 "Famine houses" similar to this one in County Clare, near Galway, were abandoned when occupants either emigrated or died. Up to 6 family members, cows, and sheep would live in the tiny one bedroom house. Have you ever thought about how the weather affects the food you eat? What about the climate impact of crops or whether you’ll have a potato with your steak tonight? From 1845-1849, a blight known as the Great Irish Potato Famine affected Ireland. Millions of Irish died, as well as millions more emigrating to other parts of Europe, Australia, and North America. The population of Ireland has not recovered since.
Ireland has a damp, maritime climate due to its proximity near the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean. This cool, damp climate helps to favor the growth of the potato, but is also ideal for the spread of blight. The blight caused by the water mold, Phytophthora infestans (P. infestans), tends to thrive in these conditions, where it develops spores on the leave and washes into the rain-soaked soil to affect the growing roots. The summer of 1845 was especially wet. By this time, a zonal flow pattern had emerged, which can deepen the Rossby Waves (large-scale waves associated with the polar jet stream separating the cold polar air from warm tropical air) and can act as a blocking system for up to 10 weeks at a time. This can affect entire growing seasons and prolong excessive wet, dry, or cold conditions. Sea surface temperatures were above normal for most of the period, but it is unclear how an ENSO event affects Ireland and northern Europe. It is thought that a moderate El Niño may lead to a slightly colder, wetter winter, but that is also dependent on NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation). Not only did climate play a huge impact in the role of the blight, but certain impacts such as poverty, economics, and politics also played a factor. The weather was also rough in England and poor Irish farmers shipped what they had to England, leaving their own families with barely enough to eat. Trade from the North America introduced new diseases and mutations (including this specific strain of potato blight). This certain potato was only one of two of its kind- an increase in genetic variety may yield a better crop. In the early stages of the famine, the British government also wasn’t prepared to deal with the magnitude of the crisis, and thus, were slow to react. Weather affects the severity of many plant diseases, but climate change is likely to alter the patterns of disease severity in crops. With a changing climate, areas that are warm may get even warmer causing crops to wilt ; dry areas may be more susceptible to prolonged drought, meaning a less predictable harvest from year to year. In the future, drought, extreme heat, and widespread flooding events will complicate farming in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Already, we are seeing the effects of climate on Mexican farmers and wilting crops. Evaluating future patterns can help to focus crop breeding to produce more resilient plants and focus on disease management research. While the strain that caused the potato blight is still a common potato disease and gives us an idea of what famine may look like in the future, the focus must shift toward constantly improving technology to prepare for warming and other various impacts. To learn more about these and other social impacts on climate, please click here! © 2018 Meteorologist Sharon Sullivan
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 As you continue to get deeper into the 21st century, there is no debate whatsoever that science education and details thereof have become increasingly important in taking center stage more now than ever before in recorded history. In getting a little deeper than that, many teachers and educators across the country and the world are always on the look for reliable and versatile scientific content help educate the next upcoming generation of interested and/or even passionate young scientists. Thus, the operative goal of any such educator is to find a vast wealth of knowledge from a diverse group of scientists from across a large spectrum of experience to maximize their ability to explain more complex scientific issues and/or concepts.
Well, in short, right here at the Global Weather and Climate Center (GWCC), we have all of that and more both within and even beyond the confines of the GWCC Kid’s Corner. Whether you have toddlers, young elementary, middle, and/or high school students looking to learn more about weather, climate, environmental issues, space weather, or other topics, GWCC will have something you will be looking for or have a keen interest in. And, best of all, it is all free-of-charge and can be used in classrooms around the country and the world for that matter. Thus, the GWCC Kid’s Corner is a hot spot for any and all youngsters and educators from any and all walks of life who want to both expand the breadth of their science education potential and make it fun and entertaining by the same token. So, the next time you find yourself indoors, be sure to give the GWCC Kid’s Corner a lengthy visit and learn all about the most profound atmospheric and climate issues from around the world as a start. While you are there, test yourself with some of our trivia questions as well. It will be a rewarding and educational experience that you will want to share with anyone and everyone. So, without any more waiting, click here to immerse yourself in the GWCC Kid’s Corner experience. © 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz Reflecting on the Recent Impacts Left Behind by Hurricane Florence (Imagery Credit: WeatherNation)10/5/2018 
DISCUSSION: There is no question that the impacts both prior to, during, and well after the recent landfall of Hurricane Florence along and in the vicinity of the the North Carolina and South Carolina coastlines led to impacts which will forever the lives and memories of millions of people living in these regions of the United States' East Coast. Having said that, there is still much to be learned and gained in a somewhat more positive context from what still clearly is a horrific natural disaster. Attached above is both some first-hand drone footage which was captured and shared by the WeatherNation social media team back on 23 September. In addition, also attached above is a brief video briefing which gives further insights on the aftermath of Hurricane Florence and some thoughts as we look into the future of global tropical cyclone forecasting and improvements thereof.
