Articles

November 20, 2023
Flash-tastic!
Flash-tastic!

2,615 per minute—The peak number of lightning flashes in the volcanic plume during the eruption of the Hunga Volcano in Tonga in January of 2022, which a recent study calls “the most intense lightning rates ever documented in Earth's atmosphere.”

November 19, 2023
Readings - In Brief
Readings - In Brief

Three books are presented for your consideration - Flashes of Brilliance: The Science and Wonder of Arizona Lightning, Tornado Alert: Saving Lives in the Eye of the Storm:  How Technology Can Help Us Survive Tornadoes in 2023, and Immeasurable Weather: Meteorological Data and Settler Colonialism from 1820 to Hurricane Sandy.

 

Featured Books:

Flashes of Brilliance: The Science and Wonder of Arizona Lightning 
by Ronald L. Holle and Daile Zhang (Springer)
 

Tornado Alert: Saving Lives in the Eye of the Storm:  How Technology Can Help Us Survive Tornadoes in 2023 
by Avery M. Silva (independent publisher)
 

Immeasurable Weather: Meteorological Data and Settler Colonialism from 1820 to Hurricane Sandy 
by Sara J. Grossman (Duke University Press)
 

November 16, 2023
From Climate Science to Kindergarten
From Climate Science to Kindergarten

Join the conversation on one AMS member’s journey teaching in Thailand and unlearning scientific writing to author a book.

November 15, 2023
The Inner Mongolian Farmland that Makes Thunderstorms
The Inner Mongolian Farmland that Makes Thunderstorms

Humans aren’t just altering the climate: our biggest projects can also change the weather.

November 14, 2023
Getting Ready for an El Niño Winter: 2023–2024 Outlook
Getting Ready for an El Niño Winter: 2023–2024 Outlook

Get ready for the first El Niño winter since 2018-19. Likely to be the strongest El Niño in more than a decade, this will be one of the main factors affecting global weather patterns this winter. 

By Douglas Hilderbrand and Katie Pflaumer
November 12, 2023
The New Face of Severe Weather--As Manifest at the Higher Level of "Earth's Reality Game"
The New Face of Severe Weather--As Manifest at the Higher Level of "Earth's Reality Game"

In recent years, US weather threats have changed significantly, shifting from more "traditional" weather hazards to new challenges. The adaptive and flexible mindset of gamers might prove to be an important asset to help us address 21st century challenges.  

By William H. Hooke
November 9, 2023
Readings - Interview: Atmospheric Thermodynamics
Readings - Interview: Atmospheric Thermodynamics

Adam Sobel, professor of applied physics and applied mathematics and of Earth and environmental sciences at Columbia University, sat down with authors Craig Bohren and Bruce Albrecht to talk about the second edition of their book, Atmospheric Thermodynamics.

November 6, 2023
"It Just Seems Like Storms Always Go There, Not Here"
"It Just Seems Like Storms Always Go There, Not Here"

Have you ever felt this way about the place you live? Does it feel like anytime storms roll through, the worst seems to go around you? Do you feel, deep down, like the place you live just won’t be hit by a tornado? Or if you live along the coast, perhaps, that a hurricane is unlikely to affect you directly?
You might not be alone, and the effect of these beliefs, in some cases, could be consequential.
 

By Kim Klockow McClain
November 1, 2023
Summer Season Review...Wildfires, Extreme Heat, and Beach Safety
Summer Season Review...Wildfires, Extreme Heat, and Beach Safety

This webinar will look back on a hot, and at times, tragic summer season.

October 30, 2023
Weather, Climate, and the Boys of Summer: A Fall Classic Conversation
Weather, Climate, and the Boys of Summer: A Fall Classic Conversation
By Chris Vagasky
October 29, 2023
Clear Skies Ahead: Melissa Burt
Clear Skies Ahead: Melissa Burt

Melissa Burt, associate professor and associate dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Colorado State University, on how an internship led her in the direction of a research career. For more, listen to the Clear Skies Ahead podcast, with new episodes released every month.

October 26, 2023
Nudge Theory and Choice Architecture: Can Weather Social Science Be this Simple?
Nudge Theory and Choice Architecture: Can Weather Social Science Be this Simple?

Interest in integrating social science into meteorology has grown significantly in recent years, leading to substantial research in the field. However, a major challenge lies in defining and measuring success in communication, particularly regarding weather resilience, raising questions about the criteria for "effective communication" and who determines it.

