Tornado Quest Top Science Links For November 19 – 26, 2022

Greetings everyone! I hope this week’s post finds all of you well. If you celebrated the American thanksgiving holiday, I hope it was a pleasant day for all. Winter is making its presence known across much of North America. A recent record breaking snowstorm in New York state is one example. Therefore, I’ll continue posting winter weather safety information this week with helpful tips on understanding winter weather forecasts and 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 conclusion of the COP27 climate summit, so let’s get started.

NASA’s Orion capsule has just started an amazing adventure and a new chapter in space exploration. Here’s a look at its close swing by our planet’s moon.
The COP27 climate summit has come to a conclusion. Here’s a concise summary of the good and not so good results.
No doubt, this was the topic of conversation around many dinner tables during the American Thanksgiving holiday with not a little consternation in the air. Fortunately, for those that deny sound science, there are ways to understand their behavior and, perhaps, encourage them to understand the basis behind established facts and data.
There are many variables and metrics to consider when evaluating climate change and extreme weather events. Aerosols are one variable that we can’t afford to leave out due to the major role they play in air quality and regional extreme weather events.
According to a Stockholm University study, much of continental Europe is, on average, warming at twice the rate of the rest of the Earth.
As Europe goes, so goes the UK with a ‘second spring’ now becoming common with plants that normally would be dormant this time of year now springing back to life.
If the plant is warming, it would make sense that snowfalls would decrease in amounts and intensity. In fact, the opposite is true.
Here is this week’s update on the USA Drought Monitor. Dry or drought conditions continue to persist across much of the contiguous USA with moderate to severe drought spreading from the Great Lakes region to the deep south.

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. Furthermore, forecasting winter weather is one of the most daunting challenges that even the most seasoned meteorologist will face. With that in mind, it would behoove us all to stay flexible and prepare to change plans at short notice.

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 all of you who pay this website a visit and my followers in social media. If you’re on Twitter, Tumblr, Mastodon, Instagram, or Facebook, let’s connect!

See you next Saturday!

Tornado Quest Micro-podcast for November 19 – 26 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 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 March 23 – 30, 2019

Greetings everyone! Spring is in full swing across much of North American. March is a very histrionic month, especially for the USA. Seasonal changes can bring about wild swings in temperature, wind, precipitation types, and amounts. As usual, there are plenty of topics to cover this week…from dinosaurs to tornado climatology…so let’s get started.

For my fellow dinosaur fans, here’s a fascinating look at what is most likely the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex remains ever discovered. The most startling revelation is the idea that these exceptionally large carnivores were actually larger than previously thought.
The world’s climate zones are shifting…and that has serious ramifications for public health, food and water security, and local economies.
Cyclone Idai has devastated several southern African countries. There is growing evidence that climate change is playing a part in making such storms more intense.
The former UN high commissioner for human rights and special envoy for climate change speaks out on those who deny climate science. “Climate change denial is evil, says Mary Robinson.”
This is a good example of irresponsible regression at its best. “EPA Science Panel Considering Guidelines That Upend Basic Air Pollution Science.”
A billion people will be newly exposed to diseases like dengue fever as world temperatures rise due to climate change. According to the World Health Organization, mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world and carry diseases that cause millions of deaths every year.
Studying the climate of Antarctica isn’t easy, but it’s very important. This new study shows the importance of a few intense storms in Antarctica and how they control snow fall amounts across the continent.
The March 2019 floods across the plains states of the USA were devastating in so many ways. It’s estimated that approximately one million acres of USA cropland was covered by the floodwaters…and that has long-term deleterious ramifications for farmers and the vast amount of crops they produce annually.
Tornadoes are well documented and studied widely across the USA. In Canada, where they have their fair share of tornadoes, efforts to study the frequency of tornadoes is ramping up. “When something happens that forecasters didn’t understand, like a tornado occurs with a storm they didn’t expect, having that data allows them to look at the relationships between the meteorology…and the tornadoes.”
Speaking of tornadoes, here’s a very informative look at tornado occurrence and climatology across the USA and the rest of the planet.

SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS

One crucial element to being “severe weather savvy” is understanding the process of severe weather outlooks and local forecasts and warnings. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) will issue daily thunderstorm outlooks. The risk categories can run from ‘general’ thunderstorms to the very rare High Risk scenarios. Understanding what each risk category means is very important. Equally important is to remember than Marginal or Slight does not mean that storms will be ‘marginally’ or ‘slightly’ severe. Tornadoes have occurred on Marginal Risk days. The SPC has further information on risk categories at this page.

When a tornado warning is issued, those in it’s path are not always at their homes. Here’s an excellent infographic with safety information on what to do if you’re not in a sturdy, well-built frame house structure.

National Weather Service Homepage

Storm Prediction Center

National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center

NOAA Weather Radio

Interactive NOAA Weather Radio Coverage Map

Sky Watcher Cloud Chart: An excellent 2 page PDF file from NOAA and NASA on cloud types and and information on how clouds form.

Tornadoes, Lightning, & Thunderstorms: Nature’s Most Violent Storms (PDF file)

Tornado Safety Rules from the Storm Prediction Center

Highway Overpasses As Tornado Shelters (Slide Presentation)

The Online Tornado FAQ

Facts About Derechos

American Red Cross Severe Weather Safety Information

Flash Flooding: Turn Around, Don’t Drown

Ready.gov Basic Disaster Supply Kit Info

Preparing Your Pets For Disasters And Emergencies

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 I’d like to extend a very warm “Welcome” to my new followers in social media and a sincere “Thank You” for my long-time followers! Thanks to all of you for all the support and kind words!

Cheers!

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WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY

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