To learn more about other high-impact social science issues pertaining to weather, climate, and/or environmental topics from around the world, be sure to click here! © 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz 
DISCUSSION: There is no debate that over the last 50 to 60+ years, there has been a dramatic increase in the persistence and determination of the international space and atmospheric science communities to find new, innovative means of conducting both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial research. Among the many ways in which mankind has been able to advance the progress of science has been the advent of the advanced remote sensing era. More specifically, through the introduction of advanced satellite imaging platforms, scientists of various disciplines from around the world have found cutting-edge ways to study various issues in detail they never had before thought possible. Whether it was studying other nearby galaxies and other associated solar systems or even studying convective storms here on planet Earth, higher-resolution satellite and telescoping imagery capabilities have opened brand-new doors to untapped research frontiers.
Thus, it goes without saying that the international science community continues to remain indebted to the people who are most responsible for making such terrestrial and extra-terrestrial imaging advancements possible. Many of which work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or (even more importantly) with the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA). Furthermore, it is that much more appropriate to pay homage to the men and women who continue to work tirelessly day in and day out to help further and progress the continued advancement of global scientific research on the day which happens to be just past the 60th anniversary of the formation of NASA in the earliest hours. NASA is an organization which has continued working along its ongoing mission to break through in discovering more and more about planet Earth and the universe within which it lies. There is no debating the fact that the universe is an ever-changing medium and there are an endless amount of questions and uncertainties which continue to plague the world of science to this day. However, it is always comforting to realize that there is an organization like NASA which is continuing to work towards the goal of unraveling more and more of these deep mysteries about Earth and the universe beyond it. It just goes to show that so long as there are quintessential questions which people are looking for the answers to, there will almost always be researchers which are on the job trying to work such problems out to help try to make science just a little less daunting with every passing day. To learn more about other interesting social science stories in atmospheric, space, and/or climate science from around the world, be sure to click here! © 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz Storm Surge Forecast Outcome Reflections from Hurricane Harvey (credit: Meteorologist Eric Blake)9/1/2018 
DISCUSSION: Even after now being a little over a year past the one-year anniversary of the historic landfall of Hurricane Harvey into the greater southeast Texas region, there are still many things people and meteorologists are learning even as time continues to move on. While it cannot be argued that Hurricane Harvey was not another horrific natural disaster as part of many which occurred through 2017 across the United States, there still were some brighter aspects of the forecast process for this record-breaking storm. First and foremost, it is important to acknowledge the fact that even after a year since Hurricane Harvey devastated many parts of southeast Texas, there are still some positive outcomes to take away from this historic rainfall-producing Gulf of Mexico-born hurricane. In addition, as shown above in the storm surge inundation graphic which was originally generated back in late January 2018 by NWS National Hurricane Center Meteorologist Eric Blake, you can clearly see where the worst storm surge impacts ultimately occurred in association with Hurricane Harvey.
An important piece worth noting (which was brought to attention later on the same day of the original tweeted graphic within the same Twitter conversation which this particular storm surge graphic was posted within), is that it was discovered that Category 4 Hurricane Charley (2004) also did not have any storm surge-related deaths tied to its landfall on the west coast of Florida in and around the city of Punta Gorda, Florida. Nevertheless, this is a GREAT accomplishment on the part of both local National Weather Service (NWS) weather forecast offices (WFO) along with the NWS National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast office to generate and well-advertise such effective and early-on advanced warning messages to the general public. This increased communication efficiency on the part of both local NWS WFOs, the NWS NHC, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and others likely helped to spread out the seriousness of the impending threat heading their way in the form of Hurricane Harvey. This net result goes to show that taking action (which many people did in advance of Hurricane Harvey regardless of whether it meant stocking up, boarding up, or evacuating) nearly always has a high degree of correlation with there being a greater likelihood for survival. So, just another example for how doing even the little things can make a BIG difference out ahead of an incoming tropical cyclone threat. Also, always be sure to have a plan in place well in advance of any storm that may threaten your region during this or any future tropical cyclone season, since the majority of problems which the average people run into involves rushed last-minute preparations which can be costly both with respect to personal finances and the net loss of life. Thus, the moral of the story from this discussion and the minimal loss of life directly due to storm surge-related impacts is to always heed the advice and messages being directed to you by NWS and/or NWS NHC forecasters since it may possibly save your life one day. To learn more about other social science stories connected to atmospheric and climate science from around the world, be sure to click here! © 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz 
DISCUSSION: Over the past few decades, there has continue to be a rather heated global debate between global energy companies and various atmospheric as well as energy scientists from around the world on what the future holds in store for man-kind here on Earth. There is no question that man-kind’s future remains in question due to the consistent monthly, annual, and even decadal increases in global energy demands. This can primarily be attributed to the faster-paced lifestyles which hundreds of millions of people are becoming increasingly more and more used to with time because of how communication and interactions continue to evolve with time between people.
