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☆ Lightning Can Strike, but It Can’t Hide From a New Satellite
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Nicholas Bakalar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States has been tracking lightning in North and South America since 2017, using the Geostationary Lightning Mapper aboard the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, known as GOES. “We are able to detect even a single lightning bolt, while GOES can detect only a group of events. And in terms of energy, we can detect weaker lightning strikes.”The data from the imager will be useful in weather prediction, said Carlo Simoncelli, a program manager at Leonardo. Lightning is associated with tornadoes, and there is a large increase in lightning that remains within clouds about a half-hour before a tornado. “But if you look at lightning reflecting over the ocean or just during the daytime, it’s much more difficult.”

Persons: ”, Leonardo S.p.A, Carlo Simoncelli, Leonardo, Lightning, Simoncelli, “, Ms, Pastorini Organizations: Oceanographic, Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Locations: United States, North, South America, Europe, Africa

☆ China's slow AI roll-out points to its tech sector's new regulatory reality
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/3] An AI (Artificial Intelligence) sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. New rules Chinese firms have to comply with range from algorithm vetting to accepting security reviews of data they want to export. They definitely stifle the innovation and slow down the ability of Chinese firms to catch up." A key motivation behind China's reluctance to release AI chatbots is that Beijing fears uncensored chatbots may start influencing societal views in potentially subversive directions, said Mark Natkin, managing director of research firm Marbridge Consulting. "While the U.S. is racing ahead with AI, China is hitting the brakes with more rules."

Persons: Aly, HONG KONG, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Henry Gao, Ernie Bot, Robin Li, Shi, Mark Natkin, Heatherm Huang, Bard, Microsoft's Bing, Xi Jinping, Baidu, Josh Ye, Brenda Goh, Jamie Freed Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, China, Baidu, HK, Ant Group, Western, Singapore Management University, Microsoft, SenseChat, Nomura, Marbridge Consulting, Huawei Technologies, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG, Beijing, Alibaba, Tencent, Hong Kong, U.S

[1/3] Carlos Sandoval and other construction workers work in temperatures that were over 100 degrees F (37 degrees C) as they install new sidewalk infrastructure in downtown Palm Springs, California, U.S. July 11, 2022. In Phoenix, Arizona, the high was expected to reach above 110 F (43 C) for the 13th successive day on Wednesday. "Just stay inside man, just stay in side," Materniak said as his advice for dealing with the heat. Phoenix residents were under "extreme heat risk, (an) increase in heat related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke," the service warned. That air blocks cooler air and storm systems from rolling through the area, so it's "just full sun and heat," he said.

Persons: Carlos Sandoval, Jay Calderon, Drew Materniak, Materniak, Ashton Robinson Cook, Cook, Brendan O'Brien, Rich McKay, Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: USA, Network, REUTERS, National Weather Service, Prediction, Twitter, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Palm Springs , California, U.S, Southern California, South Florida, Vermont, Las Vegas, Phoenix , Arizona, Phoenix, American, In Texas, Texas, Los Angeles County, VERMONT, Montpelier, Vermont's, Chicago, Atlanta

☆ Analysis: China's slow AI roll-out points to its tech sector's new regulatory reality
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

PinnedTorrential rainfall generated widespread flooding across western New England and parts of New York State on Monday, flooding homes and washing away roads and bridges as people were stranded in vehicles. In Vermont, where flooding was expected to intensify throughout the day, officials said about 20 people so far had been rescued by boat, with another two dozen evacuated from homes. And at least one person, a woman in her 30s, died in the flooding in New York’s Hudson Valley, the authorities said. The downpour was generating flash flooding in five counties across northern Vermont, where up to three inches of rain have fallen so far, the Weather Service said. In central Vermont, Addison, Orange, Rutland and Windsor counties are at risk of a flash flood through the early afternoon.

Persons: Steven M, Neuhaus, ”, ABC’s, Mr, John F, Irene, Claire Moses Organizations: New York State, America, National Weather Service, Weather Service, New York, Orange, Kennedy, Boston Logan International Airport, Amtrak, Weather Prediction Locations: New England, New, Vermont, Hudson Valley, Orange County, N.Y, “, Burlington, Addison, Orange, Rutland, Windsor, Hudson, New York, LaGuardia, Boston, New York City, Albany, East

☆ Heavy rains pound US Northeast, with more storms on the way
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 9 (Reuters) - Heavy rainstorms poured over parts of New York and Pennsylvania on Sunday, with first responders rescuing people stuck in vehicles along flooded roadways and with more wet weather on the way for the U.S. Northeast. "Significant flooding in Stony Point - homes and cars - and many people evacuated," he wrote. [1/2]Streets are flooded in Highland Falls, Orange County, U.S., in this video screengrab obtained from social media, July 9, 2023. Melissa Roberts/via REUTERS/File photoCentral Pennsylvania and southern New York bore the brunt of the rain on Sunday. Blocked roads in New York's Orange County, which is home to West Point, prevented rescue teams from reaching isolated people, the New York Times reported, citing a county emergency management official.

