors – his 500th Weatherwatch column was published recently – as was Paul Simons, who still writes Plantwatch, and astronomer Alan Pickup, whoseNight Sky column which he had written since 1974 was renamed Starwatch; it remains one of the Guardian’s oldest regular columns, having run since July 1909. | The naturalist Stephen Moss was among early contributors – his 500th Weatherwatch column was published recently – as was Paul Simons, who still writes Plantwatch, and astronomer Alan Pickup, whoseNight Sky column which he had written since 1974 was renamed Starwatch; it remains one of the Guardian’s oldest regular columns, having run since July 1909. |
| Our writers are all experts in their fields. Gary Fuller, who has written Pollutionwatch since 2010, is an air pollution scientist at King’s College, London. Jeremy Plester is a meteorologist. | Our writers are all experts in their fields. Gary Fuller, who has written Pollutionwatch since 2010, is an air pollution scientist at King’s College, London. Jeremy Plester is a meteorologist. |
| Other contributors are David Hambling, suggested by Radford because he “wrote things that nobody else ever thought of writing”; award-winning writer Kate Ravilious, who covers the fascinating science behind the weather; Paul Brown, the Guardian’s environment correspondent from 1991 until his retirement in 2005, who draws on his expertise in climate change and interest in history. Radford marked his retirement by supplying contributions about weather in literature. | Other contributors are David Hambling, suggested by Radford because he “wrote things that nobody else ever thought of writing”; award-winning writer Kate Ravilious, who covers the fascinating science behind the weather; Paul Brown, the Guardian’s environment correspondent from 1991 until his retirement in 2005, who draws on his expertise in climate change and interest in history. Radford marked his retirement by supplying contributions about weather in literature. |
| I have been Weatherwatch editor since 2013, during which time I’ve introduced Terrawatch, about earth sciences written by Ravilious, who is an earth scientist as well as a weather enthusiast. | I have been Weatherwatch editor since 2013, during which time I’ve introduced Terrawatch, about earth sciences written by Ravilious, who is an earth scientist as well as a weather enthusiast. |
| “In this column I try to communicate some of the geology behind a news story, or a fresh discovery about our amazing planet” she says. | “In this column I try to communicate some of the geology behind a news story, or a fresh discovery about our amazing planet” she says. |
| Also new is Butterflywatch, running monthly through the summer, in which Patrick Barkham reports on how the butterfly population is coping with the British weather. | Also new is Butterflywatch, running monthly through the summer, in which Patrick Barkham reports on how the butterfly population is coping with the British weather. |
| Since taking on the role, I’ve paused to reflect on whether current articles fulfil the original Weatherwatch brief. Many are serious and scientific, dealing with current weather issues, including an ever-more pressing need to focus on climate change and its effect on British wildlife. | Since taking on the role, I’ve paused to reflect on whether current articles fulfil the original Weatherwatch brief. Many are serious and scientific, dealing with current weather issues, including an ever-more pressing need to focus on climate change and its effect on British wildlife. |
| Starwatch and Spacewatch are the “purest” science articles I publish, but, in a more light-hearted vein, others deal with more obscure science. | Starwatch and Spacewatch are the “purest” science articles I publish, but, in a more light-hearted vein, others deal with more obscure science. |
| Many answer questions you never thought to ask: how can you predict a tempest using leeches? How do clouds stay up in the sky? How do sand dunes form? When was a storm named after a toilet? How do moles forecast the weather? Interesting questions to cover in a scant 250 words. | Many answer questions you never thought to ask: how can you predict a tempest using leeches? How do clouds stay up in the sky? How do sand dunes form? When was a storm named after a toilet? How do moles forecast the weather? Interesting questions to cover in a scant 250 words. |
| History provides a rich source, with regular contributions on how weather can change history. David Hambling has tackled such topics as how 16th-century Chinese engineers created ice roads to transport 300-ton slabs of stone to the Forbidden City or how rain scuppered the Gunpowder Plot. | History provides a rich source, with regular contributions on how weather can change history. David Hambling has tackled such topics as how 16th-century Chinese engineers created ice roads to transport 300-ton slabs of stone to the Forbidden City or how rain scuppered the Gunpowder Plot. |
| He also revels in “strange phenomena, curious folklore and off-beat science”, with revelations on ice tsunamis, pingos, fairy castles, ice worms and many more, including the sorry tale of a soldier, a brewer and an MP who went up in a balloon to investigate a fog. The MP was never seen again. | He also revels in “strange phenomena, curious folklore and off-beat science”, with revelations on ice tsunamis, pingos, fairy castles, ice worms and many more, including the sorry tale of a soldier, a brewer and an MP who went up in a balloon to investigate a fog. The MP was never seen again. |
| I never suggest to the writers what they should write about. They are reliably diverse and the contributors’ enthusiasm for their subject always shines out. When I took over I caught that enthusiasm immediately. | I never suggest to the writers what they should write about. They are reliably diverse and the contributors’ enthusiasm for their subject always shines out. When I took over I caught that enthusiasm immediately. |
| I love these articles. Sometimes I worry that these little gems, buried at the bottom of the weather page, can be overlooked. But then one of them catches the world’s attention, such as Jeremy Plester’s article last July on giant sinkholes in Arctic Siberia. | I love these articles. Sometimes I worry that these little gems, buried at the bottom of the weather page, can be overlooked. But then one of them catches the world’s attention, such as Jeremy Plester’s article last July on giant sinkholes in Arctic Siberia. |
| Writers report that fellow scientists at international conferences always want to talk about the weather articles. Paul Brown says that he gets as much, if not more, response to his Weatherwatch articles as he received on major reports written in 24 years as a full-time reporter and environment correspondent. | Writers report that fellow scientists at international conferences always want to talk about the weather articles. Paul Brown says that he gets as much, if not more, response to his Weatherwatch articles as he received on major reports written in 24 years as a full-time reporter and environment correspondent. |
| Which makes me believe that yes, Weatherwatch is still fulfilling its brief – small but always informed and informative, relevant and entertaining. | Which makes me believe that yes, Weatherwatch is still fulfilling its brief – small but always informed and informative, relevant and entertaining. |
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