Weather Geeks

Guest: Dr. Jennifer Francis, Woodwell Climate Research Center
When we think about the Arctic, it's easy to picture a remote landscape of sea ice and polar bears. But what happens in the far north doesn't stay there. As the Arctic continues to warm at an unprecedented pace, scientists are uncovering how those changes may be influencing weather patterns across the Northern Hemisphere—from prolonged heat waves and persistent droughts to heavy rainfall and unusual swings in the jet stream. Today on Weather Geeks, we're joined by atmospheric scientist Dr. Jennifer Francis, whose pioneering research has helped shape our understanding of the connection between Arctic climate change and the behavior of the jet stream. We'll explore why the Arctic is warming so rapidly, how those changes can ripple through the atmosphere, and what they may mean for the persistent weather patterns we've seen in recent years—including the extreme heat that has gripped much of Europe this summer.
Chapters
00:00 Dr. Jennifer Francis's background and interest in weather
05:22 Jet stream patterns and their role in extreme weather
13:21 Break 1
14:31 Mechanisms of Arctic amplification and feedbacks
22:57 Stratospheric polar vortex and winter weather effects
25:04 Break 2
25:58 Summer jet stream behavior and climate connections
32:08 Ocean heat waves and their influence on jet stream patterns
34:33 Current research and future challenges in Arctic climate studies
37:06 Closing remarks and resources

Resources
Woodwell Climate Research Center - https://www.woodwellclimate.org/
Jennifer Francis - Research Profile - https://www.woodwellclimate.org/our-scientists/jennifer-francis/
Clausius-Clapeyron Relationship - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clausius%E2%80%93Clapeyron_relation
Guest links
Twitter - https://x.com/WoodwellClimate https://x.com/JFrancisClimate
Research Center - https://www.woodwellclimate.org/
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Guest: Dr. Jennifer Collins & Dr. Nadia Bloemendaal
When it comes to hurricanes, we often rely on a familiar scale to understand their strength — categories based largely on wind speed. But anyone who’s experienced a storm knows that impacts go far beyond just how fast the winds are blowing. Today, we’re joined by Jennifer Collins and Nadia Bloemendaal, whose work is helping to rethink how we model and measure tropical cyclones. They’re the minds behind the STORM model, a powerful tool for simulating thousands of storms across the globe, and the developers of the Tropical Cyclone Severity Scale — a new way of looking at storm risk that goes beyond traditional categories. In this episode, we’ll explore how large-scale modeling is changing our understanding of hurricane risk, why current classification systems may fall short, and how new approaches could improve the way we communicate danger and prepare for future storms.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the New Storm Model
00:20 The Storm Model's Impact on Various Sectors
01:02 Challenges in Developing a Global Storm Model
02:21 Modeling Hazards Beyond Wind: Rain and Surge
04:31 Motivation for a New Hurricane Severity Scale
06:42 Limitations of the Wind-Only Scale
08:35 The New Scale: Incorporating Multiple Hazards
10:27 Break 1
11:28 The Concept of a Category 6 Storm
13:05 Public Perception and Education Strategies
15:22 Localized and Personalized Risk Communication
17:27 Real-World Applications and Case Studies
19:20 Future Directions and Climate Change Impacts
21:54 Inertia and Adoption Challenges in Meteorology
23:49 Break 2
25:00 Public Perception of Storm Categories
27:33 The Path Toward Standardization and Adoption
30:12 Future Collaborations and Final Thoughts
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Guest: Dr. Aran Mooney
When you think about saving coral reefs, you probably imagine divers, coral nurseries, or maybe even futuristic technology — but what if part of the solution starts with simply turning up the volume? Because it turns out, coral reefs don’t just look alive… they sound alive. Today’s guest, Dr. Aran Mooney, is helping scientists and conservationists tune into the ocean in a whole new way. His research explores how the natural “music” of healthy reefs — the pops, clicks, and choruses of marine life — can actually help guide coral larvae home and jump-start reef recovery. In this episode, we’ll talk about listening to the ocean, using sound as a conservation tool, and why sometimes the key to protecting our planet isn’t louder warnings — it’s learning how to hear what nature has been telling us all along.
Chapters
00:00 The Sound of Coral Reefs
06:00 Sound as a Restoration Tool
12:02 The Mechanics of Sound Playback
17:23 Break 1
17:55 Environmental Influences on Coral Soundscapes
20:17 The Power of Sound in Coral Restoration
26:59 Break 2
27:28 Hurricanes and Their Impact on Coral Reefs
30:43 Understanding the Time Scale of Sound Influence
35:39 Scaling Sound Solutions for Coral Reefs
40:51 Community Engagement and Partnerships for Coral Health

