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Tag: WX Tracking

  • Spring training offers a warm break for teams and fans

    Spring training offers a warm break for teams and fans

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    When birds migrate north in the spring, baseball players and fans migrate south to Florida and Arizona every March for spring training.

    Not only is spring training an opportunity for MLB teams to get some practice in before a long season, but for fans to escape the cold weather and enjoy some warmth, sunshine and baseball in warmer climates. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida and Arizona host 15 MLB teams each every year for spring training

    • Spring training games are unofficial, and gives fans a chance to see their team play in warmer climates

    • Florida and Arizona are both warm in March, but differ in precipitation and humidity

    Since the late 1800s, MLB teams have sent their players and coaches south to train and practice in a warmer climate to prepare for the season.

    Since 2018, MLB has split the league with 15 teams training in Florida and the other 15 in Arizona. The reason for those two locations is pretty straight-forward: the weather. 

    Florida Grapefruit League

    MLB spreads out most of the teams that train in Florida along the Gulf Coast, with a few teams in south Florida. Average high temperatures in south and central Florida during March hover around the upper 70s and lower 80s. 

    The Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins play in the two coldest spots as far as March temperatures go, averaging high temperatures in the lower 40s.

    Not only do the players and fans get to escape the cold, but Toronto and Minneapolis average around 8 inches of snowfall during March.

    Minnesota Twins’ spring home, Fort Myers, has an average high temperature in March almost 40 degrees warmer than Minneapolis, and hasn’t even had a low temperature below 40 degrees in March since 2013. 

    Along with the Twins, the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Tigers all get about a 35 degree temperature increase after traveling south during a typical March day.

    The Marlins actually get to travel more than 80 miles north to Jupiter from Miami, and get a break from the heat, with average temperatures about 3 degrees lower. 

    How about the rest of the list? Besides the Astros, Rays and Marlins, the temperature difference is pretty significant and worthy of a trip to Florida for Spring Break. 

    Arizona Cactus League

    In the Cactus League, all 15 teams play and train in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The average high temperature in March for the Phoenix area is a balmy 78.1 degrees.

    Since the Cactus League is more centralized with no two teams more than a 45 minute drive apart, average temperatures are all within a few degrees of each other.

    The biggest difference from the Grapefruit League? The desert offers much lower humidity and less rainfall. 

    Midwest teams from the NL and AL Central Divisions have the biggest disparity when it comes to Arizona temperatures, getting about a 30 degree increase during the month of March.

    The Colorado Rockies escape Denver’s snowiest month of the year on average to play in sunny Scottsdale. 

    Similar to the Marlins, the Arizona Diamondbacks who play in downtown Phoenix, get to travel 20 minutes into Scottdale, where the average March high temperatures is only a few degrees lower.

    Beach or Desert?

    So, if you’re a neutral fan in a cold weather state and want to take in some baseball on Spring Break, do you go to Florida or Arizona?

    Florida teams are more spread out requiring longer drives, and you’ll have to deal with more humidity and higher rain chances. The Cactus league is much more centralized, and it’s a dry heat, but besides baseball, Phoenix may have less to offer for tourist opportunities when you’re not at a game.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

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  • A short history of daylight saving time

    A short history of daylight saving time

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    Twice a year, most of the U.S. adjusts to time moving forward in the spring and back again in the fall. But where did the crazy idea of “shifting time” come from?

    What You Need To Know

    • Daylight saving was first put to use during World War I

    • The U.S. was once in daylight saving time for over three years during World War II

    • Some want to go to daylight saving time year-round

    Benjamin Franklin gets some credit for the idea of daylight saving time, though his recommendation was a joke.

    In a letter to the editor of the “Journal of Paris,” Franklin jokingly recommended the people get out of bed earlier in the morning to minimize the use of candles and lamp oil. He never mentioned setting clocks back or forth.

    (Erica Roman)

    In 1895, George Hudson, an entomologist from New Zealand, came up with the modern concept of daylight saving time. He proposed a two-hour time shift so he could have more after-work hours of sunshine to go bug hunting in the summer.

    Hudson suggested moving clocks ahead two hours in October and then a two-hour shift back in March.

    In 1905, William Willett, a British builder, suggested moving clocks ahead 20 minutes every Sunday in April and then setting them back every Sunday in September. That’s eight time changes every year!

    First use of daylight saving time

    It was during World War I that daylight saving time was first practically used.

    In 1916, locations within the German Empire set clocks ahead one hour to use less power for lighting and to save fuel for the war effort.

    Many other countries soon followed and after the war ended, they all went back to standard time.

    Daylight saving time in the U.S.

    In the United States, daylight saving time was first used in 1918, when a bill introduced the idea of a seasonal time shift. It lasted seven months before the bill was repealed.

    During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt re-established the idea of daylight saving time. It was called “War Time.”

    War Time began in Feb. 1942 and lasted until the end of Sept. 1945.

    In 1966, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 established the idea of regulating a yearly time change. Daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.

    (Pexels)

    During the 1973 oil embargo, the United States Congress ordered a year-round period of daylight saving time to save energy. The period ran from Jan. 1974 to April 1975. The plan did little to save energy and lost popularity. In Oct. 1974, the U.S. switched back to standard time.

    From 1987 through 2006, daylight saving time started the first weekend in April, running through the last weekend in October.

    In 2007, the start and end of daylight saving time shifted again. That year, it began on the second Sunday in March and it ended on the first Sunday in November, which has been the case ever since.

    The future of daylight saving time

    In recent years, some have pushed to make daylight saving time last year-round. Several states have passed legislation to make this law.

