The plane used by NOAA to study hurricanes, and now winter storms. Image from NOAA.

A Gulfstream twin-engine turbo jet used to study hurricanes will be put to work to help forecast winter storms this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  

In an article published Jan. 12^th, NOAA says the jet will be flown around the North Pacific Ocean in January and February.  It will deploy sensors to “collect information where the jet stream and moisture from the ocean interact and breed potentially powerful winter storms that impact North America several days later.”

On board the aircraft meteorologists will be looking at a host of atmospheric conditions.  Included in their laundry list are wind, pressure, temperature and humidity levels.

In the article, National Centers for Environmental Prediction Capt. Barry Choy says that comparing the information gathered with the sensors with satellite imagery “significantly enhance[s] four-to-seven day winter weather forecasts.” 

NOAA uses the plane to study hurricanes during the late summer and fall seasons.  Its selected flight path will be to the east and west of Hawa’ii where the plane is currently stationed and as far north as Alaska. 

To read the article in its entirety and to see photos, log on to: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2012/20120111_g4hawaii.html

Posted under Arctic climate, Environment, forecast, Hurricanes, International Weather, Nature, new media, Oceans, Science, Seasonal Items, Severe Weather, Storms, Weather and Health, Weather History, Weather NEws, World Weather

Lightning image from the National Weather Service

Improved education on the dangers of and safety precautions associated with lightning has given 2011 the lowest number of lightning deaths recorded in the United States, according to the National Weather Service.

Of the 26 people killed by lightning in the United States and Territories, one was in Wisconsin.  According to NWS statistics, McKenzie Klar an 11-year old camping in Burnett County this past July was killed after she was struck by lightning when under a tree.

Both Utah and Michigan recorded three deaths, while the remaining fatalities were reported in Montana, South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida and Guam.   

The majority of the deaths were reported in late summer and early fall with July seeing the most.  Nine people were killed by lightning that month, but that number is down considerably from the 16 that is reported average amount.       

The 2011 totals beat the previous record low amount of fatalities by two since 2008.

To see the statistical breakdown of the numbers, check out this website: HERE.

And to see the complete article from the National Weather Service for yourself, check out this website: HERE.

Posted under Environment, Nature, Records, Recreation & Sports, Science, Seasonal Items, Severe Weather, Storms, Summer, Weather and Health, Weather History, Weather NEws, Weather Safety

Other than today being Halloween, it is also the day that the U.N. has designated as “7 billionth” person day. Read this past blog post for some of the details behind counting the population and why the 7 billionth person might not arrive until next year or much later. I understand the pressure put upon the U.N. for predicting (based on models) when the 7 billionth person will be born, but mainstream media sources are taking it too far, saying that it will be exactly today and that the person will be born in India. The fact is no one knows for sure how many people are on the planet and who will be the 7 billionth person or even where that person will be born. The date, the number, and the place, are a crap-shoot, essentially made up. To satisfy political and media pressure, someone (the U.N.) had to put a date on it.

Even though we don’t know the exact time or even if the world will ever reach 7 billion (a very remote possibility), we do know that 7 billion is a lot. It is a big number for a mammal on the earth. We basically dominate the planet. Here is a good article that puts some of it into perspective. I think there are enough people on the planet. If the population growth rate continues to decline and the population is lower in a couple of decades, I would be just fine with that. If the population continues to grow, hopefully we will be innovative enough to find ways to support a larger population and maintain a high quality of life.

One thing I have written about is how the American style of life (build, build build, expand, expand, expand), is probably not sustainable in the present day, much less the future. The Concrete Life, is a good blog post to review these thoughts. In the Concrete Life I brought to life the idea that we can no longer afford to support urban sprawl. Just this weekend I found someone one else who has written about this topic and presented it in a more graphical format. Check it out here. It might bring the financial aspects of sprawl into more focus. Interestingly, this presentation focuses on Minnesota (like I did) and shows how new infrastructure projects will cost much more than the tax-base can support.

Smog in Beijing

Not only can the American build, build, build, economy not be supported by current GDP, it can also lead to pollution problems. Luckily, here in the U.S. we got through our major pollution problems back in the late 1800s through the middle of the 1900s. Almost every metric of pollution in the air, water, and soil has gotten better over the last couple of decades. The types of pollution we deal with nowadays – light, noise, sprawl – is much less toxic than in the past. This is not the case in India and China. These countries are growing more wealthy and unfortunately seem to be following the American path. I would never deny anyone (Chinese or otherwise) their dream house, dream life, dream property/land, or business, I just hope they learn from our mistakes and don’t end up with millions of acres of unsustainable sprawl. It doesn’t look good right now. India and China have some of the worst air and water pollution in the world right now, including some of the worst mercury pollution. In just the last couple of days the U.S. embassy in Beijing declared the air hazardous for human health. The smog was so thick it caused flight cancellations and highways to be shut down.

Have a happy Halloween! Meteorologist Justin Loew

Posted under Pollution, Weather and Health

I’ve got some not so good news for those of you with seasonal fall allergies.  A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and others indicates that ragweed pollen season over the past 30 years has gotten longer.  For example in Madison, it’s about 12 days longer, Minneapolis, 16 days longer, to as much as 28 days longer in Winnipeg.  The main driving force behind this is believed to be a warming climate.  Average dates of killing freezes have been pushed back as the climate changes.  While a hard freeze in fall reduces pollen production significantly, it usually doesn’t disappear until a good snow cover has developed.  The average dates of continuous snow on the ground has also slipped later into the year extending the allergy season.  Interestingly enough though, the length of ragweed pollen season has actually shrunk in southern locations like Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.  While no definitive reason is given, maybe it’s getting too hot there for ragweed to stay healthy deep into the fall.   Or perhaps it matures earlier in the season and then shrivels up in the fall.  By  the way, a ragweed plant can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains.

Common Ragweed

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) says about 12 million Americans are impacted by fall allergies.  Besides ragweed, dust mites and mold come into play.  Of course areas that have had a wetter summer and higher humidity will have more mold problems.  They say in general a warmer climate causes plants to produce more pollen than they used too.  This is accentuated by the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now.  Of course plants use CO2 and sunlight to produce energy. CO2 allows plants to produce not only more pollen, but more intense pollen.  As such there are more allergens per grain of pollen than years ago in many species.

The AAAAI also suggests that easting a plethora of fresh fruit can enhance allergic reactions in some people.  The different varieties of pollens mixing together in your body can confuse the body’s immune system.  They say though, don’t stop eating fresh fruits.  The health benefits outweigh the possible side-effects.

Well, good luck if you are going through that annoying routine of sneezing, runny eyes and nose, and itchy throat right now.  I feel for you, as I get hit some as well.  Just keep thinking cold thoughts like hard frost, and snow!

Posted under Ag Weather, AGW, Allergies, Climate Change, Ecology, Environment, Fall, Freeze, Seasonal Items, Weather and Health