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Question
QUESTION: WHy is it that its 5 a.m. where I'm at and I don't see any clouds?
ANSWER: 1. I don't know your location. (And therefore I don't know your current weather synopsis.)
2. Could be a high pressure region (descending air) over your area.
3. You could be experiencing very low humidity right now.
4. You've just become blind...but hopefully not.
5. You're currently indoors with no windows.
That's all I can think of...except to say that cloud cover is NOT based on your time of day, but rather your current weather (atmospheric) conditions.
Clear Skies,
Tom
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: haha you made me laugh with "the blind part". I am in Liberia and its always humid here.
While you're on the coast of West Africa, true it's probably always humid at the surface,
(especially if you live right along the coastline) BUT you're also at 7 North latitude, so I would think that you're in the global pattern NE Trade winds that bring down warm, dry air from the central Sub-Sahara desert from Mali and Niger. Just guessing on my part, never having ever
set foot in Africa (and never intend to)...but I remember in Aruba and Hawaii at 8-10 N. Latitude
we had a nearly continuous northeast trade wind at about 15 miles per hour 90% of the time.
And you are at roughly the same latitude...unless things are very different on the African
continent. I would expect that you have a very high percentage of clear skies most of the time,
unless an Atlantic storm comes in from the Southwest.
Clear Skies,
Tom
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Answers by Expert:
Tom Whiting
Expertise
Astronomy has been my hobby/pasttime for over 50 years. Currently own 3 telescopes, the largest of which is a 30 inch Newtonian truss Dob that is portable.I taught Astronomy/Meteorology at the University Level for 13 years before retiring in 1995. Being retired and home most of the time, I am able to answer all questions relatively quickly, unless it's a new moon weekend with good observing conditions. No astrology questions please, or questions about alleged UFO picture identifications.
Experience
Experience: Astronomy has been my hobby and study for over 50 years. We currently now own a 30 inch portable telescope (Updated - Pennsylvania`s largest portable telescope). It can be seen on our website at:http://www.velocity.net/~bwhiting and also attend several regional starparties during the year, and have been on 5 total solar eclipse expeditions.
Organizations: President, Erie County Mobile Observers Group for over 15 years.
Publications: Wrote the "Over Erie Skies" newspaper article in our local newspaper for 11 years (1975-86).
Education: Masters Degree- Taught at the University level for 13 years. Retired 20 years -USAF Pilot - KC-135 with 180 combat missions; Also Eagle Scout, Philmont staff 2 Yrs, Order of Arrow Lodge Chief, Ham Radio (inactive).
Awards: two discoveries: The mini-coathanger asterism in Ursa Minor (the little dipper) And the mini-ladle- another asterism in the bowl of Ursa Minor. Clients: Currently President of the ECMOG as mentioned above.
Education/Credentials
BS Metallurgical Engineering Grove City College, PAMaster's Degree, Gannon University, Erie, PA
Also retired USAF pilot, 20 years.
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