    I guess “time” will tell if we see year-round daylight saving time in the future.

    (iStock)

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Chief Meteorologist Gary Stephenson

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  • Rain returns Sunday

    Rain returns Sunday

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    Welcome to ‘Ask a Meteorologist,’ a weekly chat that discusses a new weather topic every week.

    This week, we are talking about showers and scattered thunderstorms returning on Sunday.

    Bay News 9 meteorologists answer your questions about what to expect this weekend. 

     

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Weather Explained: Lightning safety

    Weather Explained: Lightning safety

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    By

    Spectrum News Weather Staff

    Nationwide


    PUBLISHED 10:00 AM ET Mar. 01, 2024
    PUBLISHED 10:00 AM EST Mar. 01, 2024

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Warren Washington: Climate adviser to 6 presidents

    Warren Washington: Climate adviser to 6 presidents

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    Jimmy Carter. Ronald Reagan. George H. W. Bush. Bill Clinton. George W. Bush. Barack Obama.

    You’ve heard of each of those presidents, but you probably haven’t heard of Warren Washington, the scientist who advised all of them on Earth’s climate. It’s no wonder; he also helped develop one of the first climate models.

    What You Need To Know

    • Warren Washington was the second African American to get a PhD in meteorology

    • He helped develop the earliest global climate models

    • The U.S. government awarded Washington the National Medal of Science in 2010

    Washington was a pioneer in more than just weather and climate. He was just the second African American to get a doctorate in meteorology, earning his PhD from Penn State in 1964.

    Warren Washington standing next to a CRAY supercomputer in 1980. (UCAR)

    To put that in perspective, a report from the American Institute of Physics says that only 14 out of the 740 students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science as recently as 2015 were African American.

    From the 1960s onward, Washington studied the Earth’s climate system, building simulations that got more detailed as computers became more powerful. Early climate models were crude and slow.

    “We weren’t able to go faster than the actual weather. We actually plowed on because what happened was computers got faster and faster,” he told NASA in a 2016 interview.

    But, as computers got faster, Washington and his colleagues added more detail into the climate models.

    Output from an early climate model in the late 1960s. (UCAR)

    Washington used those computer models to experiment with various scenarios, tweaking the amount of carbon dioxide and other gasses to see what the different outcomes would be.

    This is routine today. Scientists want to know what to expect if we do nothing to limit greenhouse gas emissions or suddenly stop all of it or something in between.

    Washington earned many accolades and awards for his decades of work. In 2010, the country awarded him the National Medal of Science, the U.S. government’s highest scientific honor. He’s also been recognized for his efforts to increase diversity in atmospheric sciences.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Justin Gehrts

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  • George Washington Carver’s legacy is more than peanuts

    George Washington Carver’s legacy is more than peanuts

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    Peanuts–that may be what George Washington Carver is best known for, but that was just one part of his work. Arguably more important? He was an advocate of sustainable agriculture before the concept even had such a name.

    What You Need To Know

    • Carver tried to change farming practices in the South

    • He considered the whole picture of crops, soil and weather

    • Carver’s largest true legacy may be in sustainable agriculture

    Carver was the first Black student admitted to the Iowa Agricultural College, now known as Iowa State University. He went on to be an educator and researcher at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama from 1896 to 1943.

    He even took weather observations there for over 30 years as part of a “cooperative observers” program, which the National Weather Service still uses today.

    George Washington Carver’s daily weather reports for February 1923. (NOAA Central Library Data Imaging Project)

    Carver knew the issues that Southern farmers faced. He encouraged efforts that went against the grain of agricultural science at the time, according to Mark D. Hersey, a historian at Mississippi State University. His efforts didn’t result in much change then, but he was certainly on to something.

    “They were farseeing–and many of the things he called for became vital threads in what came to be known as the organic agriculture movement in the mid-20th century… in essence, Carver was a prophet of sustainable agriculture,” says Hersey. 

    Instead of growing only cotton, Carver recommended crop rotation that included peanuts so those crops could replenish the soil’s nutrients.

    Carver’s holistic approach also encouraged composting manure, rather than simply adding chemical fertilizers. This was a cheaper solution that also made the soil more resistant to erosion, Hersey adds. The South gets deluges that drop a few inches of rain in a day, which can wash away the dirt and leave behind ruts.

    Photograph of erosion in one of Carver’s bulletins, published in 1908. (Tuskegee Experiment Station Bulletin No. 11/U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library)

    In one of the many bulletins he wrote, Carver noted some farmers’ belief that the moon influences the weather, along with other superstitions. He said to focus instead on actual conditions, since he knew seeds need some number of frost-free days and a certain soil temperature. 

    “My work is that of conservation,” Carver believed. We still hear echoes of that work a century later in sustainable farming.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Justin Gehrts

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  • DaNa Carlis’ role at the National Severe Storms Lab is a historic homecoming

    DaNa Carlis’ role at the National Severe Storms Lab is a historic homecoming

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    Dr. DaNa Carlis is breaking barriers as the first African-American to lead NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in Norman, Oklahoma.

    The laboratory studies severe weather, from tornadoes to winter weather. The National Weather Service uses their research to warn us and keep us safe from disruptive weather events.

    What You Need To Know

    • DaNa Carlis is the first African-American to be named NSSL director

    • Carlis co-founded NOAA’s Diversity and Professional Advancement

    • He holds three degrees from Howard University

    • One of his top priorities is to increase the engagement between the underserved communities and the NSSL

    Historic accomplishment

    NOAA appointed Carlis to the role in January 2023. Carlis is the first Black man named as a lab director.

