Tornado Quest Top Ten Science Reads For October 12 – 19, 2019 #science #climate #weather #climatechange #environment #hurricaneprep

Greetings to one and all! Here’s a review of my intro from last week. After a few months on hiatus for health reasons, I’ve decided to resume the weekly blog with a subjective view of the top ten science reads from the past week. This post will be published every Saturday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm Central USA Time (1800 UTC – 200 UTC). As I mentioned, 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 kinks to be ironed out, so expect a few bugs and/or changes to come along. 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 more personal note, I appreciate the ‘good vibes’ and wishes for a speedy recovery as I am in the middle of a long rehabilitation regime from prostate cancer surgery. I have a daunting challenge ahead of me 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.

Without further delay, let’s get started on this week’s links.

A very thought provoking op-ed. “The Executive Branch Must Stop Suppressing Science.” Almost everything we do in society depends in part on federal government research. That most certainly includes life-saving weather information including tornado warnings. Congress can and must protect scientific integrity with legislation.
Here’s a question that may never have occurred to you before. Who owns the Arctic?
The burden for dealing with the challenges of climate change has been placed on national governments. This lets cities, regions, businesses, and any number of special interest groups off the hook. It shouldn’t.
One burden of climate change that is often overlooked is how it can affect conflicts around the world.
Too much snow can be a very, very bad thing. “Increasingly extreme Arctic weather could threaten the survival of wildlife, biologists are warning. In 2018, it snowed so heavily that many areas remained covered in snow well into the summer, preventing almost all plants and animals from breeding.“
If you think living near the equator will make you happier, you may be wrong. “Latitude Adjustment: Distance from the Equator Shapes Our Thinking.“
Air quality is perhaps one of the most underrated topics of weather and climate. What you can’t see in the air that you breathe can certainly hurt you.
Here’s some encouraging news. “Trees That Survived California Drought May Hold Clue To Climate Resilience.“
Giving lip service to hurricane preparedness is on thing, but implementing those plans is another. If the facts (which include hurricane warnings and dire requests for you to evacuate) don’t make you prepare and/or leave a threatened area, what will it take?
Speaking of hurricane preparedness, there are a few more weeks left in the Atlantic hurricane season. 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.

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 tested. The Prostate Cancer Foundation is only one of many reputable sites with further information.

Cheers!

Tornado Quest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tornadoquest

Tornado Quest on Instagram: https://instagram.com/tornadoquest

Tornado Quest on Tumblr: http://tornadoquest.tumblr.com

Media inquiries: tornadoquest@protonmail.ch

Tornado Quest Top Ten Science Reads For October 6 – 12, 2019 #science #climate #weather

Greetings to one and all! After a few months on hiatus for health reasons, I’ve decided to resume the weekly blog with a subjective view of the top ten science reads from the past week. This post will be published every Saturday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm Central USA Time (1800 UTC – 200 UTC). As I mentioned, 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 kinks to be ironed out, so expect a few bugs and/or changes to come along. 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 more personal note, I appreciate the ‘good vibes’ and wishes for a speedy recovery as I am in the middle of a long rehabilitation regime from prostate cancer surgery. I have a daunting challenge ahead of me 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.

Without further delay, let’s get started on this week’s links.

A thought provoking and very timely read on how the ‘echo chamber’ that exists in mass media and social media can work against us. You’ve heard it before, so it must be true.
Here’s an important read on just one of many diseases that’s spread by the most dangerous creature that we share our planet with…the mosquito. “West Nile Virus: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention.“
Have you ever wondered how a compass at the South Pole can point to the North Pole?
Most of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. The question is, how did it get here in the first place?
While on the topic of oceans…”Return of warm water ‘blob’ in the Pacific threatens marine life.“
The phrase “climate change” has never been more volatile. The history behind this loaded term is explained in this essay. “What Should We Call ‘Climate Change’? It’s Political.”
Speaking of climate change, coastal flooding resulting from sea level rise is a topic that will become very important in the years to come. In California, it has become a particularly volatile topic.
Here’s a detailed look at how the Greenland ice sheet fared in 2019. As you can see on the map below, the red tinted areas are regions that have gone under a loss of ice.

While the focus of this article in on hurricanes, it can easily apply to many other disasters; tornadoes, flash floods, blizzards, earthquakes, etc. “Cell Phone Service Must Be Restored Quicker after Hurricanes.“
Last but not least, there are several more weeks left in the Atlantic hurricane season. While the tropics are quiet for now, it’s never too late to have a preparedness plan in place. My Hurricane Preparedness Page can be a helpful starting point to prepare for the storm you hope never happens.

That’s a wrap for this post! If you’re on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr, let’s connect. The links for my accounts are below. And thanks so much 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.

Cheers!

Tornado Quest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tornadoquest

Tornado Quest on Instagram: https://instagram.com/tornadoquest

Tornado Quest on Tumblr: http://tornadoquest.tumblr.com

Media inquiries: tornadoquest@protonmail.ch

It’s quiet in the tropical Atlantic now, but that could change. Here’s a page of preparedness info that I hope you’ll find helpful. Hurricane Safety And Preparedness Links & Information. #hurricane #hurricaneprep #hurricanestrong

The tropical Atlantic is quite for the moment, but we’ve several more weeks where activity can occur. This is a list of tropical cyclone safety and preparedness links that I hope you’ll find helpful and spearhead your preparedness plan. It’s never too late to prepare. tornadoquest.org/hurricane-safety-and-preparedness/

It’s probably not what you think. “What is the world’s deadliest animal?”

Sharks? Snakes? The animal that’s deadliest to humans probably isn’t what you think it is. www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/what-is-the-worlds-deadliest-animal

This is the Bay Area alone. Imagine what it’s like where you live. “’Everywhere we looked’: trillions of microplastics found in San Francisco bay.” @Guardian #environment #pollution #SanFrancisco

Most comprehensive study to date finds plastic in sediment collected from bay and tributaries and digestive tracts of fish: www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/04/san-francisco-microplastics-study-bay