Why did I become a scientist?

This is a question I love to ask other people – I love to find out why they first embarked on their career, or project, or why they chose a specific degree, etc. Some people have a story you can tell they love to talk about, and some people I’ve asked have kind of just

Natural Hazards: Hurricanes, Typhoons & Cyclones

Ever wondered what the difference is between a hurricane, a typhoon and a cyclone? If so, you’re not the only one! And I can answer this one pretty quickly for you: there’s no difference at all! Hurricane, typhoon and cyclone are all different names for the same natural hazard: tropical cyclones. In the Atlantic, they’re

Storm Chasing & the Science of Tornadoes

Six years ago, I was studying at Oklahoma University in the USA – for my undergrad year abroad. I’d been excited about living and studying in Oklahoma because classes at the OU School of Meteorology took place in the National Weather Centre in Norman, and also because Oklahoma is in the heart of tornado alley. I’ve always been fascinated by storms (more on that another time), and I was really hoping to have the chance to see some supercells or even tornadoes – and tornado alley did not disappoint!