Having said that, regardless of how the world, communication, and energy demands evolve, there is still a major need to address these global energy problems before they grow to an extent at which humanity would not be able to fix it. For starters, the first step in solving a problem is recognizing in the first place that there is a problem which needs to be fixed. Thus, through establishing that there is a developing global energy crisis, one can begin to work to find days to solve in through various methods. Among the various methods by which this can be accomplished, some researchers over at the University of California-Berkeley, there has been in-depth research focused on evaluating how and to what extent ultraviolet radiation from the Earth’s Sun and outgoing long-wave radiation emanating from the Saharan Desert may help to power the world’s energy needs. Attached below is an exact excerpt from the article written by Dr. Mehran Moalem from the University of California-Berkeley who is an expert on Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Fuel Cycle which helps to explain his findings in the context of energy extraction for various global energy needs from the Saharan Desert. “Now, if we cover an area of the Earth 335 kilometers by 335 kilometers with solar panels, even with moderate efficiencies achievable easily today, it will provide more than 17.4 TW power. This area is 43,000 square miles. The Great Saharan Desert in Africa is 3.6 million square miles and is prime for solar power (more than twelve hours per day). That means 1.2% of the Sahara Desert is sufficient to cover all of the energy needs of the world in solar energy. There is no way coal, oil, wind, geothermal or nuclear can compete with this. The cost of the project will be about five trillion dollars, one-time cost at today's prices without any economy of scale savings.” Thus, it goes without saying that there are most certainly ways that man-kind have work to solve global energy problems and mitigate stresses on remaining non-renewable Earth resources. It is just a matter of figuring out what the world’s priorities are and what sort of condition we aspire Earth to be in for years, decades, centuries, and millennia to come. To learn more about this particular story, click on the following link! To learn more about other interesting social science issues and scientific topics thereof, be sure to click here! © 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz  DISCUSSION: As we get deeper into the summer of 2018, there is no question that one of the top forecasting and logistical issues tied to summer weather events is the seasonal concerns tied to both flooding and flash flooding events. In the day and age that we all live in now, it is not unheard of to hear the phrase “We are running late and need to get there soon.” However, there are certainly some situations in life which many people would wish that they did not live out that thought-process to its fullest possible extent. More specifically, during the Spring and even more so during the Summer-time months, the increased potential for both flooding and flash flooding events makes for an even more dangerous situation when it comes to impatient and/or impulsive drivers.
Many people always tend to live by the philosophy best characterized as “Oh, how bad could it be?” or “Really, it does not look that bad down this road?” However, it is precisely statements such as those which often will cause the worst situations one can possibly put themselves in when it comes to dealing with heavy rainfall-induced floodwaters. When it comes to approaching flooded roadways during and/or just after the conclusion of very heavy rainfall events, it is imperative to respect the natural power of the rushing water along a flooded roadway. To be more precise, it has been estimated that approximately six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and potential stalling. Moreover, it is also estimated that roughly a foot of water can typically float most vehicles and then two feet of rushing water will carry away most vehicles in most situations. Thus, if you are ever faced with the decision for whether to pass across or near a flooded roadway, always be sure to make the smart decision to navigate around such roadway(s) and simply find a nearby detour. This way you can always make the smarter decision to avoid putting yourself in any sort of life-threatening situation that you may not be able to escape from. Thus, always do the smart thing, and “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” To learn more about other stories within weather and/or climate tied to social science, be sure to click here! © 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz Building a Relationship between Future Climate Change and Allergies (credit: Climate Central)6/3/2018  DISCUSSION: As the spring 2018 season continues to get into full-swing, one of the premiere nuisances among a large portion of the general public both across the United States and around the world is the prevalence of various types of pollen. In the presence of a gradually warming average global temperature and an evolving global climate regime from season-to-season, there is a corresponding threat for both earlier and lengthier allergy seasons.
