Tornado Quest Top Science Links For September 10 – 17, 2022

Greetings everyone! I hope this week’s post finds all of you doing well. The tropical Atlantic has been much more active as of late. This week, we’ll continue with helpful infographics on preparing an emergency kit that will be helpful in any tropical storm or hurricane scenario. As usual, there are many other essential and important reads to review on climate, weather, and other science related topics, so let’s get started.

Well said. “The past is not radically discontinuous from the present. The past has given us everything that we have, including the ideas we use to criticize it. We must, then, give past people their due.“
This is a very novel idea that has been a long time coming. Making recyclable plastics out of CO2 to slow climate change.
Could switching to renewable energy sources save us money? According to a new Oxford University study, the answer is definitely ‘yes!’
Easier said than done to keep this daunting challenge in check. “How to stop cities and companies causing planetary harm.”
The Interior Department and NOAA have a new website that clearly shows how climate change is hurting the USA in more ways than many of us are aware.
Considering how deadly heat waves have been for many years, perhaps it’s time to revise our current heat index to one that more accurately reflects heat effects on the human body and climate change.
If you thought the summer of 2022 was exceptionally hot across many areas of the globe, you’d be exactly right…it was on of the hottest ever.
It’s well past time that this issue was addressed. Better late than never. “‘None Of Us Are About Hype.’ How To Recognize And Avoid Fake Weather Forecasts.” The NOAA/NWS infographic below also speaks on this widespread issue.

Last but not least, if you’re looking for hurricane preparedness information, here’s your one stop for everything you need to know for before, during and after the storm. This all inclusive website from NOAA will help you prepare for the storms that we hope never happen.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

Infographic courtesy FEMA/Ready.gov/Red Cross

That’s a wrap for this post! Thanks to everyone for stopping by. A big ‘Thank You’ to my followers in social media. If you’re on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or Facebook, let’s connect! As for the COVID-19 pandemic, stay safe, stay positive, and test negative!

See you next Saturday!

Tornado Quest micro-podcast for September 10 – 17 2022

Media inquiries: tornadoquest@protonmail.ch

Please note: queries regarding marketing, promotions, sales schemes, prizes, or papers/research that have not been under & approved by scientific peer review will not be accepted.

Tornado Quest Top Science Links For June 25 – July 2, 2022

Greetings to everyone! I hope this week’s post finds all of you doing well. For this week, our safety infographic is a heat index chart which is important for summer heat safety in a myriad of ways. As usual, there are many topics to review, many with very unsettling news. Let’s get started.

Sunspots are not unusual, but it’s an exceptional event to have one double in size within 24 hours.
A bizarre case of subversion. “Subverting Climate Science in the Classroom.“
Speaking of subversion, a blow was dealt with no consideration of the future of humanity to the Environmental Protection Agency that severely curtails its ability to monitor CO2 emissions.
The Paris Agreement goals are achievable. However, it’s shameful that it took a horrific global health crisis to prove it. “Decrease in CO2 emissions during pandemic shutdown shows it is possible to reach Paris Agreement goals.”
“Climate change role clear in many extreme events but social factors also key, study finds.” Extreme weather events and frequency are sometimes overestimated but climate costs to people are often underestimated.
This interesting study says the number of tropical cyclones (aka hurricanes) has been decreasing since the beginning of the 20th century…but the devil is in the details.

SUMMER WEATHER SAFETY

The Heat Index is a very important part of summer safety. Here’s an excellent page from the National Weather Service in Amarillo, Texas that explains how to calculate heat index and why it’s important.

Please keep in mind that ONLY your local National Weather Service office, NOAA Weather Radio, or reliable broadcast media are the BEST sources of important, timely, and potentially life-saving, information on severe storm watches, warnings, and other related weather advisories! None of the links on this website should be used for life-&-death decisions or the protection of property!

See you next Saturday!

Tornado Quest micro-podcast for June 25 – July 2, 2022

Media inquiries: tornadoquest@protonmail.ch

Please note: queries regarding marketing, promotions, sales schemes, prizes, or papers/research that have not been under & approved by scientific peer review will not be accepted.

