A plant that cries before the rain. Flowers that predict the weather. Route map of the practical stage

Which plant predicts the weather

Yes, these predictors - the sea!
No one will be disturbed by folk signs, which, by the way, are not neglected even by meteorologists when making weather forecasts. Most of these signs, of course, are associated with plants, by observing which you can accurately determine the upcoming change in the weather.
Acacia
Acacia before the rain, in humid air, begins to secrete intensely sweet juice - nectar. This nectar attracts insects, which in dry weather do not really like to circle over the acacia. So, if insects flew to the acacia, it means it will rain. True omen!

Honeysuckle
Just like acacia, honeysuckle also “works”. Honeysuckle flowers are strongly scented, but not always. Sometimes the smell of honeysuckle is barely perceptible, and sometimes, on the contrary, it is especially strong. In humid air, honeysuckle produces a lot of nectar and a lot of odorous, aromatic substances. Therefore, even at night, when insects are no longer visible in the dark, you can tell by smell what the weather is expected to be. Usually honeysuckle begins to smell strongly 15-20 hours before bad weather.

sour
AT coniferous forest The most famous barometer is acid. In May, the oxalis begins to bloom. And before the rain, he folds his white-pink flowers and three-lobed, like clover, leaves, pressing them to the stems, as if he wants to hide from bad weather.

Clover
Before bad weather, the clover also brings its leaves together, its flower on a thin stem leans forward and droops. A sure sign that it's about to rain.

horse chestnut
Horse chestnut also “cries”, its tears are sticky and remain on the tree for a long time, warning of impending bad weather.

Stone berry
In a dense forest, even clover can not be found. But there are red stone berries growing there. They are collected in small dense bunches and surrounded by long narrow leaves. These leaves will tell you about the upcoming weather. They twist down before good weather and unwind or bend up before bad weather, and long before bad weather, which is very important.

Water lily
Even their “weather forecasters” float on the water - this is a white water lily, or water lily. Its flowers in clear weather are clearly visible against the background of dark water. In the evening, the water lily folds its petals and goes under the water. But if white flowers are not visible on a sunny day, and only half-open buds sway on the water, then this means that it will rain soon.

burdock
Burdock and thistle are able to predict the end of bad weather: before clearing and warmth, the spines of their inflorescences spread out in a horizontal plane, and before rain they shrink.

Mallow
Mallow usually grows in front gardens and gardens. Tall, with bright flowers, this plant is noticeable from afar. But not always! Sometimes the mallow droops, its large flowers not visible - they are closed. Malva withered? No, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow she will straighten up again, straighten her leaves, and her flowers will be visible from afar. And today it has withered, because the humidity of the air has changed - rain is coming.

Carrot
Right there in the garden there is another barometer - carrots. Her green sultan famously sticks up in good weather and droops in anticipation of the rain.

Marigolds (calendula)
Before rain, marigolds always close their bright orange inflorescences. And let the sun be in the sky, even if there is not a single cloud, the marigolds with their dull appearance warn: it will rain! Look early in the morning at a flower bed with marigolds: if they unfolded their corollas, the weather will be clear, if they are late, expect rain or thunderstorms.

Dandelion
Dandelion can be found everywhere: in the meadow, and in the wasteland, and on the boulevard. Therefore, the dandelion barometer is especially valuable. Sensing the approaching change in the weather, the dandelion folds its fluffy ball like an umbrella.

Fern
In the forest, the bracken fern can often be found where there are very few plants in general, which means that there are almost no barometers, in dark forests, in low, damp places. Here the fern is almost the only predictor of the weather. Its leaves, just like the leaves of the stone fruit, twist downward before good weather, and unwind before bad weather.

Not only weather forecasters and living creatures (animals, birds, amphibians, crustaceans, fish, insects), but even plants can predict the weather for the next few hours, days and even weeks.

