In nature, many animals can sense weather changes and respond in advance. This weather premonition not only helps them adapt to the environment better, but also provides us with important meteorological clues. So, how do animals sense weather changes?
Animals are extremely sensitive to changes in air pressure, and the rise and fall of air pressure is an important signal of weather changes. Many animals predict the weather by sensing changes in air pressure. For example, birds stop flying and seek shelter when air pressure drops; frogs start to chirp frequently when air pressure drops, indicating that rainy days are coming.
Case: Birds and Air Pressure When air pressure drops, birds will fly lower or stop flying altogether. Low air pressure is usually accompanied by storms or rainy days, so birds use this method to reduce the danger of flying. In addition, poultry such as chickens often become restless and even seek shelter in advance when the air pressure changes significantly.
Humidity changes are one of the main ways for many animals to sense the weather. Before a thunderstorm, the humidity in the air will rise significantly, which will affect the life and behavior of animals. For example, frogs will call more frequently when the humidity rises, and earthworms will crawl out of the ground to avoid rain flooding their caves.
Case: Earthworms and Humidity Earthworms live underground, but they are extremely sensitive to humidity changes. Before a thunderstorm, the humidity in the soil increases, and earthworms will crawl out of the ground to avoid the coming heavy rain. This behavior is called "earthworms on the road", which is one of the typical phenomena that indicate weather changes.
Thunderstorms are accompanied by drastic changes in the electromagnetic field. Many animals can sense this change and show restlessness or seek shelter in advance. Domestic pets such as cats and dogs usually show irritability and avoidance before thunderstorms. They use their bodies to sense the electromagnetic changes before thunderstorms, which greatly advances the warning time for their owners.
Case: Cats, dogs and thunderstorms Before a thunderstorm arrives, changes in the electromagnetic field can make pets such as cats and dogs feel uneasy. They may look for a safe corner to hide, or even become unusually quiet or irritable. This behavior is their natural reaction to the impending thunderstorm and their unique way of sensing the weather.
Many birds, especially migratory birds, can predict the weather by sensing changes in wind speed and air flow. Their flight paths are closely related to weather changes. In severe weather such as strong winds and storms, birds usually stop flying to avoid getting lost in the storm.
Case: Swallows and wind speedSwallows are extremely sensitive to changes in wind speed and airflow in the air. When air humidity increases and airflow decreases, swallows will begin to fly low, because insect activities will also be concentrated in the low altitude at this time. This behavior often indicates the coming rain and is one of the weather forecasting methods commonly used by ancient people.
Cold-blooded animals (such as lizards and snakes) are very sensitive to temperature changes because their body temperature is directly affected by the environment. When the temperature drops suddenly or before a rainstorm, many cold-blooded animals will look for warm or dry shelters in advance to avoid hypothermia affecting their survival.
Case Study: Snakes and TemperatureSnakes react quickly to temperature changes. For example, before cold weather arrives, snakes will hide in caves in advance to avoid the threat of low temperatures. When a thunderstorm comes, snakes will quickly seek dry areas to avoid moisture.
Insects are very sensitive to weather changes. Many insects, such as mosquitoes and flies, change their activity habits when humidity and air pressure change, helping them avoid the upcoming bad weather. For example, ants will move before heavy rains come and seek shelter in high places; dragonflies will fly low before thunderstorms come, foreshadowing the arrival of rain.
Case Study: Ants and ThunderstormsAnts are very sensitive to upcoming thunderstorms. Before heavy rains come, ants will move out of low-lying areas in groups and seek higher ground. This phenomenon of "ants moving" is usually a clear sign of thunderstorms.
Underwater animals such as fish can predict weather changes by sensing sound waves and vibrations in the water. Before a rainstorm or storm, the vibrations in the water will be transmitted to them in advance, allowing them to react quickly. For example, before a storm, many fish will swim to deeper waters to avoid possible dangers.
