Atmosphere with Emily Gracey

Emily Gracey
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Earth Sciences

Meteorologist Emily Gracey sits down each week with leading scientists, researchers, and experts in weather, climate, earth science, and beyond. Every episode goes deeper than the science itself, uncovering the human stories behind the work and making complex ideas feel relevant, relatable, and real. From hurricanes and severe storms to earthquakes and emerging research, Atmosphere turns complicated ideas into conversations everyone can connect with.

  1. 2d ago

    BONUS: Inside COP31 - What Happens at a UN Climate Summit?

    What actually happens at a global climate conference? Bernadette Woods Placky, executive director of Talking Climate Collaborative, joins me from COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, for a bonus conversation on Atmosphere. We talk about who shows up, how Americans are participating, and why communication matters when the science and policy get complicated. Plus, where she sees progress, and the people working to move things forward. This is our full interview, recorded November 12, 2026, with Bernadette joining from the conference. Learn more about Talking Climate Collaborative: https://talkingclimate.com COP31: https://cop31.tr/

  2. 4d ago

    Wildfires: Rising Risks & New Solutions

    What happens when a wildfire creates its own weather? Can artificial intelligence detect a fire before it spreads? And could autonomous drones someday help firefighters protect entire communities? Meteorologist and wildfire chaser Jaclyn Whittal has spent years covering extreme weather, from hurricanes and tornadoes to devastating wildfires. But after moving to British Columbia, the wildfire threat became personal. She's experienced evacuation alerts, watched the sky turn red with smoke, and swept burning embers off her own back porch. In this episode of Atmosphere, Jaclyn joins meteorologist Emily Gracey to explore the science behind wildfires, their connection to our changing climate, and some remarkable new technologies being developed to fight them. We talk about fire-generated thunderstorms, fire tornadoes, "zombie fires" that survive the winter, AI-powered detection systems, firefighting drones, and new ways to protect homes and communities. And perhaps most importantly, why preparing for the next wildfire season needs to start long before the first flames appear. Sponsored by Weather100. Explore 100 years of weather history at https://www.weather100.com and use code EMILY20 for 20% off. Atmosphere on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atmospherepodcast/ Jaclyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jwhittalclimate/ Subscribe for more conversations about weather, climate, science, and the people behind the research.

  3. Nov 3

    Why Weather Disasters Hit Some Communities Harder

    Why do some communities suffer far greater consequences from the same weather disaster? And what can we do to change that? When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, meteorologist Dr. Jamese Sims urged her parents to evacuate. Her father refused, insisting he needed to "protect the house." It took years for Jamese to fully understand what he meant, and that experience helped inspire her new book, Protect the House: Weather Doesn't Discriminate, But Impact Does. In this episode of Atmosphere, Jamese joins Emily to explore why weather disasters disproportionately affect underserved communities. From financial barriers and generational wealth to cultural beliefs and the lasting impacts of disasters, she explains why preparing for extreme weather isn't as simple as telling people to evacuate or have an emergency kit. They also discuss where traditional weather communication falls short and share practical ways families, meteorologists, and community leaders can work together to make everyone safer. Because a good forecast can only save lives if people have the information, resources, and support to act on it. Atmosphere is proudly supported by founding sponsor Weather100. Learn more at https://weather100.com/ Protect the House is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0acVHZsW Subscribe to Atmosphere for more conversations about the science, stories, and people behind our changing world.

  4. Oct 29

    BONUS: The History of Daylight Saving Time in America

    Who decided we should change our clocks twice a year? And why are we still doing it? From the days when every town kept its own time to America's failed experiment with permanent daylight saving time in 1974, meteorologist Emily Gracey takes a quick trip through the surprisingly messy history of timekeeping. Plus, why Arizona refuses to play along, how China manages with just one time zone, and what all of this has to do with saving energy. For more on the science of daylight saving time and how it affects our sleep and health, listen to the full Atmosphere episode featuring Stanford sleep researcher Dr. Jamie Zeitzer. Sources & Further Reading Congressional Research Service — Daylight Saving Time: https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS22284.htmlU.S. Department of Transportation — The Daylight Saving Time Study: A Report to Congress (1975): https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/92250Smithsonian National Museum of American History — On Time: Synchronizing Time: https://americanhistory.si.edu/ontime/synchronizing/zones.htmlArizona State University — Why Arizona Has Opted Out of Daylight Saving Time: https://news.asu.edu/20180305-discoveries-why-arizona-has-opted-out-daylight-saving-time?page=3Timeanddate — Daylight Saving Time in Arizona: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/us/arizona-no-dst.htmlTimeanddate — China Only Has One Time Zone: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/china/one-time-zone.html

  5. Oct 27

    Daylight Saving Time: The Great Debate

    Twice a year, Americans change their clocks. Twice a year, we argue about whether we should stop. But what does the science actually say? Stanford sleep researcher Dr. Jamie Zeitzer joins Atmosphere to unpack the surprisingly complicated science behind daylight saving time. Is permanent standard time really healthier? And are we overlooking a much bigger problem while arguing about the clocks? From the Sunshine Protection Act to our alarming lack of natural daylight, Jamie explores how sunlight affects our circadian rhythms, sleep, and overall health. He also shares surprisingly simple ways to get a better night's sleep, explains why some of us are night owls while others are early birds, and challenges some conventional thinking about changing the clocks. Maybe the problem isn't what time we're setting our clocks. It's what we're doing with the daylight we've got. Atmosphere is supported by founding sponsor Weather100. Learn more at https://weather100.com/ and use code EMILY20 for 20% off your purchase.

