| From alternative music and media to alternative | | | | and discoverer of the planetary laws of motion, |
| medicine, we're increasingly offered nontraditional | | | | experimented with what today would be |
| replacements to mainstream methods, institutions | | | | considered an alternative forecast method that |
| and practices. Although conventional approaches | | | | made long-range weather forecasts possible. |
| serve a purpose, growing awareness of their | | | | Kepler observed that the angular relationships |
| limitations and flaws impel men to explore along | | | | among the planets coincided with the formation of |
| the fringe for new, and in some cases, ancient | | | | weather systems here on Earth that, in turn, |
| solutions. | | | | produced storms, droughts, floods, etc. His first |
| So why not alternative weather forecasts? | | | | brush with fame came not because of his |
| Present day orthodox forecast techniques lack | | | | breakthrough regarding the planetary laws of |
| the ability to accurately predict the weather | | | | motion but because of his accurate long-range |
| beyond three or four days. Even with the | | | | weather forecast of the severe winter that put |
| assistance of the largest weather computer in the | | | | Styermark, Germany on ice in 1593. Since the |
| world, whose lightning-fast calculations approach | | | | planets move in repetitive cycles that can be |
| about 400 million per second, the results of its | | | | known beforehand, he reasoned, the weather |
| three-day forecasts are speculative; its six to | | | | induced by them can also be known beforehand. |
| seven day forecasts are worthless. According to | | | | We can all see the advantages that such |
| conventional weather forecasters, this is due to | | | | predictions could have. Accurate long-range |
| the complexity of atmospheric forces and | | | | weather forecasts would bring enormous benefits |
| processes. | | | | to the weather derivatives market, agriculture, |
| What some scientists see as complexity, | | | | transportation, construction, and other industries, |
| however, might actually be viewed as simplicity | | | | not to mention the lives that could be saved |
| when the frame of reference is changed. | | | | through advance knowledge of severe weather |
| Johannes Kepler, the 17th century astronomer | | | | conditions. |