Greetings again to one and all! Here’s a review of my intro from the last two weeks. After a few months on hiatus for health reasons, I’ve decided to resume this weekly blog which contains my personal choices of the top ten science reads from the past week. This post will be published every Saturday between 12:00pm and 3:00pm Central USA Time (1700 UTC to 2000 UTC). The selection will be subjective, but lean heavily towards what my followers in social media are interested in. There will be seasonal emphasis on the severe weather season across North America and the Atlantic hurricane season. During the next few weeks, there will be a few things to be ironed out, so the usual bugs and/or changes are likely to happen. The topics will be from a wide variety of science interests; astronomy, weather and meteorology, climate and climate change, environmental science topics, the occasional quixotic read, and much, much more. On a personal note, I appreciate the ‘good vibes’ and wishes for a speedy recovery. I am in the middle of a long rehabilitation regime from prostate cancer surgery and to say it is a daunting challenge is an understatement. I have many long months ahead and your kind and caring words mean the world to me. A medical situation such as this certainly has made me take pause and reevaluate the priorities in my life.
On that note, let’s take a look at this week’s reads.
- There are many weather and climate hazards that are life threatening and make for big headlines. One that is all to often overlooked and affects virtually every human on this planet is air quality. Here’s an excellent site from the World Health Organization on air quality, pollution, and how it affects your health.
- It is not a matter of ‘if’ citizen science can contribute to science…the answer is a resounding ‘YES!’
- As our climate changes, the likelihood of a catastrophic wildfire in California increases dramatically year after year.
- The discussion in California of wildfires and electrical power grids continues. “Electric Utilities Can’t Blame Wildfires Solely on Climate, Experts Say.“
- While on the topic of wildfires, lets take a look from a global perspective at the unusual and disturbing increase in fires worldwide.
- On 20 October 2019, a strong tornado moved across parts of the Dallas, Texas metropolitan area. The autumn months typically bring an uptick in severe weather activity across much of the USA’s Great Plains. This story from the Guardian is a good overview of the situation. Unfortunately the headline, which implies that one tornado moved from Dallas into Arkansas, is all too common.
- Are you stressed out by the daunting challenges of climate change? You’re not alone. Here are a list of eight actions you can take, some are better than others, other like ‘fight shaming’ are ridiculous, most important is the realization that every small action you can take adds up to big changes…and a better quality of life.
- According to new data from NOAA and NASA, the Earth’s ozone hole is the smallest it has ever been since its discovery.
- A recently released study says, “Antarctic ice sheets have been melting rapidly for hundreds of years, much longer than scientists previously thought.“
- The Atlantic hurricane season will be coming to an official end very soon, but it’s never too late, early, our ‘out of season’ to have a preparedness plan and supplies in place. My Hurricane Preparedness Page can be a helpful starting point to prepare for the storm you hope never happens.
This handy checklist from the American Red Cross can be very helpful in putting together a disaster preparedness kit. This emergency kit can also be applicable in many different climates and for all seasons.
That’s a wrap for this post! If you’re on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr, pay me a visit and let us connect. A million ‘thank you’ again for all the thoughtful comments I’ve received over the past few weeks. Cancer does not have to be a automatic death sentence, and I have no intention of giving up this fight and will accept nothing but absolute and total victory. If you’re a male over the age of 40, you should discuss with your doctor getting your PSA tested. The Prostate Cancer Foundation is only one of many reputable sites with further information.
Cheers!
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