Scientists Discuss the Future of Extreme Weather

Huge thanks to KiwiCo for sponsoring today’s video! Go to https://www.kiwico.com/startalk and use code STARTALK for 50% off your first monthly club crate! How do we predict our planet's most powerful forces? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice learn about extreme weather, hurricanes, coronal mass ejections, and preparing for space storms hurtling our way with NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad. From the potential of Category 6 hurricanes to the most intense solar storms in decades, we’re exploring how NOAA’s models are helping humanity navigate a rapidly changing climate—and its far-reaching impacts. Learn about the effects of latent heat on hurricane intensity, massive ocean-topography shifts, and how warming waters and wetter storms affect storm severity. Hear about NOAA’s essential work in tracking extreme weather events like Hurricane Harvey and Helene, and why rapid intensification matters more than ever. And for our future beyond Earth, find out how NOAA is developing models to anticipate intense solar activity, like coronal mass ejections, which can disrupt everything from satellites to electrical grids. We discuss space weather, climate refugees, and the Argo robot fleets exploring ocean depths for answers. Learn about the Galveston hurricane in 1900 and how technological advancements prevent us from such deadly impacts. Plus, hear about the airplanes and drones that NOAA flies into hurricanes to collect data. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Richard Spinrad 5:09 - Predicting the Weather 10:26 - How Water Intensifies Hurricanes 14:32 - Solar Storms & Coronal Mass Ejections 22:14 - How Good Are We at predicting? 33:40 - The Ocean’s Role in Climate Change 36:43 - Is There Going to be a Category Six? 42:54 - Can You Fly an Airplane Through a Hurricane? 45:36 - AI & Data Collection Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus Get the NEW StarTalk book, 'To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery' on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PL0NFn Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalk About StarTalk: Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson