As kids run through their summer sprinklers in an effort to defeat the heat of the dog days of summer, parents sometimes see a rainbow of color as they watch the children play. Rainbows come in all sorts of shapes and can be seen in the smallest sprinkles of water. Rainbows can even be seen and photographed from space. If you know how to position yourself, the sun, and some water, you can create lots of rainbows in the backyard. Read more on how to create backyard rainbows by learning how rainbows form.

As the name suggests, climate studies are a specialty area in meteorology. A climatologist will focus on mesoscale or synoptic scale meteorology gathering data and analyzing long-term weather patterns. Learn more about climatology and climatologists.

The 2008 hurricane season is over, but not forgotten. The intense storms and record-breaking events of the 2008 season were unique. In contrast, the 2009 season has been fairly quiet. Why the difference? In 2008, lingering La Nina effects were in place as well as abnormally high ocean temperatures which are required for hurricane formation.

To summarize the 2008 hurricane season, NASA has produced a video in cooperation with NOAA to show satellite imagery of all the tropical storms from Arthur to Paloma. You may also want to check out the 2008 hurricane tracking chart. Or start tracking the 2009 season yourself with a blank hurricane tracking chart. All the resources are below.

• NASA hurricane video
• Blank hurricane tracking charts
• Possible 2009 hurricane names
• Online tropical cyclone tracker
• 2008 hurricane tracking chart

This stunning image is of the launch of the GOES weather satellite aboard a Delta IV rocket. The new satellite, temporarily called GOES-O, lifted off at 6:51 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday night from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The initial target date for the launch was on Friday, but a threat of a thunderstorm enacted the NASA thunderstorm rule for the launch. NASA contracted Boeing to build the satellite for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Each of the GOES satellites continuously provides observations of 60 percent of the Earth. The wealth of data available from the GOES satellites proves technology has come a long way since the grainy images of the world's first weather satellite, TIROS. NOAA has two operational GOES satellites hovering 22,300 miles above the equator – GOES-12, in the east, and GOES-11, in the west – each provide continuous observations of environmental conditions of North, Central and South America and surrounding oceans. While these two are operational, another GOES satellite, GOES-13, is in orbital storage and can be activated if one of the other satellites experiences trouble.

With the launch of the latest GOES satellite, NOAA will have another backup. Approximately 24 days after launch, Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems will turn engineering control over to NASA. About five months later, NASA will transfer operational control of GOES-14 to NOAA. The satellite will be checked out, stored in orbit and available for activation should one of the operational GOES satellites degrade or exhaust its fuel.

Photo Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

A heat wave with temperatures well into the 90s is gripping the Midwest and the East coast this week. Many people have been prompted to research the signs of heat illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion as result of the high temperatures. Summer heat can kill because it reduces the ability of your body to remain at a normal temperature through evaporation. Each year, 175 people on average in the United States lose their lives to heat. According to the National Weather Service, from 1936 to 975, nearly 20,000 people were killed in the United States by heat. In the heat wave of 1980, more than 1,250 people died.

Being aware of the signs of summer illnesses can keep you and your family safe. When the heat index soars, there are certain key symptoms you need to recognize. Remember heat stroke or sunstroke has different symptoms than heat exhaustion.

Your home may be inundated with just a few inches of water. Is it okay to return home? Yes and no. As long as you remember to keep these 20 rules in mind, you will probably be safe. Flooding can be catastrophic. Flooding can also be just a nuisance. The amount of flood water in your area is not the focus. Regardless of the level of devastation, there are several hints and tips for flood safety after a flood that you should keep in mind. Are you following all the rules?

As a former educator, I have years of experience as an earth and space science educator. One of my chief complaints about the topic is that many schools treat the earth sciences, (especially at the high school level) as a second-rate science. For instance, I was always so offended when anyone would call the earth science courses 'rocks for jocks'. Now, it seems things are slowly taking a turn. Topics such as climate change, ozone depletion, and atmospheric pollution are making the mainstream news...and people are becoming more aware of the need to understand the earth sciences.

It is with great pleasure that I announce a new resource available from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Earth Science Literacy Initiative (ESLI) called Earth Science Literacy. The information in the free book was gathered to promote the understanding of Earth sciences. The book establishes the “Big Ideas” and supporting concepts that all Americans should know about Earth sciences. Future governmental legislation will be guided by the framework, and future national and state educational standards will be based upon it. For me, that is a big YAY! What do you think? Is earth science given enough attention in schools? Sound off in the comments section below and share your ideas.

Hurricanes are ripped apart by wind shear. Called a hurricane-breaker, wind shear can stop a tropical depression or tropical storm from forming. Such was the case this week when a tropical low pressure zone in the Eastern Pacific was being monitored for its potential to form into the first tropical depression of the season. The Honduras Low was accompanied by a series of thunderstorms about 850 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja, California. Strong and dry winds from the southwest helped to 'de-fuel' the low pressure system. Normally, low wind shear and moist air are prime ingredients in fueling a hurricane or tropical storm.

Earlier in the week, the National Hurricane Center gave the low pressure system a 30% chance of developing into a tropical depression. Although the chances were low, thate was the same statistic given to Tropical Depression 1 in the Atlantic that formed on May 28 south of Providence, Rhode Island.

It has been a busy week for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms across many portions of the United States.

• Monday - 7 different tornadoes were reported in southern Illinois on Monday. Additionally, 2 tornadoes were reported in Wisconsin.
• Tuesday - 4 Tornadoes were reported in Kansas. Missouri, Colorado, and Maryland had 1 confirmed tornado each. Nebraska officials reported 2 tornado touchdowns that quickly dissipated.
• Wednesday - 17 tornadoes were reported all across the Midwest. Included were 71 hail reports.
• Thursday - As the frontal system that caused the previous damage moved to the East, 2 tornadoes have been confirmed in Kentucky. 1 tornado in Indiana over turned a semi trailor truck.

When an air mass hangs over an area for an extended period of time, the weather can remain the same for weeks. The temperature and moisture content in an air mass will determine the overall type of air mass. While an air mass changes over time, there are 4 basic types of air masses.