Tornado Quest Top Science Links For October 22 – 29, 2022

Greetings everyone! I hope all of you are doing well. The tropical Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico are quiet for the time being. In the eastern Pacific and Atlantic, there are several more weeks in the hurricane season. This week, I’ll continue sharing helpful information on preparing an emergency kit that will be helpful in any tropical storm or hurricane scenario. There are many essential reads this week including an updated US Drought Monitor, so let’s get started.

This new digital camera, the world’s largest, will help astronomers over the next decade study billions of galaxies.
If you hate bagging leaves as much as I do, here’s a perfectly sound reason for not sending them to the local landfill.
As of this post, the world has been hit with twenty-nine billion dollar disasters in 2022 alone.
A research facility halfway up Mount Everest that is vital for biodiverstiy and climate change research is falling apart.
Ahead of the upcoming COP27, global ambitions regarding emissions has fallen very short of current goals.
An ominous press release from the World Meteorological Organization. “In a yet another ominous climate change warning, atmospheric levels of the three main greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — have reached new highs. This means our planet will continue to warm.”
Here’s a look at the latest US Drought Monitor. Drought conditions continue to worsen across much of the contiguous USA. Parts of the plains states and central California have been the hardest hit.

Last but certainly not least, if you’re looking for hurricane preparedness 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 help you prepare an emergency kit and use discretion when you come across questionable weather information/forecasts/hyperbole when online or using social media.

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

See you next Saturday!

Tornado Quest Micro-podcast for October 22 – 29 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 16 – 23, 2022

Greetings to everyone! I hope this week’s post finds all of you happy, healthy, and doing well. We’ll continue sharing severe weather preparedness information this week with an infographic on where to not take shelter during a storm. There are many other interesting topics to cover this week, so let’s get started.

The Hubble telescope has been going strong for thirty-two years. Check out this recent photo of a group of galaxies.
When did life begin on our planet? According to new research, it may have happened a mere 300 million years after the Earth was formed.
It’s time for Earth Day, but every day can be Earth Day and there are measures you can take during every day life that are beneficial to our humble home.
Dramatic changes that are having substantial changes to this island nation. “As the world experiences rising sea levels, Iceland’s waters are falling & flowing to the other side of the planet.”
Air pollution patterns across North America can be substantially altered by wildfires in the Pacific northwest. This can have health ramifications for pregnant women and patients with respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
“Why Are Nature-Based Solutions on Climate Being Overlooked?” International funding has shortchanged such solutions in favor of more costly & less efficient engineering projects.
According to new data from NOAA, March 2022 was the world’s fifth-warmest March on record. Furthermore, there was near record-low Antarctic sea ice coverage.

SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY

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!

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 April 16 – 23, 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.

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 1 – 8, 2022

Greetings to everyone! I hope this weeks post finds all of you healthy and with a good start to the new year. We’ll continue our look at winter weather safety this week with an excellent emergency kit checklist. There are many other interesting stories to review, so let’s get started.

Altocumulus clouds glide over a winter Great Plains sky.

This is a very thought provoking read on five myths that encourage the rejection of science and its benefits to the world we live in.
The more we look at our own galaxy, the more we realize that we’re just beginning to scratch the surface about our “home” in the universe.
This week has more good news from the James Webb Space Telescope. It’s sunshield is now fully deployed!
Here’s a concise review of the histrionic weather and climate events of 2021 from AccuWeather.
This is a very interesting cause and effect scenario that is taking place in western Africa. As deforestation increases, so does the intensity of local storms.
The winter weather as of late has been on the warm side according to the UK’s Met Office. Is there a connection to climate change?
Yet another record breaking year for climate records. “More than 400 weather stations beat heat records in 2021.” Ten national temperature records were broken or equaled in 2021, including the highest ever reliably measured on Earth.
As if the year 2021 could not get more weird. Data from a lightning detection network has never seen as much lightning around the North Pole as it did last year.
Speaking of unusual warmth, ocean temperatures around eastern Australia have been exceptionally warm even for this time of year during their summer. Early January ocean temperatures are running almost two months ahead of schedule.

WINTER WEATHER SAFETY

This infographic is an excellent checklist for starting an emergency kit. Regardless of where you live and the hazards you may encounter, an emergency kit can provide valuable resources to help you get through a very difficult scenario.

Infographic courtesy American Red Cross/FEMA

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 page should be used for life-&-death decisions or the protection of property!

Infographic courtesy NWS Fort Worth, Texas, USA

That’s a wrap for this post! I hope the new year is happy and healthy one for you and your loved ones. 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! Happy New Year!

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 December 25, 2021 – January 1, 2022 #science #weather #climate #wintersafety #astronomy

Happy Holiday greetings and Happy New Year to one and all! I hope everyone is having a good holiday season. This is the beginning of a new year. Here’s to it being a better year for all of us. Across North America, drought persists across much of the lower 48 as the first substantial Arctic air mass makes its way into the Great Plains. We’ll continue our look at winter weather safety this week with a review of wind chill. There are many other interesting stories to review, so let’s get started.

