The White Falcon - 28.10.1988, Qupperneq 9

In
%nd
about
Ice Jand
by JOC Dave Evans
In spite of its name, Iceland isn't all that cold.
However, if you're looking for something to tell the
folks back home about, tell them about the wind and
the weather.
Meteorologists have identified two ‘wind belts" on
earth that are renown for the ferocity of their
storms. Student of maritime history should have
no problem identifying the first. It Is located Just
north of Antartica near Terra del Fuego. In fact,
explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries constantly
sought for a route that would lead them clear of
that area due to their fear of the storms.
The other belt is located in the North Atlantic and
touches southern Iceland. What this means to us is
that we are In for a wild time, weather-wise.
Meteorologists predict that two dozen Arctic
storms will occur each year between November and
May, with the highest number happening in
February. The worst of these storms are known as
“Arctic cyclones." They occur when frigid Arctic
air collides with the relatively warm, moist air
over the North Atlantic. When this happens there
is, literally, a weather explosion.
Some of Iceland’s highest winds have been
recorded during Arctic cyclones. In one storm in
1985, winds on the NATO Base were clocked at 96
mph. In the western hemisphere, anything over 73
mph is considered a hurricane. A little over one
year later, a new record was set when the weather
office here recorded wind gusts of 101 mph.
So far this year, we have been fortunate. The
obvious question is whether we'll have one or more
of these storms this year. The best anyone can say
is, “Wait and see...“
• Ke f /a v/k 's
Volunteer
This week's Keflavik Volunteer is Barbara M.
flynn who volunteers her time to the Officer's
pives Club (OWC) as its 2nd vice president. She
also donates her time to the Air Forces Iceland
Wives Club and the Catholic Women of the Chapel
(CWOC).
Barbara's main duties on the OWC board put
her in charge of the charity money raised and
the scholarships given out. The OWC gives away
over $8,000 a year in these two functions.
Her volunteer work for the AFI Wives Club is
spent at the base Thrift Shop unpacking items
which come in, placing them on the sales floor
and helping customers find what they need.
One of Barbara's main duties with the CWOC is
to supervise the 40 volunteers which help with
the chili supper held at the USO once a month.
"If we didn't have volunteers from the Catholic
and Protestant community and all over the base
helping out once a month, the chili supper
wouldn't work," said Barbara.
"When you think of all the volunteers in
scouting, the church, sports, the hospital, or
any of the service agencies here, you have to
realize they are the ones that make life
enjoyable for all of us.
"It's a reciprocal type of thing too. You do
your volunteer work and it gets you out of the
house to meet people. You get to help others and
you start to feel a little better. So, you're
helping yourself in a way too. I think the more
that people volunteer, the more they see what
still can be done, and they begin to see how
much it benefits the community."
Barbara Is married to Maj. Donald P. Flynn
Jr. who works at Air Forces Iceland Legal
Office. They have three children: Beth, 9, Mike,
6, and Megan, 2, with another due in February.
October 28, 1988
9