Guest: Chris Van Arsdale, Google Climate & Energy Research Lead

Wildfires aren’t just a summer problem anymore. This past January, California faced an unusual and intense wildfire outbreak, with flames ripping through communities and forcing thousands to evacuate. What if we could catch wildfires in their earliest stages, before they spiral out of control? That’s the goal of Google’s FireSat, a revolutionary satellite system designed to spot fires as small as a campfire and deliver updates every 20 minutes. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re talking to Chris Van Arsdale, a leader behind the FireSat project, about how it all works and how they are using AI to help the firefight before it even starts

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Wildfire Challenges and Firesat
2. 03:10 Chris Van Arsdale's Journey to Google and Climate Research
3. 06:09 Understanding the Firesat Satellite System
4. 09:01 Operational Use and Future of Firesat
5. 11:48 The Role of Google in Wildfire Detection
6. 15:06 Machine Learning and Data Challenges in Fire Detection
7. 18:10 Implications for Firefighting Strategies
8. 20:52 Future Data Applications Beyond Fire Detection
9. 23:58 Global Interest and Collaboration on Firesat
10. 26:49 Environmental and Security Considerations
11. 29:59 Sustainability and Future Launch Plans for Firesat
12. 32:50 Global Applications and Community Engagement
13. 35:56 Final Thoughts on Firesat's Impact

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Guests: Nelson & Louis Tucker

When it comes to tornadoes, getting close is both the goal and the danger. For decades, scientists have relied on radar, storm chasers, and ground-based instruments to study these violent storms. But what if we could send something right into the heart of a developing tornado? Maybe something small, nimble, and packed with sensors? That’s the mission behind the OTUS Project. Using cutting-edge drone technology, this team is pushing the boundaries of what we can safely and accurately observe from inside tornadic storms. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re joined by members of the OTUS Project to talk about how UAVs are changing the way we study tornadoes, what it’s like to deploy them in the field, and how this data could lead to better forecasts and ultimately, save lives.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to the Otus Project
2. 01:37 Personal Journeys into Meteorology
3. 06:12 Understanding Tornadoes: The Need for Data
4. 10:17 Drone Technology in Tornado Research
5. 14:59 A Day in the Life of a Tornado Chase
6. 19:39 Challenges and Risks in the Field
7. 21:32 First Experiences Inside a Tornado
8. 24:50 Collaborations and Data Sharing
9. 26:34 Measuring Wind Inside Tornadoes
10. 30:19 Choosing Storms and Navigating Obstacles
11. 32:12 Regulatory Hurdles and Networking
12. 34:17 Future Aspirations for the Otus Project

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Guest: Dr. Brian Bledsoe, University of Georgia

When a hurricane makes landfall, we expect the strongest impacts to hit the coast. But Hurricane Helene proved that the story doesn’t end there. With hurricane-force winds reaching more than 350 miles inland, this storm challenged the way we think about extreme weather risk. Are we truly prepared for the full reach of a hurricane, not just this decade but for centuries to come? Today on Weather Geeks, we’re joined by Dr. Brian Bledsoe from the University of Georgia, who is an expert on infrastructure and making future building more resilient. There are many opportunities to build back better, smarter, and safer after these events happen, and hopefully strive to not have to rebuild in the same places over and over. From infrastructure challenges to communication gaps, we’ll explore what needs to change to keep these communities—both coastal and inland—safe.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Understanding Hurricane Helene's Impact
2. 04:58 Assessing Infrastructure Resilience
3. 15:11 Lessons Learned from Hurricane Helene
4. 28:02 Addressing Multiple Natural Disasters
5. 40:00 The Importance of Comprehensive Infrastructure Planning

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