Atmosphere with Emily Gracey

Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, yet they support a quarter of all marine life on Earth. So what happens when the water around them gets too hot to survive? This year's strong El Niño is pushing already-stressed reefs past their limits. In this episode of Atmosphere , host Emily Gracey sits down with Dr. Tracy Fanara , an environmental engineer and ocean scientist, to break down...

How different is America's weather today from the world the founding fathers knew 250 years ago? On July 4, 1776, as 56 men gathered to declare independence. That same day, Thomas Jefferson bought a brand-new thermometer, and started taking meticulous notes. Those very readings marked the birth of an American climate record that stretches all the way to the present day. In this episode of Atmosphe...

What does it actually take to safely chase a tornado, and how does that extreme proximity save lives on the ground? In this episode of Atmosphere , we’re going inside the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in Norman, Oklahoma - the epicenter of severe weather research. Dr. Pam Heinselman, Deputy Director of Science at NSSL, joins us to break down the cutting-edge tech behind today's storm ch...

The ground under our feet feels completely solid, but deep beneath the surface, rocks are under constant stress until they hit a breaking point. What actually happens when the earth snaps? In this episode of Atmosphere , meteorologist Emily Gracey steps away from the sky and digs into the subsurface for a masterclass on seismic activity. Joined by geologist and educator Sean Willsey, this comprehe...

Why are we still getting hurricane safety wrong? National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome joins Atmosphere to expose the hidden communication failures, widespread education gaps, and the lesser-known storm indicators that coastal residents consistently miss until it’s too late. As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins, most headlines focus entirely on the forecast models. But in t...

In June 1944, the fate of World War II didn't just rest with a general. It rested with a meteorologist. On the first episode of Atmosphere, meteorologist Emily Gracey digs into the science and human drama behind PRESSURE, the new film about the real weather forecasters who had to find a window for the Allied invasion of Normandy. No satellites. No radar. Everything on the line. Weather historian S...

Welcome to Atmosphere with meteorologist Emily Gracey, a podcast where science becomes conversation. Each week, Emily sits down with leading experts in weather, climate, earth science, and beyond to explore not just the science shaping our world, but the human stories behind it.