Scientists claim that more than four hundred species can be counted in the post-Soviet space. various plants capable of predicting the weather. They can be found in a flower bed, in a field, in a garden, in a kitchen garden, near a river or pond, in a park or in a forest. True, in order to determine the weather by their behavior, you should look closely.

Plants make most of their movements in accordance with their natural biological clock, but sometimes they react in the same way to changing weather. Some flowers close or change their appearance.

A good predictor of the next bad weather is the common mallow, the flowers of which seem to fade before the rain. Ipomoea also signals the imminent rain, folding its purple flowers into a bundle. But the yellow acacia, Tatar and common honeysuckle before the rain release a huge amount of nectar, attracting various insects. The violet is also a reliable barometer - if its flowers cheerfully look at the world purple eye, then this is for stable sunny weather. And when the violet flower is closed, then bad weather should be expected.

On the lawns and flowerbeds of urban megacities, broad-leaved cannes are often found, which, despite their East Indian origin, bloom in our conditions until the first frost. But few people know that these flowers are also called the “rain tree”, because when transparent droplets of moisture are visible on the wide leaves of cannes in the morning, it will definitely rain in the afternoon.

Mimosa trees can also predict the next bad weather, which fold their leaves before the rain, as if they are afraid to soak them.

From indoor plants a good predictor of the weather is the monstera, which, on the eve of rain, begins to “cry”, releasing droplets of moisture at the ends of its leaves.

On the garden plots or in vegetable gardens you can often find nondescript grass, the leaves of which always seem to be wet to the touch. This plant is called wood lice, and many summer residents are trying in every possible way to get rid of this weed. But a few bushes of wood lice on the site should still be left, because by its small white flowers you can determine whether in the near future or not. If the corollas of woodlice flowers are not opened in the morning, and the flowers themselves drooped, then after some time the first drops should be expected. Since the wood lice blooms from April until the first cold weather, you can use such a weather forecaster all summer.

Even an ordinary potato bends its pedicels down before the rain, so when you arrive at the site, the first thing you need to do is take a closer look at it.

The onset of bad weather also portends the common clover, the leaves of which fall and fold like an umbrella covering the heads of flowers.

Also in cloudy, unpleasant weather and before the rain, the yellow dandelion flowers are tightly closed. Even a faded dandelion can predict the coming weather. In dry sunny weather, its white fluffy parachutes easily scatter in all directions even at the slightest touch or from a light breeze. And before bad weather, the fluffy ball folds up like an umbrella, and no winds and rains are afraid of it.

rainy weather strawberry flowers also portend, which always droop before bad weather, protecting themselves from precipitation.

In the forest, to determine the nearest weather, an excellent barometer is purple stonecrop (this plant can be found in glades and edges). If in the evening the pink flowers of this plant are closed, then the coming day should be dry and sunny. But when the flowers remain open on the eve of the night, the next morning will be rainy.

In many moist forests you can find such a plant as calla, which can be recognized by its inflorescence in the form of an ear wrapped in a white leaf. In anticipation of rain, this plant bends this leaf covering the inflorescence to the side, and before good weather, the end of the leaf looks up.

Before rainy weather, many plants growing near water bodies also “cry”: chastukha, arrowhead, plakun-grass, burr, telorez.

Also, our ancestors once determined the weather for the next minutes and hours with the help of chistyak and oak anemone, the flowers of which close before bad weather. And it is also worth taking a closer look at the meadow core, the stem with flowers of which always bends down before the rain. This plant seems to feel the arrival of rain in advance and wilts prematurely. Melilot officinalis a few hours before the rain, on the contrary, lifts its leaves up and folds them.

You can also determine the weather forecast for the coming months with the help of trees. So one of the most accurate and "outstanding" long-term forecasts of weather "forecasters" is a beautiful birch. According to folk omens, if a birch tree releases a lot of juice before blooming leaves, then the summer will be rainy and rainy. If the leaves on the birch appear earlier than the green foliage on the alder, then the summer will be dry and warm. Otherwise, the cold is provided.