Resources
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - https://www.whoi.edu/
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program - https://coralreef.noaa.gov/
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Guest: Brad Panovich, WCNC Charlotte
If you’ve lived in North Carolina for any length of time, chances are you’ve turned to one familiar face when the weather turns serious. But being a trusted meteorologist today isn’t just about what happens on TV—it’s about showing up wherever your audience is, whether that’s on-air, online, or in the middle of a rapidly evolving storm. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re joined by Brad Panovich, Chief Meteorologist at WCNC Charlotte. For decades, Brad has helped guide North Carolinians through everything from day-to-day forecasts to high-impact events—including more recent storms like Hurricane Helene—building a level of trust that goes far beyond the forecast itself. We’ll talk about how his approach to communication has evolved in the age of social media, what it takes to cut through misinformation, and how you balance urgency, clarity, and calm when people are depending on you the most.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Brad Panovich and His Journey
02:55 The Evolution of Weather Communication
05:54 The Importance of Credentialing in Meteorology
08:56 The Role of Trust in Weather Forecasting
12:05 Break 1
12:08 Navigating Social Media as a Meteorologist
15:13 Handling Negativity and Criticism in the Digital Age
20:13 Understanding Public Perception of Weather Forecasts
23:40 Break 2
24:12 The Role of Social Media in Weather Communication
26:28 The Impact of AI on Meteorology
30:11 Personal Reflections on the Impact of Meteorology
34:26 The Educator's Role in Meteorology

Resources
Ohio State University Meteorology Program - https://meteo.osu.edu/
UNC Charlotte Weather Communication Course - https://physics.charlotte.edu/

Guest links
Brad Panovich on Twitter - https://twitter.com/WXBrad
Website - https://www.wcnc.com/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wxbrad
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Guest: Seth Borenstein, Associated Press
Every day, new scientific discoveries shape the way we understand our world — from extreme weather to the changing climate. But most of us don’t read scientific journals. Instead, we rely on journalists to translate complex research into stories that inform the public and help us make sense of what it all means. Today we’re joined by Seth Borenstein, a veteran science reporter with the Associated Press who has spent decades covering everything from hurricanes and heat waves to the latest breakthroughs in climate research. Over the years, his reporting has helped bring critical science stories to audiences around the world. In this episode, we’ll talk about how science journalism has evolved, how the media approaches reporting on Climate Change, and what it takes to translate complex science into clear, trustworthy stories for the public.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility
01:43 How Seth Became a Weather and Climate Geek
04:02 The Evolution of Climate Science Narratives
07:47 From Uncertainty to Scientific Certainty
11:53 Finding and Vetting Credible Scientific Sources
16:04 The Role of AP and Wire Services in Science Reporting
17:48 Break 1
18:16 Challenges and Opportunities in Science Journalism
21:52 How Seth Finds His Experts
25:03 Impact of Social Media on Climate and Weather Reporting
27:57 Dealing with Disinformation and Misinformation
28:39 Break 2
29:46 Memorable Stories and Impactful Reporting
32:20 Embedded Reporting with Storm Chasers
34:15 The Human Side of Weather Disasters
36:55 Advice for Future Climate and Science Journalists
39:25 Where to Find Seth's Work
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