Tornado Quest Top Science Links For October 9 – 16, 2021

Hello everyone and thank you for visiting. It’s been another busy week for science news. The tropical Atlantic is quiet for now in spite of the fact that we’ve several more weeks left in the Atlantic hurricane season. This week’s post will continue with a plethora of links to help you with hurricane preparations. Now is the time to prepare for the storm you hope never happens. There are many other good science reads to review, so let’s get started.

First, let’s check in on the current COVID-19 pandemic. The death rate for the USA has been so high that, “Covid-19 has cut more than two years from life expectancy in 16 U.S. states in the past year, with the worst damage concentrated in the Sun Belt and the Great Plains.”
Here’s some good news for a change. Wind turbines are getting bigger, more powerful, and are generating increasingly larger amounts of electricity.
Some startling images of familiar locations. “What sea level rise will do to famous American sites, visualized.”
While on the topic of flooding, here’s a very good listen. “Floods threaten to shut down a quarter of U.S. roads and critical buildings.”
Very interesting lightning read. “Lightning strikes may trigger short-term thinning in the ozone layer.” Lightning may have a broader impact on the atmosphere than scientists once thought.
If you live in an American city that bakes during the summer, the heat island effect is probably no stranger to you. An increasing number of cities around the world are becoming more susceptible to its effects.
A new report from NOAA shows how the USA is on a path to setting a record for billion dollar weather disasters in 2021 alone.
The World Health Organization has released a report that expresses the concern over the significance of climate change and global public health.

HURRICANE SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS

The official start of the Atlantic hurricane season began June 1, 2021 and officially ends on November 30, 2021. As is the case with most years, the late summer and autumn months comes the peak of activity. This is a list of tropical cyclone safety and preparedness links that I hope you’ll find helpful and spearhead your preparedness plan. None of the links on this page should be used for life-&-death decisions or the protection of property!

WEATHER DATA

National Hurricane Center

Tropical Atlantic

Central Pacific Hurricane Center

National Weather Service Homepage

N ational Weather Service Weather Prediction Center

NOAA Climate Prediction Center

Storm Prediction Center

National Data Buoy Center

NCAR Tropical Cyclone Guidance Project

HURRICANE SAFETY & EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

NOAA Hurricane Preparedness

CDC Hurricane Preparedness

American Red Cross

American Red Cross Severe Weather Safety Information

American Red Cross Hurricane Safety Checklist (PDF file)

Extensive FEMA Emergency Preparedness Document (34 Page PDF File)

Ready.gov Basic Disaster Supply Kit Info

Preparing Your Pets For Disasters And Emergencies

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

Flash Flooding: Turn Around, Don’t Drown

NOAA Weather Radio

Interactive NOAA Weather Radio Coverage Map

The following infographics cover many important topics including emergency kits, staying informed, and avoiding misinformation and disinformation that are applicable to tropical cyclone scenarios. Tornadoes are also common in land-falling tropical storms and hurricanes. If in doubt, always stay with OFFICIAL sources of important information, forecasts, and warnings.

Even though this infographic is focused on winter weather, it certainly applies to weather information year round. Diligence from January through December is important to cull through misinformation, disinformation, and unfounded rumors.

Infographic courtesy NOAA/NWS Fort Worth, TX

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

That’s a wrap for this post! Next week we’ll continue information on hurricane preparedness and safety. A big ‘Thank You’ to my followers in social media. If you’re on Twitter, Tumblr, or Instagram, let’s connect! As for the COVID-19 pandemic, get vaccinated, sport a quality mask, practice good hand-washing hygiene, mind your social distancing, stay positive, and test negative!

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 Ten Science Links For July 17 – 24, 2020 #science #environment #pollution #astronomy #weather #hurricane #tropics #heatsafety #covid19 #drought #emergencyprep

Greetings to everyone! I hope everyone out there is staying healthy and faring well in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As usual, we’ve plenty of interesting topics to cover this week. In atmospheric science, our changing climate is proving to be a continuing daunting challenge and finding a long-term path of human adaptation is far easier said than done. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has also gotten off to a historic start with, as of this post, seven named storms for the 2020 season. We’ll also take a look at heat safety and a checklist for assembling an emergency kit…so let’s get started.

