Weather Geeks

Dr. Matt Bilskie discusses compound flooding, which occurs when multiple flooding sources combine during a storm, such as storm surge, riverine flooding, and heavy rainfall. He explains the hazards associated with each component and how they can interact to increase flooding. Dr. Bilskie emphasizes the importance of understanding and mitigating compound flooding to protect coastal communities. He also discusses his research on coastal resiliency, including the use of computational models and field observations to simulate and study storm surge, tides, and waves. Dr. Bilskie highlights the significance of nature-based solutions, such as barrier islands and wetlands, in reducing flooding and protecting coastal ecosystems. He emphasizes the need for collaboration between researchers, stakeholders, and decision-makers to implement effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Artist Bill Haskell discusses how he incorporates the weather into his landscape paintings. He shares his fascination with weather, particularly sparked by a tornado outbreak in 1974. Living in New Mexico, Haskell finds inspiration in the dramatic skies and monsoon thunderstorms. He describes his process of painting emotions and memories inspired by the weather, using a combination of realism and fiction. Haskell also discusses the inclusion of tornadoes in his artwork as a metaphor for change in life. He emphasizes the importance of creating a unique style and advises aspiring artists to incorporate weather into their work.

In this episode of the Weather Geeks podcast, former NOAA Chief of Staff Scott Rayder discusses the importance of funding for NOAA and the challenges the agency faces. He emphasizes that NOAA's diverse mission, which includes weather forecasting, oceanography, and fisheries, requires more funding to meet the increasing demands. Rayder highlights the significant improvements in weather forecasting and the need for continued research to enhance track and intensity forecasts for hurricanes. He also discusses the evolving landscape of weather modeling, the role of private companies, and the importance of social science in effectively communicating weather risks to the public. Rayder calls for greater recognition and support for NOAA's critical work in protecting life and property.

The PACE mission, which stands for Plankton Aerosol Cloud Ocean Ecosystem, is a NASA mission that aims to capture the complexity of Earth's interconnected ecosystems. It is a crucial mission in the face of urgent environmental challenges. PACE equips us with knowledge and tools to confront these challenges. The mission has been 20 years in the making and was launched on February 8th, 2022. It consists of three instruments: the Ocean Color Instrument, HARP2, and SPECS1. These instruments measure the color of the ocean, aerosols in the atmosphere, and the role of clouds in the Earth system. PACE provides valuable data for understanding and managing ocean ecosystems, climate, air quality, and more. The mission has international partners and aims to contribute to scientific discovery and the development of early career scientists.

The conversation discusses the impact of pollen on allergy sufferers and the development of a new pollen forecast by scientists at NOAA. It also delves into Dr. Jordan Schnell's background, research interests, and work on air quality forecasting, including the effects of electric vehicles on air quality. The conversation then shifts to the modeling of pollen and its interaction with weather, highlighting the potential health implications of pollen particles. The model's performance in predicting early blooms is also discussed. Dr. Jordan Schnell from CIRES discusses the quantitative analysis of pollen forecasts, the impact of pollen on weather, and the use of AI in modeling. He also shares insights on the future of pollen forecasting and other projects at CIRES.

Guest: Dr. Stella Kafka, AMS Executive Director The world of meteorology is vast, with the options of different career paths spreading far and wide! You don’t have to be on TV in order to be a successful meteorologist, nor do you have to work for the government at the National Weather Service. In that same vein, you don’t have to be a meteorologist to be involved in the American Meteorological Society, even though it’s in the name! Your career may take you in a different direction, but there is always a weather geek in there somewhere. That’s why today on Weather Geeks, we have the new Executive Director of the AMS Dr. Stella Kafka on the show to talk about her journey into this position and where she wants to take the organization in the future… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Brian LaPointe discusses water quality, seaweed, and ocean heat waves. He explains that nutrient pollution, particularly excess nitrogen from human activities, is a major factor driving harmful algal blooms, such as red tide. These blooms are becoming more frequent and intense, impacting coastal waters globally. Eutrophication, the excessive enrichment of water with nutrients, is a problem worldwide and can lead to the loss of submerged aquatic vegetation and the degradation of water quality. Dr. LaPointe emphasizes the need for regulation and management strategies to reduce nutrient runoff and protect aquatic resources. The conversation with Dr. Brian Lapointe from Florida Atlantic University covers the topics of water quality, sargassum blooms, warming water temperatures, and the impact on coral reefs. The main theme throughout the conversation is the human alteration of the nitrogen cycle, which is driving harmful algal blooms and impacting marine ecosystems. The conversation highlights the importance of managing wastewater, reducing nutrient loading, and addressing climate change to protect the health of our oceans. Dr. Lapointe also shares his research on the spinning fish phenomenon and the presence of a ciguatera-producing organism in the Florida Keys.

The conversation explores the career of storm chaser Charles Peek and his experiences in the field. Peek discusses his early fascination with weather and how he transitioned from a military career to storm chasing. He also talks about his love for photography and capturing the beauty and danger of storms. The conversation touches on the challenges of being on the road and the importance of safety in storm chasing. Peek shares his favorite places to chase storms and his love for local restaurants. Carfagno and Peek then focus on the intense severe weather season of April and May 2024. They discuss some of the most memorable events, including a huge tornado in Iowa and the presence of multi-vortex tornadoes. They also talk about the differences in this season compared to previous ones and the growing number of storm chasers. Charles emphasizes the importance of safety and responsible storm tracking, as well as the need for storm chasers to help communities affected by severe weather. They also touch on the mental health challenges faced by storm chasers and the upcoming movie 'Twisters' and its potential impact on inspiring a new generation of storm chasers.

In this conversation, Jen Carfagno and Campbell Watson discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in meteorology and climatology. They explore Campbell's background and interest in weather, as well as his work at IBM Research. They delve into the difference between AI and conventional weather model forecasting, and how AI models learn from weather models. They also discuss the use of AI in weather forecasting, including the Graphcast model. The conversation concludes with a discussion on foundation models and the verification of AI in weather forecasting. In this conversation, Campbell Watson discusses the robustness of AI models and how they can improve weather forecasting. He explains the importance of learning from observations and how AI models can learn from historical data to make more accurate forecasts. Watson also discusses the challenges of integrating AI models with traditional weather forecasting models and the potential for AI to improve nowcasting and climate forecasting. He emphasizes the need for trustworthiness in AI forecasting and the importance of effectively communicating probability in weather forecasts. Overall, Watson is excited about the future of AI in weather forecasting and its potential to make forecasts more accurate and easier for forecasters.

Dr. Amanda Schroeder, a senior service hydrologist with the National Weather Service, discusses her work on the flash flood severity index and the challenges of flood forecasting. She explains the implementation and potential global application of the index. Dr. Schroeder also shares her experiences with memorable flooding events and offers takeaways for the public. She highlights the importance of paying attention to weather forecasts, having a plan, and avoiding driving through flooded roads. Additionally, she discusses her career path and the diverse responsibilities of a senior service hydrologist.