Leaving the MECCA but not the mission--- the journey continues

Over the past 12 years that I have been at Howard University I have learned several lessons:  (1) Work must be done on important matters (climate change, opportunities for young people, fighting for inclusiveness, working for the African Diaspora; good governance and commitment to a mission). What I realize at the end, is that I can only do what is mines to do and let others do their part.   I have loved being committed to the children of the African Diaspora.    In my mind no matter what has happened, how much pain has occurred over the last few hundred years it is not in vain.  The truth is that we lost so much of who we were in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade with no regards to our humanity.  But we did not lose everything... especially not our soul or the will to fight on.
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_history_of_american_slavery/2015/06/animated_interactive_of_the_history_of_the_atlantic_slave_trade.html

I have so many great memories of Howard and so many friends that I am grateful for.  I have served the best department in the land (Physics and Astronomy) which has a history which goes back to the early part of the 20th century.   Names like Branson, Eagleson, Thorpe, Catchings, Venable, Misra and  Quinton Williams helped to lead the charge.  I had the honor of joining this group as chair from 2007-2010.

Thirkield Building --- EST 1909

The PhD program goes back to 1962   http://www.physics1.howard.edu/alumni/PhDGraduates.html
but Master programs were awarded well before this time.  In 1997, the late Dr. Thorpe had the PhD program in Atmospheric science approved at Howard University.  Since 2006, this program has probably produced the largest number of minority PhD's in atmospheric science in the United States.

My focus has been around the study of the atmosphere in relationship to the African Continent.  In particular, drought, floods, the links to hurricanes and man-made climate change have been the focus of the work.  At every turn of the way, Howard University students have taken measurements, undertaken analysis and computer simulations completing their MS or PhD research.    Having students participate in research in West Africa has been so rewarding.  Names of HU students like, Daniel, Aaron, Tamara, Segayle, Jonathan S, Ashley, Ebony, Gabriel, Taj, Janee, Jonathan C., Jalisa, Ajuma and others brings a smile to my face.  So many good times... like money flying out the car window onto the highway or falling down in a ditch, losing weather balloons and sharing a meal together.

But as with all things, they eventually come to an end. The last 5 years have been a struggle at time against the administration to improve things at the university. We are there to support and produce future students.

Research has been very difficult to maintain but it is still my hope that things will get better.   This is the time for peace but we must always be willing to fight for what is important.

The Challenge
The population of Africa will go beyond 1 billion over the next few decades with food security, poverty alleviation, economic development and governance being all linked to public policy.  Since the late 1960s, rainfall variability has punished growth of many countries in West Africa.  In addition,  the globe as a whole is warming and there are indications that West Africa will move toward drier conditions in the middle to late 21st century.  Water drives electric power, agriculture and is necessary for life.   Because of rising sea level from warming oceans and melting ice-sheets in Greenland, many coastal cities and low lying coastal zones will be subject to flooding and salt intrusion.  In addition, we do not know how public health will be impacted.

I will be working at Penn State with the Alliance for Education, Science, Engineering and Development in Africa to address:  hazards, health, climate change and education.  While I won't make any promises, I have the will, experience and love to do the heavy lifting.  

I start out by joining the UK ICE-D field campaign off the coast of West Africa in Cape Verde. Looking so forward to it.

So this is the last post ClimateChange@HU but a new named blog (working on the name) with a focus on weather, climate, health and the people of the African Diaspora is coming.

Life runs in one direction but the memories over the last 12 years will remain with me until I  leave this Earth.

Thank You Howard University ....  


Epilogue
Much of the violence that we see against and within the black community began with the transatlantic slave trade but was deepened in the period of 1800-1865.   The production of cotton which grew from millions of bushels to billions of bushels by 1865 came on the backs of black people in the US.  Many of the concepts such as credit, debit, mortgages, and the insurance as explained by author Edward Baptist in "The half that is never been told: Slavery and the making of American Capitalism," came about in this period.  Cotton production was based on torture and forced human labor.  This in turn drove many industries in the North (America) and in Europe.  Black Men, women and children and families were broken, sold and walked across mountain and land from locations like Maryland/Virginia to South Carolina, Georgia only to be sold again to hungry people who wanted to gain more wealth without respecting humanity.  Violence against the enslaved drove the process of cotton production.   The opening of capital from cotton production drove the industrial revolution indirectly leading the expansion of America but also the production of greenhouse gases which will threaten all of humanity over the coming centuries.  In order for black lives to matter, history must been told to all people correctly so that we can begin the process of restoring humanity, not repeating the same mistakes (greed and consumption at any cost) and healing the deep but not fatal wounds in the children from Mother Africa.  The alternative of not acting is much worse!

Rewriting the narrative of one's life and maybe the World

When looking at the news, talking to our friends or even examining our own lives we find and see places of trauma, physical, mental and emotional pain and victims.  The projection in the news makes us often feel that that the World is a bad place with bad people.  But all things have a beginning which goes back to each and every single individual.  What is it inside of each of us that that needs to be addressed.

I believe that whatever is begin observed at the larger scale (news) has its microscopic companion within our heart and thoughts.  Consequently, a large portion of the human race feels as if they live a lonely, unloved and unfilled existence every day.  The individual does not feel a sense of purpose and they wander the earth suppressing that very powerful feeling.  Unfortunately, the voice inside of the head, known as the ego will tell us this story every day trapping us in an endless loop and we are hoping that someone or something (money, a new car, fame or a good job) will change this story.  The bad news is that no one or nothing is going to change this story.