First, some good news. The James Webb space telescope is well underway, but there are several challenging weeks ahead before it becomes fully functional.
Here’s another good news story. “Natural History Museum identifies more than 500 new species in 2021.“
It’s well known that tsunamis can bring incredible devastation and death across vast areas. Here’s an interesting read on how we could get a better warning of their impending approach.
Wildfires across several continents set many records in 2021 and climate change is clearly playing a big part.
As our climate changes, so will the patterns we will see with hurricanes according to a new study.
The latest US Drought Monitor shows little change from the previous week with much of the contiguous USA in a persistent drought.

WINTER WEATHER SAFETY

This infographic is an excellent overview of how to dress for the cold weather and wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia can easily be prevented by dressing according to this chart and being keenly aware of air temperature and wind speeds.

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

See you next Saturday! Happy New Year!

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 July 17 – 24, 2021

Greetings to one and all! I hope this week’s post finds you health and happy. Across much of the North American continent, a persistent drought and devastating wildfires continue with much of the smoke traveling thousands of miles. Meanwhile in the Atlantic, all is quiet for now. For 2021, an active Atlantic hurricane season is forecast. So far in 2021, we’ve had five named storms in the Atlantic basin including two hurricanes. There’s a complete section of information on hurricane safety in this week’s post. We’ll also continue our review of summer heat safety. There are many other good science reads to review for this week, so let’s get started.

From California to British Columbia, vast amounts of wildfire smoke are blown east across Canada and the USA on 22 July 2021.

The Delta virus variant that is now the dominant variation worldwide is a completely different viral monster than what we saw a year ago. “How the Delta variant achieves its ultrafast spread.”
Here’s some good news for a change. NASA has fixed problems with the Hubble telescope that’s kept the instrument silent for many weeks.
Monitoring greenhouse gas emissions worldwide is a daunting task. “Huge gaps in detection networks plague emissions monitoring.”
Yet more studies on the irrevocable link between air quality and health. “Doctors issue official guidance on effects of air pollution and bushfire smoke on pregnancy.”
Considering the extent of the ongoing USA wildfires, air quality and public health is now an issue. “The Western Wildfires Are Affecting People 3,000 Miles Away.”
North America isn’t the only region being affected by wildfires. The extent of the fires also has spread to Siberia.
For specific USA drought condition data, visit the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) website.
As for recent European flooding, the effects of climate change are stark. “On the heels of Europe’s devastating floods, scientists warn more is yet to come.” A new study finds that slow-moving, low-pressure storms could become 14 times more frequent in Europe over the next century.
Beginning on 2 August 2021, the USA’s National Weather Service will start issuing a Destructive Severe Thunderstorm Warning when conditions warrant. This is a badly needed addition to the arsenal of warnings to give the general public a ‘heads up’ that a particularly dangerous and destructive severe thunderstorm is headed their way.

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

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.

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 April 10 – 17, 2021 #science #weather #meteorology #severeweather #tornado #weatherready #weathersafety #climate #climatechange #environment #pollution #astronomy #misinformation #disinformation

Greetings to everyone! This week, we’ll wrap up our series on severe weather safety and preparedness with a few infographics covering several topics. There are many good reads to review this week including NOAA’s global climate assessment for March 2021, so let’s get started.

Steven Pinker is spot on with his evaluation of the current state of humanity. We take for granted the fact that we are living in one of the most peaceful times in recorded human history. Unfortunately, that takes away from our focus on real long term challenges such as climate change and environmental issues.
Debunking misinformation, disinformation, and general anti-science rhetoric has never been more important than in today’s society. Though this read focuses on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it certainly can be applied to any field of science…and good communication is key. “How To Debunk Misinformation About COVID, Vaccines, And Masks.”
In astronomy news, the Hubble telescope…which is a legend in its own right…recently captured an image of a dying galaxy.
The other planets in our solar system have weather conditions that are as unique as each planet. Here’s a look at how big raindrops would be on other planets.
Microplastics are one of the most nefarious pollutants on our planet. Where they frequently come from may be a surprise.
A very thought provoking read on the state of many USA cities that are under the gun from climate change…and other cities that may become havens for people fleeing vulnerable locations.
Numerous corporate executives of more than 300 businesses including Google, WalMart, and McDonalds want to double the USA’s target for cuts to emissions that contribute to climate change and a warming planet.
An excellent read on climate change and potential hazards. “Measuring what matters: A new approach to assessing sovereign climate risk.“
The latest global climate assessment from NOAA has been issued. Among the findings, “The global temperature departure from average for March 2021 was the eighth highest for the month of March in the 142-year NOAA global temperature dataset record, which dates back to 1880.”

TORNADO AND SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY LINKS

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…

A SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY REVIEW!

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! If you’d like a reminder of severe weather safety, please review the previous posts for further details. 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.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

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SEVERE 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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WINTER WEATHER SAFETY

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WINTER WEATHER SAFETY

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QUICK REVIEW OF SUMMER HEAT SAFETY

HURRICANE SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS

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TORNADO AND SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY LINKS

THIS WEEK’S SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY INFOGRAPHICS…

A SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY REVIEW!

PREPARING AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR HOME, VEHICLE, AND WORK

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