Chuck Tague

    Although all but a few trees are now leafless, it’s not impossible to identify the trees.  Winter buds are bundles that contain the cells responsible for next spring’s twig, leaf and flower growth.  They are now exposed.  In most deciduous tree species in Pennsylvania, the buds are unique and readily identify the tree. Many buds are colorful and have interesting shapes.

    Tree field guides have winter identification keys.  An excellent key is the small booklet by Mary Watts, Winter Tree Finder.  Learning trees is a fun winter pastime.

    Can you identify the twigs in the picture?  The answers are after this week’s almanac.

View the Nature Observer’s phenology for early November.

For your safety be aware of the hunting seasons and plan your outings accordingly.  Follow or exceed the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s requirements for orange clothing whenever you are on Game Commission land or anywhere hunters could possibly be.  Pennsylvania’s hunting seasons are listed on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website

The Nature Observer Almanac

        Monday, November 9, 2009, is the forty-eighth day of autumn.

    The sun rises in Pittsburgh, PA at 6:59 a.m. EST and sets at 5:08 p.m. for 10 hours and 9 minutes of daylight.  Tomorrow’s daylight period will be two minutes shorter.  Day length will not increase until December 29, 2009.

   A Last Quarter (50%) Moon, rose at 11:59 p.m. yesterday and sets today at 1:11 p.m.  At midnight the moon was 55% illuminated.

    The next Full Moon, the Cold Moon, occurs on December 2 at 2:30 a.m.

Pittsburgh’s Climate and Weather

    Forecast from Weather Underground -- This week will start unseasonably warm in western Pennsylvania and be slightly above average for the rest of the week.  Skies will be occasionally sunny with a chance of showers.

    Average temperature for November at the airport is 41.6°F.  2.34 inches of precipitation is the norm.  The first snow is not far away.  Expect 3.4 inches of snow in November in Pittsburgh.  During November in western Pennsylvania, the Sun usually shines a gloomy 37% of the time.

    On November 9, at Pittsburgh International Airport, normal temperatures range from a high of 53°F to a low of 36°F.  Record high and low are 76°F in 1891 and 15°F in 1976.

    On November 8, 0.07 inches of monthly precipitation was recorded at the Pittsburgh International Airport.  This is .66 inches below normal.  Since January 1, 2009, there has been 28.42 inches of precipitation. This is 4.28 inches below the norm.  (Data from the National Weather Service)

The Night Sky

      Jupiter is high overhead just after sundown. Jupiter’s moons are visible with binoculars.   Mars is identified by its reddish colors.  Venus is visible about an hour before sunrise.  Saturn is now an exciting “morning star”. Read more on the Naval Oceanography Portal.