Spring time rain: Why Does It Rain So Much in Spring?

Why Does It Rain So Much in Spring?

“April showers bring May flowers,” or so we’ve been told. Perhaps that’s why each year in the Northern Hemisphere, the onset of spring brings predictably drizzly months.

Yet it’s important to note that spring doesn’t occur at the same time across the globe. Changing seasons result from Earth’s rotation around the sun, so the timing of a given season is dependent on which hemisphere you’re in. In the Northern Hemisphere, each season lasts about three months with spring stretching between March 1 to May 31. The Southern Hemisphere experiences the opposite seasons, with spring falling between Sept. 1 to Nov. 30.

Overall, the Northern Hemisphere receives more rainfall than its southern counterpart. But what exactly causes these spring-specific showers in areas north of the equator?

A Transition to Summer

Whether or not a region is particularly rainy depends on where you live: Factors like latitude, elevation, prevailing winds and topography influence precipitation. This mix of ingredients positions the Northern Hemisphere to receive rain during springtime, especially the United States.

As it turns out, the mystery behind seasonal rainfall is actually relatively simple. The clouds above us form from water vapor that has evaporated from the Earth’s surface. During the spring transition from cooler to warmer temperatures, the air around us heats up. The cool, dry winter air combines with warm, humid incoming summer air. The mix of temperatures causes this air to rise, and moisture escapes in the form of rain.

This leads to an especially wet spring in the Northern Hemisphere due to a combination of ideal temperature conditions, proximity to mountain ranges and prevailing winds.

And when summer finally approaches, the spring showers turn into occasional rainfall as temperatures increase.

Spring in the Southern Hemisphere

While it does rain in the Southern Hemisphere during their springtime, the showers don’t happen everywhere.

According to Trenberth, the configuration of continents versus ocean is rather different south of the equator: The continents are subtropical and the main storm tracks sit at higher latitudes than in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning that areas like New Zealand, Tasmania and southern Australia, southern Africa, and southern Chile and Argentina experience spring storms the most.

April Showers Bring Tornados and Thunderstorms?

Kevin Trenberth, a climate scientist who heads the climate analysis section at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), explains that spring brings numerous thunderstorms and tornados.

In the U.S., storms move from the Pacific to the eastern region, while picking up plenty of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. This can often lead to tremendous thunderstorms and tornado outbreaks.  

Opposing climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean known as El Niño and La Niña can also impact weather conditions worldwide. El Niño occurs when surface waters are warmer than usual around the Pacific Equator. In contrast, Trenberth describes La Niña as when conditions are colder than normal in the tropical Pacific but warmer near Indonesia. In fact, predictions this year call for a more vigorous tornado season than usual because of the La Niña pattern, he says.

A Future of Altered Seasons

Climate change-induced global warming has provoked a shift in seasons around the world. With shorter winters and relatively early springs, rising temperatures are also disturbing weather patterns: As the world warms up, more water evaporates, leading to more moisture in the atmosphere over the oceans.

This triggers more intense rain and can spark more storms and increase the risk of spring flooding. Conversely, balmier months may bring less rain in the future — it all depends on where you live.

Spring rain: The good and the ugly

April 19, 2013

ICM News

By Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Department of Agronomy

The current wet conditions are a mixed bag providing moisture to recharge the soil profile and potentially mitigating the residual effect of last season’s drought.   The amount of moisture we received over the past two weeks can significantly improve soil moisture conditions for early-season growth and for the rest of the season.  According to Iowa Environmental Mesonet, since April 17 the daily estimated precipitation statewide average was 1.93 inches, the highest on any individual day since September 13, 1961. 

