Weather Geeks

In this episode of Weather Geeks, Dr. Marshall Shepherd speaks with Anthony Edwards, a newsroom meteorologist with the San Francisco Chronicle, about the devastating wildfires that struck Southern California at the beginning of the year. They discuss the meteorological conditions that led to the fires, including the role of Santa Ana winds, the impact of urban areas on fire spread, and the importance of effective communication during evacuations. The conversation also touches on the interplay between drought and atmospheric rivers, air quality issues related to wildfire smoke, and the evolving landscape of meteorological journalism.

In this episode of Weather Geeks, host Dr. Marshall Shepherd speaks with Eric Berger, a prominent science and space writer, and founder of Space City Weather. They discuss Eric's journey from astronomy to weather communication, the impact of Hurricane Harvey, and the evolution of weather forecasting in the age of social media. Eric shares insights on the importance of effective communication during extreme weather events and the challenges faced by meteorologists today. The conversation also touches on the development of the Flood Scale and the need for accurate, hype-free weather information.

In this episode of Weather Geeks, Dr. Marshall Shepherd discusses the advancements in weather forecasting through AI with experts Dr. Ilan Price and Matthew Willson from Google DeepMind. They delve into the GenCast model, which utilizes machine learning to provide probabilistic weather forecasts that outperform traditional models. The conversation covers the importance of data sources, the handling of extreme weather events, and the validation process of the model, highlighting its potential impact on future weather predictions.

In this episode of Weather Geeks, Dr. Philip Mulder discusses the intersection of homeowners insurance and climate risks, particularly focusing on the challenges posed by extreme weather events and the National Flood Insurance Program. He explains how insurance premiums are affected by climate change, the role of reinsurance, and the implications for low-income communities. The conversation highlights the need for better flood mapping, the impact of recent hurricanes, and the future of insurance in a changing climate.

In this episode of Weather Geeks, Dr. Marshall Shepherd speaks with Dr. Victor Gensini about the often-overlooked disaster of hailstorms. They discuss the significant economic impact of hail, the gaps in current hail research, and the upcoming IceChip field campaign aimed at improving our understanding of hail formation and its effects on society. Victor shares insights from his journey in meteorology, the logistics of conducting field research, and the importance of collaboration in advancing weather science.

Dr. Paul Markowski, an expert in tornado research, discusses his journey in meteorology and his passion for studying tornadoes. He shares how a tornado outbreak in his childhood sparked his interest in severe weather. Dr. Markowski talks about his career at Penn State and his involvement in field expeditions and research projects. He also discusses his recent research on tornado genesis and the evolving understanding of tornado formation. Overall, the conversation provides insights into the fascination and challenges of studying tornadoes. Dr. Paul Markowski discusses his research on tornado genesis and the role of turbulent eddies in storm behavior. He explains how statistically identical environments can produce different storm outcomes and the sensitivity of storm behavior to random number seeds. Dr. Markowski also explores the impact of cold air and the difference between laminar and turbulent environments. He discusses the implications for tornado predictability and the potential use of artificial intelligence in tornado warnings. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the future of meteorology and the challenges ahead.

Dr. Jessica Murfree, a sports ecologist, discusses the intersection of sports, weather, and climate. She shares her childhood fascination with thunderstorms and tornadoes and how it led her to study climate and extreme weather events. Dr. Murfree explains the field of sports ecology and its focus on the relationships between sports and the natural environment. She highlights the environmental challenges faced by the Olympics, such as extreme heat, air quality, and changing weather patterns. Dr. Murfree also discusses the need for sports organizations to adapt to climate change and the potential impact on infrastructure and practices.

RECORDED MARCH12, 2024 Originally released MAY 15, 2024 Guest: Jared Rennie, NCEI Research Meteorologist Gathering and analyzing data today to help us prepare for tomorrow. One sentence with a multitude of implications. NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information seeks to provide not just data, but solutions to help the U.S. and those around the world as our climate continues to change. Jared Rennie is a Research Meteorologist with NCEI and works to support the integration of both climate and socioeconomic data. His work encompasses an operational as well as a research aspect with respect to software used in data processing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week's conversation discusses the movie Twisters and its impact on the meteorology community. Rick Smith, a warning coordination meteorologist, shares his experience working with the movie's production team and the attention to detail they put into creating a realistic National Weather Service office. The conversation also touches on the changes in weather communication and the rise of social media and internet-based weather coverage. They discuss the role of a warning coordination meteorologist and the challenges of communicating hazardous weather. The conversation delves into the accuracy of the science portrayed in the movie, including the use of Doppler radar, weather modification, and fire tornadoes. They also explore the positive impact of movies like Twisters in sparking interest in meteorology and the potential for future sequels.

RECORDED MARCH 15, 2024 Originally released JUNE 12, 2024 Guest: Dr. Jason Senkbeil, Associate Professor at the University of Alabama Hurricane season is rapidly approaching! Many elements that go into a busy tropical season, like warm SST’s and the ENSO phase, already have forecasters worried that we could have a blockbuster season. I’m sure a lot of us Weather Geeks are prepared for what that could entail, but is the rest of the general public ready? And today we’re not talking about prep kits or boarded up windows, we’re talking about how the public understands the risks that they are under during a landfalling tropical cyclone. Let’s discuss that and many more topics with the University of Alabama’s Dr. Jason Senkbeil… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.