Welcome to Meteowriter, a website giving news and views on the weather, wildlife, writing and photography.
I’m a scientist and writer on water and climate issues with a book on the Mersey Estuary (link). Follow the links below if you’d like insights into writing and photography, the Mersey Estuary, weather and climate, wildlife, maritime history and tidal bores.
Writing and photography
If you are interested in writing and photography, these links give some thoughts on organising research for nonfiction books and photographing waterbirds. You can see more photographs here.
The Mersey Estuary
The Mersey Estuary stretches from Warrington to Liverpool and the Wirral. Read about some of the outdoor art and bird’s eye views around the estuary, and its wildlife. Also, about the lost rivers of Liverpool and how land was reclaimed to build the city’s port.
Weather and climate
In strong winds, glider pilots exploit the updrafts caused by mountain waves. Read about how these waves form and other meteorological topics, such as how storms are named and how the seasons and equinoxes are defined.
Wildlife
There are many opportunities to see wildlife around the UK’s coasts and estuaries, including spectacular aerial waterbird displays called murmurations, along with seals and other marine life. See here also to read about sites in the Mersey Estuary and beyond, and here to read about the problem of invasive plant species.
Maritime History
In the days of steam and sail, navigators relied on time balls and One O’Clock Guns for an accurate time signal and analogue computers to predict the tides. Inland ports also thrived in the days before road and rail transport; follow these links to read more.
Tidal Bores
On the highest tides, spectacular waves known as tidal bores form on about a hundred estuaries around the world and push upstream against the river flow. Read about how they form and some examples from around the UK.