On alder, aspen, bird cherry and various types willows before a bad weather on the leaves formed moisture. Sometimes, even in good weather, this moisture falls from the leaves so abundantly that the ground under the trees becomes wet.

Even beautiful spruces have synoptic abilities. Before rain, they lower heavy branches down, and before clear weather, they raise them back up.

But the biggest "crybaby" among the trees is maple. on this tree, droplets of moisture appear where the leaf cuttings are attached to the branches. Attentive and observant people's weather forecasters say that maple predicts the next rains three to four days before they arrive!

In any case, these signs should not be forgotten even after visiting the most “truthful” meteorological sites, because meteorologists from all over the world can make mistakes, and barometer plants almost never!

Not only weather forecasters and living creatures (animals, birds, amphibians, crustaceans, fish, insects), but even plants can predict the weather for the next few hours, days and even weeks.

Scientists say that in the post-Soviet space, you can count more than four hundred species of various plants that can predict the weather. They can be found in a flower bed, in a field, in a garden, in a kitchen garden, near a river or pond, in a park or in a forest. True, in order to determine the weather by their behavior, you should look closely. Plants make most of their movements in accordance with their natural biological clock, but sometimes they react in the same way to changes in the weather. Some flowers close before the rain or change their appearance. A good predictor of the coming bad weather is

mallow ordinary, the flowers of which seem to fade before the rain. Ipomoea also signals the imminent rain, folding its purple flowers into a bundle. But the yellow acacia, Tatar and common honeysuckle before the rain release a huge amount of nectar, attracting various insects. Violet is also a reliable barometer - if its flowers cheerfully look at the world around them with a violet eye, then this is for stable sunny weather. And when the violet flower is closed, then bad weather should be expected. On the lawns and flower beds of urban megacities are often found

broadleaf cannes,

which, despite their East Indian origin, in our conditions bloom until the first frost. But few people know that these flowers are also called the “rain tree”, because when transparent droplets of moisture are visible on the wide leaves of cannes in the morning, it will definitely rain in the afternoon. Mimosa trees can also predict the next bad weather, which fold their leaves before the rain, as if they are afraid to soak them. Of indoor plants, a good predictor of the weather is

monstera, which, on the eve of rain, begins to “cry”, releasing droplets of moisture at the ends of its leaves. On garden plots or in vegetable gardens, you can often find nondescript grass, the leaves of which always seem to be wet to the touch. This plant is called wood lice, and many summer residents are trying in every possible way to get rid of this weed. But a few bushes of wood lice on the site should still be left, because by its small white flowers you can determine whether it will rain in the near future or not. If the corollas of woodlice flowers are not opened in the morning, and the flowers themselves drooped, then after some time the first drops should be expected. Since the wood lice blooms from April until the first cold weather, you can use such a weather forecaster all summer. Even an ordinary potato bends its pedicels down before the rain, so when you arrive at the site, the first thing you need to do is take a closer look at it. The onset of bad weather portends and

common clover, the leaves of which fall before the rain and fold like an umbrella covering the heads of flowers. Also in cloudy, unpleasant weather and before the rain, the yellow dandelion flowers are tightly closed. Even a faded dandelion can predict the coming weather. In dry sunny weather, its white fluffy parachutes easily scatter in all directions even at the slightest touch or from a light breeze. And before bad weather, the fluffy ball folds up like an umbrella, and no winds and rains are afraid of it. Rainy weather is also foreshadowed by strawberry flowers, which always droop before bad weather, protecting themselves from precipitation. In the forest, to determine the nearest weather, an excellent barometer is

stonecrop purple (this plant can be found in clearings and edges). If in the evening the pink flowers of this plant are closed, then the coming day should be dry and sunny. But when the flowers remain open on the eve of the night, the next morning will be rainy. In many humid forests you can find a plant such as

calla, which can be recognized by the inflorescence in the form of an ear wrapped in a white leaf. In anticipation of rain, this plant bends this leaf covering the inflorescence to the side, and before good weather, the end of the leaf looks up. Before rainy weather, many plants growing near water bodies also “cry”: chastuha, arrowhead,

plakun-grass,

burr, telorez. Also, our ancestors once determined the weather for the next minutes and hours with the help of a chistyak and

oak anemones, the flowers of which close before bad weather. And it is also worth taking a closer look at the meadow core, the stem with flowers of which always bends down before the rain. This plant seems to feel the arrival of rain in advance and wilts prematurely.

