What Is It About The Weather

Have you ever wondered where your weather forecast actually comes from? The ways in which we receive our weather forecasts has changed quite a bit over the last two decades, from the delivery, to the creators, to even the sources of weather information. So how does it really happen, from the first measurement of temperatures […]

We certainly live in a time of increased sensitivity to issues as well as one that is more provocative. This disruptive time creates an interesting environment in particular for high profile weather forecasted events as well as strong criticism of when the forecasts fail to live up to expectations of the recipient. Are the criticisms […]

What weather do you find spooky? How about scary? Is there a difference between the two? Does it matter? We explore the idea of weather that may put you on edge or just scare the beejeebers out of you! Some useful links from this episode: On the nature of creepiness http://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/McAndrew-Koehnke-2016.pdf 10 of the spookiest […]

Have you ever wondered where your weather forecast actually comes from? The ways in which we receive our weather forecasts has changed quite a bit over the last two decades, from the delivery, to the creators, to even the sources of weather information. So how does it really happen, from the first measurement of temperatures […]

When dangerous weather is headed toward you, how prepared are you? What will you do if you find yourself stuck in dangerous weather situation or trying to deal with an event you were impacted by? We dive into the idea of what you might want to think about when planning for weather events that might […]

We often thinks about car wrecks or burglars breaking into our homes when we think about our insurance needs. However, have you ever really thought about what causes the bulk of insurance claims? (Hint – it might have something to do with the weather). In this episode we explore the many ways that weather influences […]

Who was the father of meteorology? While maybe not the first to document weather or have weather theories, Aristotle would become the defacto source of weather theory for nearly 2000 years. Imagine the earth being surrounded by water then air and then fire. Well, those beliefs lasted a long time and served as a baseline […]

Numerical weather prediction was born before computers and to this day leverages every technology advance we have seen. Why is it that weather forecasting is arguably the most effective discipline for maximizing the benefits of technology? Here a few useful links from this episode: The quiet revolution of numerical weather prediction http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7567/abs/nature14956.html The weather social […]

The way weather information is communicated has evolved significantly since the rise of television as have the skill sets of most meteorologists who engage with the public. Even as things have improved, is there enough emphasis on the communication element of the job? Have expectations become too high given the skills needed to not only […]

We have explored many cases of when weather changed history, but is it possible that history changed weather? We explore a well known event in the world’s history, the sailing of the HMS Beagle and its well known passenger … Charles Darwin. So what does this have to do with the weather? We explore this […]

On the heels of some very tragic weather related events, we ask why does weather get politicized? Is this a bad thing? Can it serve a positive purpose? Join the the conversation in the latest episode! Pick an option and support the Harvey (and Mumbai) victims Where to Donate to Harvey Victims (and How to […]

How was your Eclipse experience? Did the eclipse change your weather? Was their too much hype around the eclipse? With high coverage from ‘weather’ oriented sources, are we seeing signs that people get too much input from weather folks? Everywhere we turn there are weather forecasts, does this translate into weather forecast/information overload and lead […]

Do you dream about weather events? Have you ever wondered what it might be telling you? In this episode we explore the connection between your dreams, specifically weather dreams, and what your body and mind are trying to tell you or help you process. Here are some links if you want to dig into topics […]

The science that governs the weather also governs flight. No doubt that weather can contribute to the potential for problems when a plane takes to the sky, but how concerned should you be about it? One of the most common weather sensations we experience in flight is called clear air turbulence, but it is highly […]

The great US solar eclipse is coming. One cloud could be the difference between a spectacular view and big disappointment. So is it time yet? Can I get my eclipse weather forecast? In short, NO! There are some things you can be thinking about to improve your odds, but it is way to soon. You […]

How would you deal with weather if you couldn’t move? Imagine being stuck in the desert or an arctic region, not exactly the easiest weather in which to survive. Even close to home we experience weather that can be harsh and requires us to escape. The natural world can teach us a thing or two […]

