Was the January 2005 Ice Storm in Geneva Real?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the January 2005 ice storm in Geneva, with participants examining the authenticity of images and claims related to the event. The conversation touches on the nature of the storm, the conditions depicted in photographs, and the potential for misinformation surrounding the event.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether the event was truly an ice storm, suggesting it may have been a storm with high winds and ice from waves instead.
  • There is speculation about the absence of certain vehicles in photographs, raising questions about whether they were moved or towed.
  • One participant shares a PowerPoint presentation of similar images, indicating interest in the visual documentation of the storm.
  • Concerns are expressed about the need for clarification from Snopes regarding the event, suggesting confusion over its location and authenticity.
  • Another participant draws a parallel between the storm's aftermath and current weather conditions on their campus, indicating a shared experience of icy conditions.
  • There is a mention of a mix-up regarding the location of the event, with some believing it to be Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, rather than Geneva, Switzerland.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of the storm and the authenticity of the images, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various sources and images, but there are unresolved questions about the accuracy of the claims and the conditions depicted in the photographs.

Science news on Phys.org
Here's some other pictures of the storm's aftermath. What's missing in the photo from the Scherrer website? It could just be the angle of the photos and Scherrer could have decided to photograph all of the cars except the van, but could the owner of the van have actually moved it? Or was his van towed for parking the wrong way?

And, actually, it wasn't an ice storm. It was a storm with 70 mph winds and the ice is from the waves. A little further away from the lakeside, like across the street, and there's no ice to be seen (but that's definitely the fattest car antenna I've ever seen :smile: And is that a police officer writing a parking ticket for the van standing next to the tree?)
 
Someone did send me a Powerpoint presentation of similar pictures.

I just thought the pictures were cool. What is the deal with people that snopes had to clarify this event?

Another site with pictures - http://isdc.unige.ch/~muflon/gallery/2/5/1/index.html .

Also another cool picture from snopes - http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/flowers.asp :cool:
 
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How about this phenomena from Snopes:

A mud puddle shaped like Australia

:rolleyes: Of course it's shaped like Australia - it is Australia.

Oh, wait, they probably mean the picture on the right. :redface:

I just keep thinking of the TV show Cheers. Didn't Cliff have a potato shaped like something famous?
 
Yeah, well it looks somewhat like Australia, but the part corresponding to the Cape York Peninsula looks a bit too wide. :rolleyes:
 
Those pics look sort of like my campus right now. We had a lot of rain and sleet and snow today. wasn't quite that cold though. but now everything is covered in a thin layer of ice. you can walk anywhere any more, you slide.
 
Astronuc said:
What is the deal with people that snopes had to clarify this event?
One of the guys in our office got an e-mail with the pics (I got a powerpoint) but his e-mail said it was Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I think that wass what was the mix up they looked into. Plus, I thought for a few seconds that it could be faked. You never know these days.
 

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