Tornado Quest Top Science Links For August 6 – 13, 2022

Greetings to everyone! I hope this week’s post finds all of you doing well. For the time being, the tropical Atlantic is quiet, but that could change over the next few weeks. In the meantime, I will share some infographics on preparing an emergency kit that will be helpful in any tropical storm or hurricane scenario. There are many other essential and important reads to review, so let’s get started.

This is a fascinating astronomy read. “The Tharsis Region of Mars is Peppered With These Strange Pit Craters. Now They’ve Been Found Elsewhere.“
Ice cores brought to the surface by scientists can have very old ice. This one has a chance at being the oldest ice core ever studied.
July 2022 will go down in the record books as one of the hottest Julys on record. With over 2,000+ fatalities in Spain and Portugal alone, this heatwave is as much a natural disaster as any major flood event, hurricane, or tornado outbreak.
The World Meteorological Organization has a very detailed review of the July 2022 temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere.
How can we learn from these heatwaves to better prepare for the future climate? There are some valuable lessons that our species is learning fast, and hard.
It’s been one year since the IPCC released their detailed climate report. Here’s a link to the report and all of the full details. Since then, there have been many extreme weather events around the world that have a clear connection to climate change. Most worrisome is the fact that many of these unprecedented events have taken place much sooner than anticipated.
With the Atlantic hurricane season upon us, here are some excellent NOAA and National Weather Service hurricane safety resources all on one website.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS KIT

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 August 6 – 13, 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 April 2 – 9, 2022

Xenia, OH F-5/EF-5 tornado of 3 April 1974

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 lightning safety. There are many other interesting topics to cover this week, so let’s get started.

Let’s start with some good news on renewable energy. “Stanford engineers create solar panel that can generate electricity at night.”
Beyond carbon storage, tropical forests have a substantial benefit to our planet’s climate.
This is a sobering message indeed. “IPCC’s starkest message yet: extreme steps needed to avert climate disaster.”
More information confirming the link between health and air quality. Sadly, this includes almost every human on the planet.
This week marks the 48th anniversary of the April 3-4, 1974 tornado superoutbreak, which is the outbreak with the most violent category tornadoes to date.
March 2020 was a record setting month for tornado activity across the USA. Recent advancements in Doppler radar technology may have played a part.

SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY

With several days of severe weather forecast across the USA during the coming week, here’s a reminder of severe thunderstorm risk categories and the expected hazards.

Storm Prediction Center Severe Weather Risk Categories And Associated Hazards.

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!

Tornado Quest micro podcast for April 2 – 9, 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 February 26 – March 5, 2022

Interesting shelf cloud formations often precede strong to severe thunderstorms.

Greetings to everyone! Happy meteorological spring to folks in the northern hemisphere, and autumn in the southern hemisphere! I hope this weeks post finds all of you healthy and your week is going well. With the arrival of spring across North America, the change in seasons means an increase in severe weather activity. We’ll start off this week with a series of severe weather safety infographics to help you prepare for the coming storms. There are many other topics to cover this week, so let’s get started.

The Mars Curiosity rover rolled up to a rock on the ‘red planet’ that has a bizarre shape reminiscent of a plant.
Unfortunately, this was inevitable. “Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Strains International Space Station Partnership.”
The stress on the human body isn’t limited to physical health. “Psychologists Urge Peers to Take Climate Action.”
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report coveys a very sobering message.
The IPCC report, which contains data from hundreds of other research reports, also has a message that both rich and poor countries will suffer from climate change.
Our next step in dealing with climate change is to focus on solutions that will stave off immediate threats to economies, standard of living, et al. even if they aren’t what some would consider glamorous or important.
Parts of Australia have been getting pounded by relentless heavy rainfall. “Record flooding in Australia driven by La Niña & climate change.”
On the other end of the precipitation spectrum is the western USA which is in the grips of a long term drought. Cloud seeding, though not an old technique, is being considered as a way of bringing badly needed rains to parched regions.
Here’s some very important information on how to receive potentially life saving severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service on your cell phone. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) may save your life.

SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK is responsible for severe weather forecasts and issuing severe weather watches for the USA. This infographic explains the risk categories and the expected hazards.

Storm Prediction Center Severe Weather Risk Categories And Associated Hazards. Infographic courtesy NWS.

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, or Instagram, let’s connect! As for the COVID-19 pandemic, get vaccinated, sport a good fitting quality mask, practice good hand-washing hygiene, mind your social distancing, stay positive, and test negative!

See you next Saturday!

Tornado Quest micro podcast for February 26 – March 5, 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 August 14 – 21, 2021

Greetings everyone! I hope this week’s post finds everyone doing well. During the past week, drought and damaging wildfires have continue to plague much of western North America. As for the tropical Atlantic, activity had definitely been on the upswing. Hurricane Grace made landfall in Mexico and Hurricane Henri is poised to present a significant threat to the northeastern USA, and Atlantic Canada. We’ve still the most active weeks of the hurricane season ahead. The National Hurricane Center updated the 2021 Atlantic tropical cyclone outlook. An active season is anticipated. A link to the updated outlook is included in this weeks post. We’ll also continue our review of hurricane safety/preparedness and summer heat safety. There are many other good science reads to review for this week, so let’s get started.

