The Barometer

Today's episode focusses on the science behind the NAWDEX project as explained by special guest Prof. Geraint Vaughan from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS).

NAWDEX logo (via http://www.nawdex.ethz.ch/)

Welcome to our first of hopefully daily updates on a project called NAWDEX, in which Hugo and Bogdan will be describing the day-to-day life during a field project. We aim to post daily updates on the science and practical aspects of field work.

NAWDEX (North Atlantic Waveguide and Downstream Impact Experiment) is an international project looking at the jet stream. One of it's aims to understand how diabatic processes (ie. heating and cooling) within clouds and how they affect the structure of the jet stream.

Today we will briefly introduce the project and who is taking part. Tomorrow we'll tell you about our first weather balloon launches. Please feel free to contact us, if you have any questions about the project or just weather in general.

The mobile lab and weather balloon antenna at Capel Dewi

Join Will, Eoghan and Sam as they discuss the impending football World Cup and what the weather in Brazil might have instore for the teams and fans. Managers,players and fans alike will be searching for a scapegoat for their forthcomingfailure and the weather is likely to play a role.

Is there even a chance of snow at the World Cup?

Weather statistics sourced from Wikipedia, which utilises data from the World Meteorological Organisation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and WeatherBase.

Photograph of thunderstorms near the Parana River in southern Brazil in 1984 taken by an astronaut on the space shuttle. Will the weather rain on the World Cup parade? Image source: NASA Earth Observatory.

A podcast about interesting stuff from the World of atmospheric science and climate.

A podcast about interesting stuff from the World of atmospheric science and climate.

Sam and Will report back on day one of the Euro Geosciences Union 2014, the largest geosciences conference in Europe. As well as talking about some of the enjoyable sessions that have already taken place (unsurprisingly Will attended some talks on secondary organic aerosols), they catch up with Mathew Reeve and Will Ball from ClimateSnack.

ClimateSnack is an international and inter-disciplinary community where early career scientists interact in order to improve their writing and communication skills. For those of you lucky enough to be at this year’s EGU then come along to the town hall meeting on this Thursday (1st may) evening from 19:00 – 20:00 in Room R13 to hear all about how to better understand your audience.

On a stormy Valentine’s Day, Sam is joined by Professor David Schultz and Tim Slater from the Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Manchester, to discuss the recent bad weather that we have been having.

Dave and Tim reflect on what has been a rather tumultuous week, which unfortunately looks set to continue. So wrap up warm, and hold your loved one’s tight, it’s going to be a wet and windy Valentine’s night!

Is it raining in your heart?