Greetings once again to one and all! Plenty of interesting topics to cover this week. In atmospheric science news, our changing climate is front and center and will be for many years as humanity grapples with the best path of adaptation. The coronavirus and Covid-19 situation is foremost on everyone’s mind with a world-wide pandemic that’s like nothing the world’s current population has ever seen. Additionally, the spring severe weather season is in full swing across the contiguous USA. On the positive side, Earth day was this week and it’s still Citizen Science Month. We’ll cover that topic and more with this week’s picks…so let’s get started.
- April is Citizen Science Month and there’s a myriad of fascinating projects that you can take part in. Here’s a great place to start…SciStarter has an excellent website with many projects. Science Friday has a very nice segment from their 24 April 2020 broadcast with even more projects. For those interested in projects specifically in weather and climate, check out the mPING project and help National Severe Storms Laboratory scientists collect weather data. The CoCoRaHS project is a citizen science endeavor that is well established. I’ve been an observer for many years. Your daily reports of precipitation, or lack of, is very important to long-term climate data records. The apps for mPING and CoCoRaHS are free and available for both iOS and Android.
- The year ahead will be like nothing that living generations, save for those who fought in World War 2, have ever seen. This is very uncharted territory…and anyone who thinks it’s going to be “business back to normal” in short order will get a big surprise.
- This essay speaks for many of us…including yours truly. “I Am a Mad Scientist.” Misinformation, rumors, & hatred may go viral, but nothing is better at spreading than a virus itself. Politicians are powerful, but science is real.
- True number of asymptotic/infected is likely astronomical. “Antibody tests suggest that coronavirus infections vastly exceed official counts.”
- Our planet has been in a state of constant change since its formation. New data indicates that plate tectonics may have started almost 3.2 billion years ago.
- This is very discouraging news…but political agendas always trump public health. Pun intended. “These air pollution standards kept people out of the hospital. Trump just rolled them back.”
- The 22 April 2020 marked the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day. Here’s a great site from NOAA. “Earth Day turns 50: Get to know our planet without leaving home.”
- In a matter of weeks, the Atlantic hurricane season will officially begin. With that threat in mind, many communities are facing the harsh reality of inundation.
- Some recent data indicates that slower moving hurricanes will do just what we fear most…catastrophic flooding well inland away from the strongest winds.
- Yet another record setting year for climate change. “This Is How Europe’s Hottest Year Looked From Space.”
SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS
One of the most dangerous mistakes that motorists make during a storm is taking shelter under and overpass. This has proven time and time again to be extremely dangerous…and deadly.
An emergency kit is also an essential part of severe weather preparedness. This handy checklist from the American Red Cross will help you get started. Since severe weather and other weather-related disasters can occur year round, it’s an excellent idea to have this at the ready regardless of where you live or the month/season.
hat’s a wrap for this post! I’d like to extend a warm welcome to my new followers in social media. I’m glad you’re along for the fun! If you’re on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr, so am I and I invite you to enjoy me. Once again I’d like to thank so many of you for all the thoughtful comments I’ve received as of late. Cancer does not have to be an 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 getting your PSA tested with your doctor. The Prostate Cancer Foundation is an excellent website with further information. As for the coronavirus, please stay home if possible, practice good personal hygiene, mind your social distancing, stay safe, and stay healthy!
Cheers…Stay Healthy…and Good Luck!
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