Persons: Mike Lawler, Bryan Jackson, screengrab, Melissa Roberts, Jackson, Brendan O'Brien, Daniel Trotta, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S, Weather, Prediction, United States Military Academy, New York Times, Thomson Locations: New York, Pennsylvania, U.S ., . U.S, Hudson Valley, New York City, Stony Point, Hudson, Manhattan, Quakertown, Allentown, Canadian, Ontario, Highland Falls , Orange County , U.S, New England, Burlington , Vermont, West Point , New York, New York's Orange County, West, Chicago, Carlsbad , California

HONG KONG, July 7 (Reuters) - Alibaba Group Holdings (9988.HK) and Huawei Technologies Co on Friday showcased new products, including an artificial intelligence (AI) image generator and an AI model upgrade, as Chinese companies jostle for position in the global AI race. Alibaba Cloud, an Alibaba subsidiary, presented at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai an image generator named Tongyi Wanxiang that will initially be available to enterprise customers in beta form. Also on Friday, Huawei demonstrated the third iteration of its Panggu AI model at the start of its three-day annual developer conference in Dongguan. Alibaba's image generator will compete with OpenAI's DALL-E and Midjourney Inc's Midjourney, U.S.-based rivals that have gained a large following worldwide. Alibaba Cloud emerged from a massive overhaul announced in March that split the Chinese tech major into six units.

Persons: OpenAI, OpenAI's DALL, Inc's Midjourney, Alibaba, Josh Ye, Edmund Klamann, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Alibaba Group Holdings, HK, Huawei Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Huawei, McKinsey, Alibaba, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Shanghai, Dongguan, U.S, Shenzhen

☆ A solar storm is due to hit Earth today, sparking stunning auroras. Here's how to see them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It should be relatively mild but could spark beautiful auroras visible from around the world. NOAA space weather prediction centerHead to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's space weather website for the latest forecast to see if auroras are likely to be visible where you are. As the sun becomes more active, it is more likely to send solar storms our way. Flights are more likely to be rerouted or grounded in bad space weather, for instance, experts previously told Insider. In the meantime, our dependence on satellite infrastructure has increased, and our vulnerability to space weather has therefore increased," said Verscharen.

Persons: —, Daniel Verscharen, auroras, Igor Hoogerwerf, SANKA VIDANAGAMA, It's Organizations: Service, University College London, NOAA, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Mount Cook National, Getty, Royal Photographic Society Locations: Europe, Michigan, Maine, New York, Idaho, Illinois, Oregon, Phoenix , Arizona, Aurora, Mount, Christchurch , New Zealand, AFP

☆ Brutal Heat Wave Is Expected to Spread Across the South
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Livia Albeck-Ripka | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The heat index is a measure of how hot it really feels, when humidity and other factors are considered along with the temperature. Already, the excessive heat has killed three hikers, brutalized workers and caused spikes in ambulance calls and emergency-room visits, as cities caution residents to stay indoors and drink water. As of Tuesday evening, more than 61 million people were under excessive heat warnings or advisories, according to data from the National Weather Service. Forecasters have warned that the relentless heat could continue across much of the South through the weekend. The heat will persist next week, with parts of the Great Lakes, Midwest, Idaho and eastern Washington State expected to be up to 10 degrees above normal, said David Roth, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center of the National Weather Service.

Persons: David Roth Organizations: Northern, San, Weather Service, National Weather Service, Washington State, Weather Locations: Northern California, Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley, Southwest, Arizona , New Mexico, Texas, Lakes, Midwest , Idaho, Washington

Compounding the dangerous effects of the heat wave will be abnormally warm overnight temperatures that will provide little to no relief from the heat, the prediction center said. The heat wave is expected to get worse before it gets better, with no relief in sight before early next week. In the meantime, more than 90 record high temperatures could be broken this week from Texas to Missouri to Florida. The state has been experiencing the heat wave for more than two weeks. Eric Gay/APTemperature records already brokenThe intensifying heat wave has already brought record-breaking temperatures to Texas.

