Being the kind of organism that was bred, born and raised in Geneva, I know a bit about genevan winter's issues. Here is a small florilege of the worst. Feel free to add yours.
LA BISE: (pronounce "beeze"). The world's most paradoxical wind: it's in a hurry enough to blow at Mach 3, but lazy enough to go trough you instead of around your body. Three kind of Bises:
-Blue bise: The usual one. COLD, but with blue sky, the clouds being blown away.
-Black bise: Rare. Extremely cold, because no sun will shine during a black Bise. The clouds are being stuck on the walls of the Genevan basin. Generally stronger than the Blue.
-White bise: exceptional (thank the Gods). A blizzard's small cousin. Clouds, snow, ice and extreme temperatures. It usually slows the life in Geneva for one week, the roads being trapped by the ice.
A bise saying: If the bise blows, it's for 3 days round. 3, 6, 9 or worse (15 is the worst I've experienced: 3 days of Blue, 9 of Black, and 3 of White).
THE GENEVAN TRIPLET: It's the kind of cold you catch in winter around here. It starts with a standard Sinusitis, followed by a Laryngitis, and ends up with Bronchitis. A real pain in the... ...neck. Takes minimum three weeks to get rid of it. I hate it.
THE TRAFFIC: Slightly better than the one you may experience in Mehico or Maracaibo, the winter traffic in Geneva remains execrable. Many drivers don't swap summer tyres for winter ones, and are afraid to bump into something/someone, in which case they will not be refunded by their insurance (due to the lack of proper equipment). Gets way worse if it rains, and don't expect to be on time to any appoinment if it snows (15 km/h would be a good average)
And you guys? What are your winter nightmares in Geneva?
Syd.
Global Forums > General > Genevan winter's pandemonium
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Genevan winter's pandemonium
Nov 13, 2008 @ 15:12
The text you are quoting:
Being the kind of organism that was bred, born and raised in Geneva, I know a bit about genevan winter's issues. Here is a small florilege of the worst. Feel free to add yours.
LA BISE: (pronounce "beeze"). The world's most paradoxical wind: it's in a hurry enough to blow at Mach 3, but lazy enough to go trough you instead of around your body. Three kind of Bises:
-Blue bise: The usual one. COLD, but with blue sky, the clouds being blown away.
-Black bise: Rare. Extremely cold, because no sun will shine during a black Bise. The clouds are being stuck on the walls of the Genevan basin. Generally stronger than the Blue.
-White bise: exceptional (thank the Gods). A blizzard's small cousin. Clouds, snow, ice and extreme temperatures. It usually slows the life in Geneva for one week, the roads being trapped by the ice.
A bise saying: If the bise blows, it's for 3 days round. 3, 6, 9 or worse (15 is the worst I've experienced: 3 days of Blue, 9 of Black, and 3 of White).
THE GENEVAN TRIPLET: It's the kind of cold you catch in winter around here. It starts with a standard Sinusitis, followed by a Laryngitis, and ends up with Bronchitis. A real pain in the... ...neck. Takes minimum three weeks to get rid of it. I hate it.
THE TRAFFIC: Slightly better than the one you may experience in Mehico or Maracaibo, the winter traffic in Geneva remains execrable. Many drivers don't swap summer tyres for winter ones, and are afraid to bump into something/someone, in which case they will not be refunded by their insurance (due to the lack of proper equipment). Gets way worse if it rains, and don't expect to be on time to any appoinment if it snows (15 km/h would be a good average)
And you guys? What are your winter nightmares in Geneva?
Syd.
Syd_BrownNov 13, 2008 @ 15:12
LA BISE: (pronounce "beeze"). The world's most paradoxical wind: it's in a hurry enough to blow at Mach 3, but lazy enough to go trough you instead of around your body. Three kind of Bises:
-Blue bise: The usual one. COLD, but with blue sky, the clouds being blown away.
-Black bise: Rare. Extremely cold, because no sun will shine during a black Bise. The clouds are being stuck on the walls of the Genevan basin. Generally stronger than the Blue.