Immediate impacts on soil

Soil erosion: Fields with intensive fall tillage are experiencing significant amounts of soil erosion. The destruction of soil structure during tillage operations reduced water infiltration causing the surface soil to seal and resulting in great amounts of surface runoff and sediment losses to rivers and streams. The lack of residue cover on the soil surface is a main factor in accelerating soil erosion. The reduction in water infiltration of intensively tilled soils means that they may not benefit greatly in terms of subsoil recharge because the majority of the water runs off the soil surface into streams and ditches.  In contrast, no-till fields with good residue cover or fields with cover crop will experience much better water penetration and recharge to the soil profile. This, of course, is needed in many areas to mitigate last season’s drought conditions. The efficiency of a tillage system in capturing rain and storing it in subsoil is highly affected by residue cover level , how residues were managed (shredded or intact) and the existence of water ways and buffer strips that  slow  water movement and provide more opportunity for water to penetrate into the soil profile.

Soil compaction: The other concern we need to think about this spring is the potential for soil compaction. Wet soil condition presents a challenge with field operations such as applying fertilizers, planting and other daily farm management operations. Avoid entering fields when soil moisture is at or above field capacity, when greatest soil surface compaction or side wall compaction can occur. Soil compactions occurring during planting causes root deformation and subsequently yield reduction.  It is worth waiting until field condition is dry enough by monitoring the top 6 inches of soil moisture by performing field moisture tests. Other problems associated with soil compaction are the potential of early nutrient deficiencies such as potassium (K) during early growth stages when compaction affects root growth.

In summary, the recent rains may help to bring soil moisture to appropriate levels in the top soil that may ensure a good planting season. But it may also create challenges we need to factor in to minimize some potential impacts on crop performance. Tillage intensity and residue management dramatically affects rain harvest and subsoil recharge and the degree of soil erosion we experience.  Practice caution when entering the field this spring to avoid potential soil compaction.

Soil erosion in central Iowa. (Source: Drake Larson)

Mahdi Al-Kaisi is a professor in agronomy with research and extension responsibilities in soil management and environmental soil science. He can be reached at [email protected] or 515-294-8304.

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Analysis of Athanasius Fet’s poem “Spring Rain”: theme, composition, history of creation

Brief analysis

Before reading this analysis, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the poem Spring Rain.
History of creation – the poem was written in 1857 and published two years later, in 1859 in the Russian Word magazine.

The theme of the poem is rain as a symbol of spring and nature.

Composition is a one-part composition consisting of three stanzas that sequentially paint a picture.

Genre – landscape lyrics.

Poetic meter – iambic tetrameter with pyrrhic and cross rhyme.

Epithets – “golden dust”, “fragrant honey”.

Metaphors – “the sun is shining”, “the veil is shaking, moving”, “something came up and drummed”.

Personification – “the sparrow is bathing”, “the edge is standing”.

Genre, direction, size

The poem “Spring rain” can be attributed to the genre of landscape sketches. In it, the poet once again proves his talent to see the smallest changes in the world around him and vividly depict what he saw in a poetic word. A picture of nature frozen in anticipation of spring rain unfolds before the reader.

The text is an example of the so-called “pure lyricism”: the poet creates an intrinsically valuable landscape and invites you to enjoy the beauty of nature, to feel its charm.

The size of the poem “Spring Rain” is iambic tetrameter with pyrrhic, and the lines are connected by cross rhyming. Thanks to this, the lyrical text of A. A. Fet acquires a smooth sound, most accurately conveying the atmosphere of anticipation of life-giving rain.

History of creation

Fet has always paid much attention to natural phenomena – landscape poetry is a significant part of his creative heritage. The poet was very fond of observing the changes that take place in nature – this always inspired him to create beautiful poems. The poem “Spring Rain”, created with simply incredible skill, was no exception – in 1857 Fet wrote it thanks to observations of nature on the eve of rain, which is the story of the creation of poetic lines.

The general public saw this work two years later – since 1859, the poem by the already mature master of the “verbal landscape” appeared in the journal “Russian Word”. It immediately gained recognition from both critics and readers.

Composition

Drawing a picture of spring nature, Fet uses a one-part composition: all three stanzas sequentially reveal one theme.

Everything begins with an everyday, everyday picture, which the poet describes in broad strokes: the first stanza of the poem creates the background and sets the tone of the work. It seems that nothing reminds of the upcoming rain – even the sun did not have time to hide behind the clouds. At the same time, the poet uses a folk sign, showing a sparrow bathing in dust, which, as you know, portends precipitation.

