Two letters and a number – CO2 is a combination that keeps the entire world on its toes. In a figurative sense, of course. In the following, we describe how CO2 is not only a major polluter and reason for climate change. It can also be of significant use for all of us, when used in huge quantities.
More than almost any other outdoor sport, ski jumping and ski flying are determined by the weather. It is not just that the wind conditions have a decisive influence on the results of jumping competitions. It already starts weeks before the event as the hills are being prepared. Nowadays, snow cannons can make up for lacking snowfall, but these too require certain weather conditions for optimal operation—mostly at night and outside of business hours.
You are not in the mood for grey weather anymore? You are fed up with snow, sleet and roads slippery with black ice? You still have some leftover leave from last year? Lucky you! You could take the next flight to someplace nice and warm. Where the sea sparkles in the sunlight in shades of blue, where you walk barefoot in the warm sand and enjoy colourful sunsets and mild evenings at the hotel bar. At least, that is how it should be. If luck turns bad on you, the winter weather might be following you and your spontaneous trip might be drowned in thunderstorms and rain. That would be a shame, but still not a matter of life and death. Of course.
„At a red moon and a bright star, thunder and lightning are not far“ or „When the sky is sailed by sheep of white, the weather will stay nice and bright”. These and other weather proverbs and sayings have a tradition of many centuries. They are based on experience and weather observation but nowadays, as we are able to make very detailed predictions on our weather regarding time and geography, they seem slightly out-dated.