-White bise: exceptional (thank the Gods). A blizzard's small cousin. Clouds, snow, ice and extreme temperatures. It usually slows the life in Geneva for one week, the roads being trapped by the ice.
A bise saying: If the bise blows, it's for 3 days round. 3, 6, 9 or worse (15 is the worst I've experienced: 3 days of Blue, 9 of Black, and 3 of White).
THE GENEVAN TRIPLET: It's the kind of cold you catch in winter around here. It starts with a standard Sinusitis, followed by a Laryngitis, and ends up with Bronchitis. A real pain in the... ...neck. Takes minimum three weeks to get rid of it. I hate it.
THE TRAFFIC: Slightly better than the one you may experience in Mehico or Maracaibo, the winter traffic in Geneva remains execrable. Many drivers don't swap summer tyres for winter ones, and are afraid to bump into something/someone, in which case they will not be refunded by their insurance (due to the lack of proper equipment). Gets way worse if it rains, and don't expect to be on time to any appoinment if it snows (15 km/h would be a good average)
And you guys? What are your winter nightmares in Geneva?
Syd.
Syd_BrownNov 13, 2008 @ 15:12
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Re: Genevan winter's pandemonium
Post 1
Nov 13, 2008 @ 15:22
Yes, be very careful where you walk during the White Bise:
and whatever you do.. Don't leave your car by the lake side! 
or hope you're not lucky enough to have a boat moared or you could be very sorry:
The text you are quoting:
Yes, be very careful where you walk during the White Bise:
and whatever you do.. Don't leave your car by the lake side!
or hope you're not lucky enough to have a boat moared or you could be very sorry:
http://www.reflexnature.ch/LEMAN_GLACE.htm
YouMeCo, Nov 13, 2008 @ 15:22
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Re: Genevan winter's pandemonium
Post 2
Nov 13, 2008 @ 15:44
yeah, that was a fun time, wasn't it? gorgeous and amazing but dangerous as hell!
The text you are quoting:
yeah, that was a fun time, wasn't it? gorgeous and amazing but dangerous as hell!
Minda, Nov 13, 2008 @ 15:44
Minda, Nov 13, 2008 @ 15:44
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Re: Genevan winter's pandemonium
Post 3
Nov 13, 2008 @ 16:13
I held out a little hope for THE GENEVAN TRIPLET but sadly it wasn't to be... Anyway:
[quote][b]
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
And you guys? What are your winter nightmares in Geneva?
[/quote]
Geneva is at a latitude of +46 degrees. Given the inclination of the Earth (the angle of the equatorial plane makes with that of the ecliptic), the peak solar zenith angle in summer is 23 degrees but a whopping 69 degrees in winter. Airmass is defined as the inverse cosine of the zenith angle and hence the peak solar airmass is 1.08 during summer but 2.79 during winter. The fractional flux transmitted through the atmosphere at any wavelength goes as e**(-0.4 * k_lambda * airmass) where k_lambda is the wavelength dependent atmospheric extinction coefficient. Assuming this doesn't change with the season, we can deduce that around 5.5 times as many ultraviolet photons penetrate the atmosphere at midday at midsummer than at midday at midwinter. Of course, this quantity has to be integrated over the length of the respective days, which would push that ratio to well above 10. So in summary, winter = low serotonin.
[quote][b]
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
And you guys? What are your winter nightmares in Geneva?
[/quote]
Geneva is at a latitude of +46 degrees. Given the inclination of the Earth (the angle of the equatorial plane makes with that of the ecliptic), the peak solar zenith angle in summer is 23 degrees but a whopping 69 degrees in winter. Airmass is defined as the inverse cosine of the zenith angle and hence the peak solar airmass is 1.08 during summer but 2.79 during winter. The fractional flux transmitted through the atmosphere at any wavelength goes as e**(-0.4 * k_lambda * airmass) where k_lambda is the wavelength dependent atmospheric extinction coefficient. Assuming this doesn't change with the season, we can deduce that around 5.5 times as many ultraviolet photons penetrate the atmosphere at midday at midsummer than at midday at midwinter. Of course, this quantity has to be integrated over the length of the respective days, which would push that ratio to well above 10. So in summary, winter = low serotonin.
The text you are quoting:
I held out a little hope for THE GENEVAN TRIPLET but sadly it wasn't to be... Anyway:
[quote][b]
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
And you guys? What are your winter nightmares in Geneva?
[/quote]
Geneva is at a latitude of +46 degrees. Given the inclination of the Earth (the angle of the equatorial plane makes with that of the ecliptic), the peak solar zenith angle in summer is 23 degrees but a whopping 69 degrees in winter. Airmass is defined as the inverse cosine of the zenith angle and hence the peak solar airmass is 1.08 during summer but 2.79 during winter. The fractional flux transmitted through the atmosphere at any wavelength goes as e**(-0.4 * k_lambda * airmass) where k_lambda is the wavelength dependent atmospheric extinction coefficient. Assuming this doesn't change with the season, we can deduce that around 5.5 times as many ultraviolet photons penetrate the atmosphere at midday at midsummer than at midday at midwinter. Of course, this quantity has to be integrated over the length of the respective days, which would push that ratio to well above 10. So in summary, winter = low serotonin.
hayes, Nov 13, 2008 @ 16:13
[quote][b]
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
And you guys? What are your winter nightmares in Geneva?
[/quote]
Geneva is at a latitude of +46 degrees. Given the inclination of the Earth (the angle of the equatorial plane makes with that of the ecliptic), the peak solar zenith angle in summer is 23 degrees but a whopping 69 degrees in winter. Airmass is defined as the inverse cosine of the zenith angle and hence the peak solar airmass is 1.08 during summer but 2.79 during winter. The fractional flux transmitted through the atmosphere at any wavelength goes as e**(-0.4 * k_lambda * airmass) where k_lambda is the wavelength dependent atmospheric extinction coefficient. Assuming this doesn't change with the season, we can deduce that around 5.5 times as many ultraviolet photons penetrate the atmosphere at midday at midsummer than at midday at midwinter. Of course, this quantity has to be integrated over the length of the respective days, which would push that ratio to well above 10. So in summary, winter = low serotonin.
hayes, Nov 13, 2008 @ 16:13
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Re: Genevan winter's pandemonium
Post 4
Nov 13, 2008 @ 16:28
How true...
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?
I don't know about this year, but Geneva's been the european capital of suicide these past years...
Sad. Legalize serotonin.
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?
I don't know about this year, but Geneva's been the european capital of suicide these past years...
Sad. Legalize serotonin.
The text you are quoting:
How true...
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?
I don't know about this year, but Geneva's been the european capital of suicide these past years...
Sad. Legalize serotonin.
Syd_Brown, Nov 13, 2008 @ 16:28
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?
I don't know about this year, but Geneva's been the european capital of suicide these past years...
Sad. Legalize serotonin.
Syd_Brown, Nov 13, 2008 @ 16:28
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Re: Genevan winter's pandemonium
Post 5
Nov 13, 2008 @ 16:55
[quote][b]
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?[/quote]
I think that would be leaping to a premature conclusion. The midday summer/winter transmission ratio diverges rapidly with increasing latitude. It's 5.5 here. By London (51 degrees) it reaches about 12. By Stockholm (59 degrees) it's almost 400. It asymptotes to +infinity at the Arctic circle.
So while it may be factor in the seasonal variations in the Genevois suicide rate, our problems are negligible compared to those of people living at higher latitudes.
I blame TV.
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?[/quote]
I think that would be leaping to a premature conclusion. The midday summer/winter transmission ratio diverges rapidly with increasing latitude. It's 5.5 here. By London (51 degrees) it reaches about 12. By Stockholm (59 degrees) it's almost 400. It asymptotes to +infinity at the Arctic circle.
So while it may be factor in the seasonal variations in the Genevois suicide rate, our problems are negligible compared to those of people living at higher latitudes.
I blame TV.