Melilot officinalis a few hours before the rain, on the contrary, lifts its leaves up and folds them. You can also determine the weather forecast for the coming months with the help of trees. So one of the most accurate and "outstanding" long-term weather forecasts "forecasters" is

beautiful birch. According to folk signs, if a birch tree releases a lot of juice before the leaves bloom, then the summer will be rainy and rainy. If the leaves on the birch appear earlier than the green foliage on the alder, then the summer will be dry and warm. Otherwise, rain and cold weather are guaranteed. On alder, aspen, bird cherry and various types of willows, moisture forms on the leaves before bad weather. Sometimes, even in good weather, this moisture falls from the leaves so abundantly that the ground under the trees becomes wet. Even beautiful spruces have synoptic abilities. Before rain, they lower heavy branches down, and before clear weather, they raise them back up. But the biggest "crybaby" among the trees is

maple. Before the rain on this tree, droplets of moisture appear where the leaf cuttings are attached to the branches. Attentive and observant people's weather forecasters say that maple predicts the next rains three to four days before they arrive! In any case, these signs should not be forgotten even after visiting the most “true” meteorological sites, because meteorologists from all over the world can make mistakes, and barometer plants almost never!

Dear participant!

When completing tasks, you have to perform certain work, which is best organized as follows:

• read the task carefully;
• if you are answering a theoretical question or solving a situational problem, consider and formulate a specific answer (the answer should be short, and its content should be entered in the space provided; write clearly and legibly);
• when answering test tasks Choose the correct answer and circle the letter(s) corresponding to your chosen answer.

For each correct answer, you can get a number of points determined by the jury members, not higher than the specified maximum score.

The sum of points scored for all resolved questions in two formats is the result of your work. The maximum number of points is 100.

Tasks are considered completed if you handed them over to the jury members on time.

We wish you success!

Test tasks

Test tasks with one answer

Determine one correct answer.

1. Is the person driving the motorcycle a pedestrian?
   • a) yes, always
   • b) only when driving on the side of the road
   • c) no
   • d) only when driving through a pedestrian crossing

1. What is the Banner of Victory?
   • a) the official state symbol of Russia
   • b) the state relic of Russia
   • c) military relic of Russia
   • d) a special honorary badge of Russia

1. Where is it safer to expect help if you fell on the subway track, did not receive serious injuries during the fall and can move independently?
   • a) under the edge of the platform from which they fell
   • b) not reaching the black and white rail at the beginning of the platform along the train
   • c) passing behind the black and white rail at the beginning of the platform along the train
   • d) behind the black and white rail at the end of the platform along the train

1. What level of terrorist threat, established in the Russian Federation, is superfluous?
   • a) low
   • b) elevated
   • c) critical
   • d) high

1. What is the meaning of the combination of red and yellow traffic lights?
   • a) warns of danger and informs about the presence of an unregulated pedestrian crossing
   • b) allows traffic and informs about the presence of an unregulated intersection
   • c) allows movement and informs that its time expires
   • d) prohibits movement and informs about the upcoming green signal

1. What criteria determine the levels environmental hazard in the city of Moscow?
   • a) average daily temperature, concentration of suspended particles and carbon dioxide
   • b) average daily temperature, sulfate and oxygen contraction
   • c) average daily temperature, concentration of rarefied particles and ultraviolet
   • d) average daily temperature, concentration of suspended particles and ozone

