All programs begin at 7pm unless otherwise indicated, and we encourage you to connect early and come with questions!

Tuesday, January 14th, 2025, at 7:00pm: An Overview of the Northeast Regional Climate Center
Arthur DeGaetano, Director of the Northeast Regional Climate Center; Director of Undergraduate Studies for Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University  

The Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC), located in Ithaca, New York, facilitates and enhances the collection, dissemination and use of climate data and information, as well as monitors and accesses climatic conditions and impacts across the Northeastern United States. Join Director Arthur DeGaetano for an overview of the NRCC and a demonstration of some of the tools that the center has developed that feature Mount Washington data. We’ll also learn about current NRCC projects and datasets that further the economic efficiency and general welfare of public and private institutions and individuals in the region.  

Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 7:00pm: Meteorology and the Law: The History and Science of Forensic Meteorology
Alicia Wasula, Ph.D., Certified Consulting Meteorologist, President, STM Weather 

While most people think of meteorologists as scientists who spend their time looking forward into the future to make a forecast, forensic meteorologists spend their time looking backward at weather events that have already occurred. Many types of litigation involve the weather in some way: personal injury, property damage claims, wrongful death, and even criminal cases. Forensic meteorologists are retained by attorneys as ‘expert witnesses’ to explain to them and to the court what the weather conditions were like relating to a particular incident. Sometimes, expert meteorologists must give opinions as to how the weather conditions played a role in the particular event involved in the lawsuit. Observational data from many sources, including CoCoRaHS observers, is synthesized into a chronology of weather events. Although many cases settle outside of court, forensic meteorologists are at times required to appear in court to discuss their research and explain their opinion to a judge or a jury. Many forensic meteorologists hold the AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist certification, which attests to their knowledge, ethics and experience. In addition to conducting scientific analysis, forensic meteorologists must be excellent communicators who are able to explain their findings clearly to non-scientists.

In this webinar, we will discuss the long history of the field of forensic meteorology, learn how observational data is used to understand the meteorological conditions, and look at several interesting examples which demonstrate how forensic meteorologists help attorneys understand the weather as it relates to a specific case.

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, at 7:00pm: Climate Resilience in Boston: Addressing the Impacts of Flooding and Rising Temperatures
Zoe Davis, Senior Climate Resilience Project Manager; Catherine McCandless, Senior Climate Resilience Project Manager; Boston Office of Climate Resilience 

Boston experiences the effects of climate change on a daily basis, with rising sea levels, stronger storms, and hotter days posing an increasing threat to the city. The City of Boston released the Climate Ready Boston report in 2016 and has since completed coastal resilience plans for Boston’s entire 47-mile coastline as well as a citywide heat resilience plan. Today, the Office of Climate Resilience and its partners in other City departments are implementing climate resilience projects across the city to address coastal flooding, stormwater flooding, and extreme heat. This presentation/webinar will share an overview of Boston’s climate resilience planning efforts and key projects that are underway to implement strategies presented in the plans. 

Friday, November 15th, 2024, at 6:30pm: You Never Walk Alone in the White Mountains: A Special Screening of “109 BELOW” with Joe Lentini
Joe Lentini, Climbing Guide, New Hampshire Mountain Rescue Service Team Leader (Past Vice President) 

Join professional climbing guide and search and rescue volunteer Joe Lentini for a special presentation and conversation highlighting the vast networks of people keeping recreationalists safe in the White Mountains. Joe will screen the recently released 109 BELOW film that tells a tale of resilience and grit when elite rescue volunteers go out of their way to save the lives of strangers. An attempted rescue on Mount Washington in 1982 changed not only the course of two climbers’ lives, but the lives of the rescuers who attempted to save them — and the future of prosthetics, forever. 

Tuesday, October 29th, 2024, at 7pm: A Day in the Life of a Mount Washington Observatory Weather Observer
Alex Branton, Weather Observer/Education Specialist & Summit Colleagues  

For over 90 years, weather observers at the summit of Mount Washington have endured harsh commutes and conditions, experienced unforgettable natural beauty, and worked tirelessly all in the name of science. Join Weather Observer/Education Specialist Alex Branton and her shift mates for this special Science in the Mountains program where we’ll provide a snapshot of what the “typical” day looks like for our staff on the Northeast’s highest peak. Be sure to bring your questions for an extended Q&A with Alex, and the rest of her shift’s crew.  

Tuesday, September 24th, 2024, at 7pm eastern: Extraterrestrial Weather and Climates Throughout the Solar System
Will Grundy, Ph.D., Astronomer, Lowell Observatory 

This talk will look at atmospheres throughout the solar system, how they vary through time, and how they shape the surfaces of their planets.  From Venus’ hot, dense atmosphere to the thin exospheres of icy satellites and Kuiper belt objects, different chemical and temperature environments produce an incredible diversity of climates, atmospheric phenomena, and influences on surface geology. Join Astronomer Will Grundy from the nonprofit Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona as we explore weather and climate beyond planet Earth!