The Powerful Influence of Weather
I Weather has a powerful effect on the physical world. It also affects people’s personalities and we know the effects through the biometeorologists. These are the scientists who are weather researchers. They study human health and emotions in response to atmospheric conditions. The word atmosphere means “the air around the earth.” “Atmospheric condition at a time or place” is a definition of the word weather. Some examples of these conditions are sun, wind, rain, snow, humidity (the amount of moisture in the air), and air pressure (the force of air). The weather conditions of the atmosphere greatly influence people’s health, thinking, and feelings.
II All over the world winds come down from high mountain areas. The wind fall faster and faster, and the air becomes warmer and drier. According to biometeorologists in Russia, powerful wind from the mountains increases the number of strokes (blood vessels attack in the brain). Also, sometimes strong southern winds blow north over Italy. During this time, researchers say, Italians have more heart attacks (sudden stopping of the heart). People everywhere have bad headaches during times of forceful winds. And Japanese weather scientists say there is an increase in the number of asthma attacks. (Asthma is a lung disorder. It causes breathing problems.)
III Sudden temperature changes in winter are often associated with colds or flu. However, cold and flu probably increase because people are in close contact indoors in cold water. Colds and flu may even lead to pneumonia (another lung disease). Other illnesses also increase during long periods (times) of cold weather. In most places, diseases of the blood and heart attacks are more common in winter. But in some very hot and humid (wet) regions, there are more heart attacks in summer. Many people have high blood pressure (a health conditions). In three out of four people, blood pressure falls (goes down) in warm weather. But some people have lower blood pressure in the cool or cold times of the year.
IV These forces of nature greatly affect people’s moods (emotional conditions and feelings) too. For many people, winter in the northern regions is very depressing. They eat and sleep a lot, but they usually feel tired. They are nervous and can’t work well. They are irritable (not very nice to other people). Biometeorologists even have a name for this condition. The name is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Scientist think that the cause of this mood disorder is the long periods of darkness. Even during the day, it is often cloudy or gray. What can people with SAD do about of moods? Naturally, they need more light! On bright days they feel better. But people don’t work very well on sunny, hot, and humid days. The best weather for good work and thinking is cool and clear.
V If you have these above mentioned signs, remember that according to the biometeorologists and other weather scientists-the cause may be the atmosphere!