Hurricane Henri strengthening off the eastern USA coast on 21 August 2021

A very solid, though provoking read. “Has COVID taught us anything about pandemic preparedness?”
This is certainly a timely read for today’s challenges. “Why Bad Science Is Sometimes More Appealing Than Good Science.”
For climate science, this was truly a watershed event. “A 1987 Pollution Treaty Prevented the World’s Plants from Withering, Study Finds.”
This is a question that many, including yours truly, would like an answer to. “Will the IPCC report help focus politicians’ minds on climate change?”
While on the topic of the IPCC climate report, it’s important to take note of greenhouse gases and their effects on extreme weather events.
Wildfires that are devastating large areas of Canada and the United States create vast rivers of smoke in our atmosphere. Add to that the out-of-control COVID-19 pandemic, and you have a lethal combination for the unvaccinated.
The California wildfires have brought to the forefront the new ‘normal’ than many areas in the USA will face.
Heat, not cold, is the second biggest weather related killer. In the USA alone, more than 600 fatalities are directly linked to heat every year. Add climate change to the threat, and we’ve a significant hazard on our hands.
In early August, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center updated the official Atlantic hurricane outlook. “Atlantic Hurricane Season Shows No Signs Of Slowing.”

HURRICANE SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS

The official start of the Atlantic hurricane season began June 1, 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.

QUICK REVIEW OF

SUMMER HEAT SAFETY

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! If you’d like a detailed review of tornado and severe weather safety, please review April and May posts. Next week we’ll continue information on hurricane preparedness and summer heat 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, get vaccinated, 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 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 August 7 -14, 2021

Greetings everyone! I hope this week’s post finds you health, happy, and the weather is to your liking. The big news this week is the IPCC’s climate report. The full report is in this week’s post. During the past week, drought and damaging wildfires have plagued much of western North America and eastern Europe. In the tropical Atlantic activity has increased in recent days. We’ve still the most active weeks of the hurricane season ahead. The National Hurricane Center updated the 2021 Atlantic tropical cyclone outlook. An active season is anticipated. A link to the updated outlook is included in this weeks post. We’ll also continue our review of hurricane safety/preparedness and summer heat safety. There are many other good science reads to review for this week, so let’s get started.

There are many mysteries regarding the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Studying data with the scientific method will ultimately lead to sound answers.
Here’s some encouraging news regarding renewable energy. “Offshore turbines could be a windfall for the US steel industry.”
Do severe thunderstorms have a detrimental effect on the stratosphere and its chemistry? A new study from NASA intends to find out.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released a exceptionally important update on climate change. “AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis.” In terms of importance, this is a watershed event that clearly conveys the severity of the climate crisis. Here’s a concise overview on the report’s five climate futures.
This contains some very insightful perspectives from the IPCC’s lead author on the new climate report.
Record breaking heat has been taking place in several locations around the globe. On 11 August 2021, Sicily hit a high of 48.8C (120F) setting a new record high temperature for all of Europe.
In case you missed it, the National Hurricane Center has an updated Atlantic hurricane outlook. “Atlantic Hurricane Season Shows No Signs Of Slowing.”

QUICK REVIEW OF SUMMER HEAT SAFETY

In light of the ongoing North American heat wave, here are some very helpful infographics on heat safety that could save someone’s life.

HURRICANE SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS

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

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 June 19 – 26, 2021

Greetings to one and all! I hope this week’s post finds you happy, healthy and the weather is to your liking. Across North America, the severe weather season continues. This weekend, the western USA, Washington and Oregon in particular, are in the grips of an unprecedented heat wave. Meanwhile, the Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1st. An active season is forecast. There’s a complete section of information on hurricane safety in this week’s post. There are many other good science reads to review for this week, so let’s get started.

The Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 is now widespread. Here’s some basics on what you need to know.
We’re used to yellow and orange while viewing sunsets. If we were on Mars, they’d be blue. Why it that?
Here’s an interesting read concerning the irrevocable link between public health, climate change, and science communication. “The search for the Dr. Fauci of climate change.”
As our climate warms, the Earth’s plant life has to adapt…but not necessarily for the better. “Scientists see the beginnings of a more sudden, disruptive rearrangement of the world’s flora, a trend that will intensify if greenhouse gas emissions are not reined in.”
As of this post, much of the western USA is in the grips of a heat wave. The atmospheric ingredients for hot weather occur annually, but this scenario is quite different with patterns and data that indicate this is not normal summer heat.
Summer heat in Siberia? Indeed there is. “Siberian Heat Wave Nearly Impossible Without Human Influence.”
Perhaps the biggest climate news story this past week has been the leaked draft of a UN/IPCC climate report that has some very important crisis issues that need to be addressed immediately.
Reminder: The Atlantic hurricane season outlook has been released by NOAA. A busier than normal tropical cyclone season is anticipated . Time will tell whether the outlook verifies. As of this post, we have had three named tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin. It may be quite for now, but it’s best to prepare for the storm you hope never happens. You’ll find details on Hurricane Safety And Preparedness below.