    We spoke to the NSSL director in 2023 about his historic appointment, his future for the NSSL and how he plans to inspire more Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) in meteorology.

    “It feels amazing! I am humbled by the opportunity to serve in this capacity as director of the National Severe Storms Laboratory,” said Carlis, describing his accomplishment.

    A few years ago, the NSSL Director didn’t think he’d be taking this path in his career. However, he said he was striving for an opportunity to be a leader of science within NOAA.

    Carlis is excited to inspire the next generation of science leaders.

    “I’m looking forward to continuing to uplift others with the BIPOC community that can serve in this capacity. It’s been a passion of mine to help and develop the next generation workforce,” said Carlis.

    Over his 20-year career, Carlis led efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within NOAA. He’s the co-founder of NOAA’s Diversity and Professional Advancement Working Group (DPAWG).

    Eight members of NOAA’s Diversity and Professional Advancement Working Group in 2023. Clockwise from the top left: Vankita Brown, John Moore, Terence Lynch, Maddie Kennedy, DaNa Carlis, Lonnie Gonsalves, Ashley Turnbull, and Janae Elkins. (NOAA)

    Carlis knows how big of a deal it is to be the first African-American to lead this agency.

    “I’m a firm believer that there are more talented people than me out there that will deserve this opportunity and probably have deserved it in the past. So, that I’m the first is humble… but you know I got to continue to strive for change and NOAA is right behind me in terms of diversity, inclusion and equity in our senior leadership ranks,” Carlis told Spectrum News.

    NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. supports Carlis’ mission. Spinrad gave this statement in a news release: “NOAA is fortunate to have a leader with deep scientific expertise and the strong skills to elevate diversity, equity and inclusion into all aspects of NSSL’s culture.”

    Back to his roots

    The role is a homecoming for Carlis, who grew up in Tulsa. Carlis is happy to be back in his home state and doing what he loves.

    “I am going to full circle, returning to my roots of being in Oklahoma…. I have kept myself grounded on who I am and where I come from,” said Carlis.

    The Tulsa native says his upbringing made him the man he is today.

    The NSSL director credits his mentors with sparking his passion for science.

    “It was mentors that really drew me in and after that first course in atmospheric science I fell in love with it because it was so applicable to people’s everyday lives,” Carlis recounted.

    He also takes great pride in graduating from Howard University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Washington D.C.

    “The main thing that really helped me… that I really needed was the support system. I needed to believe in me, I needed to be supported by people that was going to help raise me up and make sure and hold me accountable for being excellent, being a high achiever… that’s what Howard University gave to me,” Carlis told us.

    Bright future

    “I got to go in and learn the organization. So, I’ll sit back and listen for a few months and try to figure out… where we need to improve weather that is on the business side or science and technology side,” said Carlis.

    The severe storms lab is a busy place, with its PERiLS project, radar improvements, field campaigns and much more.

    The NSSL director says his mission for the agency is to meet their goals and make sure they’re successful. One of his priorities is to increase the engagement between the underserved communities and the NSSL.

    “The integration of social science and physical sciences like in meteorology and atmospheric is going to be really key to us being able to engage and serve those folks that are from underserved communities even better,” said Carlis.

    In addition, Carlis thinks this is an opportune time for aspiring meteorologists to get into the field. He has this advice for them.

    “I would love to see more African-American, Black meteorologists or just BIPOC meteorologist coming into this field because it just such a gratifying field of work that we do because of the impact that we have on people’s lives… so we need you.”

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Keith Bryant

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  • El Niño likely to fade by late spring

    El Niño likely to fade by late spring

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    After a wet El Niño winter across Florida, we will see Central Pacific waters cool down again by late spring. 

    What You Need To Know

    • El Niño has been strong all winter

    • Central Pacific water temperatures have already been cooling down

    • Neutral conditions are expected by May

    • La Niña is likely to develop by late summer or early fall

    El Niño results from the relaxed trade winds in the equatorial Pacific, leading to less upwelling off the South American coast.

    With less upwelling, sea surface temperatures warm in the central Pacific, leading to an El Niño pattern.

    These warmer Pacific water temperatures can determine weather patterns across other parts of the world.

    This year, it has led to an unusually wet winter across the state of Florida. 

    Forecast

    Trade winds have already picked back up a bit in the equatorial Pacific, cooling down the Central Pacific waters in January and February after a December peak.

    We are still in a strong El Niño pattern as of Feb. 2024. However, waters are expected to continue to cool with neutral conditions (near normal) likely arriving around May this year.

    In fact, a weak to moderate La Niña could develop by September.

    La Niña

    La Niña is the exact opposite of El Niño. Here, trade winds strengthen over the equatorial Pacific, leading to more upwelling.

    This brings cooler water to the surface, so sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific drop to below normal.

    La Niña can have an influence on the Atlantic Hurricane season and it could arrive just in time for the peak.

    During a La Niña summer and fall pattern, shear increases in the Pacific, but decreases in the Atlantic.

    Shear refers to upper level winds that can inhibit tropical storm and hurricane growth.

    During a typical La Niña hurricane season, above normal activity is expected in the Caribbean.

    Overall, it is still a tough call for this upcoming hurricane season as La Niña is not expected to develop until after the start of the season and it will likely be on the weaker side.

