loader from loading.io

Why twisters target the United States

PNAS Science Sessions

Release Date: 09/03/2024

Long-term impact of wildfire smoke pollution show art Long-term impact of wildfire smoke pollution

PNAS Science Sessions

Nationwide effects of smoke-related air pollution Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Kai Chen explains the nationwide health effects of smoke-related fine particulate matter air pollution. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00]...

info_outline
Indigenous communities and subsistence whale hunting show art Indigenous communities and subsistence whale hunting

PNAS Science Sessions

Indigenous hunting and beluga populations Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Max Friesen, Eline Lorenzen, and Mikkel Skovrind explore beluga population dynamics in relation to subsistence hunting by Indigenous communities in northern...

info_outline
Perceiving musical boundaries show art Perceiving musical boundaries

PNAS Science Sessions

The neuroscience of music perception Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Petri Toiviainen, Ibi Burunat, and Daniel Levitin describe the neuroscience of how musicians and non-musicians perceive boundaries within pieces of music. In this...

info_outline
How python hearts grow and shrink show art How python hearts grow and shrink

PNAS Science Sessions

How python hearts grow and shrink Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Leslie Leinwand, of the University of Colorado in Boulder, and Claudia Crocini, of Charité – Berlin University of Medicine in Germany, describe how the hearts of...

info_outline
Neighborhood travel and racial segregation show art Neighborhood travel and racial segregation

PNAS Science Sessions

How people travel to racially different neighborhoods Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Mario Small talks about patterns of people's travel to neighborhoods racially different than their home neighborhood. In this episode, we cover:...

info_outline
Ocean voyages and disease spread show art Ocean voyages and disease spread

PNAS Science Sessions

How pathogen stowaways traversed the oceans Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Jamie Lloyd-Smith and Elizabeth Blackmore describe how they modeled the epidemiology of pathogens on ocean voyages. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00]...

info_outline
Why twisters target the United States show art Why twisters target the United States

PNAS Science Sessions

Why “Tornado Alley” is unique to North America Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Funing Li and Dan Chavas explain why North America produces many tornadoes each year and South America does not. In this episode, we cover:...

info_outline
Creating culturally inclusive schools show art Creating culturally inclusive schools

PNAS Science Sessions

Creating culturally inclusive school environments Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Stephanie Fryberg, Hazel Markus, and Laura Brady explore how to create culturally inclusive environments in schools. In this episode, we cover:...

info_outline
How redlining affects biodiversity show art How redlining affects biodiversity

PNAS Science Sessions

How redlining affects biodiversity Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Cesar Estien explores the legacy of mid-20th century redlining through the biodiversity of disadvantaged neighborhoods. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00]...

info_outline
Animal's eye view of the ocean show art Animal's eye view of the ocean

PNAS Science Sessions

Animal’s eye view of the ocean Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, researchers use animal-borne video cameras to explore foraging behaviors of animals in the open ocean. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[00:46]...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Why “Tornado Alley” is unique to North America

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Funing Li and Dan Chavas explain why North America produces many tornadoes each year and South America does not.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[01:01] Weather and climate scientist Funing Li talks about the frequency of tornadoes within and outside of the United States.
•[01:25] Li explains the geography of severe thunderstorm hotspots in North and South America.
•[02:46] Weather and climate scientist Dan Chavas and Li describe how they became interested in the effect of surface geography on tornadoes.
•[05:13] Li and Chavas explain their modeling approach.
•[07:23] Li and Chavas talk about why surface roughness is important for tornado formation.
•[08:14] Chavas and Li describe the implications of the study, including effects of climate change and insights into paleoclimate.
•[09:43] Caveats and limitations of the study.
•[10:26] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Funing Li
Postdoctoral associate
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dan Chavas
Associate professor
Purdue University

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2315425121

Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs!

Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast 

Follow PNAS:
Twitter/X
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter