Mad science/weather physicsfilter: I live in a small town in the Midwest right at the moment. It gets very, very cold, and most of the actual suffering part of the cold is due to high winter winds. Why can't towns like this just build city walls, ancient Athens-style, say 20 feet high or so (more?) to keep the wind out? There must be some obvious physics/ecology reason why this wouldn't work, someone explain it to me?
posted by paultopia
on Feb 11, 2013 -
20 answers
At what temperature do people set their thermostats if they live in Arctic climates, such as Barrow, Alaska? My mother wants to know.
[more inside]
posted by aabbbiee
on Dec 12, 2012 -
16 answers
The air is usually very dry in the winter. Why are my car windows always frosted over without exception?
[more inside]
posted by WhitenoisE
on Dec 19, 2011 -
6 answers
I am moving to Minneapolis from Los Angeles and the only thing I'm a bit worried about is the weather. Got some tips?
[more inside]
posted by fantodstic
on Dec 7, 2010 -
45 answers
Have you ever moved from a warm, mild climate like Los Angeles, to one that experiences four seasons -
and did you do so in the dead of winter? What was it like? What do you wish you had known beforehand? In other words, what am I, a native Angeleno currently taking for granted?
[more inside]
posted by invisible ink
on Dec 14, 2009 -
64 answers
I'm about to go off to college- in Massachusetts, when I've lived in Texas my entire life. Ideally, I'd like not to freeze all winter, so I'm looking for your clothing/lifestyle advice geared to someone without a clue. Additionally, the only members of my family who've lived anywhere cold are male, while I've fairly recently embraced my dressing-like-a-girl options. Any advice about how women in Our Frozen Territories stay warm without giving up on looking nice is especially appreciated.
[more inside]
posted by MadamM
on Jul 21, 2008 -
34 answers
I'm thinking about going on an exchange program, and am not sure how I should rank my choices. Should I spend January to June in Brisbane, Australia or Amsterdam?
[more inside]
posted by Dasein
on Feb 11, 2008 -
16 answers
I'm moving to Latvia from Los Angeles/Orange County in a few weeks and I need recommendations for nice, professional, but not insanely expensive winter clothing. Size and style parameters inside.
[more inside]
posted by mdonley
on Aug 12, 2007 -
15 answers
For people living in areas where it snows each year: How many types of jackets do you use in a year? As in windcheaters, fall, light winter, heavy snow, etc. If you have more than one jacket that falls in the same class only list the most practical one, and please also give a brief description of each.
posted by riffola
on Nov 30, 2004 -
45 answers