By Kim Klockow McClain
October 23, 2023
Living On The Real World, With William H. Hooke
Living On The Real World, With William H. Hooke

Climate Change Science in K–12 Education

By William H. Hooke
October 11, 2023
Eclipse 2023-2024: A Different Kind of Sunblock!
Eclipse 2023-2024: A Different Kind of Sunblock!

The sun impacts all of our lives every day, but what about during an eclipse? Join us for a discussion on the annular eclipse that will be happening on Saturday, October 14 and of course we will be talking about the total solar eclipse that will impact millions of people on April 8, 2024.

October 10, 2023
A Cat. 5 Five Years Later... the Lasting Legacy of Hurricane Michael
A Cat. 5 Five Years Later... the Lasting Legacy of Hurricane Michael

On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, and became the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the contiguous United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

October 9, 2023
Cultivating a Model for Post-Tornado Fieldwork at NSSL
Cultivating a Model for Post-Tornado Fieldwork at NSSL

In just a few decades’ time, the physical science of meteorology has evolved rapidly, aided in part by increasingly sophisticated field campaigns of many kinds. Spurred by an explosion of scientific development, including improved theoretical and empirical research in recent years, alongside growth in the hiring of social scientists within meteorological organizations, social science fieldwork is now experiencing its own surge of growth. This article will describe a little bit of the NSSL team’s approach, highlighting our study of the December 10, 2021 tornado outbreak as an example of what we hope to do for many key events now and in the future.

By Kim Klockow McClain
October 5, 2023
Weather You Know: AMS Weather Band Trivia - September 2023
Weather You Know: AMS Weather Band Trivia - September 2023

Our first AMS Weather Band Trivia Night! It was a thrilling battle of weather knowledge, where enthusiasts competed on various weather topics. Participants aimed to secure a spot on the leaderboard and win AMS prizes.

October 3, 2023
Clear Skies Ahead: Maria Molina
Clear Skies Ahead: Maria Molina

Maria Molina, assistant professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at the University of Maryland, on advice for students wishing to pursue research opportunities when they graduate. For more, listen to the Clear Skies Ahead podcast, with new episodes released every month.

September 29, 2023
Rising Seas of Solitude
Rising Seas of Solitude

9–12 million—The approximate number of people in the United States who could be at risk of isolation because of rising sea levels by the end of the century under a scenario in which global sea levels increase 2 meters.

September 25, 2023
The Hot(test) Spots
The Hot(test) Spots

Researchers looked at reanalysis data and historical climate model simulations, as well as extreme value statistics—which can estimate the return periods of rare events—to determine the regions where record-breaking temperatures are most likely to occur next, or in the near future.

September 20, 2023
Keeping Up with Big Data
Keeping Up with Big Data

BAMS talked with Thomas Huang about the book Big Data Analytics in Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences, of which he is the lead editor. The book explores new tools for the analysis and display of the rapidly increasing volume of data about the Earth and is part of the AGU Special Publications Series.

September 20, 2023
Cities in the Clouds
Cities in the Clouds

QUESTION: We know cities can influence air temperatures through the urban heat island effect, but do they impact the atmosphere in other ways?

September 19, 2023
The 1938 Long Island/New England Hurricane - A Retrospective
The 1938 Long Island/New England Hurricane - A Retrospective

The 1938 Hurricane, a rare and devastating event, struck Long Island and New England on September 21, 1938, causing over 685 fatalities and widespread damage. Join us for a comprehensive discussion on the storm's impact, including a forecast review, and explore how current forecasting capabilities could mitigate similar risks in the future.

By Lourdes B. Avilés and Louis Uccellini
September 12, 2023
Nearing The Peak: September Expectations for the Hurricane Season
Nearing The Peak: September Expectations for the Hurricane Season

With September historically being the busiest month for hurricanes in the tropical Atlantic, what lies ahead for the rest of this season? Dr. Ryan Truchelut of WeatherTiger explores the influence of El Niño and record-warm Atlantic sea surface temperatures on the upcoming months, as we approach the peak of hurricane activity.

September 6, 2023
Clear Skies Ahead: Jana Houser
Clear Skies Ahead: Jana Houser

Jana Houser, associate professor at The Ohio State University, and Robin Tanamachi, assistant professor at Purdue University, on how they came to collaborate to create a storm-chasing course. For more, listen to the Clear Skies Ahead podcast, with new episodes released every month.