1. What distance is recommended to choose to the end point of the route when organizing a one-day hike?
   • a) no more than 10 km one way
   • b) no more than 15 km one way
   • c) no more than 12 km one way
   • d) no more than 13 km one way

1. What is the main negative effect of tobacco tar on the human body?
   • a) causes oxygen starvation of the body
   • b) causes vasoconstriction
   • c) inhibits the activity of the central nervous system
   • d) is a carcinogen

1. For what type of injury is an airtight bandage used?
   • a) forearm injury
   • b) stomach injury
   • c) chest injury
   • d) open fracture of the limb

1. What first aid should be performed first of all in a patient with an open fracture of the femur with damage to the femoral artery?
   • a) applying a sterile dressing
   • b) limb immobilization
   • c) pain relief (taking painkillers in the absence of drug allergies)
   • d) application of a hemostatic tourniquet

Multiple Choice Test Items

Identify all correct answers.

1. In which of the plants, the changes that occur can give early warning of rain?
   • a) in an acacia tree
   • b) in horse chestnut
   • c) in lime
   • d) in oak
   • e) in a pine

1. What can be sanitization depending on the conditions and time?
   • a) partial
   • b) temporary
   • c) complete
   • d) limited
   • e) superficial

1. Determine the wind regime and sign of a wind force of 6 on the Beaufort scale.
   • a) wind mode "Fresh"
   • b) the sign "The wind raises dust and pieces of paper"
   • c) wind mode "Moderate"
   • d) sign "Thick boughs of trees sway"
   • e) wind mode "Strong"

1. What does military duty Russian citizen?
   • a) stay in stock
   • b) stay in reserve
   • c) military service by conscription
   • d) alternative civilian service
   • e) voluntary training for military service

1. What does compulsory training to military service?
   • a) engaging in military-applied sports
   • b) training in additional general education programs
   • c) medical examination
   • d) training at the military department
   • e) obtaining basic knowledge in the field of defense

1. Which of the chemical warfare agents has a nerve agent effect?
   • a) soman
   • b) mustard gas
   • c) chloropicrin
   • d) lewisite
   • e) V-ex

1. Which of the listed manual fragmentation guarantors are in service with the RF Armed Forces?
   • a) M 16
   • b) MK 26
   • c) F1
   • d) L2A2
   • e) Russian Geographical Society

1. Which of the following vitamins are fat soluble?
   • a) vitamin A
   • b) vitamin D
   • c) vitamin C
   • d) vitamin B6
   • e) vitamin B1

1. Which of the following persons is required to provide first aid to the victim?
   • a) the person next to you
   • b) a car driver
   • c) policeman
   • d) fireman
   • d) a cashier in a store

1. What actions are prohibited to perform if the victim has a thermal burn with damage to the integrity of the skin?
   • a) cover the damaged area with a clean cloth
   • b) apply cold over the napkin
   • c) immerse the injured area in cold water
   • d) tear off clothes stuck to the wound
   • d) give warm drinks

Methods for assessing the performance of test Olympiad tasks of the theoretical round

Table of answers to test tasks of the theoretical round

Methods for assessing the performance of theoretical Olympiad tasks

Exercise 1

The issue of water supply is one of the most important in the conditions of autonomous existence. Analyze the image.

BUT. Write what method of obtaining water is shown in the picture.

B. Describe the principle of operation of this method of obtaining water.

AT. Describe the procedure for manufacturing a device for obtaining water by this method.

Possible answer

BUT. The picture shows a method of obtaining water by condensation.

B. The sun's rays heat the air and the ground under the film until the air is saturated with water vapor. Water vapor condenses in the form of droplets on the film and flows into the container.

AT. Description of the method of extracting water by condensation.

1. Dig a hole.
2. Place a container at the bottom of the hole.
3. Lower the tube into the container, bring it out of the hole.
4. Cover the top of the hole with plastic wrap.
5. Secure the film tightly around the edges with stones or dig in.
6. Place a medium-sized stone in the center of the film to form a funnel.