Tornado Quest Top Science Links For March 26 – April 2, 2022

Greetings to everyone! I hope this weeks post finds all of you healthy and doing well. We’ll continue sharing severe weather preparedness information this week with a infographic on taking shelter during a tornado warning. There are many other interesting topics to cover this week, so let’s get started.

This is a very cool astronomy read on the Hubble telescope taking a look at a star 28 billion light years away. That makes it the most distant star ever seen.
There is a race to upcycle CO₂ into concrete, fuels and much more…but will it help curb climate change?
In the UK, 2021 saw a jump in greenhouse gas emissions that was the largest annual increase since 1990.
Planting trees is a good idea, but it’s benefits are not as clear and are far more complicated than previously thought.
California used to have a fire season, but with climate change in play, it’s turned into a fire year.
A ice melting event that has ties to climate change. “Conger ice shelf has collapsed: what you need to know, according to experts.”
This is the 40th anniversary of the April 2-3, 1982 USA tornado outbreak. Many things make this event interesting including the first time the wording “particularly dangerous situation” was used in a tornado watch.
Here’s an excellent look from NOAA at eleven American regions and subregions that have released their latest spring 2022 climate outlooks and winter summaries.

SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY

This is an excellent infographic on knowing where to and where not to go in a tornado warning if in a substantial structure such as a house, apartment, office, school, store, etc.

The following infographic carries a clear message about where NOT to go in a tornado warning…and how you can avoid getting in trouble in the first place.

Please keep in mind that ONLY your local National Weather Service office, NOAA Weather Radio, or reliable broadcast media are the BEST sources of important, timely, and potentially life-saving, information on winter storm watches, warnings, and other related weather advisories! None of the links on this website should be used for life-&-death decisions or the protection of property!

See you next Saturday!

Media inquiries: tornadoquest@protonmail.ch

Please note: queries regarding marketing, promotions, sales schemes, prizes, or papers/research that have not been under & approved by scientific peer review will not be accepted.

Tornado Quest Top Science Links For April 3 – 10, 2021 #science #weather #meteorology #severeweather #tornado #weatherready #weathersafety #climate #climatechange #environment #dinosaur #astronomy #mars

Greetings to everyone! This week, we’ll continue our focus on tornado safety and preparedness. Of course, there are also several new, interesting stories to review…so let’s get started.

For my fellow dinosaur fans, here’s some interesting news. Paleontologists have discovered a dinosaur that, compared to other dinosaurs, may have had exceptional hearing.
The helicopter that caught a ride on Perseverance to Mars finally took a short trip…and sent back it’s first photo!
Speaking of photos taken on Mars, this image brought speculation that rainbows occur on Mars. Actually, it was something totally different.
This image of Mars from NASA gives us a spectacular view of blue dunes on the red planet.
In spite of the ongoing pandemic and shutdowns taking place world wide, CO2 emissions continue to rise.
Have a few minutes? Here’s a good listen. “Why There Is A Change Coming To Your Local Weather Forecast.”
This is a timely and fascinating read from US Tornadoes on tornado occurrence patterns. The traditional ‘tornado season’ doesn’t always follow the rules.

SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Let’s start with an excellent two-page printable PDF file from NOAA that covers the basics of severe weather safety.

Tornadoes, Lightning, and Thunderstorms: Nature’s Most Violent Storms (20 Page PDF File).

This NOAA safety page has a plethora of good information on staying safe during weather and climate issues from air quality to lightning to tornadoes to wildfires.

This long-standing site has the basics of tornado safety rules.

Highway overpasses are often mistaken as a safe haven from severe weather and especially tornadoes. NOTHING ABOUT THIS MYTH IS REMOTELY CONNECTED TO THE TRUTH.

The Online Tornado FAQ…another excellent long-standing site with very important information.

THIS WEEK’S SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY INFOGRAPHICS…

TORNADO SAFETY!

Infographic courtesy NOAA/NWS Norman, OK

PREPARING AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR HOME, VEHICLE, AND WORK

This handy checklist from the American Red Cross will help you put together an emergency kit for a variety of weather scenarios. A kit like this is very helpful in a variety of other difficult scenarios from wildfires to blizzards to tornadoes and hurricanes.