    Other factors, including water temperatures in the Atlantic and Saharan dust, can affect the season. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Kyle Hanson

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  • Honoring a pioneer in broadcast meteorology, June Bacon-Bercey

    Honoring a pioneer in broadcast meteorology, June Bacon-Bercey

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    In honor of Black History Month, we are taking the opportunity to look back on and celebrate the life and work of meteorologist June Bacon-Bercey.

    A woman of many “firsts,” Bacon-Bercey broke many barriers and paved the way for others, particularly for women and African Americans in meteorology. 

    What You Need To Know

    • June Bacon-Bercey broke many barriers as an African American woman in science 

    • She was the first African American female degreed broadcast meteorologist

    • She established a scholarship in the late 1970s from game show winnings

    • The American Meteorological Society renamed an award in her honor

    Noted as the first African American and first female degreed broadcast meteorologist, Bacon-Bercey is considered a pioneer in the field of meteorology. Born in 1928 in Wichita, Kansas, ever since she was a kid, she knew she wanted to follow a path of math and science.

    In 1954, she became the first African American female in the United States to earn a bachelor of science degree in meteorology from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

    According to her official biography provided by her daughter, Dail St. Claire, when she arrived at UCLA, a counselor suggested she major in home economics instead of meteorology.

    Bacon-Bercey once said, “when I earned an ‘A’ in thermodynamics and a ‘B’ in home economics, I knew my decision was the right one.”

    Her biography also states that her career extended well beyond television weather. Before retiring from a position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1993, she held positions as a weather forecaster, weather analyst, radar meteorologist, aviation meteorologist, broadcast journalist, public administrator and educator.

    She had a lasting impact on the field of broadcast meteorology, especially during a time when weather broadcasts within local newscasts were considered more entertainment-based than science-focused.

    June-Bacon Bercey on set at WGR-TV in Buffalo, N.Y. (Courtesy: Dail St. Claire)

    In 1972, she became the first African American and first female to earn the AMS Seal of Approval for Excellence in Television Weathercasting. 

    Her daughter recalled the day that her mother got the news of this accomplishment. “She was beaming. We sat down over tea, as she often did with me to discuss life matters. Upon sharing the significance of the Seal, she said, ‘no greater honor can come to me than earning the respect of my colleagues.’”

    This came after joining WGR-TV in Buffalo, New York, in 1970, where she became the chief meteorologist after just four months at the station. This was a remarkable feat for the era.

    Nearly five decades later, a 2018 study published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society revealed that only 8% of chief meteorologists are female. 

    Bacon-Bercey became a role model to many African American aspiring meteorologists, including Janice Huff, Chief Meteorologist at WNBC in New York.  

    “When I was a child, I never saw anyone who looked like me delivering the forecast on television, so I never thought of broadcasting as an option for a future career. I wanted to be a scientist and work behind the scenes, and I was on my way to doing just that. Then I learned of June Bacon-Bercey, and I was certain that any and all things were possible,” said Huff.

    Alan Sealls, Chief Meteorologist at WPMI-TV in Mobile, Alabama also has been moved by the life of Bacon-Bercey. He described her as “a woman who likely opened doors for women, African-Americans, and degreed meteorologists in broadcast meteorology.”

    Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd, Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia who served as the second African American president of the American Meteorological Society, shared his appreciation for Bacon-Bercey. “I cannot imagine the struggles that Mrs. Bacon-Bercey faced as she trailblazed on behalf of women and people of color,” he said.   

    Women’s issues and racial equality were of the highest importance to Bacon-Bercey. She helped launch the AMS Board on Women and Minorities in 1975, which continues to operate to this day. It was renamed the Board on Representation, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Diversity (BRAID) in 2020.

    In 1977, it wasn’t weather, but her music knowledge that awarded her $64,000 on the game show “The $128,000 Question.” She used her earnings to launch the June Bacon-Bercey Scholarship through the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for women pursuing careers in meteorology and atmospheric sciences.  

    She felt the scholarship could help women become meteorologists. “I was discouraged from becoming a meteorologist. If women feel they have some money behind them, it might be better,” she stated according to her official biography.

    AGU offered this scholarship from 1978 to 1990. It became reestablished in 2021 through the generosity of her daughter, Dail St. Claire, and other family and friends.  

    June Bacon-Bercey speaking at a luncheon. (Photo Courtesy: Dail St. Claire)

    Bacon-Bercey also funded the meteorology lab at Mississippi’s Jackson State University (JSU) in 1980. At the time, JSU was the only historically black university or college with a meteorology program in the United States. 

    Janice Huff remarked on her achievements. “She showed great strength and determination to study in a field where there were so few who looked like her. She persevered despite the odds against her, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”

    Bacon-Bercey passed away in July 2019 at the age of 90. Her legacy will live on for generations to come through the American Meteorological Society’s (AMS) June Bacon-Bercey Award for Broadcast Meteorology.  

    The AMS renamed the Award for Broadcast Meteorology in her honor. Since 1977, this award has annually recognized broadcast meteorologists “for sustained long-term contributions to the community through the broadcast media, or for outstanding work during a specific weather event.”

    Since its inception, three Award for Broadcast Meteorology recipients have been female. By honoring Mrs. Bacon-Bercey’s legacy, women and minorities might be encouraged to strive for this award and submit future nominations. 

    Her daughter, Dail St. Claire, reflected on this honor. “My family and I are grateful to the AMS for honoring my mother, June Bacon-Bercey. There is no greater honor for an on-air meteorologist to serve the public. The field of meteorology will one day fully represent the rich diversity of all people.”

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Maureen McCann

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  • El Niño looks to come to an end

    El Niño looks to come to an end

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    Welcome to ‘Ask a Meteorologist,’ a weekly chat that discusses a new weather topic every week.

