Guest: Dr. Justin Mankin

When we hear the words El Niño, most of us think about shifting weather patterns—changes in rainfall, warmer winters, or an active hurricane season. But what if one climate pattern could influence far more than the forecast? What if its impacts could ripple through the global economy for years after the event itself has ended? Today on Weather Geeks, we're joined by climate scientist Dr. Justin Mankin, whose research explores the intersection of climate, weather, and society. His groundbreaking 2023 study examined how El Niño doesn't just shape weather around the globe—it can also leave lasting economic consequences that affect countries, industries, and communities long after the atmosphere returns to normal. We'll discuss what the research revealed, why the effects of El Niño can persist for years, and how a changing climate could influence the risks associated with future events. It's a fascinating look at how one of Earth's most familiar climate patterns can have impacts that extend well beyond the weather map.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to El Nino and its Global Impact
2. 01:57 Justin Mankin's Background and Climate Science Journey
3. 05:01 Research Focus: El Nino and Economic Consequences
4. 08:06 Methodology: Using Observations and Causal Inference
5. 11:50 Global Teleconnections and Regional Impacts of El Nino
6. 16:07 Economic Toll of Past Major El Nino Events
7. 21:49 Future El Nino Events and Economic Projections
8. 22:47 Break 1
9. 22:52 Regional Variations in El Nino's Economic Effects
10. 35:00 Climate Change, El Nino, and Warming Trends
11. 35:16 Break 2
12. 35:17 Applying Research to Future Climate Resilience Strategies

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Guest: Kevin Roth

We all love to think that the outcome of a game comes down to talent, strategy, and maybe a little luck. But there’s another player on the field that nobody can control: the weather. Wind can turn a routine fly ball into an adventure, heat and humidity can test athletes and fans, and a thunderstorm can send an entire stadium scrambling for cover. So how much can weather actually influence the game—and what should fans know before they head to the stadium? Today, we’re talking to Kevin Roth, a sports meteorologist who lives right at the intersection of weather and sports. We’ll talk about forecasting for different sports, how weather affects performance and strategy, and how fans can be better prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws their way.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Kevin Roth and sports meteorology
2. 01:57 How Kevin Rxoth became a weather geek and his background
3. 03:49 The intersection of weather and sports forecasting
4. 07:52 Data analysis in sports weather forecasting
5. 12:04 Challenges of using weather data for player-specific insights
6. 12:39 Break 1
7. 12:40 Impact of stadium microclimates and venue design
8. 19:48 Weather's influence on game strategy and player performance
9. 23:57 Weather considerations in sports betting and fantasy sports
10. 24:40 Break 2
11. 24:41 Adapting forecasts for severe weather and safety concerns
12. 32:02 Career advice for aspiring sports meteorologists
13. 35:46 Future of weather forecasting in sports and technology advancements

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Guest: Dr. Stephen Nesbitt

Five years ago, Dr. Steve Nesbitt joined us to unpack the fundamentals of radar meteorology. Since then, atmospheric science has undergone a massive evolution moving from how we capture severe weather to how we decode it using artificial intelligence and cloud computing. As a UIUC Professor, incoming Associate Dean, and newly named AMS Fellow, Steve has spent his career studying Earth’s most explosive storms. Today, he’s leading a new frontier in meteorology, building open-source tools like Radar DataTree to turn decades of legacy radar files into AI-ready intelligence. We’re sitting down with Steve to catch up on what’s changed since his last visit, how AI is reshaping weather science, and the physics behind the Midwest’s wild tornado season.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
2. 01:05 How Dr. Nesbitt Became a Weather Geek
3. 03:59 AI's Impact on Meteorology and Weather Resilience
4. 06:57 Recent Tornado Trends in Illinois and the Midwest
5. 09:58 Break 1
6. 09:59 Remote Sensing Technologies in Severe Weather Study
7. 15:35 Introduction to Radar Data Tree and Its Applications
8. 20:53 Stakeholder Engagement: Insurance and Water Resources
9. 22:08 Current Research Projects and Urban Resilience
10. 26:17 Break 2
11. 26:17 Future Advances in Satellite and Radar Technology
12. 29:18 Climate Change and Severe Weather Patterns
13. 32:57 The Evolving Role of Academics in Public Engagement
14. 35:51 Resources and Final Thoughts

Resources

• AtmosScale.ai - https://atmoscale.ai
• Ed Zipser - Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,11&qsp=5&q=edward+zipser&qst=ib
• Relampago Project - https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/102/8/BAMS-D-20-0029.1.xml
• Radar Data Tree - https://atmoscale.github.io/radar-datatree/index.html
• NASA Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission - https://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov

Guest links

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/steve-nesbitt-b8a06a54

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