Off the Radar

Uncovering America's secret history of using weather modification as a weapon during the Vietnam war. Ed Darak joins us to talk about Operation Popeye and the attempt to flood the Ho Chi Minh Trail with cloud seeding operations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Donner Party's tragic journey west ended in disaster when an early winter trapped them in the Sierra Nevada in 1846. Pioneers were forced to camp at Donner Lake as massive storms blocked the mountain passes with snow. Meteorologist Matt Monroe describes the unrelenting conditions the group faced, from freezing cold to dwindling supplies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cali...

Many people have an irrational fear of weather phenomena. In this Halloween episode, we'll explore some common (and less common!) meteorological phobias, understand what causes them, and provide tips to help confront and overcome these anxieties with Dr. Kevin Chapman. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We'll delve into the science behind the 1991 Halloween Nor'easter storm. It features an interview with Joe Sienkiewicz from the Weather Service, who was forecasting and tracking the storm when it occurred in October 1991. Sienkiewicz provides insights into how the unique combination of weather conditions came together to create the devastating storm, which was later dubbed "The Perfect Storm." Emi...

We explore the history of naming hurricanes with hurricane expert Brian McNoldy and West Palm Beach Meteorologist Vytas Reid. From the origins of naming storms to the process of selecting names today, we'll have a look back at the memorable, the hard to pronounce and the retired names of these destructive natural disasters. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Not...

We are exploring the annular solar eclipse coming this weekend and the total solar eclipse of April 2024. What's the difference between these eclipses? Where are the ideal viewing locations? How do you experience totality safely? Dave Jones from Storm Center Communications joins us to discuss everything you need to know to prepare for these stunning events. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/...

Aristotle is often called the "Father of Meteorology," but the science has evolved dramatically since his time. To trace the roots of modern forecasting, we spoke with historian Dr. Kristine Harper about meteorology's origins. Like the field it covers, the National Weather Desk has witnessed its own growth and innovation throughout its inaugural year. To revisit the moments that defined our first...

Jen Walton started Girls Who Chase to give female storm chasers a platform to showcase their work in a male-dominated field. She joins us to discuss her own experiences that led her to create the organization, the talented women involved, and her mission to elevate women's voices in storm chasing. We talk challenges, milestones, and the importance of representation. See Privacy Policy at https://a...

Coastal flooding is on the rise, even on sunny days. In this episode, we hear from NOAA Oceanographer, Dr. William Sweet and explore the impacts of high tide flooding and what's driving the trends. We'll also talk to Charleston flooding photographer, Jared Bramblett about how he combines his engineering background and artistic eye to document nuisance flooding in his community and raise awareness...

A new study shows airplane contrails are contributing to climate change. We interview Google's Dinesh Sanekommu about using AI to optimize flight plans and reduce contrails. Also, climate scientist Dr. Susanne Bauer explains contrail science and atmospheric effects. We discuss if Google's contrail reduction study offers a practical way to mitigate aviation emissions. See Privacy Policy at https://...

The nuclear fallout from the first testing of the Atomic Bomb left a lasting imprint on Earth's geological time scale, creating a mark between the Holocene and Anthropocene Epochs. Dr. Francine McCarthy, shares how her team's discovery in a Canadian lake reveals this change and why it sparks contentious debates among experts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy N...

In this episode, we delve into the cataclysmic Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 that reshaped The Florida Keys. First, we're joined by Meteorologist Les Still, who unravels the science behind this devastating hurricane and the history of Flagler's Railroad. Then, acclaimed author Chanel Cleeton discusses her historical fiction novel "The Last Train to Key West", which vividly brings this event to life....

We are half-way through the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season and the tropics are getting ACTIVE! So we are checking in with two of our tropical experts - James Spann and Alex Garcia to explore the factors that fuel these storms and the ways technology is revolutionizing our ability to track and understand them. After this episode, you'll be armed with all the knowledge you need for the 2nd half of t...

We're on the brink of a brand-new school year, and what better way to kickstart your brain cells than with some mind-blowing weather trivia with guest host, 13-year-old Selah from Ohio! Meteorologists Veronica Johnson and Ed Piotrowski give us the lowdown on hail formation, hurricane hunting, climate change and meteorology career insights. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califo...

Grounding is a simple yet powerful practice that involves physically connecting with the Earth's energy. In this episode, we'll explore the science behind grounding with Dr. Laura Koniver. She will explain how Grounding works, why it works, and the medical studies that support this.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-...

In 2019, Dr. Jess Wade discovered a giant gap in female and minority scientist representation on Wikipedia, so she started writing. Over the course of three years, she wrote over 1700 bios! Here's her story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we wrap up the story of the research team that discovered a human bone while taking sediment cores to study ancient hurricanes in the Bahamas. Dr. Richard Sullivan shares the story of the discovery and how studying climatological conditions helps us better understand the trajectory of past indigenous communities. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti...

Blue Holes aren't just a natural wonder, they can also be a portal to the past. Dr. Jeff Donnelly shared with us what they have learned about ancient hurricanes by taking sediment cores from blue holes AND about an unexpected discovery. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI is everywhere these days! It's being used to locate rip currents in the ocean. It's bringing accuracy and precision to precipitation forecasts. But are there drawbacks to this cutting-edge technology? We will talk to meteorologists and oceanographers around the country about how they are using AI... for better or for worse. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

In the wake of the OceanGate Titan tragedy, Emily sits down with marine scientist, Dr. Ellen Prager to talk about the dangers of traveling to the ocean floor, the physics behind submersible design and the wonders of deep sea exploration. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Diving into the world of river forecasting and clearing up confusion about river stage, emphasizing the risks posed by flooding rivers and the importance of monitoring water levels with hydrologist David Ondrejik from the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While most of us run from fire, there's a brave group of men and women jumping in.... from the sky! It's firefighting meets skydiving in the wild job of a smokejumper. Smoke jumping has been in practice for more than 80 years. Today we talk to a retired jumper about his career diving into the inferno. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.co...

The 1996 blockbuster, Twister changed the way the world looked at meteorologists and storm chasers. This week we are taking a deep dive into the movie, the fans that still love it and the science that inspired it. We are also getting a sneak peek of the sequel coming out next summer! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-s...

Did you know the Northern Lights are a treat for the eyes AND the ears? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Fiona Amery to unlock the mystery behind the sounds of the Aurora Borealis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

June 1 marks the start of the 2023 Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Basin and this week we are reflecting on survival to prepare for the future. Listen to a story of resilience from the Florida Keys in 2017 as well as an interview with the brand new director of the National Hurricane Center, Dr. Mike Brennan. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://...