Astronomy Researcher El Sa’ab:
 There is a Big Difference between “Elm Alfalak”  Astronomy and “Elm Al-Ahwal Algawiah” Meteorology

15Dec

Mr. Saleh Mohammed El Sa’ab, the Supervisor of the National Center for Astronomy at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) drew attention to the error committed by many of the local media when they label anybody who talks about the annual seasons, their beginnings, ends and related climatic changes as an “astronomer”

Mr. El Sa’ab stressed that this misconception that we find in media statements and press releases that are published in local newspapers on an almost daily basis, as well as among the public causes various problematic situations as specifying beginnings of seasons may differ according to sources of such statements and releases, each according to his conviction, knowledge and point of view. This is negatively reflected the science of astronomy in its entirety because sources of such statements and releases are often called (astronomical) while this description is totally far from reality.

Mr. El Sa’ab emphasized the need to avoid confusion between two independent sciences that are Elfalak (astronomy) and Al-Ahwal Algawiah (Meteorology). With regard to Elm Alfalak (astronomy), it studies celestial bodies, follow their movements, specify their dimensions and nature, times of their rise and set and so on. It also works to explore new ones without referring to seasons and their related changes, pointing out that there are no departments of (astronomy) at any university in the world interested in times seasons, winds or rains.

The supervisor of the National Center for Astronomy  pointed out that Elm Al-Ahwal Algawiah (Meteorology) is a science that deals with phenomena of the atmosphere particularly weather, weather- conditions and their changes; consequently, it is independent from Elm Alfalak (astronomy), though the latter offers the first  essential services that are represented in  determining  times during which stars with which seasons are  associated can be seen and which may be hot, cold, windy, rainy or seasons of planting, harvesting, hunting and the like.

Mr. El Sa’ab added” If we go back to the distant past, the Arabic term “Alfalak” that is astronomy had a different name that no longer exists in our time, it was called “Elem El-Haiah” (Science of Feature) and that was in the second Hijri century and beyond, where Muslims had mastery over physical sciences, medicine and mathematics and whose traces still exist up till our present time. Among the celebrate figures of this science are El-Bettani, El-Burwi, Ibn El Shatter, Ibn Yunes and dozens like them but none of them talked about weather conditions and seasons in a way to be mentioned.”

Mr. El Sa’ab  went on stating that as for the Arabic term “Al Ahwal Algawiah” that is  meteorology, its name also differed during eras of  Muslims’ scientific flourishing , where it was called (Elm Alanwa) and among its well-figures are Abdullah bin  Qutiaba  Aldeanori,  Abdullah bin Asim  Althaqafi, alKhozwini, Ibn Rashiq  and others, and so the term “Alfalak” replaced the term of “ El-Haiah” as the term “Al Ahwal Algawiah” replaced the term (Elm Alanwa) and all the time, they were two different sciences independent from each other and each has its scopes and limitations.

The supervisor of National Center for Astronomy at KACST highlighted another aspect of mixing between these two terms that is represented in the close relationship between the annual orbiting of the earth around the sun, and its transition from one part to another in this orbit, and what results out in this transition of succession of the annual seasons between summer and winter and spring and autumn, since each of these seasons has its stars that differ from stars other of other seasons.

Mr. El Sa’ab   noted that it had been the practice to locate the earth in this orbit and thus determine the seasons in view of the star or stars that are seen before sunrise, for example with the rising of Sirius  heat exceeds, which is referred to by the well-known Arab poet Alshanfari in the famous poem (Lamiate Alarab).

Mr. El Sa’ab   expressed his regret for this confusion which is not newly born as it is evidenced by our local heritage that convoys to us the habit of some people of labeling those who talk about seasons and climatic changes as astronomers as it was the case with the celebrate poet (Rashid Alkhilawi) who described times of heat, cold, planting and harvesting in the famous poem.

The supervisor of  National Center for Astronomy at KACST attributed causes of difference among the concerned parties and the  mismatch of their sayings in determining  beginnings of seasons to the fact that entry of seasons is associated with signs other than seeing  stars,  that are atmospheric  changes such as blowing of cold winds, feeling chillness at homes and the like and of course, observance of these variables are difficult to measure and  assert  from  one person to another with  consequent differences in determining the actual beginnings of seasons.