Where you get your weather forecasts, warnings, and other important information is as important as being informed. Discretion is of the upmost importance when you’re trying to stay weather aware. As of late, it’s been brought to my attention that there have been amateur ‘forecasters’ using graphics with the intention of appearing as professional and official sources of information on Twitter, Facebook, et al. They should NOT be taken as official sources of potentially life-saving warnings and weather forecasts and updates.

Social media is a very useful tool that can be misused for misinformation, disinformation, and hype. While this infographic is geared towards, winter weather, it certainly applies to ALL types of weather year round.

Infographic courtesy NWS Fort Worth, Texas

That’s a wrap for this post! Be sure to check in next week when we’ll take a final review of severe weather safety. I’d like to extend a big ‘Thank You’ to my followers in social media. I’m glad you’re along for the fun! If you’re on Twitter, Tumblr, or Instagram, let’s connect! As for the COVID-19 pandemic, sport a spiffy mask, practice good hand-washing hygiene, mind your social distancing, stay safe, and stay healthy!

See you next Saturday!

Media inquiries: tornadoquest@protonmail.ch

Please note: queries regarding promotions, marketing schemes, prizes, or papers that have not been under & approved by scientific peer review WILL NOT be accepted.

Tornado Quest Top Ten Science Links For 11 – 18, 2020 #science #weather #meteorology #weathersafety #wintersafety #windchill #climate #climatechange #arctic #environment #wildfire #scicomm #criticalthinking

As 2020 winds down, it’s time to take pause and look back on an exceptional year. We’ve two links that touch on the past twelve months. There are many important climate change stories to review as well. We’ll explore more on winter weather safety with plenty of information for the next several weeks. There are many other good stories to cover, so lets get started.

Here’s a glimpse at some scientific silver linings. “2020 Has Been a Huge Year for Understanding the Process of Science.” For COVID-19, climate, dinosaurs, & more, we’re seeing how science works.
Speaking of how science works, there are plenty who think it doesn’t…especially when it comes to climate science. “Big Name Climate Deniers Aren’t Joining Conspiracy Theory-Friendly Parler — Yet.”
Wildfires are known for sending large amounts of smoke into the earth’s atmosphere and often result in a cloud formation called pyrocumulonimbus. Large fires in Australia formed substantial amounts of pyrocumulonimbus clouds…and some of that smoke is still circling the globe almost twelve months after these events.
Lapland is a spectacular and gorgeous region of Scandinavia. Unfortunately, it’s not escaped the wrath of climate change.
2020 has been an exceptional year in so many ways. Here’s a month-by-month review of the biggest climate stories of the year.
At one point, it was thought that plant life on our planet would absorb a tremendous amount of CO2. Recent research has shown that those hopes may not come to fruition.
Here’s a very important analysis from Carbon Brief on climate change and when our planet might reach 1.5C and 2C of global warming.
The changing climate in the Arctic region is nothing new. Some weather phenomenon, like lightning, isn’t very common but is becoming more so. More data is needed, but this may be yet another sign of our planet’s changing climate.
There’s a fine art to accurately measuring snowfall amounts. If you’re a member of CoCoRaHS, it’s especially important that you give very accurate measurements. This excellent infographic from NOAA/NWS gives spot on tips for getting good data.

Last but not least, here’s a good listen from NPR on staying warm that’s a nice segue into our winter weather safety links.

WINTER WEATHER SAFETY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

With cooler temperature, snow, ice storms, et al. having settled in across much of the northern hemisphere, folks attention appropriately turns to winter weather hazards. The same preparedness plans and supplies that are helpful for tropical cyclones, tornadoes, flooding, etc. are beneficial to have for winter weather. NOAA has a very nice Winter Weather Safety website to help you get ready with plenty of helpful tips and information you may need.

This NOAA winter weather page has a myriad of links beneficial to organizations such as public services, schools, organizations, etc.

NOAA also has an excellent printable publication that covers winter weather safety which is one of the most underrated weather hazards. (12 page PDF file)

The handy checklist below from the American Red Cross will help you put together an emergency kit for a variety of weather scenarios. A kit like this is very helpful in a variety of other difficult scenarios from wildfires to blizzards to tornadoes and hurricanes.

