Logo
    Search

    Why Melting Ice In Antarctica Is Making Hurricanes Worse In Texas

    en-usMay 31, 2023

    Podcast Summary

    • The Impact of Climate Change on Hurricanes and CommunitiesClimate change affects hurricanes and communities in unexpected ways, like melting glaciers impacting hurricane protection in Texas. It's a global problem requiring a global response.

      Climate change is having a far-reaching impact on hurricanes and the communities they affect, even in unexpected ways. For instance, the melting of a glacier in Antarctica is making it harder to protect people in Texas and other coastal areas from hurricanes. This connection might not be immediately obvious, but it's crucial to understanding the complex relationship between climate change and extreme weather events. The BBC, as a trusted source of information, helps us explore these connections and broaden our perspective. So, as hurricane season begins, it's essential to remember that climate change is not just an issue for those directly affected by extreme weather events; it's a global problem that requires a global response. Stay informed and stay curious. That's the power of the BBC.

    • The destructive power of nature and the resilience of those affectedThe great storm of 1900 in Galveston, Texas, destroyed homes and lives but didn't break the spirit of the community. Rebuilding and perseverance were the keys to survival and thriving.

      The destructive power of nature, as depicted in the harrowing account of the great storm of 1900 in Galveston, Texas, serves as a reminder of the resilience and endurance of those affected. June Collins Pulliam's great aunt, Annie Smizer McCullough, shared her firsthand experience of the storm, which destroyed their family home. Despite the terror and loss, the family rebuilt and continued to thrive in Galveston. This historical event underscores the importance of resilience and the ability to bounce back from adversity. Moreover, this podcast episode was sponsored by Integrative Therapeutics, a company offering clinician-curated supplements, including Cortisol Manager, now available on Amazon. These supplements aim to help individuals unlock their best selves and manage their health. Galveston's history of overcoming natural disasters serves as an inspiration for us all to face challenges and persevere.

    • Galveston's historic seawall no longer sufficient due to sea level riseGalveston's historic seawall, built over a century ago, is no longer enough to protect the city from storm surges caused by sea level rise. New solutions are needed to ensure safety and protection.

      The historic seawall in Galveston, Texas, built over a century ago to protect the city from storm surges, is no longer sufficient due to accelerating sea level rise caused by climate change. The wall, which is 17 feet high and 10 miles long, was once hailed as a solution to hold back the ocean forever. However, Galveston has already experienced 2 feet of sea level rise, making the wall too small to withstand a major hurricane. Engineers are now facing the challenge of protecting the city for another 100 years, as the wall's effectiveness is diminishing. The wall, which is a major tourist attraction and houses many condos and hotels, was built before the understanding of human-caused climate change. Therefore, new solutions must be explored to ensure the safety and protection of Galveston in the face of rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms.

    • Understanding Future Sea Level Rise in Galveston, TexasScientists are actively studying the uncertainty of future sea level rise in Galveston, Texas, due to ice sheet melting in Antarctica. Researchers are working to reduce this uncertainty to help design effective sea defenses.

      The future sea level rise in Galveston, Texas, is uncertain due to the melting ice sheets in Antarctica. Scientists are actively studying this phenomenon, but there is still a significant amount of uncertainty regarding how much sea levels will rise in the next century. This uncertainty is partly due to the unpredictability of human greenhouse gas emissions and the complex mechanics of how ice sheets react to warmer temperatures. Researchers like Erin Pettit are on the ice sheets, measuring cracks and trying to understand how quickly they will splinter and release fresh water into the ocean. The implications of this research are huge for the people designing sea defenses in Galveston, as melting ice in West Antarctica can disproportionately affect the Texas coast. Despite the challenges, scientists are working tirelessly to reduce this uncertainty and provide accurate predictions to help protect communities from future storms.

    • Sea level rise in unexpected placesCities far from melting ice caps, like Galveston, could experience greater sea level rise due to ocean currents and gravity, necessitating large-scale infrastructure projects to adapt.

      Cities like Galveston, which are far from melting ice caps, may experience even greater sea level rise than those closer to the ice due to gravity and ocean currents. This is counterintuitive but a major concern for scientists, who believe that the melting ice could disrupt a major Atlantic ocean current, leading to even faster sea level rise on the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. Galveston is taking action with a $34 billion plan to fortify its seawall and build new infrastructure, but the project acknowledges the uncertainty of how quickly and dramatically the planet will change. The Army Corps of Engineers is designing adaptable solutions, including dunes, gates, and sections of walls that can be easily raised in the future. However, the project is the largest civil works project ever undertaken by the corps, underscoring the urgency and potential impact of sea level rise.