    This week we’ll be talking about El Niño winding down.

    Bay News 9 meteorologists answer your questions about how long we’ll continue to see El Niño prevail and when La Niña could return. 

     

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    Meteorologist Kyle Hanson

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  • Mae C. Jemison: The first African American woman in space

    Mae C. Jemison: The first African American woman in space

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    Becoming an astronaut is hard enough, but one woman overcame obstacles to become the first African American woman in space.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jemison wanted to study science from an early age

    • She first studied medicine before starting a career at NASA

    • She went to space in Sept. 1992

    • After NASA, she accomplished many more things

    Early life accomplishments

    Born in the 1950s, Jemison would let nothing stop her from becoming one of the most accomplished African American women in history.

    She was born in Decatur, Ala. but grew up in Chicago, and from a very early age, she knew she wanted to study science.

    She worked hard and graduated from high school when she was just 16. At that early age, she traveled across the country to California to attend Stanford University.

    Being one of the few African Americans in her class, she experienced racial discrimination from students and teachers, but that didn’t stop her from graduating with two degrees in four years, one in chemical engineering and one in African American studies.

    Jemison didn’t start her career in space. She first attended Cornell Medical School, where she got her doctorate in medicine and practiced general medicine.

    Her talents also didn’t stop in science. Jemison is fluent in Japanese, Russian and Swahili. She used this and her medical studies to her advantage and joined the Peace Corps in 1983 to help people in Africa for two years.

    Jemison with the rest of the Endeavour Crew in 1992. (AP Photo/Chris O’ Meara)

    On to space

    After the Peace Corps, Jemison opened her own private practice as a doctor, but not too long after, she decided she wanted to go to space, something she had wanted to accomplish for a long time.  

    Jemison applied for the astronaut program at NASA in 1985. Unfortunately, NASA stopped accepting applications after the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.

    Jemison tried her luck again in 1987 and was one of the 15 people chosen out of 2000 applicants. Nichelle Nichols, who starred as Uhura in the original Star Trek series, recruited her. Jemison later starred in an episode of the series after being a fan since childhood.

    In Sept. 1992, she joined six other astronauts on the Endeavor for eight days, making her the first African American woman in space. On her mission, she made 127 orbits around the Earth.

    Mae C. Jemison on board the Endeavour in 1992. (Photo by NASA)

    After NASA

    Jemison left NASA the year after she went to space and accomplished many more things.

    She started her own consulting company, became a professor at Cornell, launched the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries, created an international space camp for teens and much more.

    She currently leads 100 Year Starship through DARPA, United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which works to ensure humans will travel to another star in the next 100 years.

    With all her accomplishments, it’s no surprise Jemison was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the National Medical Association Hall of Fame and the Texas Science Hall of Fame.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Shelly Lindblade

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  • NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch adds new categories to their Bleaching Alert Levels

    NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch adds new categories to their Bleaching Alert Levels

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    2023 was a stressful year for Florida’s coral reefs. Sea surface temperature records were shattered for several days, and the unprecedented heat stress led to several bleaching events across Florida’s reefs.

    Bleaching Watches were issued far north along Florida’s coastline, and parts of Cuba and the Bahamas saw their waters under a Level 2 Alert by NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch, the highest level on the scale.

    But things are changing, and to keep up with a warming ocean, NOAA has revealed adjustments to their long-time Coral Reef Watch scale.

    What You Need To Know

    • NOAA has added three new levels to their Coral Reef Watch alerts

    • The additional levels were needed to create a more accurate picture in a warming climate

    • Previously, the Coral Reef Watch ended at a Level 2, indicating significant coral reef issues

    • The new alert levels go up to a Level 5, which indicates near-complete mortality of a reef ecosystem


    Following the hottest year on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has made changes to the alerts their Coral Reef Watch division issues.

    NOAA established the Coral Reef Watch program back in 2000 after mass coral bleaching became more visible after 1980.

    Scientists learned about the significant ecological, economic and societal benefits coral reefs bring to a local ecosystem, and NOAA needed to observe and alert users of potentially hazardous threats to the reefs around the globe.

    A DLNR diver assessing damage to the coral reef at Kaneohe Bay. (DLNR)

    Previously, the Coral Reef Watch’s Bleaching Alert scale had five separate categories, running from No Stress to Alert Level 2. That level warned users of a “risk of reef-wide bleaching with mortality of heat-sensitive corals.”

    This type of alert assured users of permanent and irreversible damage to the coral ecosystem.

    But now, NOAA has taken steps to implement three new alert levels beyond level 2. Bleaching Alert Level 3, 4 and 5 will provide a much more detailed look at where the most significant coral bleaching events occur across the world’s oceans.

    NOAA’s bleaching alert map on Feb. 12, 2024. (NOAA)

    Each new level brings a different interpretation to the impacts that part of the reef ecosystem experiences.

    Bleaching Alert Level 3 will alert users to a risk of death of multiple species within the reef zone.

    Alert Level 4 takes it a step further, indicating the risk of severe multi-species mortality.

    Alert Level 5, now the highest on the scale, refers to a risk of near-complete mortality of a coral ecosystem with over 80% of all coral in the reef being lost.

    The scale will rely heavily on NOAA’s DHW index, or degree heating weeks. The metric keeps track of how long a specific part of the ocean has remained above a certain bleaching threshold. The longer the threshold is met, the higher the DHW, which can increase the Bleaching Alert Level.