Looking into the eye of the beast. Image courtesy NOAA/NWS

Let’s start with a thought provoking read on risk. We live in a very different world than we did just a few months ago. Few of us will ever forget 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Living in this world requires very serious choices and decisions. With each choice and decision, there’s a risk. Choose wisely.
This is a very intriguing astronomy read. “We don’t know how fast the universe is expanding, and that’s a problem.“
While we’re on astronomy, take a look at these spectacular images from the European Space Agency’s new solar orbiter!
European cities are often on the cutting edge of new technology to increase the quality of life for city dwellers. Here’s a fantastic example.
A new study that was partly undertaken with the World Health Organization has new data on potentially lethal air pollution that can affect up to 55% of the world’s population.
Heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths around the world. In the USA alone, over 600 people die from heat annually. The actual number is probably twice that figure. Heat is called the ‘Silent Kiler’ and there’s a good reason for that. Add the challenges of climate change, and the human body is struggling to adapt to a potentially lethal weather phenomenon.
Speaking of heat, as an urban dweller, I’ve been familiar with the urban heat island effect for a very long time. Planted in the proper locations and well maintained, trees can help a great deal in offsetting the heat island effect that plagues so many urban areas during the hot summer months.
It will be interesting to see how this forecast model works out and lives up to it’s intended potential. “New tropical cyclone outlook model has potential to save lives in the Pacific.”
The latest US Drought Monitor is out. Drought levels running from moderate to extreme are affecting as much as 26% of the USA and Puerto Rico.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_2557.png — Graphic courtesy NIDIS/Drought.gov

The Atlantic has become quite active in the past week. We now have Gonzalo which, regardless of it’s changing intensity, can have significant impacts on landfall. Now is 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.

This handy checklist will help you put together an emergency kit for a variety of weather scenarios. For those in regions prone to hurricanes, now is the time to assemble your kit for home and/or your place of work.

So far in 2020, eleven children have died across the USA from heat illnesses while in automobiles. Two of these deaths occurred in Tulsa, OK after a brother and sister were in a car for approximately five hours. All of these deaths are even the more tragic since they were all preventable. Temperatures as low as 78F-80F can become lethal.

This is an infographic explaining the symptoms of the two most common kinds of heat illnesses. Heat stroke is especially deadly and paramedics should be summoned as quickly as possible.

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!

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 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 Links For June 22 – 29, 2019

Greetings to one and all. If it’s summer in your location, I hope the heat isn’t getting ridiculous. Much of Europe is in the midst of a lethal heatwave that will likely happen more often and with steady intensity.

If you’re an urban dweller and have a feeling that city life is hotter during the summer than rural locations, you’re not imagining things. The urban heat island effect is a very real weather phenomenon.
Speaking of heat, as of this post, much of continental Europe is broiling in temperatures of 104°F (40°C) or higher! In fact, France had their highest recorded temperature of 114.6F (45.9C) which broke a record that was set during a very deadly 2003 heatwave.
Disaster prevention is a tricky business, especially when it comes to weather events. By some standards, investment that will help reduce damage from floods and winds is money well spent.
Over 70 public health and medical organizations are calling for badly needed action on climate change.
“Demand For Electricity To Climb As World Gets Hotter.” Most of the tropics, as well as southern Europe, China, & the US, are likely to experience the highest increases.
An excellent essay by Dr. Marshall Shepherd on why communicating science to the general public is so important and why that communication needs to be carefully crafted to a fine art.
Confusing process with content…& the failure to comprehend or objectively assess scientific data. “Red State Vs. Blue State: Climate Action Splits America.”
Yet another example of the irrevocable connection between air quality and public health. “Exposure to air pollution seems to negatively affect women’s fertility.”
Our planet is often thought of as several separate entities with no connecting links. Nothing could be further from the truth. Whether it is the atmosphere or the deepest part of the oceans, all are linked in an unbreakable bond.
Last but not least, a very thought provoking “must read” with exceptionally unique & profound viewpoints. “Life in space: Stories from 50 astronauts in their own words.”

Hurricane Preparedness

The beginning of June brings the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. For the next few weeks, I’ll share some informative links pertaining to this threat that, like many other weather hazards across North America, occurs annually. Some years are relatively quiet, some not so. The important fact to remember is that it only takes one tropical storm or hurricane to affect the lives of millions. Unlike tornadoes, tropical cyclones can be forecast days in advance which, for those in its path, is fortunate since it gives them plentiful time to prepare and evacuate. These are links pertaining to tropical cyclones (tropical storms & hurricanes) that I hope you’ll find helpful.

This excellent Emergency Kit checklist from the American Red Cross is very helpful in assisting you while you compile items for your kit. A kit like this should be available year round…there are many winter weather scenarios where the same items will come in handy.

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 weather information, watches, and warnings! None of the links on this page should be used for life-&-death decisions or the protection of property!

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

Tornado Quest on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tornadoquest

Media inquiries: tornadoquest@protonmail.ch

HURRICANE SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS

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

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Hurricane Preparedness

This excellent Emergency Kit checklist from the American Red Cross is very helpful in assisting you while you compile items for your kit. A kit like this should be available year round…there are many winter weather scenarios where the same items will come in handy.

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