Job evaluation. 10 points, wherein:

• for a correctly named method is charged 2 points;
• for a correctly described principle of action is charged 3 points;
• for each specified item of part B, presented in the answer option, is charged 1 point;
• it is possible to use synonymous words or phrases that are close in meaning and do not distort the meaning of the explanations;

Task 2

In order to facilitate the search for people in a dangerous situation, it is advisable to use the International Ground-to-Air Air Signals Code Table. Its signs can be laid out with the help of improvised means (equipment, clothing, stones, trees), directly by people who must lie down on the ground, snow, ice, or trampled on the snow.

Establish a correspondence between signals and their values. Write in the table the selected numbers under the corresponding letters.

Answer

Job evaluation. The maximum score for a correctly completed task is - 10 points, wherein:

• 2 points;
• If there are no correct answers, points are not awarded.

Task 3

Topographic signs are symbolic graphic designations used on topographic maps for depicting terrain objects and their qualitative and quantitative characteristics.

Connect with arrows the image of a topographical sign and its designation.

Answer

Job evaluation. The maximum score for a correctly completed task is - 10 points, wherein:

• for each correctly indicated match is charged 2 points;
• If there are no correct answers, points are not awarded.

Task 4

Infectious diseases are diseases caused by pathogens that are transmitted from an infected person or animal to a healthy one. Way of moving the exciter infectious disease from the source of infection to a susceptible human or animal organism is called the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism can be implemented in various ways.

Fill the table. Fill in the missing columns of the table with the appropriate information.

Possible answer:

Job evaluation. The maximum score for a correctly completed task is - 10 points, wherein:

• for each correct answer in paragraph 1, 1 point;
• for the correct answer in paragraph 2 is charged 3 points;
• for the correct answer in paragraphs 3 and 4 is awarded 2 points each;
• If there are no correct answers, points are not awarded.

Maximum 100 points for work.

Route map of the practical stage

The participant is at the start line.

1. Incomplete disassembly (assembly after incomplete disassembly) of the Kalashnikov assault rifle

In front of the participant there are two cards, on the reverse side of which the assembly after incomplete disassembly or incomplete disassembly is written, an assembled Kalashnikov assault rifle and a partially disassembled Kalashnikov assault rifle.

The participant chooses one card and, in accordance with the task on the back of the card, assembles or disassembles the machine.

1.1. Assembly of the Kalashnikov assault rifle

1.2. Partial disassembly Kalashnikov assault rifle

1.3. Ready for shooting from a Kalashnikov assault rifle

At the command of a member of the jury, the participant assumes a position of readiness for the fight.

2. Providing first aid to the injured

In front of the participant is a victim with signs of a dislocation of the knee joint.

It is required to provide first aid to the victim and call the rescue services.

2.1. Providing first aid to a patient with a dislocated kneejoint

2.2. Call rescue services

3. Actions when a fire is detected

Extinguish the fire within 30 seconds and call the rescue services.

3.1. Fire extinguishing

3.2. Call for rescue services

Conditions for calculating the result

Penalty points are awarded for each mistake according to the regulations.

The result for each stage is calculated by subtracting the number of penalty points from the maximum possible number of points for the stage.

If the penalty points are greater than the maximum number of points for the stage, 0 points are set.

The final result is calculated by summing the points obtained for all stages.

The ability to sensitively respond to all kinds of changes in nature is one of the most characteristic features that distinguish plants and animals from inanimate matter.

For example, with rapid temperature changes rock it may crack and weather, the reservoir may dry up, but there is no tendency to self-preservation in these changes. At the same time, living organisms always strive to either get away from a temperature that is harmful to them, or different ways protect yourself from her.

At different types animals have special reflexes to various external influences which always have some biological meaning. For example, ants, bees, midges, spiders, over many generations, have developed a scorching sensitivity to all sorts of harbingers of bad weather, since an unexpected change of weather means death for them.