Misinformation and disinformation is running rampant across social media platforms of all kinds as of late. I would be remiss to not remind folks to stick with trusted and reliable sources for your weather information. A NOAA weather radio is essential and should be as common in homes and workplaces as smoke detectors…regardless of where you live in the USA and its territories. Of course, broadcast meteorologists of your choice are often equipped with sources of important information that is specific to your locale. Here’s an excellent and concise video on spotting misinformation you might see online. Bottom line: use discretion very carefully and avoid hypesters, shills, and attention-seekers at all cost…and think before you click.

That’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, let’s connect! As for the COVID-19 pandemic, sport a spiffy mask as often as you can, practice good hand-washing hygiene, mind your social distancing, stay safe, and stay healthy!

Media inquiries: tornadoquest@protonmail.ch

Tornado Quest Top Ten Science Links For August 14 – 21, 2020 #science #climate #climatechange #weather #meteorology #derecho #hurricane #hurricaneprep #hurricanesafety #disasterprep #environment #pollution #astronomy #covid19 #pandemic

The eye of the beast. A photograph from the International Space Station shows the subtle details within the eye of a hurricane. Image courtesy NASA

Greetings! I hope you’re faring well in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. #Laura is our newest named Atlantic tropical cyclone and is forecast by the National Hurricane Center to eventually move into the Gulf Of Mexico. Another tropical depression is, as of this date, also forecast to move into the Gulf Of Mexico…therefore we have an unusual and very busy week ahead for the USA’s Gulf states. We’ll take a look at a checklist for assembling an emergency kit for hurricane and/or disaster preparedness and plenty of other topics…so let’s get started.

“Did Snowball Earth Happen Because of a Sudden Drop in Sunlight?” A planet encased in ice & snow sounds devastating, but these episodes may have paved the way for the development of complex life on Earth.
Why do deniers of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change paint scientists as alarmists? Perhaps because sound scientific facts are too hard to face…and basically a part of a very predictable human behavior pattern.
This is a very interesting listen with some sobering information on the amount of plastic pollution in the Atlantic ocean.
Here’s a very detailed read on how deadly heat waves are and the connection to climate change. Plenty of input and information from the Japanese Meteorological Agency.
Contrary to popular opinion, new information on our current state of climate change indicates that any emissions reduction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will be minuscule. However, what we do globally in a post COVID-19 world may make a big difference.
The devastation in the wake of the 10 August 2020 derecho event across the central plains is so widespread that it could be comparable to damage from a land-falling hurricane. Iowa took the brunt of this storm and it will be many months before the cleanup is finished and damages are calculated.
2020 may not be the warmest year yet, but it will certainly be close to the top. It will also have achieved that place without the help of an El Nino event.
Could we have a new record for a global high temperature? If the 130F (54.4C) temperature recorded at Death Valley National Park, California is verified by the National Weather Service, it’ll be one for the global record books.
A very short and to-the-point message from NOAA regarding the rest of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. “Expect more, stronger, and longer-lived storms.”
Speaking of hurricane season, we’ve had quite a few storms already in the Atlantic basin this year. Here’s a concise and simple explanation of why that is happening and what could be in store for the future.

HURRICANE AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

The Atlantic and central Pacific have become quite active with several tropical cyclones this summer. In the central and eastern Pacific, several named storms have taken place. The Atlantic has been unusually active with nine named storms having taken place to date…and the peak of hurricane season is still ahead. NOAA has a great website to help you get ready with plenty of helpful tips and infographics to help you get the supplies you may need.

This handy checklist from the American Red Cross will help you put together an emergency kit for a variety of weather scenarios. For folks living in regions prone to hurricanes, now is the time to assemble your kits for home and your place of work.

I would be remiss to not remind folks to stick with trusted and reliable sources for your weather information. A NOAA weather radio is essential and should be as common in homes and workplaces as smoke detectors…regardless of where you live in the USA and its territories. Of course, broadcast meteorologists of your choice are always an excellent source with potentially life-saving information that is specific to your local situation. Bottom line: use discretion very carefully and avoid hypesters, shills, and attention-seekers at all cost…and think before you click.