There has been a lot of buzz around the world of augmented and virtual reality over the last couple of years. What is the role in forecasting your weather? Increasing our understanding of the weather? How real can it make your weather? Here are some links for exploring more about today’s topic: Simulation and visualization […]

Air conditioning is a fairly ‘young’ invention. While it seems we are becoming increasingly dependent on its availability, we have used many techniques for staying cool over human history. From parasols to high ceilings to just a cool swim, these approaches among others have been employed for centuries. However, there are some things we have […]

Tornadoes don’t go through cities. It’s a dry heat. It’s too cold to snow. Just a few common statements we have likely all heard and can put you in dangerous situations. Don’t be weather ignorant when it comes to your life. Let’s explore common weather misconceptions and what you can do to make sure you […]

The weather is ruining my hair! Oh the humidity! I am having a bad hair day! Just a few of the utterances that connect weather and hair, but what is really going on? Where does the reality lie in the relationship between weather and hair? Do you find this hairy topic interesting? Here are a […]

Can competition advance meteorology? Can forecasting improve because of competition? Can over-competition put lives in danger? Is weather forecasting better suited for the public or private sector? What is the right balance of competition versus unified message? How do we encourage the right mix innovation, improvement, invigoration, and impartiality in the weather enterprise? Will all […]

Do you ever wonder about why you don’t see ‘that’ weather that is in the news? In this episode we explore lightning, tropical cyclones, tornadoes and sleet. Who gets them and why. We have a lot of resources for you to explore in this episode should you want to examine any of the types of […]

“What Is It About The Weather?” turns 50. In this episode we explore a variety of questions from the last year asked by friends, family, listeners, and complete strangers. No hemming and hawing, let’s jump right to the episode …

Is weather the reason we have Mario Kart? Or for that matter, drive a Toyota, Honda, or Lexus? Take pictures with a Canon? Watch movies from Sony? You can probably see where we are going here. All these are iconic Japanese brands that exist today. Today we explore if weather was critical in holding off […]

Do we do enough to make weather available to everyone? How can we better convey weather information for those with impairments? Will new sonic visualization and haptic feedback technologies break barriers? Special thanks to Steve Bauer for his inputs for this week’s episode. Steve does a Jazz radio show called The Sunday Jazz Brunch which […]

Certainly a solar eclipse can impact the temperatures you feel much like a cloud or just moving into the shade on a sunny day, but can it really change the weather? Come find out as we also discuss planning for the weather in the upcoming 2017 solar eclipse that will cross the continental US. Here […]

What app do you use to get your critical weather alerts? Has it ever failed you? Is it reliable? We explore the key issues around alert apps and discuss our top three in the latest episode. If you are interested in exploring our top choices you can check them out here: FEMA MyRadar Storm Good […]

Can I grade weather forecasts I use whether it be from a website, person, or app? Sure you can, and in this episode we discuss both the why and how behind this process of forecast verification. You can try this service from ForecastAdvisor if you use olnine services or some of the common apps. If […]

Have you ever wondered just how much energy exists in the weather? Energy can come from things like tropical cyclones or lightning and of course even the sun, but how about something as simple as wind? Join the conversation as we explore the weather-energy connection. If you want to read a bit more, here are […]

Do harsh winters really reduce insect populations? How do those pesky bugs survive winter? What is the Butterfly Effect? All this and more in the latest episode of What Is It About The Weather? Are you interested in reading a bit more about the topics in the latest episode? Check out these stories about insects […]

Rain, sleet and snow may not stop your mail delivery person, but for millennia it has been wreaking havoc on our lives. So how did we learn to keep ourselves dry? And what technologies have we used and developed to achieve that goal? Come listen to the latest episode to find out. If you want […]

Weather can impacts sports in many obvious as well as subtle ways, but have you ever thought about how cloud cover might impact your peak performance? We explore this idea in the latest episode. If you want to read a bit more about items covered in today’s episode, catch these links: The Impact of Cloud […]

Do you have an interest in weather? Maybe a bit more than your average Joe? In the latest episode we dive into how you can do that. Of course this translates into lots of different resources, and here is a list of many of the items mentioned in this week’s episode: The Weather Prediction by […]

