Last year, the U.S. experienced a record-smashing 22 weather and climate disasters that killed at least 262 people and injured scores more. Damages exceeded $1 billion each and totaled approximately $95 billion for all 22 events. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/record-number-billion-dollar-disasters-us-2020…
Tag: Tornadoes
Temperature in Death Valley Today: 130 Degrees, Earth’s Highest Since at Least 1931
The Washington Post reports:
In the midst of a historic heat wave in the West, the mercury in Death Valley, California surged to a searing 130 degrees on Sunday afternoon, possibly setting a world record for the highest temperature ever observed during the month of August. If the temperature is valid, it would also rank among the top three highest temperatures ever…
Isaias treks up the East Coast, threatening strong winds, tornadoes
Tropical storm Isaias strengthened into a category 1 hurricane before hitting North Carolina last night, bringing rapid flooding Source: https://www.livescience.com/hurricane-isaias-hits-carolinas-now-tropical-storm.html
How do waterspouts form?
Waterspouts are essentially tornadoes that form over water. They can and do form over all the world’s oceans. In the U.S., they’re most common near the Florida Keys and in the Gulf of Mexico. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/all-about-waterspouts…
Revealing the magnetic nature of tornadoes in the sun’s atmosphere
The first direct measurements of the magnetic field in the chromosphere of the sun by a team including University of Warwick physicists has provided the first observational evidence that huge tornadoes in our sun’s atmosphere are produced by swirling magnetic fields. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-06-revealing-magnetic-nature-tornadoes-sun.html…
Epic graduation photo, Alberta, Canada
Spectacular mammatus clouds – and a rainbow – provide a backdrop for this beautiful and unusual graduation photo. Congratulations, Cheyann! Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/graduation-photo-mammatus-clouds-rainbow-canada…
What is a derecho? An atmospheric scientist explains these rare but dangerous storm systems
The derecho in the U.S. East on June 3, 2020, killed 4 people and left a million without power. A Colorado derecho on June 6 had winds in excess of 100 mph. Europe, Asia and South America also have derechos. Here’s what scientists know about them. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/what-is-a-derecho-storm-system…
2 U.S. astronauts arrive at launch pad for SpaceX launch
With thunderstorms and the possibility of tornadoes threatening a delay, two NASA astronauts climbed aboard a SpaceX rocket ship Wednesday for liftoff on a history-making flight that was seen as a giant leap forward for the booming business of commercial space travel. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-05-astronauts-pad-spacex.html…
Working From Home Hasn’t Broken the Internet
sixoh1 shared this story from the Wall Street Journal: Home internet and wireless connectivity in the U.S. have largely withstood unprecedented demands as more Americans work and learn remotely. Broadband and wireless service providers say traffic has jumped in residential areas at times of the day when families would typically head to offices and schools. Still, that surge in usage hasn’t…
Elon Musk’s Battery Farm Is an Undeniable Success
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Popular Mechanics: More than two years after winning an electricity bet, Elon Musk’s resulting Australian solar and wind farm is an almost total success. The facility powers rural South Australia, whose population density falls between Wyoming and Alaska, the two least dense U.S. states. In 2016, South Australia experienced a near total blackout after…