April 27, 2007

It's Bad Meteorology Friday: Tear Drop Shaped Rain

Wxchrain

Did you know that rain is not tear dropped shaped? Well - we did, but we see it represented in teardrop form so much, we forget sometimes it isn't.

The artistic representation of raindrop as presented by popular culture is that of a teardrop. Actually, real raindrops bear scant resemblance to this popular fantasy (except after they have ceased to be raindrops by splattering on a window, say). It may seem too easy a target to single out the Weather Channel for criticism for their shoddy representation when virtually everyone from advertisers to illustrators of children's books do likewise. Yet, I would like to think they could be held to a higher standard as they attempt to convey the image of purveyors of accurate information.

Via Bad Rain