  6. Oct 20

    Clouds! The Science, the Wonder & Why NASA Needs You.

    What if simply looking up at the clouds could help NASA? Satellites can observe Earth in extraordinary detail, but there's something they can't do: stand on the ground and look up with the human eye. And that human perspective turns out to be incredibly valuable to scientists. In this episode of Atmosphere, meteorologist Emily Gracey talks with Dr. Andy Sayer, an atmospheric scientist working with NASA's PACE satellite, and Jessica Taylor from NASA's GLOBE Clouds program about the surprising limitations of satellite technology and how everyday people can help fill in the gaps. Through NASA's free GLOBE Observer app, anyone with a smartphone can collect cloud observations that contribute to real scientific research. No scientific background required! But there's another benefit to all this cloud watching. Taking a few minutes to look up can reconnect us with nature, help us appreciate the world around us, and maybe even bring a little peace to our busy lives. Become a cloud observer: NASA GLOBE Observer app: https://observer.globe.gov/about/get-the-app PACE Clouds Challenge: https://www.globe.gov/do-globe/measurement-campaigns/field-measurement-campaigns/pace-clouds-challenge Atmosphere is supported by founding sponsor Weather100. Learn more at https://weather100.com and use code EMILY20 for 20% off your purchase.

  7. Oct 15

    BONUS: Kelvin Wave - the '80s Power Ballad

    What happens when ocean science meets an '80s power ballad? Oceanographer and coastal scientist Dr. Greg Dusek created Kelvin Wave, an AI-generated song and music video that tells the story of Kelvin waves, El Niño, coastal flooding, and rising seas. The project was created by Dr. Dusek using Claude.ai for the lyrics and visuals, Suno for the music, and real NOAA water level data to help tell the scientific story. It's catchy, dramatic, and packed with real science. We're sharing the complete song as a special bonus episode of Atmosphere. Want to understand the science behind the lyrics? Listen to this week's full episode, "Ocean Science Gets an '80s Power Ballad," where meteorologist Emily Gracey talks with Dr. Dusek about how he made the video, what Kelvin waves actually are, and why they matter for coastal flooding and sea level rise. Created by: Dr. Greg Dusek AI tools: Claude.ai and Suno Scientific data: NOAA Atmosphere is hosted and produced by meteorologist Emily Gracey.

  8. Oct 13

    Ocean Science Gets an '80s Power Ballad

    What happens when an oceanographer uses artificial intelligence to turn a complicated scientific phenomenon into an '80s power ballad? You get soaring vocals, dramatic lyrics, a saxophone solo... and some surprisingly serious science. In this episode of Atmosphere, meteorologist Emily Gracey sits down with Dr. Greg Dusek, a coastal scientist and former NOAA oceanographer, to talk about his AI-generated music video, Kelvin Wave. Created in just half a day, the song tells the story of an ocean phenomenon that plays an important role in El Niño and can have major consequences for coastal communities. Greg breaks down the science behind the lyrics, explaining how Kelvin waves travel across the Pacific, why they matter for sea levels and winter storms, and what they could mean for coastal flooding along the West Coast in the months ahead. We also explore the creative possibilities of AI in science communication, and how something as unexpected as a power ballad might help people understand the changing world around them. It's a little rock and roll, a little ocean physics, and a reminder that science doesn't always have to be serious to tell an important story. Thanks to our founding sponsor, Weather100, for supporting independent science storytelling. Learn more at Weather100 and use code EMILY20 for 20% off. Watch Greg's full Kelvin Wave music video: https://youtu.be/qAYF63a67MI?si=fBkUUiiYwNHD6_os Lyrics and video are by Claude Music by Suno Generated by Greg Dusek, with data provided by NOAA Subscribe to Atmosphere on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, and find more science stories at Atmosphere on Substack.

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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Meteorologist Emily Gracey sits down each week with leading scientists, researchers, and experts in weather, climate, earth science, and beyond. Every episode goes deeper than the science itself, uncovering the human stories behind the work and making complex ideas feel relevant, relatable, and real. From hurricanes and severe storms to earthquakes and emerging research, Atmosphere turns complicated ideas into conversations everyone can connect with.

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