    With the new additions to the scale, NOAA announced that DHWs ranging from 8 to 12 will correspond to a Level 2 bleaching event while any DHW metric over 20 corresponds to a Level 5 event.

    The first use of the new Bleaching Alert Levels was on Jan. 31, 2024, with the release of a new global map. Parts of the central and southern Pacific Ocean–particularly near Tasmania and north of the Solomon Islands–were under alert levels 4 and 5.

    Coral reefs act as important ecosystems for specific fish and plant life around the globe, especially in the tropics region. (Spectrum News)

    Coral reefs act as important ecosystems for specific fish and plant life around the globe, especially in the tropics region. (Spectrum News)

    Last year, a joint study from NOAA and the University of Queensland found marine heat waves, like the one Florida experienced last year, severely impact coral health and can disrupt the intricate balance the reefs provide to an ecosystem.

    With high sea surface temperatures, symbiotic algae levels can fluctuate, causing bleaching events that can cascade through a large area in a short amount of time.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Zach Covey

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  • Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

    Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

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    A University of California, Irvine professor is being tasked to help design the most powerful laser in the world.

    Franklin Dollar, a professor of physics & astronomy at UCI, is part of the effort to build the laser called the EP-OPAL (Optical Parametric Amplifier Lines).

    What You Need To Know

    • A UC Irvine Professor is helping contribute to building the most powerful laser in the world

    • The laser could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and space science

    • Physicists will build the laser at the University of Rochester


    The National Science Foundation awarded an $18-million grant to build the laser at a university in New York. EP-OPAL will house it at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester.

    The laser will open the door for more research in astrophysics and the medical field, from telescopes to medical imaging.

    EP-OPAL could also develop radiation techniques to help treat cancer patients.

    Plus, it could lead to new developments in nuclear physics, particle acceleration and quantum mechanics.

    The instrument has two separate 25-petawatt lasers and will fire in a millionth of a billionth of a second.

    Dollar’s team will focus on particle acceleration and light sources.

    I talked to Dollar’s team about the laser and how he’s mentoring the next generation of plasma physicists. Watch the video above to see more.

    Franklin Dollar, assistant professor of physics and astronomy (Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI)

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Keith Bryant

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  • Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

    Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

    [ad_1]

    A University of California, Irvine professor is being tasked to help design the most powerful laser in the world.

    Franklin Dollar, a professor of physics & astronomy at UCI, is part of the effort to build the laser called the EP-OPAL (Optical Parametric Amplifier Lines).

    What You Need To Know

    • A UC Irvine Professor is helping contribute to building the most powerful laser in the world

    • The laser could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and space science

    • Physicists will build the laser at the University of Rochester


    The National Science Foundation awarded an $18-million grant to build the laser at a university in New York. EP-OPAL will house it at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester.

    The laser will open the door for more research in astrophysics and the medical field, from telescopes to medical imaging.

    EP-OPAL could also develop radiation techniques to help treat cancer patients.

    Plus, it could lead to new developments in nuclear physics, particle acceleration and quantum mechanics.

    The instrument has two separate 25-petawatt lasers and will fire in a millionth of a billionth of a second.

    Dollar’s team will focus on particle acceleration and light sources.

    I talked to Dollar’s team about the laser and how he’s mentoring the next generation of plasma physicists. Watch the video above to see more.

    Franklin Dollar, assistant professor of physics and astronomy (Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI)

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Keith Bryant

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  • Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

    Most powerful laser in the world could lead to cancer treatment

    [ad_1]

    A University of California, Irvine professor is being tasked to help design the most powerful laser in the world.

    Franklin Dollar, a professor of physics & astronomy at UCI, is part of the effort to build the laser called the EP-OPAL (Optical Parametric Amplifier Lines).

    What You Need To Know

    • A UC Irvine Professor is helping contribute to building the most powerful laser in the world

    • The laser could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and space science

    • Physicists will build the laser at the University of Rochester


    The National Science Foundation awarded an $18-million grant to build the laser at a university in New York. EP-OPAL will house it at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester.

    The laser will open the door for more research in astrophysics and the medical field, from telescopes to medical imaging.

    EP-OPAL could also develop radiation techniques to help treat cancer patients.

    Plus, it could lead to new developments in nuclear physics, particle acceleration and quantum mechanics.

    The instrument has two separate 25-petawatt lasers and will fire in a millionth of a billionth of a second.

    Dollar’s team will focus on particle acceleration and light sources.

    I talked to Dollar’s team about the laser and how he’s mentoring the next generation of plasma physicists. Watch the video above to see more.

    Franklin Dollar, assistant professor of physics and astronomy (Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI)

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Keith Bryant

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  • Finding a love for all seasons

    Finding a love for all seasons

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    Mother Nature, flowers and candy could be your recipe for finding a love for all seasons or Valentine’s Day.

    It is that time of the year, when romance is in the air. But can the weather, or even the season, spark love? Or do less than ideal conditions dampen love’s flame and blow it out? 

    What You Need To Know

    • Cuffing season is the time between September and November

    • The “turkey drop” is when you breakup with someone after Thanksgiving

    • Some consider gloomy or cold weather romantic

    • Talking about the weather is not a good conversation starter

    We talked to celebrity matchmaker and dating expert Alessandra Conti, co-founder of Matchmakers In The City in Beverly Hills.

    We chatted with her about how the time of season and weather might influence someone’s dating behavior.

    Cuffing season

    Autumn may be the best season to ‘fall’ in love. Many people refer to the fall as cuffing season for couples.

    Conti says cuffing season is the time between September and November. She told us during those months the weather gets colder and people want to find love for the holidays.

