Scientists Discuss the Future of Extreme Weather

The podcast discusses the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, and explores how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is working to improve prediction capabilities and data collection. The discussion also touches on the role of NOAA in international collaborations and the future of climate change and its impacts on the Earth and beyond.

NOAA's Role in Extreme Weather

• 00:00:05 NOAA's role includes forecasting, understanding storm surges, and providing timely warnings about hurricanes and other extreme weather events. They have improved hurricane prediction capabilities, but it's ultimately the individual's decision to heed the warnings and evacuate or take action. The focus has shifted from predicting wind speeds to understanding the impact of hurricanes in terms of storm surges and flooding.

NOAA's Relationship with Other Entities

• 00:03:06 NOAA has a strong relationship with the Navy, particularly concerning the impact of climate change on naval bases and operations at sea. They also work internationally to share weather and climate data and collaborate on fisheries management, as well as adhering to agreements like the Artemis Accords for space exploration. NOAA's work is crucial to a strong seafood economy and understanding global climate change.

Impact of Climate Change on Oceans

• 00:33:52 Climate change is leading to increased CO2 absorption by the oceans, causing ocean acidification and harming ecosystems like coral reefs. The CO2 in the ocean is in a state of partial pressure equilibrium with the atmosphere. If we stopped CO2 production today, the ocean would take decades to respond in kind, potentially through CO2 release.

NOAA's Future and Technological Advancements

• 00:46:14 NOAA is working to improve its models using AI and machine learning to better predict extreme weather events. The increasing frequency of unprecedented events provides new data to improve these models. This also includes improving temporal resolution of data and using new technologies like phased array radar for better forecasting capabilities.

Space Weather & NOAA

• 00:16:00 NOAA's mission includes monitoring space weather, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These events can impact navigation, electrical grids, and communication systems. NOAA launched a new weather satellite in 2024 with a compact coronagraph, allowing for the monitoring of these space weather events. Forecasting these events is crucial for future space colonization efforts.