Tornado Quest Top Science Links For January 21 – 28, 2023

Tornado Quest Micro-podcast For January 21 – 28, 2023

Greetings everyone! I hope all of you are having a great week. This week, we’ll continue our winter weather safety information. There are many, many other interesting science links to check out, so let’s get started.

For those of us fascinated with aviation, here’s some exiting news on the development of a new aircraft that would be a successor to the SR-71 Blackbird.
Here’s a fascinating astronomy read for this week. “Astronomers Pin Down the Age of the Most Distant Galaxy: Seen 367 Million Years After the Big Bang.“
Antarctica is a great place to visit if you’re searching for meteorites. Recently, a meteorite was found that weighed an astounding 7.6 kilograms (16.7 pounds).
The global climate crisis will have significant effects on many cultures that are dwindling in populations and the number of people who speak their languages.
Over 600 square miles. This is no small ice cube. “Iceberg roughly the size of London breaks off in Antarctica.”
Here is the latest update on the USA Drought Monitor. Recent precipitation has brought some improvements even to California in the wake of several significant storm systems. East of the Mississippi river, conditions have improved significantly while parts of the central and southern plains still have extreme or exceptional drought conditions.

WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY

If you’re looking for winter weather preparedness and safety information, here’s an excellent website for everything you need to know for before and after the storm. This all inclusive website from NOAA and the National Weather Service will help you prepare for the storm and tell you how to stay safe afterwards. Here’s some more winter safety information from OSHA geared towards those who have to work outdoors in the cold. The infographics have tips on dressing for the cold and five things to keep in mind during the coldest months of the year.

Infographic courtesy NWS Mobile, Alabama

That’s a wrap for this post! Thanks to everyone for stopping by. A big ‘Thank You’ to all of you who pay this website a visit and follow Tornado Quest in social media!

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 November 12 – 19, 2022

Greetings everyone! I hope this week’s post finds all of you well. For the eastern Pacific and Atlantic, the hurricane season is wrapping up. Simultaneously, there have been some substantial early winter weather events across parts of North America. Therefore, I’ll start posting winter weather safety information this week with helpful tips on preparing an emergency kit that will be useful in any winter storm or severe weather scenario. There are many essential science reads this week including important information on the COP27 summit, but first, a quick note regarding the ongoing situation with Twitter. I will have a separate post regarding that matter with information on how you can keep in touch with Tornado Quest and our other social media platforms.

A very good read on the irrevocable link between climate & biodiversity. “COP27 climate talks seen as key to success at next month’s United Nation’s nature summit.”
Speaking of the COP27 summit, it was revealed that recent global carbon emissions have hit a new high.
Greenland is losing ice at a rate that is the equivalent to what occurred at the end of the last Ice Age.
Across the United States during the last decade, nine out of ten counties have experienced weather and/or climate disasters.
This is the latest update on the USA Drought Monitor. Dry or drought conditions continue to persist across much of the contiguous USA with several midwestern and southern states now affected.

Across the Northern Hemisphere, winter is setting in. If you’re looking for winter weather preparedness and safety information, here’s your one stop website for everything you need to know for before and after the storm. This all inclusive website from NOAA will help you prepare for the storm and tell you how to stay safe afterwards. The infographics below will also help you prepare an emergency kit and advise discretion when encountering questionable weather information/forecasts/hyperbole while visiting websites and using social media.

WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY

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, a follow is appreciated! And remember, prepare ahead for the storm you hope never happens!

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 January 29 – February 5, 2021 #science #weather #meteorology #noreaster #winter #wintersafety #weathersafety #climate #climatechange #nationalweatherpsersonsday

It’s been an active weather week across much of North America with several eastern USA states getting a substantial amount of snow. A rare, but not unheard of, severe weather episode took place on the afternoon of 30 January 2021 with several brief tornadoes forming in northeastern Oklahoma. It’s a good reminder that, given the right ingredients, tornadoes can occur in any month of the year. As for winter, we’ve still many more weeks of cold conditions and any potential hazards that go with the weather at this time of year. Speaking of winter weather, we’ll explore more on winter weather safety with plenty of information for the next several weeks. There are several interesting stories to review, so let’s get started.

An excellent and very timely read with several important suggestions on how to fight back. “Beating Back Cancel Culture: A Case Study from the Field of Artificial Intelligence.“
Climate change denialism disguised as apathy. “‘The New Climate War’ exposes tactics of climate change inactivists.”
A startling and concise overview of the massive amounts of ice melt that has occurred in the past thirty years in sea ice, ice sheets, and glaciers.
Slow but steady progress. Realizing there is a problem is key to addressing the problem. “U.S. Cities Are Underestimating Their Greenhouse Gas Emissions.“
Late January 2021 brought a Nor’easter to several states in the northeastern USA. If you’ve ever wondered what a Nor’easter is, this excellent site from the National Weather Service will tell you everything you need to know.
Weather and citizen science go very well together. If you’re into observing the weather and citizen science, check out the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer Program!
Last but not least, Happy National Weatherperson ‘s Day to all the folks involved in weather and climate work in the public, private, educational, and volunteer communities! If not for all of us the world over collecting, analyzing, and sharing data 24/7, 365…the world would be in a total mess. Enjoy your day!

