Note from Gideon
Greetings Weather Band Community!
Happy December to you! I would like to share some wonderful stories from my recent trip to Boston to support the Eye Towards the Sky Speaker Series event, “The Power of Precipitation” and experience the AMS home office at 45 Beacon Street for the very first time.
Boston, a city steeped in history, had me captivated from the moment I touched down. I stayed at the Omni Parker Hotel, where Ho Chi Minh once prepared pastries, where JFK proposed to Jackie, where Malcolm X worked as a busboy, and where Charles Dickens rehearsed for A Christmas Carol! I explored Boston Common and the Public Garden, got a lobster roll and Boston cream pie at The Last Hurrah, and sipped Sam Adams beer within view of Sam Adams’ resting place. The sense of history seemed to whisper from every corner.
At
45 Beacon Street, members and staff of the American Meteorological Society are surrounded by the legacy of weather pioneers. Being there, I felt like I was helping carry the torch of scientific excellence, and it made my work feel even more meaningful. I encourage you to drop by AMS HQ if you are visiting Boston. AMS Staff will give you a warm welcome, and possibly a tour.
Besides visiting the home office, my primary mission in Boston was to support the Eye Towards the Sky event. I was all ears as experts shed light on El Niño winters and the impact of climate change on precipitation–and pleased to hear the intelligent questions from adult and teen attendees. Some of it was sobering, but it's heartening to know we have the power to still make a difference. You can
visit this page to view the full presentation, and check the “In Case You Missed It” section below for a chance to help choose our next topic!
Events like these not only educate, but bring us together, encouraging dialogue, understanding, and an exchange of knowledge. Through that connection, we're better equipped to face whatever the future throws our way.
As December wraps us in its cozy embrace, let's remember that staying connected empowers us. Here's to a December filled with warmth, wisdom, and the magic of togetherness!
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Gideon Alegado
Public Outreach Manager
Pronouns: He/Him/His
American Meteorological Society
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Snowflakes are Six-Sided (not Four- or Eight-sided), and other Ice Crystal Shape Considerations
For years, I've been keeping a close eye on representations of snowflakes, always thrilled when I spot the scientifically accurate six-sided ones but cringing when I see four- or eight-sided renditions. Although I usually keep this to myself, there was that one memorable craft show encounter where I had to politely decline a beautiful necklace featuring an eight-sided snowflake pendant, standing my ground for scientific accuracy.
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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.
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Plan to join us for Weather Band Jamposium 2024!
When: 29 February and 1 March | 12:00 noon – 4:00 PM ET
Where: Online
What to Expect: Six webinars on...
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Citizen Science
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Climate Change
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2024 Solar Eclipse
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Forecasting/Modeling in the Age of AI
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Recent Extreme Weather Events
- Science Communication
Be ready for engaging discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of the fascinating world of weather. Whether you are an enthusiast, a professional, or just curious about weather and climate, Weather Band Jamposium 2024 will have something for you! Stay tuned for more details and registration information coming soon—this will be an event you won’t want to miss!
Upcoming webinars
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27 December | 7:00 PM ET
From a hurricane barreling toward California to the hottest summer ever recorded in parts of the South, significant weather events impacted millions of people in 2023. Join the AMS Weather Band for a recap of the top ten weather events in the United States this year. WeatherNation's Lead Meteorologist Steve Glazier will count down these events, taking you through each weather phenomenon and sharing the experience of covering them as a national broadcaster.
Winter Lake-Effect Systems: Scientific and Educational Adventures to Further Our Knowledge and Prediction of Lake-Effect Storms
17 January 2024 | 7:00 PM ET
The Webinar will host a team of scientists who are experts on various aspects of lake-effect snowstorms and who have collaborated on field campaigns designed to better understand and improve forecasts of intense lake-effect storms. They will share lessons learned in conducting field projects in some of the worst winter weather observed in North America.
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From BAMS
Mitigating a Toll on Coral
Marine heat waves caused by El Niño “are the greatest threat to coral reef ecosystems globally,” says Michael Fox of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
The Never-Ending Stormy
1876 was the year humankind first recorded a storm on Saturn. New research published in Science Advances has found that the storm still lingers in the planet’s atmosphere, almost 150 years later.
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In Case You Missed It
Three recent webinars are available for review:
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Eye Towards the Sky: The Power of Precipitation
An evening of discovery where experts shone a light on evolving weather patterns from hurricanes to El Niño—and discussed what that means for the events we’ll face here on the ground. You can help choose the next Eye Towards the Sky topic!
Take a quick poll to submit your vote!
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Make 'Snow' Mistakes: Tips for Measuring Winter Precipitation
Whether you admire the beauty of snow or find it a winter inconvenience, accurate snow observations are crucial for understanding the hydrological cycle. This webinar covered CoCoRaHS' techniques to ensure precise measurements of snowfall, snow depth, and snow-water equivalent.
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