That’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, let’s connect! Once again I’d like to thank so many of you for all the thoughtful comments I’ve received as of late regarding my prostate cancer treatment. I’m doing well and am further bolstered by your words of encouragement and support. 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 COVID-19, please stay home if possible, practice good personal hygiene, mind your social distancing, sport a spiffy mask, stay safe, and stay healthy!

Cheers…Stay Healthy…and Good Luck!

Media inquiries: tornadoquest@protonmail.ch

Tornado Quest Top Ten Science Reads For July 3 – 10, 2020

Greetings to everyone! I hope everyone out there is staying healthy and faring well in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve plenty of interesting topics to cover this week. In atmospheric science, our changing climate is proving to be an obstacle in dealing with the pandemic and finding a long-term path of adaptation. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has also gotten off to a historic start and, as of this post, the USA now has Tropical Storm Fay. Speaking of tropical cyclones, we’ll take a look at hurricane safety and preparedness information and much more with this week’s picks…so let’s get started.

After several months of dealing with a global health crisis that is nothing like living generations have ever experienced, medical science is challenged with answering several crucial questions about SARS-CoV2 and COVID-19. Not for want of trying, but this is how science works.
Evaluating information about COVID-19, or any other scientific topic, can be a daunting task for the general public. Here’s an excellent read on interpreting COVID-19 information that can easily be applied to any other science field…including weather and climate.
Here’s a fascinating look at the weather on another planet…and it’s all about a new storm!
“Supercomputer Simulations Help Researchers Predict Solar Wind Storms.” These storms can cause severe damage to power grids, satellites, & many other technological electrical systems.
Trees are more than just large plants. They are a source of valuable information from the past and give us a look into the future.
But will this novel idea work? There’s the rub. “Pulling carbon from the sky is necessary but not sufficient.” Carbon dioxide removal is becoming a serious proposition. But it is not a substitute for aggressive action to cut emissions.
Siberia has been experiencing record warmth in 2020. That has also helped to spread wildfires in the region which are releasing a record amount of carbon into our atmosphere.
Climate change will still be a daunting challenge for some time to come. What is more problematic and ominous is the possibility that we may be running out of time before we reach a critical level of global warming.
This is an excellent read on a very rare cloud. “Noctilucent clouds (NLC) over Knowlton Church in Dorset.“
The Atlantic basin has no active hurricanes as of this post. It’s still early in the season and that means it’s the perfect time to prepare for the hurricane you hope never happens. NOAA has a great website to help you get ready with plenty of helpful tips and infographics to help you get the supplies you may need.

SUMMER WEATHER SAFETY AND HURRICANE/EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

The summer heat is fully settled in across much of the Northern Hemisphere. With that comes an increase in heat related illnesses. These handy infographics from NOAA will help you stay safe in the coming weeks.

This handy checklist from the American Red Cross is an excellent starting point for anyone assembling an emergency kit. Even if you live in an area that is not prone to severe weather or hurricanes, an emergency kit is an essential part of a home and workplace.

Cheers…Stay Healthy…and Good Luck!

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

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

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Media inquiries: tornadoquest@protonmail.ch

Tornado Quest Top Ten Science Reads For June 12 – 19, 2020 #science #weather #meteorology #severeweather #hurricane #climate #climatechange #environment #weatherready #covid19 #pandemic

Greetings to everyone! I hope everyone out there is staying healthy and faring well in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve plenty of interesting topics to cover this week. In atmospheric science, our changing climate is proving to be an obstacle in dealing with the pandemic and finding a long-term path of adaptation. The North American spring severe weather season has slowed a bit, but and uptick in activity will inevitably take place. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has also gotten off to a historical start. We’ll also take a look at summer heat safety information and much more with this week’s picks…so let’s get started.

Hurricanes and pandemics…the perfect, deadly storm.