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)

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 kinds of weather year round.

Infographic courtesy NWS Fort Worth, Texas

That’s a wrap for this post! I’d like to extend a warm welcome 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 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 November 6 – 13, 2020 #science #weather #meteorology #weathersafety #wintersafety #climate #climatechange #environment #astronomy #covid19 #pandemic #wearamask #scicomm

This past week saw Tropical Storm Theta as the 29th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season…a season which will go in the record books. With the changing of the seasons in the northern hemisphere, attention will shift to winter weather safety. We’ll touch on that topic with plenty of information this week and in the weeks to come. There are many other good stories to cover this week, so lets get started.

A very timely read on a topic that has been around for centuries…the discrediting of science at any cost. “The Denialist Playbook. On vaccines, evolution, & more, rejection of science has followed a familiar pattern.“
As the global COVID-19 pandemic worsens across several continents and spirals out of control in the USA, there’s one important action that many of us can take to help ourselves, our loved ones, and medical workers…get an influenza vaccine.
Meteorites are more than just a rock that fell from space. They have wealth of information within them that can give us incredible insights into the formation and changes that have taken place in our solar system over billions of years.
An important read on the irrevocable link between health & pollution. The quality of the air you breathe is as important as what you eat. “Being Around Cars is Bad For Your Mental Health.“
“Arctic tundra emits more methane during autumn freeze than spring thaw.” Warmer temperatures accelerate soil organic carbon decomposition in permafrost soils & resulting in larger net methane emissions.
This is an interesting and very informative read on the role that upper level wind patterns play in melting large patches of Antarctic sea ice.
Florida certainly gets its share of rainfall, much of which comes from thunderstorms. This new study looks at how a warming Atlantic Ocean will affect late summer Florida rainfall events which coincide with the year’s highest high tides.
When this article was written, Tropical Storm Theta hadn’t yet formed to become the 29th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Regardless, the point it makes is very clear. “In 2020, Record-Breaking Hurricanes Arrived Early—and Often.“
Here’s a look back at October 2020 from NOAA. Overall, for the contiguous USA, it was a year of wide swings with drought, wildfires, and tropical cyclones taking center stage.

Drought conditions for the contiguous USA in October 2020. Data courtesy NOAA

Winter weather safety should never be taken for granted. With the arrival of autumn, weather concerns for many areas turn to winter weather safety. NOAA has an excellent publication that covers one of the most underrated weather hazards. (12 page PDF file)

WINTER WEATHER AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season will officially end on 30 November 2020. This year will go down in the record books for having many elements of an extraordinary year. Now, across much of the northern hemisphere, attention turns to winter weather hazards. The same preparedness plans and supplies that are helpful for tropical cyclones 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 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.

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 Reads For February 21 – 28, 2020 #science #weather #meteorology #climate #climatechange #environment #astronomy #cawx #kswx #weatherforecasting #winter #scicomm

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.

The Earth isn’t the only planet where vorticies form. Here’s a fascinating read on dust devils on Mars and the paths they leave behind.
An interesting look back at the last Ice Age. “Huge stores of Arctic sea ice likely contributed to past climate cooling.”
While on the topic of sea ice, here’s a look at how Antarctica is changing as polar climates warm and ice melts revealing ‘new’ land masses.
The Great Barrier Reef has gone through substantial bleaching in the past. Now, it’s showing signs of another major bleaching event.
I have never been in favor of deliberate ‘weather modification’ in any way, shape, or form. If this continues…in spite of its third-rate first-rate failure, nothing good will come of it. Regardless of what the ‘experts’ say, I stand behind every word I’ve said about this over the years.
In a ‘normal’ year, the month of February is often one of the wettest months of the year for parts of California. This year, parts of the state that desperately need rain haven’t seen a drop all month.
This has to be seen to be believed…and also illustrates the exceptionally daunting challenges that meteorologists face when forecasting winter weather events.
Climate change and global warming affects life in the USA in a wide variety of ways. Here’s a sobering look at just a few changes that are quite likely now the new norm.
Communicating scientific data to the general public can be very difficult. Quite often, the process is given a back seat to scientifically technical content. “Want people to care about climate change? Skip the jargon.”
A quick and concise review of a climate news story you may have missed, but is very important. Yet another record warm month is now in the record books. “January was warmest on record for the globe.“

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 over the past few weeks. I’m still recovering well from surgery. 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

Tornado Quest Top Ten Science Reads For December 6 – 13, 2019 #weather #climate #climatechange #environment #pollution #publichealth #wintersafety

Greetings once again to one and all! Here’s a more concise overview of my intro from the last few weeks. After a few months on hiatus for health reasons, I’ve decided to resume this weekly blog of my choice of top ten science reads from the past week. This will be published every Friday between 2:00pm and 3:00pm Central USA Time (2000 UTC to 2100 UTC). Coverage will be what my followers in social media are interested in and other topics that are of scientific importance; astronomy, weather and meteorology, climate and climate change, environmental science topics, the occasional quixotic read, and much, much more. On a personal note, I appreciate the many best wishes for a speedy recovery during my rehabilitation from prostate cancer surgery. To say it is a daunting challenge is an understatement. A medical situation such as this certainly has made me take pause and reevaluate the priorities in my life. On that note, let’s get started on this week’s reads.