Persons: Wesley Hopkins, ”, Eric Gay, Del, Rodrigo Pineda, Jose Balino, Dorsey, Kaylee Greenlee Beal Organizations: CNN, National Weather Service, Austin EMS, The Texas Department of State Health Services, Dallas, ” New, Del Rio, Central Locations: Arizona, Florida, Dallas , New Orleans, Baton Rouge , Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, Plains, Missouri, Shreveport, Austin , Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, Mississippi, ” New Orleans, Albuquerque, San Antonio, San Angelo, Del Rio, Angelo, Eagle Pass , Texas, Southern Plains

"Much of the (Midwest) region did not see appreciable rainfall. As of June 20, 58% of the Midwest was in moderate drought or worse, the broadest area since 2012, the Drought Monitor data showed. 2 soybean producer in moderate drought or worse. In Illinois, the largest soy grower and second-largest corn producer, moderate drought or worse spanned 82% of the state. Conditions worsened across the eastern half of the High Plains, with 34% of the region in moderate drought or worse.

Persons: climatologists, Karl Plume, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Drought, Drought, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Chicago, of Trade, USDA, Weather, Thomson Locations: North Dakota, Kansas, U.S, Midwest, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Southern Plains, Chicago

☆ Pacific Northwest Starts Sizzling Under Heat Dome
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Wildfires erupted in the western Canadian province of Alberta earlier than usual this season. Photo: Government of Alberta Fire Service/Associated PressMore than 12 million people across the Pacific Northwest are under a weekend heat advisory as unseasonably high temperatures as high as the 90s take hold across the region. A heat dome created by a high pressure area could raise temperatures at least 20 degrees above normal and may worsen wildfires in western Canada, according to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center.

☆ Sick of Bumpy, Delayed Flights? New Weather Tech Could Help.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Julie Weed | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Better data, smarter softwareThe travel industry “cares about getting their weather predictions right because weather affects everything,” said Amy McGovern, director of the National Science Foundation’s A.I. Those better weather predictions rely on a type of artificial intelligence called machine learning, where in essence, a computer program is able to use data to improve itself. In this case, companies create software that uses historical and current weather data to make predictions. In addition, it incorporates satellite and radar reports from sources like the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. Here’s how all this may improve your future trips:Safer and calmer flightsThe skies are getting bumpier.

☆ Northern Lights Are Seen in Places Where They Normally Aren’t
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Livia Albeck-Ripka | Derrick Bryson Taylor | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The sky over an unusually wide swath of the northern hemisphere lit up with a brilliant display of color overnight into Monday morning, dazzling people across North America and Europe. The display was potentially visible as far south as Iowa in the United States, as well as in parts of southern England, scientists said. The phenomena, known as the aurora borealis or northern lights, occurs when particles emitted by the sun collide with particles that are already trapped around Earth’s magnetic field, and can often be seen from parts of Iceland, Canada and Alaska. But on Friday, the sun let off a large burst of energy, said Robert Steenburgh, a space scientist with the Space Weather Prediction Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (These bursts are also known as coronal mass ejections.)

The northern and southern lights, which are usually confined to the Arctic and Antarctica, have generated awe and wonder for centuries. The northern lights were visible over St. Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay, England on Monday. The southern lights glowed over Lake Ellesmere on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand on Monday. Over the next few years, the northern lights might appear further south more regularly, said Robert Massey, executive director at the Royal Astronomical Society. A National Weather Service employee took a photo of the northern lights in Maine on Sunday.

☆ Looming spring storm to spawn blizzards, ice, tornadoes across central U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Other cities potentially in harm's way but at lower risk for tornadoes included Chicago, Nashville, Tennessee, St. Louis, Missouri, Madison, Wisconsin and Des Moines, Iowa. "There's a potential for some very strong tornadoes and some tornadoes that could be on the ground for quite some time, especially in northern Arkansas and western Tennessee," said John Feerick, senior meteorologist at private forecasting service AccuWeather. Feerick said the storm system would intensify through Friday as the sprawling low-pressure system at its core moves farther eastward, drawing up greater moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Dust storm warnings were in effect for portions of the Southern Plains. Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A powerful 'X-class' solar flare just hit Earth. Forecasters are bracing for more sun activity in the coming days.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The sun blasted Earth with a powerful X-class solar flare on Tuesday, causing radio blackouts. Three more moderate solar flares followed, and we could see more eruptions in the coming days. This may be a precursor to even more solar activity in the coming days. NASA/SDOThat report forecast a chance of more M-class flares in the coming days, with a "slight chance" of another X-class flare on Thursday. More often, though, solar activity triggers energetic displays of Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, sometimes pushing them further south than their normal Arctic occurrence.

☆ Giant 'holes' dozens of times the size of our planet are appearing on the sun. Here's how they could affect Earth.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Two huge coronal holes, dozen of times the size of the Earth, have appeared on the sun. These coronal holes can spew solar winds at 1.8 million mph toward our planet, which can cause stunning auroras and disrupt satellites. Coronal holes aren't actually holes in the sunA coronal hole rotates across the face of the sun, streaming solar wind towards Earth, February 1, 2017. Coronal holes happen in the "corona," the atmosphere of the sun, and can only be seen in UV or X-ray light. We could see this month's coronal holes again next monthThe coronal hole came into view as the sun rotated.

