Pro & Con between life in UK & US

Sorry, that was a little unclear. I didn't mean to imply about a big sky in the mountains (although the views are spectacular), but meant to mention the differences in Mountains and in Big Skys, and missing both. The sky does not seem to be as vast here - don't ask me why, I can only liken it to being at the top of an enclosed globe, and therefore the curve of it brings the ceiling closer, whereas if you are closer to the middle of the globe, you are also further away from the ceiling and therefore the sky is bigger.

The sky does not seem to be as vast here - don't ask me why, I can only liken it to being at the top of an enclosed globe, and therefore the curve of it brings the ceiling closer, whereas if you are closer to the middle of the globe, you are also further away from the ceiling and therefore the sky is bigger.

Maybe it's got something to do with the lack of space here too - everything's so close together over here that when you look out of the window, you can only see a bit of sky and the rest is taken up by other buildings/houses/trees. Unless you're in a skyscraper city (like NYC), the US has a lot more space between the buldings/houses/trees etc. so they don't get in the way of your view of the sky.

Maybe it's got something to do with the lack of space here too - everything's so close together over here that when you look out of the window, you can only see a bit of sky and the rest is taken up by other buildings/houses/trees. Unless you're in a skyscraper city (like NYC), the US has a lot more space between the buldings/houses/trees etc. so they don't get in the way of your view of the sky.

But that's just the difference between living in a city and living in the country, isn't it? I mean, regardless of which country you're in. I'd think the same would be true for Australia, Holland or South Africa.

No, honestly, I really truly believe that it has to do with latitude more than anything else. I have lived in cities, I've been in the country. I can look out my window now and I feel like I can reach up and touch the clouds and the sky. They are lower, more closed in, closer. In California, even in the heart of downtown LA, or amongst rows and rows of apartment complexes, in areas where building were taller and more tightly packed than the terraced rows here, I never, ever, felt the sky was as close as it feels here, or as small. Did the clouds ride higher there? I don't know; but I do think that the curvature of the earth and where you are on it has a lot to do with it.

I can only liken it to being at the top of an enclosed globe, and therefore the curve of it brings the ceiling closer, whereas if you are closer to the middle of the globe, you are also further away from the ceiling and therefore the sky is bigger.

But the "ceiling" is just a larger globe, so it's more or less the same distance away no matter where you are on the earth. 

I wonder if it might have something to do with humidity and the resulting density and opacity of the atmosphere. I always had the same lack-of-big-sky feeling in Maryland, whereas New Mexico skies go on forever.

No, honestly, I really truly believe that it has to do with latitude more than anything else. I have lived in cities, I've been in the country. I can look out my window now and I feel like I can reach up and touch the clouds and the sky. They are lower, more closed in, closer. In California, even in the heart of downtown LA, or amongst rows and rows of apartment complexes, in areas where building were taller and more tightly packed than the terraced rows here, I never, ever, felt the sky was as close as it feels here, or as small. Did the clouds ride higher there? I don't know; but I do think that the curvature of the earth and where you are on it has a lot to do with it.

Yeah, you're probably right - it is true that the troposphere (where all the weather occurs) is only 7km high at the poles and about 20km at the equator, hence the reason that the clouds form lower in the sky at this latitude (although we do sometimes get those really high wispy clouds in the summer) - they are confined to the first 10km above the Earth, rather than 15-20km as you get closer to the equator.

My sky is the same size it's always been. 

Horses for courses, but I could take or leave beaches.

as someone as already said on this thread (i think) check out coast on BBC2, for the beaches and errr coast  around Britain

But the "ceiling" is just a larger globe, so it's more or less the same distance away no matter where you are on the earth.  

Call it a bad metaphor.

I wonder if it might have something to do with humidity and the resulting density and opacity of the atmosphere. I always had the same lack-of-big-sky feeling in Maryland, whereas New Mexico skies go on forever.

Changes in latitude, changes in atitude, baby. Maryland (40) would be closer to Ireland (54) in terms of latitude than would New Mexico (33) , which would be closer in latitude* to California (33), which is closer to the equator and there.....

Yeah, you're probably right - it is true that the troposphere (where all the weather occurs) is only 7km high at the poles and about 20km at the equator, hence the reason that the clouds form lower in the sky at this latitude (although we do sometimes get those really high wispy clouds in the summer) - they are confined to the first 10km above the Earth, rather than 15-20km as you get closer to the equator.

I knew it!!! Thank you!  



* I know 40 - 33 = 7 and 54 - 40 = 14 but is 7 further on the stretched arc than the distance between 40 and 54 at the top of the arc? Oh, god, this is why I never went into the maths   

Nevermind, I know what I am trying to say. Ireland is closer to Maryland than it is to New Mexico.

New Mexico skies go on forever.

sigh...now I'm getting nostalgic. 

* I know 40 - 33 = 7 and 54 - 40 = 14 but is 7 further on the stretched arc than the distance between 40 and 54 at the top of the arc? Oh, god, this is why I never went into the maths   

Nevermind, I know what I am trying to say. Ireland is closer to Maryland than it is to New Mexico.

I was actually looking at latitude and longitude distances for my research yesterday (trying to convert a distance in km to coordinates on a map) - the 'length' of a degree varies depending on where you are on the globe. 1 degree of latitude at the poles is approx 110km, whereas 1 degree of latitude near the equator is about 111km. On average, the difference between the two distances (north to south) you are considering is the same.

On the other hand, degrees of longitude vary from 0km at the poles to 111km at the equator (because the longitudinal lines all converge at the poles), so distances in longitude between 2 places is dependent on your latitude - it's kinda confusing!!

sigh...now I'm getting nostalgic. 

I'm counting down - only 5 months until I move to Albuquerque . One of my friends who spent just 1 semester at UNM before returning to Australia, kept telling us how homesick he was and how much he was missing being on Central Ave. and watching the sunsets over the Sandias!!

I just think it's weird how in the winter here, the sun never seems to CROSS the sky, it just kind of hangs out in a corner, and rises and sets in the same corner. Try explaining that, I certainly can't! I can't even describe it very well. I know it's not in the same corner all day......(is it??) but it doesn't go OVER. Like, switch sides.

Changes in latitude, changes in atitude, baby. Maryland (40) would be closer to Ireland (54) in terms of latitude than would New Mexico (33) , which would be closer in latitude* to California (33), which is closer to the equator and there.....

Just to play the devil's advocate a little: Why is Montana, at 45 degrees, "Big Sky Country"? 

Just to be obnoxious: New Mexico skies are bigger than California skies! Nahnahnahnah!!! 

(It's been a loooong day at work today.)

Stella, for goodness' sake, get yourself outside and enjoy the pretty clouds in the blue sky while we've got them! 

Just to play the devil's advocate a little: Why is Montana, at 45 degrees, "Big Sky Country"? 

Cause of the longitude, of course

Stella, for goodness' sake, get yourself outside and enjoy the pretty clouds in the blue sky while we've got them! 

It has been lovely today, that's for sure.