First, let’s start with a bit of winter weather safety. It may be a given that dressing warm in cold weather is sensible, but there’s actually a bit of ‘science’ behind dressing properly. As the above infographic shows, dressing in layers is far better than one thick layer.
In spite of best efforts, it was inevitable that climate change would eventually enter the political arena.
Earlier this week, a volcano reminded us just how dangerous these seemingly benign geological phenomenon are. “Why deadly New Zealand volcano eruption was hard to predict.”
Of all the Earth’s continents, Antarctica is the one we know the least about. “The Antarctic: Study provides data about the structure of the icy continent.”
Speaking if icy regions, Greenland has lost a tremendous amount of ice in less than thirty years.
New research done on the Arctic sea ice has ominous overtones. A journal reference to the study is included in the article.
Even though large countries and major international corporations are contributing greatly to climate change, it’s still up to the individual to do the best that they can.
No surprises here. The health benefits to you and your loved ones is almost immediate. “Measures to reduce air pollution quickly result in big health benefits.”
Here’s some very important, new information based on research from the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) indicates what atmospheric scientists have suspected for some time; there’s a substantial connection between climate change, global warming, and extreme weather events. For further study, here’s a link to the original AMS study. “Explaining Extreme Events from a Climate Perspective.”
Last but certainly not least, one of the most quixotic elements of our contemporary society. Say ‘hello’ to the ‘Hurricane Truthers’ who, in no small way, are irresponsibly endangering the lives of millions doing what they do best…malevolently spreading lies.

That’s a wrap for this post! If you’re on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr, so is Tornado Quest. I’d like to thank so many of you again for all the thoughtful comments I’ve received over the past few weeks. As of this post, I’m still recovering well from surgery. 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 only one of many reputable sites 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

“What The Melting Of Greenland’s Ice Sheet Means For Sea Levels.” via @NPR #climate

The Greenland ice sheet is in the middle of one of its greatest melting events ever. NPR’s Audie Cornish talks with climate scientist Twila Moon about what that means for sea levels and beyond. www.npr.org/2019/08/01/747368708/what-the-melting-of-greenlands-ice-sheet-means-for-sea-levels

Tornado Quest Top Ten Science Links For June 29 – July 6, 2019

Greetings everyone! It’s been an interesting week. Summer has been brutal over the European continent and elsewhere. Meanwhile in California, seismic activity has been reminding residents of the perilous dangers of living along a major fault. There’s much more to cover. Enjoy.

The European heat wave is not only making people adapt to a changing climate, but face the fact that they need more air conditioning.
The European heat wave has waned a bit, but it’s still unusually warm. Unfortunately, this will probably be a taste of a ‘new normal.’
Recent photos of a hail storm’s aftermath have been making the rounds in social media. This excellent essay by Dr. Marshall Shepherd not only explains the hows and whys of hail, but nails it when it comes to explaining the ‘modus operandi’ of hype in today’s social media.
A very novel idea in forecasting thunderstorms. “Computer scientists predict lightning and thunder with the help of artificial intelligence.“
Speaking of forecasting, the USA’s National Weather Service is making some changes to its products that notify you if hazardous weather is headed your way.
Since 2014, the amount of sea ice around Antarctica has declined significantly…and more could disappear more rapidly than previously thought.
While on the topic of ice and climate change, Greenland has a significant amount that, if it were to disappear, would have enough influence worldwide to raise sea levels up to twenty feet.
In spite of perpetual myths, sharks are low on the danger risk for humans. Millions of sharks are needlessly slaughtered every year by humans…if for no other reason than their fins can be sliced off to make expensive soup for rich people. Truth be known, sharks should be terrified of humans…and our plastic pollution in oceans is now just one way we kill them.
In the past few days, seismic activity in California has seen a dramatic increase. Years of little activity has induced ambivalence and complacency. As of this post (6 July 2019) substantial earthquakes are still occurring and seismologists say the fault system is still growing.
For some reason, this item stirred up a great deal of vitriol from nefarious trolls on Twitter. Looks like what doesn’t agree with the left is as anger inspiring as anything that annoys the right. I thought it was an intriguing idea.

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.

National Weather Service Homepage

National Hurricane Center

Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

NOAA Hurricane Preparedness American

Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness

CDC Hurricane Preparedness

Extensive FEMA Emergency Preparedness Document (34 Page PDF File)

NOAA Weather Radio Interactive

NOAA Weather Radio Coverage Map

Ready.gov Basic Disaster Supply Kit Info

Preparing Your Pets For Disasters And Emergencies

USA Environmental Protection Agency: General Information For Disaster Preparedness And Response

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!

That’s a wrap for this post! Thanks so much to all of you who follow me…your loyalty is sincerely appreciated.

Cheers!

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

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WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY

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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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