    “Everyone wants love for the holidays. Especially leading up to the holidays, that’s when people who are normally single want to be in relationships,” Conti told Spectrum News.

    The matchmaking maven says her business is booming during cuffing season for people wanting to find love just in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

    “[People] will usually fast track something that they maybe did not consider in the summertime.”

    The cuffing part comes in as people just wanting to find a partner for the colder months and just come together during that time.

    The turkey drop

    Though cuffing season runs through November, it might be the best opportunity to breakup with someone.

    Conti says the day after Thanksgiving is the time when couples break apart. The celebrity matchmaker calls it the “turkey drop.”

    “You can see it in tons of celebrity couples, that right after Thanksgiving so many couples breakup,” Conti said.

    She said couples like Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde broke up during that time too, among other couples.

    Conti says a lot of couples “turkey drop” right after Thanksgiving.

    A new year for love

    We are a month into the new year and finding that special someone is top priority for some singles. When a new year begins, Conti says people are deliberate about wanting to find love.

    “While cuffing season is over, it’s the new year season, which is people desiring to find that partner,” Conti told us.

    As far as other seasons like spring and summer, she says business doesn’t experience that same uptick in clientele during the winter and fall months.

    Like cuffing season, there is also the something known as a summer fling. A summer fling is between May and September.

    “You see more casual dating during the summertime because that’s more of the weather vibe. It’s sunny out, everyone is relaxed… there’s not that deep longing for connection because it’s freezing cold outside and you want to be cuddling with someone indoors,” Conti said.

    Heartbreak weather

    Now let’s talk about how the weather could lead you to heartbreak or romance.

    Conti laments many dates get cancelled because of bad weather.

    “It is really sad, but a lot of people do if it’s raining. We have experienced that people will cancel a date if it’s raining… even if it’s through a matchmaker.”

    She notes that people really don’t enjoy driving in the rain to go on a date. However, she has one important piece of advice if there is rain or snow in the forecast for a date.

    “My advice to anyone considering in canceling a date if it’s raining or snow… Don’t, you are self sabotaging yourself!,” exclaimed Conti.

    The dating expert said this sabotaging equates to flakiness. She says you have to follow through on the plan.

    “You need to make a shift and make a change. If that means going on an ice skating date, go for it… if that means leaving your house when it’s drizzling outside, go for it!” exclaims Conti. 

    Love is in the air

    The ideal weather for date ranges from person to person. Some like sunny and while others enjoy overcast skies.

    Talking with Conti, she says colder weather might actually be more romantic.

    “I actually think a little colder for a date, actually quite romantic, as long as you are indoors… it’s very cozy. So get a really cute winter jacket and enjoy,” she said.

    Conti might be right about colder weather, because one of the greatest Christmas songs “Let It Snow!” is a romantic song about a couple getting cozy during a blizzard (even though the songwriters wrote it in the summer).

    It all comes down to the people’s preference.

    “I don’t think cold weather is bad for a date. I think it’s cozy. If it’s a little rainy outside, it makes your indoor experience more special and romantic. Use it to your advantage,” Conti told Spectrum Networks. 

    Forecasting romance

    The perfect weather for a date may be in April, if you are Miss Rhode Island from the movie “Miss Congeniality.”

    But for others, it could be something else. We talked to our Spectrum News meteorologists and digital weather team about their ideal weather for date. Watch their responses.

    No matter what season you’re in, you have to be intentional about finding love and being in the moment.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Keith Bryant

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  • National Hurricane Center releases report on Idalia

    National Hurricane Center releases report on Idalia

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    The National Hurricane Center issued its final report on Idalia Tuesday. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Idalia reached Category 4 intensity over open water

    • It made landfall near Keaton Beach as a Category 3 storm

    • 12 feet of surge was reported in parts of the Big Bend

    • Maximum surge in Tampa Bay was 4.56 feet above ground level

    Idalia originated in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Aug. 23, 2023. It eventually crossed over Central America and moved into the Caribbean, becoming a tropical depression in the Yucatan Channel on Aug. 26.

    Later that night, it made landfall in Cozumel as it slowly meandered southwest.

    It slowly moved around the Yucatan Channel before finally pulling north and passing west of Cuba on the evening of Aug. 28.

    It became a hurricane shortly after midnight local time that night. 

    The eye of Idalia passed 110 nautical miles west of Tampa on the evening of Aug. 29, becoming a major hurricane out in the Gulf after midnight. 

    Idalia briefly reached Category 4 status, then weakened rapidly as it was making landfall. 

    It made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Keaton Beach with winds of 100 knots at 6:45 a.m. on Aug. 30.

    Idalia continued to weaken rapidly over land, becoming an extra-tropical cyclone after it passed over North Carolina on Aug. 31.

    Idalia’s track. (NOAA)

    Storm surge

    Storm surge was the most widespread impact of Idalia along the coast, with 8 to 12 feet of surge above ground level from Keaton Beach to Steinhatchee.

    Hurricane Idalia maximum storm surge. (National Hurricane Center)

    Surge above ground level was 6 to 9 feet from Steinhatchee to the Suwannee River, 5 to 7 feet between the Suwannee River and Chassahowitzka, and 3 to 5 feet between Chassahowitzka and Englewood. 

    A record surge of 8.04 feet above ground level was observed in the Steinhatchee River, two miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico.

    Tampa Bay’s surge was 5.7 feet above the predicted tide which yielded water levels 4.56 ft above ground level. 

