The Science of Extreme Weather

The range of extreme weather around the planet; considering why Earth has weather at all; Professor Snodgrass introduces basic features of the atmosphere that lead to severe weather; he outlines the goals of his study, which include preparedness.

The origin of Earth's variability in air temperature; how it also explains the seasons; the highest and lowest temperatures on the planet; the locations with the greatest difference between highs and lows; encountering the deadliest weather on Earth.

A demonstration of the power of air pressure; the ability of changing pressure to produce clouds; how fluctuations in air pressure play a role in all weather, propelling everything from the winds of a tornado to the speeds of the jet stream.

Severe weather is driven by water's ability to change phase, with energy being released during the transition between phases; calculating the amount of energy brewing in a typical thunderstorm; studying cases of extreme humidity, rain and fog.

The advanced technology that revolutionizes extreme weather forecasting; how radar improves the prediction of tornadic thunderstorms; Doppler radar images in forecasts; learning how this tracking tool works.

Seeing how different types of weather satellites chart large-scale extreme weather systems in daylight and darkness; comparing two nearly identical hurricanes in 1900 and 2008 to highlight the life-saving capability of orbiting weather stations.