Then the composition continues with the picture of the changed world – it becomes obvious that the rain is literally falling like a wall, so the observer sees an unusual picture – a “veil” woven from water and sunlight, which separates the forest edge visible in the distance with a translucent screen.

Finally, the third stanza, which should have turned out to be prosaic and inconspicuous, since the rain had already begun and a gray veil had descended to the ground, at the wave of the poet’s magic word, is painted in spring tones and seems warm and joyful. Drops drum peacefully on fresh leaves – a really beautiful picture.

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Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet

It is still light in front of the window, The sun shines through the breaks in the clouds, And the sparrow with its wing, Bathing in the sand, trembles.

And from the sky to the earth, The veil moves, swaying, And as if in golden dust, the edge of the forest stands behind it.

Two drops splashed into the glass, From the lindens it draws with fragrant honey, And something came up to the garden, Drumming on the fresh leaves.

The poet Athanasius Fet in his works paid a lot of attention to natural phenomena, describing them with amazing skill and accuracy. The beauty of native nature not only inspired the author to create magnificent poems, but also developed in Afanasy Fet the habit of observing the slightest changes that occur in the world around him, so majestic and simple at the same time.

Subtle lyrics and the ability to capture the transience of every moment are also characteristic of the poem “Spring Rain” , created in 1842. It begins with a description of an everyday and everyday picture, when “the sun shines through the breaks in the clouds” and nothing reminds of the upcoming thunderstorm. Unless a sparrow bathing in the sand heated during the day by the spring sun is the first harbinger of rain. However, the world is gradually changing, and now “from heaven to earth, swaying, the veil is moving.” Apparently, the rain is falling like a wall, and this creates an unusual effect, as if the edge of a forest standing in the distance is fenced off by a golden screen woven from water and sunlight.

“Two drops splashed into the glass, from the lindens fragrant with honey it pulls” – this prosaic and inconspicuous landscape, painted in gray tones of bad weather, the author manages to fill with spring freshness and warmth . Therefore, when an uninvited guest-rain comes into the garden and “drums on fresh leaves”, this causes a feeling of joy and peace, and not disappointment.

The amazing ability of Afanasy Fet to attach importance to minor events and to focus the attention of readers on this is truly admirable. Therefore, the poem “Spring Rain” is one of the few artistic and poetic sketches that fully conveys the mood of a warm May day washed by a thunderstorm. It is noteworthy that in the poem itself there is not a single word about rain, and at the same time, it leaves no doubt about what exactly the author sees outside his window, and why the presented picture causes genuine happiness in him.

Instantaneous transformation of nature has always occupied the imagination of Athanasius Fet. That is why the poet in his work identified it with a living being, which is much more intelligent and prudent than a person. Therefore, the author takes pleasure in seeing how raindrops irrigate the spring garden, as he understands that moisture is simply necessary for growing plants in the heat. Using this poem as an example, the author teaches readers to love the world around them and perceive it as it is . After all, it is foolish to be upset because of bad weather or to reproach the heavenly office for the fact that, as if by magic, a bright and bright spring day has lost its colors. The poet emphasizes that even in the rain there is a charm, since it is just before a thunderstorm that the flowers are fragrant especially strongly. And these little things should not only be seen, but also appreciated as the highest manifestation of the wisdom of the surrounding world.

True, it is worth noting that Afanasy Fet was an incorrigible romantic and philosopher, believing that a person must comprehend the harmony of nature and learn to live in harmony with it. It is this knowledge that can make a person truly happy, help him become a whole person. And it was in nature that the poet drew inspiration all his life, since he was convinced that she was both a friend and an excellent interlocutor who reveals her secrets to those who know how to listen, and a healer who can save not only from ailments, but also from mental suffering. Therefore, in each line of the poem “Spring Rain” one feels a very reverent and careful attitude of the poet to the world around him, who considers him his main teacher, infinitely patient and strict at the same time.