The text you are quoting:
[quote][b]
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?[/quote]
I think that would be leaping to a premature conclusion. The midday summer/winter transmission ratio diverges rapidly with increasing latitude. It's 5.5 here. By London (51 degrees) it reaches about 12. By Stockholm (59 degrees) it's almost 400. It asymptotes to +infinity at the Arctic circle.
So while it may be factor in the seasonal variations in the Genevois suicide rate, our problems are negligible compared to those of people living at higher latitudes.
I blame TV.
hayes, Nov 13, 2008 @ 16:55
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?[/quote]
I think that would be leaping to a premature conclusion. The midday summer/winter transmission ratio diverges rapidly with increasing latitude. It's 5.5 here. By London (51 degrees) it reaches about 12. By Stockholm (59 degrees) it's almost 400. It asymptotes to +infinity at the Arctic circle.
So while it may be factor in the seasonal variations in the Genevois suicide rate, our problems are negligible compared to those of people living at higher latitudes.
I blame TV.
hayes, Nov 13, 2008 @ 16:55
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Re: Genevan winter's pandemonium
Post 6
Nov 13, 2008 @ 23:49
[quote][quote][b]
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?[/quote]
I think that would be leaping to a premature conclusion. The midday summer/winter transmission ratio diverges rapidly with increasing latitude. It's 5.5 here. By London (51 degrees) it reaches about 12. By Stockholm (59 degrees) it's almost 400. It asymptotes to +infinity at the Arctic circle.
So while it may be factor in the seasonal variations in the Genevois suicide rate, our problems are negligible compared to those of people living at higher latitudes.
I blame TV.[/quote]
I think Hayes has a point here - Swiss TV is depressingly boring...
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?[/quote]
I think that would be leaping to a premature conclusion. The midday summer/winter transmission ratio diverges rapidly with increasing latitude. It's 5.5 here. By London (51 degrees) it reaches about 12. By Stockholm (59 degrees) it's almost 400. It asymptotes to +infinity at the Arctic circle.
So while it may be factor in the seasonal variations in the Genevois suicide rate, our problems are negligible compared to those of people living at higher latitudes.
I blame TV.[/quote]
I think Hayes has a point here - Swiss TV is depressingly boring...
The text you are quoting:
[quote][quote][b]
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?[/quote]
I think that would be leaping to a premature conclusion. The midday summer/winter transmission ratio diverges rapidly with increasing latitude. It's 5.5 here. By London (51 degrees) it reaches about 12. By Stockholm (59 degrees) it's almost 400. It asymptotes to +infinity at the Arctic circle.
So while it may be factor in the seasonal variations in the Genevois suicide rate, our problems are negligible compared to those of people living at higher latitudes.
I blame TV.[/quote]
I think Hayes has a point here - Swiss TV is depressingly boring...
charlotta, Nov 13, 2008 @ 23:49
Syd_Brown (13/11/2008)[/b]
Would these astronomical parameters based explanation be the clue for the tremendous amount of suicide in our city?[/quote]
I think that would be leaping to a premature conclusion. The midday summer/winter transmission ratio diverges rapidly with increasing latitude. It's 5.5 here. By London (51 degrees) it reaches about 12. By Stockholm (59 degrees) it's almost 400. It asymptotes to +infinity at the Arctic circle.
So while it may be factor in the seasonal variations in the Genevois suicide rate, our problems are negligible compared to those of people living at higher latitudes.
I blame TV.[/quote]
I think Hayes has a point here - Swiss TV is depressingly boring...
charlotta, Nov 13, 2008 @ 23:49
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Re: Genevan winter's pandemonium
Post 7
Nov 21, 2008 @ 00:25
what year have those pics been taken???
it's worse than it used to be back in my country!!!
it looks scary and very-very cold!
it's worse than it used to be back in my country!!!
it looks scary and very-very cold!
The text you are quoting:
what year have those pics been taken???
it's worse than it used to be back in my country!!!
it looks scary and very-very cold!
imeli, Nov 21, 2008 @ 00:25
it's worse than it used to be back in my country!!!
it looks scary and very-very cold!
imeli, Nov 21, 2008 @ 00:25
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