While advances in weather forecasting have improved our ability to predict costly and deadly weather events, weather related cancellations and delays now cost us billions of dollars each year. So have these weather forecasting advances made us wimpier or wiser? Join us as we explore the issue. For those interested in learning more about and […]

How many ways do we need to be alerted about severe weather? What is the best way to do it? How might you answer that question differently based on your age, location or socio-economic position? Just a few of the questions we ponder in this episode. Do you want to dig a bit deeper into […]

Does your favorite weather forecaster too often have you altering your plans or seeking shelter for weather events that don’t pan out? Are they just trying to be cautious? What happens when you get different weather warnings from different sources? What to do? All this and more in the latest episode. If you want to […]

In 1986 the Space Shuttle Challenger burst into flames just over 70 seconds after takeoff. Despite it being a blue sky day, did weather play a role in its demise? What would be the long term implications? We get back to ‘Did weather change history?’ in the latest episode. As mentioned in the podcast, March […]

Will social media be the primary platform to deliver weather forecasts in the future? What challenges must be overcome for that to be a reality? How do you know who you can trust on social media to give you a quality weather forecast? We dive into these questions and more in the latest episode. Interested […]

Did you know your phone has weather instruments on board? Did you know that people just like you are sharing their weather with others? Will all this translate into mobile phones becoming the future of weather forecasting? Want to dig a bit deeper into today’s topic? Main Story Another Milestone Toward Making Cell Phones The […]

What did you want to be when you were a kid? Did you want to be a weatherperson? Did you know that the National Weatherperson’s Day was this week? what famous people dabbled in the world of weather? All this and more this week! Now if you want to dig into today’s topics a bit […]

Does weather seem complicated to you? Do you feel that meteorologists go out of their way to make things complicated? How complicated is telling the future?

Have you ever thought about how weather has evolved something as seeming simple as a tire? Weather can huge impacts of transportation around the globe and often finds its way into the news when major distributions occur. However, the simple everyday transportation vehicles are heavily influenced in the operation and design by weather. In this […]

What terms that you use to describe weather are unique to your country or even local community? In this episode explore the pros and cons of weather terms that are attached to specific areas. Want to read a bit more about this topic? Here are some items for you: Main Story The Beaufort Wind Scale […]

Have you ever noticed your dog behaves a certain way before severe weather? Is it really the weather driving the behavior or something else? We explore this idea in the latest episode. Want to read a bit more about this week’s topics? Here are some links for you: Main Story Can animals predict disasters Pets […]

We have looked at different ways weather has shaped history, has the opposite occurred? In the latest episode we explore the role of the telegraph in shaping weather forecasting. Want to read a bit more, check out these stories from today’s episode: Main Story Benjamin Franklin – America’s 1st Weatherman Joseph Henry, The Smithsonian, and […]

Have you ever imagined a world without snow? Would we be having this conversation if snow or ice did not exist? In this latest episode we explore the role of frozen water on our lives today.

Why do we have such a fascination with snow? Could it be the anticipation of snow days? Is It something more primal or more nuanced? Join us in this episode where we explore our complex relationship with the white stuff. Interested in learning the nitty gritty about snow? Check out SnowCrystals.com or watch this neat video […]

Technology and weather have a rich symbiotic relationship. The idea of numerical weather prediction existed before modern day computers and a ‘human’ computer was even hypothesized to do the needed calculations. In current time, Big Data has become a key part of that relationship. This is a key factor in answering the question … Why […]

Have you ever wondered how weather impacts both the gifts you give and receive? Maybe you should be singing about a White Halloween instead of a White Christmas. Join us as we explore the various connections between weather and shopping behavior as well as generosity. Want to read about a bit more about this week’s […]

What does weather have to do with the spread of English? Have you ever heard about the weather and the Spanish Armada? Join us in the latest episode where we get back to the idea of ‘whether weather’ changed history. Want to dig a bit deeper into this week’s topics? Here are some links for […]