    Total damage from Idalia was estimated to be $3.6 billion, with most of it occurring in the Big Bend of Florida.

    Horseshoe Beach before and after Idalia. (NOAA)

    Wind and rain

    Before landfall, Idalia reached a minimum pressure of 942 mb with estimated winds of 116 knots or 133 mph, then weakening to 100 knots at landfall or 115 mph.

    The highest observed sustained wind was 64 knots in Horseshoe Beach or 74 mph.

    The highest observed wind gust was 74 knots or 85 mph in Perry, Fla. 

    Wind swath from Idalia. Hurricane force wind swath in red. (NOAA)

    On the ground observations were limited near the landfall site of Idalia as the Big Bend of Florida is a very rural area.

    Idalia brought widespread rainfall totals of 5 to 7 inches from the Big Bend of Florida to North Carolina.

    Rainfall from Idalia. (NOAA)

    Some pockets of 7 to 10 inches were observed.

    Casualties

    Idalia was responsible for 12 deaths, 8 of them were direct. 

    One man in Brevard County died while windsurfing during the storm. Seven other lives were claimed by rough surf from the storm. 

    Of the four indirect deaths, two were caused by falling trees during cleanup in Georgia and two died in car crashes in Florida. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Kyle Hanson

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  • Wet weather returns this weekend

    Wet weather returns this weekend

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    Welcome to ‘Ask a Meteorologist,’ a weekly chat that discusses a new weather topic every week.

    This week we are talking about rain that will be returning for the weekend.    

    Spectrum Bay News 9 meteorologists answer your questions about how much we will see and when it could rain.

     

     

     

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Rain soaked one of the most important marches to equality

    Rain soaked one of the most important marches to equality

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    During one of the most trying times in America, the Southeast’s weather did not help the ongoing battle for justice.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Selma to Montgomery march in Alabama occurred in 1965

    • It was an effort to register more Black voters in the South

    • Heavy rain soaked the protestors

    What was the Selma to Montgomery March?

    The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a huge achievement that ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination based on race, color, religion and sex.

    It helped strengthen the voting rights of African Americans in the South, but even so, many southern states continued to deny African Americans their right to vote.

    On Feb. 18, 1965, a peaceful protest for voting rights in Marion, Ala. turned deadly when white segregationists attacked the group. An Alabama state trooper shot an African American protester, Jimmie Lee Jackson.

    In response, Martin Luther King Jr. organized a march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama to shed more light to what was happening to the Black community and help their voting rights.

    Martin Luther King Jr. leads supporters to the voter registration drive in the rain.

    The beginning of the march

    The event began on March 1, 1965, with a voter registration drive. Pouring rain soaked the supporters and led to ponding on the roadways and sidewalks.

    Even these miserable conditions couldn’t stop the movement, as thousands of people prepared for the drive with raincoats, umbrellas and rain boots. This laid the foundation for one of the most important marches during the civil rights movement.

    On March 7, the march to Montgomery from Selma began and lasted over two weeks. This was because state troopers and segregationists tried to stop the protesters several times, leading to brief pauses in the march.

    On March 15, President Lyndon B. Johnson showed his support for the march, and military personnel led the protesters the rest of the way, finally completing the march on March 25.

    A big win for racial equality

    After all of their hard work, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It guaranteed the right to vote for all African Americans in every state.

    Southern states could no longer use literacy tests to stop African Americans from voting.

    The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the greatest pieces of civil rights legislation in American history. It provided another way for the voice of the Black community to be heard.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Shelly Lindblade

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  • Guion “Guy” Bluford: The first African American astronaut

    Guion “Guy” Bluford: The first African American astronaut

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    Guion Bluford was one of the most influential people in the space community, becoming the first African American to fly in space.

    What You Need To Know

    • Guy Bluford was the first African American to fly in space

    • He started his career as a pilot in the Air Force

    • He became an astronaut for NASA in 1979

    Bluford became intrigued with flying at a very early age. By high school, he knew he wanted to become an aeronautical engineer.

    Early life

    After getting his college degree, Bluford joined the Air Force and received his pilot wings in Jan. 1966 at the early age of 24.

    He soon became an instructor pilot and eventually entered the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, where he received his master’s degree in 1974 and a doctor of philosophy degree in aerospace engineering in 1978.

    Upon his graduation in 1974, he worked in the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory as a deputy until he was promoted to branch chief of the Aerodynamics and Airframe Branch.

    These successes led to his selection to the NASA astronaut program in 1978.

    It’s safe to say he never lost sight of his childhood dreams.

    Becoming a legend

    Guion stands on the launch pad with his crew weeks before his first mission in August of 1983. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

    After a year of training in the astronaut program, Bluford became an official astronaut in Aug.1979.

    Only four years later he flew his first mission aboard STS-8 on Aug. 30, 1983.

    His first trip to space was quick but came with many accomplishments, developing techniques for nighttime operations and deploying the Indian National Satellite.

    After 145 hours in space, the crew returned to Edwards Air Force Base on Sept. 5.

    Over the next 10 years, Bluford became the second, third and fourth African American in space, logging over 688 hours.

    After NASA

    In 1993, Bluford left NASA and retired from the Air Force to become the Vice President and General Manager of the Engineering Services Division of NYMA Inc., in Greenbelt, Maryland.

    After several more high-end jobs, he went on to become the President of Aerospace Technology in Cleveland, Ohio, a job that he still holds today.

    Bluford never stopped learning and pursuing the next level of his career. A brilliant man in the space and engineering community, Bluford became a leader and role model for many African Americans.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Shelly Lindblade

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