HURRICANE SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS

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 preparedness, flood safety, and tornado sheltering information which is also applicable to structures that are subject to tropical cyclone winds. Tornadoes are also common in land-falling tropical storms and hurricanes. Residents in those areas should be ready to take shelter if a tornado warning is issued. Other infographics deal with misinformation that you may encounter in social media. If in doubt, always stay with OFFICIAL sources of important information, forecasts, and warnings.

That’s a wrap for this post! If you’d like a detailed review of tornado and severe weather safety, please review April and May posts. Next week we’ll continue information on hurricane preparedness. 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, get vaccinated, 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 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 August 28 – September 4, 2020 #science #weather #meteorology #hurricane #hurricaneprep #hurricanesafety #disasterprep #climate #climatechange #environment #pollution #astronomy #covid19 #pandemic #prostatecancer

The past week has been a busy and historic one for the USA. Record breaking wildfires have ravaged many areas of the western USA with millions of acres torched. Hurricane Laura made landfall in Louisiana as a high-end Category 4 storm. From its humble beginnings as a cluster of thunderstorms moving off the coast of western Africa, what would become Laura traveled thousands of miles across the Atlantic, entered the Caribbean region, crossed Puerto Rico and Cuba, then emerged into the Gulf of Mexico where it underwent explosive intensification in less than twenty-four hours. Recovery from these wildfires and Hurricane Laura will take years. We’ve still several weeks left in the Atlantic hurricane season, so I have included information on hurricane and disaster preparedness. There are several other good stories to cover this week, so lets get started.

Hurricane Laura approaches the Louisiana coast on 26 August 2020

The road to being a good scientist, regardless of the field of specialty, is a long one. While one should never consider their education complete, there are certain characteristics that make one stand out. Here’s an excellent essay on four lessons that every good scientist must learn.
Black holes are one of most enigmatic topics in astronomy. This recent news just raised the bar on changing the way we view our universe. “‘It’s mindboggling!’: astronomers detect most powerful black-hole collision yet.”
Summer heat and air quality can have deleterious effects on ones health. Add to that more extreme variations due to climate change and we have a serious public health problem on our hands.
There’s no doubt that California wildfires are getting worse. As our climate warms and droughts and heat in the western states become more commonplace, the daunting challenges posed by intense wildfires increases exponentially.
“Sea level rise from ice sheets track worst-case climate change scenario.” Melting rates in Greenland & Antarctica are matching the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s worst-case climate warming scenarios.
While on the topic of sea ice melt, here’s another scenario with links to the warming of our climate. “Winter ice in the Bering Sea is doomed to disappear within decades.“
Ice melt is also occurring elsewhere. The stability of the lakes that are filling up with the water from the melting ice is in question.
Lightning presents a significant threat to people and structures year round. In tropical regions, it’s responsible for the deaths of millions of trees annually.
Here’s a sobering listen on the beginning of the recovery effort in the wake of Hurricane Laura. The daunting task ahead for people in the wake of this powerful storm is made worse by a pandemic that is raging out of control.
“‘Hurricane amnesia’: Why we might forget the lessons from Hurricane Laura.” During the quiet stretches between tropical cyclones, the fear of a hurricane will often dissipate.

HURRICANE AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

The Atlantic and central Pacific have become quite active with several tropical cyclones this year. In the central and eastern Pacific, several named storms have taken place. The Atlantic has been unusually active with, as of August 28th, thirteen named storms having taken place so far in 2020 with several more weeks in the hurricane season left to go. 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, it’s not too late 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.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month!

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. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible about this disease. You may save your life or the life of a loved one. 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

Important climate read. “@IPCC_CH land report showed we’re entering an era of damage control.” @skepticscience #climate #climatechange #IPCC

The IPCC has published a new report on climate and land. The report includes chapters on land-climate interactions (land use changes are accelerating global warming, which is causing more extreme weather), desertification (deserts are expanding), land degradation (declining quality of soil, for example), and food security. The latter is a particularly critical topic, given our dependence on food and water supplies for survival. skepticalscience.com/news.php

This has worldwide impacts. “Climate crisis reducing land’s ability to sustain humanity, says IPCC_CH.” @Guardian #climate #climatechange

UN report finds ecosystems never before under such threat and restoration is urgent: www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/08/climate-crisis-reducing-lands-ability-to-sustain-humanity-says-ipcc

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HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS KIT

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