Case: Fish and Storms Some deep-sea fish will sense tiny vibrations and sound wave changes in the water before a storm and swim to deeper waters. Their behavior is considered a natural adaptation to cope with ocean storms.
Animals’ ability to perceive weather changes is an evolutionary wisdom. Through changes in multiple environmental factors such as air pressure, humidity, wind speed, and electromagnetic fields, they can predict the weather in advance and take corresponding measures to protect themselves. As nature’s “weathermen”, the behavior of these animals provides humans with important natural early warning signals. By carefully observing these changes, we can not only better understand the natural world, but also use this information to better respond to climate change.
Weather changes often leave traces in nature, especially on the eve of thunderstorms, not only will the clouds and wind direction change, but the behavior of many animals will also change accordingly. Ancient people were able to predict the upcoming thunderstorms by observing the reactions of animals. So, which animals can be a harbinger of thunderstorms?
Swallows are one of the most common signs of thunderstorms. Before a thunderstorm arrives, humidity rises and the insect activity area in the air becomes lower. Swallows feed on insects, so they fly low to hunt. This low-flying behavior often indicates that a thunderstorm is coming, and has become the basis for many people to judge weather changes.
Frogs are animals that are very sensitive to changes in humidity and air pressure. On the eve of a thunderstorm, air humidity rises and air pressure decreases. Frogs will feel these changes and begin to croak frequently, especially in summer. The croaking of frogs is often one of the signals of the coming thunderstorm.
Before a thunderstorm arrives, the ground humidity increases, and ant nests are easily soaked by water. Therefore, ants will move away from low-lying areas in groups and look for higher and drier places. This phenomenon of "ants moving" is considered by the people as a typical omen of heavy rain or thunderstorms.
Similar to swallows, the flying height of dragonflies is also related to the humidity and air pressure in the air. When a thunderstorm is about to come, the air humidity increases, the wings of dragonflies are affected, and their flying height becomes lower. Therefore, when you see dragonflies flying low, it is likely that a thunderstorm is on the way.
Birds are very sensitive to changes in air pressure. When a thunderstorm is about to come, birds usually stop singing, become unusually quiet, or gather in groups to seek shelter. This abnormal behavior usually indicates thunderstorm weather.
Mole crickets live underground, but before a thunderstorm, due to the increase in soil moisture, the water in the cave increases, and the mole crickets will crawl out of the hole to find a dry environment. Seeing mole crickets appear on the surface may mean that a thunderstorm is about to come.
Many domestic animals, such as cats and dogs, will show restless behavior before a thunderstorm. This is because thunderstorms are accompanied by changes in the electromagnetic field, and animals such as cats and dogs are extremely sensitive to such changes. Therefore, if you find that your pet suddenly becomes restless or agitated, it is likely that a thunderstorm will arrive soon.
Before a thunderstorm, bees tend to return to their hives earlier and go out less often to collect honey. This is because lower air pressure and higher air humidity make it difficult for bees to fly. If you see bees suddenly returning to their hives in large numbers, a thunderstorm may be brewing.
Crickets chirp loudly on clear nights, but their chirping gradually weakens or even stops when a thunderstorm is approaching. This is because crickets are very sensitive to changes in air pressure and humidity. The sudden silence of crickets often means an impending thunderstorm.
Before a thunderstorm is about to arrive, the oxygen content in the water will drop, and many fish will feel uncomfortable and begin to jump out of the water frequently to breathe. This phenomenon is more common in lakes or ponds before thunderstorms, so fish jumping out of the water is often considered a sign of thunderstorms.
Animals are much more sensitive to climate change than humans, and their behavioral changes can serve as a natural early warning system for weather changes. Swallows flying low, frogs croaking, ants moving, etc. can all provide us with early warning signals of the coming thunderstorm. By observing the reactions of these animals, we can take protective measures in advance to prevent sudden heavy rains from affecting our daily lives.
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