There are occasions when the news or information we need to hear is precisely what we don’t want to hear. Social media, and the cocoon, bubble, or echo chamber that humans are want to create for themselves is a perfect example. Unfortunately, that often keeps us from hearing what will benefit us in the long run.
The International Space Station achieves a new level of ‘cool.’ “Universe’s coolest lab creates bizarre quantum matter in space.”
An efficient and effective infrastructure is essential to handling many extreme weather events. Going with a “green infrastructure” is and even better idea!
Here’s a great citizen science project for kids…and adults! “Why do some neighborhoods get hotter than others?“
As parts of our economy and societal patterns cautiously reopen after several weeks of closure, CO2 emissions are rapidly returning to pre-lockdown levels. It’s a stark reminder that even as the pandemic rages, the world is still far from getting global warming under control.
In spite of popular opinions on weather hazards, many don’t realize that heat kills more people annually than hurricanes, tornadoes, and lightning combined. Together with a decade of inaction from the USA federal government, a potentially lethal situation during heat waves is at hand.
Hurricanes making landfall and pandemics don’t mix. “Hurricane season combined with COVID-19 pandemic could create perfect storm.“
Thunderstorms are one thing, but a #derecho is a whole different breed of monster. “What is a derecho? An atmospheric scientist explains these rare but dangerous storm.”
This is one quixotic scenario. “NOAA leaders violated agency’s scientific integrity policy, Hurricane Dorian ‘Sharpiegate’ investigation on behalf of NOAA finds.“
Last but not least, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is upon us. Here’s an excellent website from NOAA on hurricane preparedness that will help you prepare for the storm you hope doesn’t occur.

SUMMER HEAT SAFETY AND WEATHER PREPAREDNESS DURING THE SEVERE WEATHER AND HURRICANE SEASON

Summer is fully entrenched across much of North America with drought conditions in several western and central states exacerbating the oppressive heat. Being aware of the heat index is essential to staying safe and avoiding heat related illnesses.

Heat safety is very important to practice regardless of where you are. As the days get hotter in the Northern Hemisphere, our chances for heat illnesses increases exponentially.

Knowing where to get reliable, accurate, and timely weather information can be a daunting task, especially for folks who are new to a region that may be prone to a hurricane risk, winter storms, or episodes of severe weather (large hail, damaging straight line winds, and tornadoes). This infographic from NOAA’s National Weather Service will help you through the murky haze of misinformation and hype and is valid year round for every kind of weather situation.

Regardless of where you live, an emergency kit is and essential part of every well-prepared home or place of work. This checklist from the American Red Cross will help you get started. If you live in a hurricane prone region, prepare now while you have time and supplies are still plentiful.

That’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, let’s connect! Once again I’d like to thank so many of you for all the thoughtful comments I’ve received as of late regarding my prostate cancer treatment. I’m doing well and am further bolstered by your words of encouragement and support. 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 COVID-19, please stay home if possible, practice good personal hygiene, mind your social distancing, stay safe, and stay healthy!

Cheers…Stay Healthy…and Good Luck!

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 Picks For May 29 – June 5, 2020 #science #weather #meteorology #severeweather #hurricane #climate #climatechange #environment #weatherready #covid19 #pandemic #astronomy

Greetings to everyone! I hope everyone out there is faring well in this midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve plenty of interesting topics to cover this week. In atmospheric science, our changing climate is proving to be an obstacle in dealing with the pandemic and finding a long-term path of adaptation. The North American spring severe weather season is peaking and the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season is just days away. Well take a look at some severe weather safety information and much more with this week’s picks…so let’s get started.

For the first time in over a decade, American astronauts took to space in an American made rocket from American soil. The trampoline is working very well!
While on the topic of American spacecraft, we can look forward to many more in the next few years.
The more scientists study our universe, the more discoveries we make. “Astronomers Watch as Planets Are Born.“
Satellites are an invaluable tool for a wide myriad of applications. In a few instances, they can get in the way of your view of some astronomical events.
Over the years, I”ve always enjoyed attending science conferences for various reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic will change how many of us convey knowledge and network with our peers.
Considering the mosquito is the critter that poses the most dangers to humans, this is some important info. “7 reasons mosquitoes bite some people more than others.”
For astronomers, both professional and amateur, light pollution has been an irritant for many years. “Psychedelic skies over Chile reveal the full extent of light pollution.“
In spite of our world coming to a crawl due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CO2 levels remained high in our atmosphere. What will happen after the pandemic remains to be seen.
Ice sheets have been melting in Antarctica for some time, but recent events don’t paint a rosy picture for future ice sheet status as our planet continues to warm.
The Atlantic hurricane season has officially commenced for North America. Flooding is almost always an issue upon landfall even with modest tropical storms. Unfortunately, many people living in areas prone to the effects of tropical cyclones do not have flood insurance.

SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS

Doppler radar has revolutionized the warning process in less than thirty years. This timeline and concise overview of how the National Weather Services network of radars work will convey just how important this invaluable tool is regardless of the weather or climate.

That’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, let’s connect! Once again I’d like to thank so many of you for all the thoughtful comments I’ve received as of late regarding my prostate cancer treatment. I’m doing well and am further bolstered by your words of encouragement and support. 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!

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 Picks For February 28 – March 6, 2020 – #science #weather #meteorology #tornado #severeweather #tnwx #climate #climatechange #environment #citizenscience #citsci #weatherready #astronomy

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. On a more personal note, I appreciate the continued best wishes for recovery and good health during my rehabilitation from prostate cancer surgery. You folks are awesome! Now…let’s get started on this week’s reads.

One way that non-scientists can help professional scientists is through ‘citizen science’ projects. These projects gather significant amounts of priceless data. Here’s an excellent read on why we need citizen scientists and how they can increase public understanding of many complex scientific topics.
The Curiosity Mars rover recently snapped a fantastic high resolution image of Mars that has to be seen to be believed.
Keeping any data base and vast amounts of maps up to date can be quite a challenge. Unfortunately, these maps are flood plains in the USA that are badly out of date. You may live in a flood zone…and not even know it.
This is a no-brainer and more than a little obvious. “Yes, Climate Change Did Influence Australia’s Unprecedented Bushfires.”
The major news networks have quite a job on their hands handling all of the current events. By this account, their coverage of climate change in 2019 was lacking.
While climate change is a well established fact, many of the subtle nuances have still to be worked out. “Will future East Coast winters be freezing or balmy? Scientists can’t agree.”
At this rate and lack of competence and progress, this is bad news all around. “Net zero emissions target in peril as tropical forests absorb less CO2.”
Here’s the latest as of 6 March 2020 from the Nashville, TN National Weather Service on the deadly Tennessee tornadoes that killed over 20 people and heavily damaged much of the Nashville metro and neighboring counties. A review of the Storm Prediction Center’s outlooks, watches, and preliminary storm reports can be found here.
Will 2020 be an active tornado year across the USA? There are many variables involved and forecasting weeks and even months out while dealing with fluid dynamics is almost impossible. Here’s a very thorough look at some interesting data from US Tornadoes on what 2020 may…or may not…bring.
While on the topic of severe weather events, it’s important to remember that knowledge is power…and can save your life. Over the next few weeks I’ll post helpful National Weather Service infographics concerning severe thunderstorms, lightning, flooding, and of course, tornadoes. This week, lets take a look at the severe weather probabilities categories issued by the Storm Prediction Center.

Storm Prediction Center Severe Weather Risk Categories And Associated Hazards.

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.

That’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.

Cheers…and Good Luck!

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

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

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SUMMER WEATHER SAFETY

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SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY

This is an excellent infographic on knowing where to and where not to go in a tornado warning if in a substantial structure such as a house, apartment, office, school, store, etc.

The following infographic carries a clear message about where NOT to go in a tornado warning…and how you can avoid getting in trouble in the first place.

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SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

THIS WEEK’S SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY INFOGRAPHICS…

TORNADO SAFETY!

PREPARING AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR HOME, VEHICLE, AND WORK

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WINTER WEATHER SAFETY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

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HURRICANE AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

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SUMMER WEATHER SAFETY AND HURRICANE/EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

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SUMMER HEAT SAFETY AND WEATHER PREPAREDNESS DURING THE SEVERE WEATHER AND HURRICANE SEASON

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SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS

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