Weather Geeks

Special Tropical Edition - Tracking Laura and Marco

Weather Geeks host Dr. Marshall Shepherd and Meteorologist & Weather Geeks Producer Sarah Dillingham discuss the latest forecast and impacts expected from the duo of tropical systems Laura and Marco threatening the Gulf Coast of the U.S.

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Guest: Steve Poupos

Introduction:

When disaster strikes, establishing a reliable communication network is critical!  Someone who knows all too well about that is Steve Poupos, Director of AT&T’s Emergency Management Preparedness & Response.  This emergency response team has been aiding disaster communications for nearly 30 years, and that kind of effort certainly requires an experienced team of meteorologists, technicians, and first responders. We’ll learn about the inner workings of the recovery teams and how they’re able to spring into action at a moment’s notice. And as many of may have been wondering, we’ll discuss how they’re planning to adapt their team’s response during this global pandemic, as they gear up for what could be a very busy hurricane season...

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Guest:  Sean Swarner, Mountain Climber & Cancer Survivor

Introduction:

The odds that you will ever find yourself in the middle of a snowstorm in Miami, Florida are slim to none.  Those are the same odds that young Sean Swarner had to survive when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer TWICE.  He survived and wanted to seize the life that he was lucky to still have.  Since then, he has climbed the highest peaks on all 7 continents, among other feats...while only having one lung.  We are talking to him today about the grueling environments he was subjected to while pushing the human body to impossible limits.

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Guests:  Richard Henning & Kevin Doremus, Hurricane Hunters

As we’ve highlighted nearly a hundred of times on this podcast, there is a lot more to meteorology than what you see on TV!  A meteorologist can work in insurance, they can work for NASA, and they can work for airlines just to name a few.  But one of the most important and dangerous jobs that is in the field of meteorology is that of a Hurricane Hunter.  These brave men and women fly into the eye of a hurricane multiple times a day in order to bring back data that can help save lives.  I have two of these men with me today, Richard Henning & Kevin Doremus, so we can get an in-depth look at the life of a Hurricane Hunter through their eyes...

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Have you ever heard someone say that they know a storm is coming because their joints start aching or they have a migraine?  Well there is a scientific basis to that, but what about general pain receptors during common weather patterns?  In past decades, it was difficult to answer such a general science question...but it’s not anymore!  Today’s guest is Dr. David Schultz from the University of Manchester to talk about his study and how smartphones helped his team complete their research!

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The racial injustices experienced by millions of Americans have been brought to greater attention in recent weeks.  Among those Americans are members of our scientific community who have endured their own instances of racial discrimination along their paths to success.  Many have felt marginalized, placated, and that they are often not being offered the same opportunities as many of their fellow white colleagues. Joining me today are 3 incredibly talented atmospheric scientists: Dr. Brad Johnson, Dr. Melissa Burt, and Tevin Wooten .  While we each have had great achievements in our careers, we have still felt the added pressures of working twice as hard to be considered equals in our respective fields. Our goal in this discussion is to share the stories of our personal challenges throughout our careers and offer a guide for others to know they are not alone. The Weather Geeks team is proud to offer their support to our minority colleagues and show that by embracing diversity and inclusion, we can be a stronger scientific community.

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Guest : Dr. Andrew Grundstein, UGA

Introduction:

Many of us have seen first-hand the impacts weather can have on our daily lives, and today we’re going to focus on the dangers associated with heat and thunderstorms. Heat related illnesses are often underrated and sadly, this can lead to many trips to the emergency room...or worse. Today’s guest, Dr. Andrew Grundstein of the University of Georgia, has been focusing on one particular aspect of the heat: how it impacts athletes and children in hot cars. These situations can lead to dozens of deaths each year, so we’re going to discuss the meteorological and even some of the psychological factors at play in these events. Finally, we’ll discuss the impacts of thunderstorms on asthma...an idea which may be counterintuitive to many of you...

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Guest: Dr. Greg Dusek, NOAA Ocean Service

The oceans hold more than 96% of the Earth’s water, and it’s the motions of those oceans we’re focusing on today!  As people hit the beaches, many are unaware of underlying dangers lurking close to shore, and we’re not talking about JAWS…  We’re talking about RIP CURRENTS, which lead to some 30,000 rescues EACH YEAR!  Today’s guest is Dr. Greg Dusek, Senior Scientist at NOAA’s National Ocean Service, and he knows all about rip currents.  We’ll discuss how to spot these hazards and how you can break the grip of the rip. We also couldn’t let Greg get away without discussing a few other topics, so if you’re already wondering what a meteotsunami is...we’ll get to those later. Let’s dive in!

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Guest: Dr. Daniel Swain

Introduction: 

If you’re not from California, what is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of its weather?  Severe droughts?  Constant wildfires?  75 and sunny every single day?  In any given year, those could all be correct!  But what about over the past 30 years to create a climate normal?  That’s where our guest today comes in… Dr. Daniel Swain is a climate scientist at UCLA and he’s been researching California’s weather patterns and finding the connections with our changing climate. From atmospheric rivers of moisture to raging wildfires, we’ll discuss why California and the West are so susceptible to these phenomena, and we’ll reveal the challenges that can come from studying these diverse, beautiful landscapes. 

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