☆ The Northern Lights could dazzle the skies from Washington to New York on Friday, blown by winds from a giant 'hole' on the sun
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Chris Panella | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Northern Lights could appear in the skies over some northern US states on Friday. The lights could be dazzling thanks to solar winds blowing from a giant coronal hole on the sun. NOAA/Space Weather Prediction CenterThese solar winds are coming from a giant coronal hole on the sun. As that giant hole spread across the corona, it blasted strong, high-speed solar winds into space, in the direction of Earth. They have previously driven the aurora lights as far south as New York and Idaho.

☆ California braces for next bout of heavy rain, snow and high winds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

High-wind warnings and advisories were posted for a vast region stretching from the Mexico border through Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay area. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an excessive- rainfall notice for much of the Southern California coast, warning of an at least a 40% chance of showers exceeding flash-flood conditions. Heavy showers began drenching the Los Angeles region before dawn and triggered some street flooding but tapered off by early afternoon. Up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of rain was expected in coastal regions and valleys of Southern California, and as much as 6 inches in lower mountains and foothills, the NWS said. Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles.

☆ Biden administration looks to free up wireless spectrum for advanced technology
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Wednesday launched an effort to identify significant wireless spectrum that can be repurposed for advanced technology needs and soaring U.S. wireless demand. The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is developing a National Spectrum Strategy with a goal to identify at least 1,500 megahertz of spectrum to study for potential new uses. The strategy will address current and future spectrum needs, including fixed and mobile wireless broadband, next-generation satellite communications and other space-based systems; advanced transportation; and industrial and commercial applications. Congress last week let the FCC's authority to auction wireless spectrum lapse for the first time in three decades, prompting some lawmakers to quickly restore the authority that has raised more than $200 billion in proceeds for the U.S. government. "We've got 6G networks coming, new mega-constellations of satellites, connected automobiles, the internet of things - all of that demands new uses of spectrum," Davidson said.

The Nor'easter left about 190,000 homes and businesses in New York and New England without power as of Wednesday morning, according PowerOutage.com, a tracking service. In California, about an equal number of customers had no electric service on Wednesday in the wake of the latest in a series of atmospheric river storms to churn through the state this winter. [1/3] A California plate is seen at an area affected by floods after days of heavy rain in Pajaro, California, U.S., March 14, 2023. Along California's coast and lower inland areas, the heavy rain and melting alpine snow triggered renewed flooding from rain-swollen rivers and streams, compromising levees. "It's a little too soon to say for sure if it's another atmospheric river, but the storm is coming," he said.

☆ Biden administration looks to free up wireless spectrum for advance technology needs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Wednesday is launching an effort to identify significant wireless spectrum that can be repurposed for advanced technology needs and soaring U.S. wireless demand. The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is developing a National Spectrum Strategy with a goal to identify at least 1,500 megahertz of spectrum to study for potential new uses. The strategy will address current and future spectrum needs, including fixed and mobile wireless broadband, next-generation satellite communications and other space-based systems; advanced transportation; and industrial and commercial applications. Congress last week let the FCC's authority to auction wireless spectrum lapse for the first time in three decades, prompting some lawmakers to quickly restore the authority that has raised more than $200 billion in proceeds for the U.S. government. "We've got 6G networks coming, new mega-constellations of satellites, connected automobiles, the internet of things - all of that demands new uses of spectrum," Davidson said.

[1/7] Floodwaters from the Pajaro River are seen flowing under Highway 1, currently closed by officials, in Monterey County, California, U.S. March 14, 2023. read moreNine atmospheric rivers already lashed California in rapid succession from late December through mid-January, triggering widespread flooding, levee failures, mudslides and punishing surf. Massive flooding from failed levees on the Pajaro River in Monterey County this weekend prompted hundreds of evacuations and dozens of water rescues. Mandatory evacuation orders remained in effect for residents in 10 California counties on Tuesday, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta and Nathan Frandino in Monterey County, California; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Premarket stocks: From Wile E. Coyote to edibles: Recession forecasts are getting weird
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

And for the US economy, it could likely mean a “Wile E. Coyote moment,” Summers said — if we run off the cliff, gravity will eventually win out. AntibioticsWhen describing the state of the economy, Summers doesn’t just rely on Looney Tunes. “Will working people be better off if we just walk away from our jobs and inflation remains 5% or 6%?” Powell replied. Before the Bell: Is it necessary to increase the unemployment rate to successfully fight inflation? In a related action, the government shut down Signature Bank, a regional bank that was teetering on the brink of collapse in recent days.

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