If we look up, we find the canvas that never ceases to surprise: Meteorology.
The weather affects us, it rules our lives. From the moment we walk out the door until we get home. It determines what we wear, when we plant our tomatoes, whether we feel sad, happy - or angry. The weather is for everyone, it's a common reference point.
But what do those who know the subject best say?
State meteorologist Terje Alsvik Walløe is running out of time when he picks up the phone on a bright sunny day in March, when the clouds have cleared and spring seems closer than ever.
- The weather affects our entire lives," he says.
- It means a lot for the experience of the day. Then, of course, there's the background, why the weather turns out the way it does, which is very exciting!
Despite time constraints, he always has a few minutes to spare for meteorology, his childhood dream.
- I've been concerned about the weather ever since I was a child, it feels important. Not just for me, but for everyone.
World Meteorology Day has been celebrated annually since 1961 to highlight the importance of meteorology and hydrology to the safety and well-being of society. This year's theme is the ocean.
- The ocean is very important because it influences the weather to a very large extent. It is a source of heat and cold, it is responsible for transporting heat from southern to northern latitudes, and has a major influence on the atmosphere. The ocean covers 70 percent of the earth's surface, so "The ocean's temperature and currents have a huge impact on the weather. It's all very closely linked and of great importance, especially with regard to climate change," says Walløe.
The most important thing about meteorology is to report the extremes. So that we, and the earth we live on, survive.
- It struck me not long ago that when we talk about the weather, it's not just "small talk" that takes place, but something much deeper. Our fathers and mothers way back in time, the hunter-gatherers, could not help but talk about the weather. The weather was saturated with meaning and linked to what we assume was primordial animism. There were spirits and souls and gods everywhere, and the wind itself was seen by certain tribes as a form of world breathing. The dawn revealed the tribe's future, and various signs could be read in the clouds. This is what we miss when we talk about the weather. We simply miss the weather gods! Modern cynicism makes us project our longing onto others by making it shameful for everyone to talk about the weather, and thus the weather has become an object of small talk.
If the weather opens the floodgates and has a unifying effect on the Norwegian people, food does the same for Singaporeans. And why is that? In Singapore, the weather is pretty much the same all year round, but the food - it varies, and is the highlight of the day. Like when the sun peeks out on a gray autumn day in Norway.
Whether you dive into the Oslofjord from one of KOK's saunas and watch the sunset or the rain splash on the water's surface - this is where we create moments together. The weather gives us the space to sense, feel and feel a sense of belonging.
In the book The Garden of Eden, Hemingway paints a picture of a newlywed couple enjoying lazy days on the French Mediterranean coast. The text is so vividly written that it almost pops out of the book. He writes about soft-boiled eggs with bright yellow plums, the fresh morning air, the azure sea, the sharp taste of coarsely ground pepper and hot coffee, the chicory-scented bowl of café au lait - and about a hotel room reminiscent of the painting of van Gogh's room in Arles, in yellow, sea blue and apple green. The main character in the book is almost overflowing with inspiration and joy: The colors, scents and tastes speak to his soul, nourishing him with peace and well-being.
This is also the case with meteorology, which contains the entire sensory color palette. Meteorology is a hub, something to gather around. It's worth celebrating!
When we look up at the sky - whether we're out in harsh weather or at a vantage point on a glorious sunny day - we'll always be reminded that we're not alone.
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