Understanding air quality alerts in your area
When you step outside on a summer afternoon for a dose of fresh air, do you ever stop and wonder how “fresh” the air actually...
The science behind contrails
If you look up in the sky during a sunny day, you might see long, skinny looking clouds coming from behind planes. Those are contrails,...
Making public tornado shelters more accessible
Meteorologists often harp on tornado safety and knowing where your safe place is during severe weather. Any time you turn on the news during tornado...
Difference in hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones
You probably know what a hurricane is, but what about a typhoon? Or a cyclone? Basically, if you know what hurricanes are, you know what...
Mangroves: Mother Nature’s coastal barrier
Mother Nature’s best barriers and protection for coastal communities are mangroves. They defend us against storm surge, currents, high waves and tides. Not only do...
How to beat the urban heat
As cities expand, the fast path to growth and urbanization usually means replacing natural land with new roads, more pavement and buildings. The problem? Unshaded...
What happens when Doppler radar goes dark
You’re at home on a hot summer day and you made plans to have your child’s birthday party at the park this afternoon. Suddenly, you...
The making of a weather model
Whether you’re familiar with them or not, we’ve all seen data from weather models. You see them in temperatures or rain chances on a weather app, or...
The wettest day in every state
We’ve all heard the saying “April showers bring May flowers,” but when do we see the biggest deluges and downpours? It’s not April. The warmer...
the first American woman in space
When it comes to pioneers of space exploration, the conversation has to include Sally Ride. The physicist and southern California native was the first American...