    • The importance of preparedness and adaptation in the face of climate changeRemembering past disasters while maintaining optimism and resilience is crucial for effective disaster recovery, but it's essential to critically evaluate our societal attitudes towards preparedness and adaptation.

      The history of natural disasters, like the great storm of 1900, serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and adaptation in the face of climate change. The song "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" by Sin Killer Griffin, which has been covered numerous times since its creation in the aftermath of the storm, embodies this idea of remembering past disasters while maintaining optimism and resilience. The changing interpretations of the song over time reflect the current societal attitudes towards disaster recovery. However, it's essential to consider whether this optimism is blind or if we're truly learning from history. The episode, produced by Liz Metzger, edited by Rebecca Ramirez, fact-checked by Rebecca Herscher, and featuring the voices of Beth Donovan and Anya Grundmann, encourages us to reflect on the balance between acknowledging the past and moving forward.

    • BlackRock CEO Discusses Investment Challenges and SolutionsBlackRock CEO Larry Fink shares insights on investment challenges and the role of global capital markets in addressing them, while ezCater supports restaurants with ordering, budgeting, and invoice payment services.

      BlackRock's CEO, Larry Fink, discussed the challenges investors face in areas like retirement, and how global capital markets can provide solutions. Meanwhile, ezCater offers support for over 100,000 restaurants nationwide, along with budgeting tools and payment by invoice. For those interested in market insights and BlackRock's perspective on current economic trends, check out The Bid podcast. Fink's episode provides valuable information on the investment landscape and the role of global capital markets in addressing various challenges. Overall, it's an interesting intersection of finance and technology, with ezCater simplifying restaurant ordering and management, and BlackRock offering insights into the investment world.

    Recent Episodes from Short Wave

    Move Over Norse Mythology, There's A New Loki In Town — A Dinosaur

    Move Over Norse Mythology, There's A New Loki In Town — A Dinosaur
    A brand new species of ceratops, or horned dinosaur, was recently discovered in northern Montana. The dinosaur is called Lokiceratops rangiformis, after the Norse god Loki, and is believed to have lived roughly eighty million years ago. The bones of the plant-eating dinosaur were found on private land in an area well known for its large amount of fossils, and at first, researchers thought the bones belonged to another species of dinosaur!

    Want to hear more about dinosaurs or other paleontological discoveries? Email us at shortwave@npr.org to let us know. We'd love to hear from you!

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Short Wave
    en-usJune 28, 2024

    The Human Brain Is Hardwired To Recognize Faces. But What If You Can't?

    The Human Brain Is Hardwired To Recognize Faces. But What If You Can't?
    Humans are hardwired to see faces — even in inanimate objects. We have a lima bean-shaped part of our brains dedicated to facial recognition. But this process isn't always straightforward. Science journalist Sadie Dingfelder is one of 10 million Americans who are face blind, or struggle to recognize the faces of people they know. In her new book, Do I Know You? she dives into this, as well as the science of memory and imagination.

    Want more episodes on the wonder of the human brain? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Short Wave
    en-usJune 26, 2024

    Some Stars Explode As They Die. We Look At Their Life Cycle

    Some Stars Explode As They Die. We Look At Their Life Cycle
    This summer, scientists have their eyes and telescopes trained on the small constellation system T Coronae Borealis. They think it will explode as part of a periodic nova — a once-in-a-lifetime event according to NASA scientists. And so, with the help of astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance, we continue our journey farther and deeper into spacetime with a look at the stars: How they're born and how they die. Sarafina has always been drawn to one particular star: Betelgeuse, a red supergiant in the shoulder of the constellation Orion that is nearing the end of its life. What stages of life did Betelgeuse — or any star — go through before it reached this moment?

    This episode is part of our series Space Camp — all abut the weird, wonderful phenomena in our universe. Check it out here: https://npr.org/spacecamp

    Curious about the night sky? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you!

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Short Wave
    en-usJune 25, 2024

    Earth Is More Than A Planet With Life On It. It's A "Living Planet"

    Earth Is More Than A Planet With Life On It. It's A "Living Planet"
    About ten years ago, science writer Ferris Jabr started contemplating Earth as a living planet rather than a planet with life on it. It began when he learned that the Amazon rainforest doesn't simply receive the rain that defines it; rather, it helps generate that rain. The Amazon does that by launching bits of biological confetti into the atmosphere that, in turn, seed clouds. After learning this, he began looking for other ways life changes its environment. That led to his new book Becoming Earth: How Our Planet Came to Life. He talks to host Regina G. Barber about examples of life transforming the planet — from changing the color of the sky to altering the weather.