Spiders are excellent meteorologists. They predict weather changes with the accuracy of a barometer. Spiders are known to be intolerant of dampness. Therefore, being afraid of dew, they rarely go hunting in the morning. In the morning they appear only when there is no dew. And the absence of dew is one of the signs of an approaching bad weather. Spiders are also afraid of the heat. Therefore, if spider goes hunting on a hot afternoon, which means that he anticipates strong wind or a thunderstorm, which, breaking the web, can deprive him of food. In the evenings, spiders willingly leave their home if they do not feel the approach of rain. Seeing a spider in the evening, you can safely expect good weather the next day.

The ability of bees to anticipate changes in the weather has long been known. When a thunderstorm approaches, they flock to the apiary from everywhere and within a few minutes imperceptibly spray over the apiary itself. As soon as the clouds cover the sky and cover the sun, the bees that have flown out of the hive return from the road, leave the flowers, and those that have not flown lay mine flight. When the first heavy drops of thunderstorm rain splash, the bees are nowhere to be seen.

Hymenoptera insects, covered with copper-red skin and bright red hairs - osmium, together with swallows, bring us spring.

In clear weather, the char fish lies at the bottom of the aquarium without moving, but wagging long body, she begins to scurry along the walls of the aquarium, and after a while the sky is covered with clouds. But the char is already rushing around the aquarium up and down, left and right, which means that raindrops will soon drum. The char is successfully used as a "living barometer" by peasants in some parts of China. His behavior is surprisingly accurate in predicting weather changes.

The ability of birds to anticipate changes in the weather is widely known. As soon as the shrill screech of swifts, the usual inhabitants of many cities, resounds over the bell towers and towers, one must certainly wait for the onset of warm weather, even if they still hold on. bad weather and cold.

The first signals of the approach of autumn are the movements of cranes. In general, they seem to be in no hurry to fly away and reluctantly part with the north: they suddenly take off from a place in a significant area almost on the same day and then settle somewhere to the south for two or three days. And this anxiety is always not in vain: a day after the shift, or even on the same evening, the temperature drops greatly, and sometimes after warm day frost will strike at night and beat cucumbers or potato tops.

On the high plateaus of New Mexico there are extensive colonies of prairie dogs, which, in anticipation of the onset hibernation that occurs at the end of October, they close all the openings of their dwelling to protect themselves from the cold and fall asleep in order to wake up at the first warm spring days. According to the Indians, prairie dogs often open their homes before the end of the cold, and this is a sure sign of the imminent onset of heat.

An amazing manifestation of the vital activity of plants should be recognized as the ability of many of them to anticipate changes in the weather. The slightest change in the humidity of the air is instantly captured by these sensitive organisms, even if it cannot be noted by a sensitive instrument.

In India, huge thickets of reeds stretch along the banks of the rivers. Here they hide and make their lairs predatory beasts, and only a fearless hunter dares to make his way through the reeds. Such a hunter does not need a barometer, he will unmistakably determine by one kind of reed whether weather the next day to favor his hunting trip. If in the morning, between 8-10 o'clock, transparent drops of liquid, like tears, are visible in the corners of the leaves, then you need to wait for rain. "Reeds are crying - to be rain," says the Indian. Indeed, the next day bursts into torrential streams rain.

In our latitudes, there are a number of other "barometer" plants that can warn us in advance of rain. For example, honeysuckle flowers emit a particularly strong fragrance before rain, while before a drought they are completely odorless. The leaves of the horse chestnut before the rain exude a large number of sticky juice. Yellow flowers acacias, in anticipation of a near bad weather, seem to open their arms: the pistils move apart and a brilliant drop of honey appears in the center of each flower. Bone bushes, hiding in the shade of trees, straighten their usually rounded leaves 15-20 hours before the rain.

The ears of the calla growing in swamps are provided, as the name of the plant shows, with a white leaf covering the entire inflorescence from the side. From the position of this white side leaf one can also with great success predict changes in the weather. Before rain, the bract bends to the side and becomes almost at right angles to the inflorescence, while before clear weather it is held completely upright.

Botanists now count more than 400 weather forecasting plants scattered everywhere. But there is no doubt that their actual number is much greater, since observations of plants in this direction have so far been very few.

It should be noted that a number of reliable weather references are given by different authors in fiction. Some of them are interesting to bring.

In the book by V. K. Arsenyev “In the Wilds of the Ussuri Territory”, its hero Dersu Uzala defines: “... ours walk well during the day, it will rain in the evening.

I asked him why he thought it wouldn't rain during the day.

“Look for yourself,” Gold replied. “You see, little birds go back and forth, play, eat.” It will rain soon - then sit quietly, sleep anyway.

Indeed, I remembered that before the rain it is always quiet and gloomy, but now it’s the other way around: the forest lived full life; woodpeckers, jays and nutcrackers called to one another everywhere, and fussy nuthatches whistled merrily.

In the book Dm. Medvedev's “Strong in Spirit” we find such a place: “... an unprecedented sight opened before my eyes: on the right, in the east, a huge fireball rises.

What's up with the sun today? I ask the old peasant.

- To the blizzard, - he answers shortly ...

— What a blizzard, papa? There is not a cloud in the sky, and there is no wind either, - Alexander Alexandrovich laughs.

But the farmer was right.

The sun, rising above the horizon, became less and less, faded and turned from red to matte pale, covered with a cloudy veil of a cloud that had come from nowhere. The wind got stronger.

... A blizzard has begun.

The following conversation takes place between the characters in G. Baldin's story "The General":

“I liked it, you say? Who will not like such air, only now to a thunderstorm.

“It doesn’t look like it, Trofim Petrovich. Not a cloud in the sky.

- But you'll see ... Hey, the whistle of the locomotive is muffled. Always before a thunderstorm…”

Sailors, fishermen, shepherds, farmers, hunters very skillfully predict the weather. Shepherds, in particular mountaineers in the Alps and in our Caucasus, often predict the onset of wet weather by the wool of sheep. It easily absorbs moisture from the air and at high relative humidity dampens. Feeling the wool of his sheep and noticing that it is damp, the shepherd expects the onset of rainy or foggy weather.

Sailors predict bad weather by tightening knots. The hemp fibers from which the ropes are twisted have the property of swelling with increasing humidity. Therefore, knots loosely tied in dry weather, in damp air, from twisting the ropes are tightened more tightly, it becomes more difficult to untie them.

The number of signs of weather change noticed by man is enormous. You can read about them in the specialized literature.

Here we only note the following rules.

If you stand with your back to the wind, then the worsening of the weather should be expected only on the left, but never on the right. Therefore, any cloud on the right, there is no change in the weather.

Most sure signs bad weather is usually clouds and wind.

If it's coming warm front (warm air approaching the cold, and the cold air recedes), the main harbingers of bad weather are high cirrus clouds. They are visible at a distance of 100-200 km (Fig. 78). They are 400-500 km ahead of the first precipitation and pass 12-16 hours before the clouds lower tier from which rain or snow falls.

If it's coming cold front(warm air recedes, and cold air spreads after it), then it is often preceded by clouds in the form of small balls, called in Everyday life"sheep". Precipitation can be predicted from the nature of the cloud in no more than 3-5 hours, and more often a cloud appears so unexpectedly and moves so quickly that it can be done in just 30-40 minutes.

Clouds - harbingers of bad weather - always appear at the very edge of the horizon, thickening on one side of it. Spreading across the sky, they always remain densest on the side of the horizon where they first appeared.

Clouds randomly scattered across the sky are usually not harbingers of bad weather.

As a guideline for characterizing the wind, there may be signs of its influence on terrestrial objects and the sea surface.