Text: pishi-stihi.ru

Genre

This is landscape poetry in its purest form, when all three stanzas are devoted only to the theme of nature – how the brightness of a sunny spring day is replaced by rain. This genre, beloved by Fet, worked out best for him. This poetic sketch shows how subtly the poet could see beauty in the most ordinary things.

Iambic tetrameter was used intentionally to create it – this meter helps the author to convey a joyful mood. Cross rhyme gives the sound of poetic lines the necessary smoothness.

Means of expression

Fet uses simple syntactic constructions, and the means of expression are also not complex. This clearly distinguishes the work in a series of landscape sketches. So, the poet uses:

• Epithets – “golden dust”, “fragrant honey”.
• Metaphors – “the sun is shining”, “the veil is swaying, moving”, “something came up and drummed”.
• Personification – “the sparrow is bathing”, “the edge is standing”.

In this case, artistic means play rather an auxiliary role. The main focus is on verbs, which make the narrative dynamic, showing movement, so that the reader seems to see pictures drawn in front of his mind’s eye.

Adverbs play a special role in the work. There are only two of them, but they are very significant, because “still” indicates that the reader sees this is a temporary phenomenon, and “already” indicates that the rain is very close.

Finally, thanks to assonance and alliteration, the poet conveys the emotional mood of the observer, shows that the lyrical hero is peaceful and content, he feels the fullness and joy of existence.

Analysis of the poem Spring rain

Analysis of Fet’s poem Spring rain according to the plan

1. The history of the creation of . The poem “Spring Rain” was written by A. A. Fet in 1857. At that time, the poet was already widely known and enjoyed great popularity. His landscape sketches were distinguished by their special beauty, lightness, saturation with colors, sounds and smells.

2. The genre of the work is landscape lyrics.

3. Main topic of the work is stated in the title of the poem. But the poet does not describe the spring rain itself. He managed to capture that barely perceptible moment that precedes the blessed downpour. Fet draws the attention of readers to a seemingly insignificant detail: in the rays of the sun, “bathing in the sand”, a sparrow frolics. For the poet, this bathing serves as a hint of nature that a real thunderstorm will soon break out. But then the invisible lyrical hero saw the approaching “veil”. It gradually obscures the entire visible space, covering it with “golden dust”.

The first evidence of the beginning of rain is “two drops” that hit “the glass”. Smells are added to the visual and auditory sensations: “from lindens it pulls with fragrant honey.” To give the whole atmosphere of mystery, the author does not even mention the word “rain”: “something came to the garden.” This natural phenomenon is a constant companion of spring. Awakened from hibernation, nature needs life-giving moisture. Even one premonition of rain transforms the landscape, enhances and emphasizes all the colors and smells.

4. The composition of the work is sequential. The poem consists of three stanzas. The first contains only a hint of the approaching rain. In the second, its first signs appear. The final stanza is the beginning of a spring shower.

5. The size of the work is iambic tetrameter with cross rhyming.

6. Means of expression. The epithets in the poem refer to flowers (“golden”), smells (“fragrant”), the state of nature (“fresh”). The landscape seems to come to life through the use of personifications: “a sparrow . .. bathing, trembles”, “something … came up, … drums.” A large number of verbs gives the poem dynamism.

7. The main idea of ​​the work is that spring rain cleanses and refreshes not only nature, but also the human soul. Fet was a staunch supporter of “pure art”. He believed that beauty is priceless in itself. Like the Impressionist painters, the poet tried to capture fleeting and inexpressible details.

In the poem “Spring Rain” the presence of the lyrical hero is only guessed, but the landscape is described through his sensations. An incredible variety of colors, smells and sounds has the most beneficial effect on a person. The work “Spring Rain” allows the reader to feel the spring lightness himself.

The renewal of nature is the most joyful and wonderful time. In spring, each person feels the awakening of new forces and hopes. Observation of barely noticeable changes in nature can deliver special delight. Fet was distinguished by great skill in the ability to see and highlight these changes.

Spring rain | SPADILO