    Have a story about the environment you'd like us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Short Wave
    en-usJune 24, 2024

    We're In For A Brutal Hurricane Season, According To Predictions

    We're In For A Brutal Hurricane Season, According To Predictions
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a record number of hurricanes this season, which began on June 1 and runs through Nov. They're forecasting anywhere from 17 to 25 storms in the Atlantic basin, including at least four major hurricanes. Scientists think this storm activity could be due to strong winds, warmer ocean temperatures and a scientific mystery unfolding in the Atlantic.

    Questions about hurricanes or other weather disasters? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to consider it for a future episode!

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Short Wave
    en-usJune 21, 2024

    What 'Inside Out 2' Got Right About Anxiety, Per A Psychologist

    What 'Inside Out 2' Got Right About Anxiety, Per A Psychologist
    Pixar's new movie, Inside Out 2 came out Friday. It's the sequel to the 2015 movie Inside Out, which follows the life of 11-year-old Riley and her family as they move to San Francisco. In Inside Out 2, Riley is 13 and thriving in her new city. She has friends and is a star on her hockey team. But when puberty hits one night, four new emotions come into play: Envy, Ennui, Embarrassment and most of all, Anxiety.

    Clinical psychologist and Inside Out 2 consultant Lisa Damour says the movie is surprisingly accurate when it comes to experiencing anxiety and puberty. Plus, she offers some guidance to help make the most of our anxiety.

    Have other pop culture science you want us to decode? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to consider it for a future episode!

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Short Wave
    en-usJune 19, 2024

    Pluto Isn't A Planet — But It Gives Us Clues For How The Solar System Formed

    Pluto Isn't A Planet — But It Gives Us Clues For How The Solar System Formed
    Pluto hasn't been a planet for almost 20 years. In the early 2000s, scientists discovered several objects of a similar size to Pluto. So, during the summer of 2006, members of the International Astronomical Union convened in Prague to reconsider what counts as a planet in our solar system. IAU members decided that there were three criteria to be a planet — and Pluto did meet all of them.

    But planetary scientist Wladymir Lyra says that even though it was downgraded to a dwarf planet, Pluto still has much to teach us about planet formation. This episode, he also lays out his case for Pluto — and many other objects in the solar system — to be considered a planet.

    This episode is part of Short Wave's space camp series about all the weird, wonderful things happening in the universe. Check out the full series.

    Questions about the state of our universe or smaller happenings here on planet Earth? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to consider it for a future episode!

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Short Wave
    en-usJune 18, 2024

    Inheriting: Leah & Japanese American Incarceration

    Inheriting: Leah & Japanese American Incarceration
    Hey, Short Wavers! Today, we're sharing a portion of Inheriting, an 8-part limited series hosted by Emily Kwong about Asian American and Pacific Islander family history. In this excerpt, we follow the story of Leah Bash.

    Leah is an avid runner, a dog mom, a wife – and there's a part of her family's history she can't stop thinking about. Both sides of her family were incarcerated during WWII, alongside 125,000 other Japanese Americans. After Leah learns about her father's struggles with panic attacks and is herself diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she starts to wonder: Could those experiences at camp have far-reaching consequences decades later?

    Listen to Inheriting and check out the show's resource guide for more information on getting personal with the past.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Short Wave
    en-usJune 15, 2024

    Why You Shouldn't Worry About Invasive Joro Spiders

    Why You Shouldn't Worry About Invasive Joro Spiders
    Joro spiders are spreading across the east coast. They are an invasive species that most likely arrived in shipping containers from eastern Asia. Today, we look into why some people find them scary, why to not panic about them and what their trajectory illustrates about the wider issue of invasive species.

    Questions? You can also email those to shortwave@npr.org.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Short Wave
    en-usJune 14, 2024

    Related Episodes

    Case # 165a: Climate Change: Is it too late?

    Case # 165a: Climate Change: Is it too late?

    Case # 165b: Climate Change: Is it too late?

    The hosts have a existential crisis over the future of humanity. Join in as Ood guides everyone through the evidence of climate change happening on a mass and rapid scale. Let us look into the inevitable future that is paved before all of us.

    -Sponsored by-

    Our Patrons at http://www.patreon.com/ovpod

    https://www.ovpod.ca/

    Case # 165b: Climate Change: Is it too late?

    Case # 165b: Climate Change: Is it too late?

    Classification: [Controversial Topics]

     

    Our crisis continues as we map out the future of the oceans, life, agriculture, glaciers, costal cities, the food supply, humanity, happiness, life as we know it. Then, to tie a bow on climate change, an interview with PhD candidate Anastasia Shavrova

     

    -Sponsored by-

    Our Patrons at http://www.patreon.com/ovpod

     

    https://www.ovpod.ca/