In the presence of a gradually warming planet, warmer temperatures will often allow for various types of plants and foliage to bloom at an earlier date than is climatologically normal. Therefore, with an earlier flowering date, many types of plants and flowers will often produce greater amounts of pollen starting from an earlier date in a given year. Hence, under such scenarios, an earlier and a longer Spring would cause more pronounced health issues for people who suffer from nasty allergies to tree pollen, dust, ragweed, and other types of foliage-borne air pollutants as well. As far as how location may affect the magnitude of the impacts from pollen on society, some recent studies have been conducted to study this exact issue and there have been some big findings which are detailed below as found in the article shared by the Climate Central team on Twitter. Here is the exact snippet from the piece courtesy of Climate Central: “However, the increase in pollen is not consistent across all locations. One study measured pollen at 50 sampling stations in the U.S. between 1994 and 2010. The researchers found that the total amount of pollen in the air was increasing and that the pollen season was getting longer — even more so in northern locations. Another aspect of climate change is that plant species are shifting. This introduces different types of pollen into new locations, possibly triggering new allergies. There is also evidence that the pollen is worse in cities than other areas. Researchers planted ragweed in downtown Baltimore, Md., where CO2 levels were about 30 percent higher and temperatures were 3.5°F higher than outside of the city. They found that ragweed plants grew faster, flowered earlier and produced more pollen than those planted outside of the city.” Hence, this finding with the city of Baltimore, Maryland is one of many cases wherein downtown and more urbanized regions see greater impacts from a longer allergy season. Thus, it would always be good to stay ahead on the seasonal forecast for your region, so you can try to better anticipate when the worst of your allergies may impact your day-to-day life and so you can try to also “escape the sniffles.” To learn more about other stories closely related to this topic and mentioned in the original article referenced by Climate Central, click here, here, and here! To learn more about other interesting social science stories and topics from around the world, click here: https://www.globalweatherclimatecenter.com/social-sciences! © 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz Rain: The Natural Remedy for a Better Rest (Credit: Verywell Mind, Health, Live Science, Daily Mail)4/30/2018 DISCUSSION: Take a moment to recall falling asleep on a rainy night. Did you feel frightened and uneasy or relaxed and clear-headed? If you fall under the second category of relaxed and clear-headed, you’re not alone! So, the question becomes ‘why have so many people found it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep when it’s raining outside?’ As you can imagine, there is some really cool science behind the answer.  Image: A woman sleeping peacefully Well, it all stems from autonomic nervous system(ANS) activity. Also known as the fight-or-flight instinct or threat-activated vigilance system, ANS is a protective mechanism in the brain that determines whether not a situation is dangerous and requires you to go into defense mode. In turn, it helps determine when the fear response is appropriate. Now, imagine you’re about to fall asleep and you are startled by a loud, abrupt noise like a siren. The vigilance system will cause your brain to interpret that sound as a threat which yields increased heart rate, causes you to become tense, and makes it harder to fall asleep. Contrarily, the sound of rain is perceived as a calming non-threat and therefore assists in the sleeping process.
There is additional research from Pennsylvania State University that further explains this process. Specifically, it found that you are more susceptible to wake-up from sudden noises out of your control than from sounds that gradually increase in volume. Since rain water gradually varies in volume and blocks out noises the brain considers threats, it relaxes your fight instincts and allows your brain to focus more on sleep. Whether you suffer from insomnia or are just having a hard time falling asleep on a given night, remember that the rain has a natural restorative effect on your psyche, and may be the solution to sleeping through the night. As we end April, expect to see more springtime showers. Here’s to a good night’s rest! To learn about more connections between the weather and social sciences, click here. © 2018 Weather Forecaster Amber Liggett How To Resolve Severe Weather Anxiety Issues (credit: NOAA National Weather Service, WeatherTap)4/27/2018 
DISCUSSION: Through the course of both the Spring-time and Summer-time months, there is a threat for a combination of severe weather event outbreaks and/or tropical cyclone events. Having said that, along with the threat of severe weather events and/or tropical cyclone events, comes an inherent threat associated with the natural dangers associated with such atmospheric phenomena. The threat of severe storms and tropical cyclones alone can often intimidate many people into a state where they are left feeling helpless and not knowing what to do during any period of time leading up to such an event. Thus, many people will often talk to mental health professionals about such issues or work to seek out someone or some resource which could help alleviate the headaches tied to worrying about such threats.
However, in thinking about such issues, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) has created a platform to help people that contend with issues pertaining to storm anxiety and provides suggestions for people who suffer from such fears. It is worth noting that a fear of storms and the natural danger tied to them is a completely natural part of life as severe weather can produce some of the greatest natural threats to life and property that exist on Earth. Thus, the link to this resource provided by the NOAA NWS which is attached above provides some great tips and pointers for dealing with this terrible problems with plagues many people all over the world every day. To learn more about other interesting issues pertaining to social science application to weather and climate, be sure to click here! © 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz |
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