The story in the head is changed by the storyteller through rewriting one's narrative about the life that you live.   The narrative is changed through forgiveness, kindness to yourself and love.  The narrative is changed from what "I" need to what gifts I have to offer to others.  The narrative changes from being lonely and not understood to being connected to life, people and God.  The narrative moves from gloom of the past, to the hope that you can contribute however and whenever called upon.  Your job is to find the buried treasures within yourself, developed them to their potential and share them.

This does not mean that if you have hurt from the past that you should not seek help in addressing those issues.  You must do that.  But eventually you will ask yourself now what?   That is the time to begin writing the new script by you the famous author....

The doom and gloom of the daily news will slowly have less of an impact on all of us as we rewrite our story and eventually if we all feel better ourselves.  Eventually the news will have no choice but to change to positive stories because that will be the reality that we have created.

Yes, we will still have poverty, world hunger, disease, climate change but we will also rewrite the narrative on those issues.

Ebola outbreak raged out of control during the last 10 days --3600 new cases

Over the past 8 weeks, the number of suspected Ebola cases has been steadily rising, especially in Sierra Leone and Liberia, with more than 8000 cases being suspected on October 1st.  

Weekly Suspected cases in the three countries (source: WHO)

However, during the past week, the number of reported (suspected) Ebola cases significantly increased by more than 3600 cases between October 22 and October 31 based on WHO data.
Weekly data shows while the number of new cases are increasing in Guinea, it cannot be compared to what is happening in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Number of suspected Ebola Cases in Guinea (Source:WHO)

Number of suspected Ebola Cases in Liberia (Source: WHO)

Number of suspected Ebola Cases in Sierra Leone (Source: WHO)

The large increases in Ebola cases have occurred in both Sierra Leone and Liberia over the last 10 days.  Either this is due to better reporting or higher infection rates.  Either way this is a very big change and we should all be worried about what is happening in both countries.  This is a humanitarian crisis and likely to destabilize both countries and the region in general.   

Number of new suspected cases versus the prior week for all three countries (Source: WHO)

Based on the data, there have been 300-500 new cases in Sierra Leone and Liberia since October 1st.  However last week the number of new suspected cases jumped from 376 in the prior week to 1870 on October 31st in Liberia .

Total # of new cases in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone relative to the prior week (Source: WHO)

The new cases jumped from 454 to 1632 new cases in Sierra Leone.  This two countries are responsible for the tripling of cases between October 22 to October 31.  The World needs to really come together to address this situation immediately.  So many families are being destroyed, so many young people will become orphans and so many people are at risk.  The time to act is NOW!!

Hurricane Gonzalo to Strike Bermuda on Friday

hurricane Gonzalo October 16, 2014 at 545 AM EST

This morning hurricane Gonzalo is a category 4 storm with winds of 140 MPH and expected to move over Bermuda in the next 36-48 hours.  Hurricane warnings are up for Bermuda

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* BERMUDA

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY
SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION TODAY.

NHC official track for Hurricane Gonzalo

Depending on where the storm passes Bermuda, the country may experience both a strong storm surge and winds which may bring significant damage to the country.  The current projection is the the storm will pass over or just to the left of the island. Passage to left of the Island would produce the strongest winds and most likely a higher surge.  However looking at the elevation map of Bermuda there appears to be some level of protection from the surge.  The two largest cities (Hamilton and St. George) are likely to be spared damage from surge because of their positions.

Topographic map of Bermuda (source Wikipedia)

However, there is still likely to be damage if hurricane Gonzalo passes over Bermuda as a major hurricane.    Because Bermuda is a tourist location, many of the assets around this industry may suffer some degree of damage. The picture below suggest that with the mix of land and sea that damage is likely by both wind and waves even if there is blockage by mountains in the south.

Bermuda (source Wikipedia)

Numerous hurricanes have come close to Bermuda in the past with most causing little or no damage.  However in 2003, Hurricane Fabian passed very close to Bermuda causing an estimated 300 million dollars in damage.  Maximum sustained winds of 120 MPH were noted.

Track of Hurricane Fabian September 2003 

Visible Image of Hurricane Fabian September 2003

Fabian passed just to the west of Bermuda and it is very possible that hurricane Gonzalo may have also have a similar path.


The next 24-36 hours will be a very tense time for the people of Bermuda.  Let's hope and pray that they are prepared for this significant hazard.

Rapid Intensification for Hurricane Ganzalo -- may deal Bermuda a blow later this week

Hurricane Gonzalo at approximately 5:15 AM EST October 14th 

Overnight Tropical Cyclone went from being a minimum category 1 hurricane (85 MPH winds at 11 PM) and is now on the verge of being a major hurricane.  Maximum Sustained winds of 110 mph are estimated (5 AM) and further strengthening is likely today.  Hurricane Gonzalo is in a weak shear environment making development likely.   Current forecast suggest that Gonzalo may have winds of 130 MPH in 36 hours bringing it to near Category 4 status.  While the storm is currently out over the ocean and not threatening any land areas, the forecast track will take the hurricane Gonzalo close to Bermuda later on this week in into the weekend.  Even if the storm is moving rapidly as a major hurricane (3 or higher) it may still have a negative impact  on the infrastructure of Bermuda.  This late season hurricane is worth watching as its undergone rapid intensification over the last day which the best hurricane models have trouble dealing with.

Current Track for Hurricane Gonzalo (Tuesday October 15th)

Late Season Hurricane Surge in the Atlantic

2014 Atlantic Tropical Cyclones 

With an evolving El Nino during the summer season, below normal hurricane activity had been forecasted for the Atlantic ocean basin.   A late start to the wet season in West Africa and continuous surges of Saharan dust provided poor environmental conditions in the Eastern and Central Atlantic Ocean Basins during August and September.  While I expected the Saharan Air Layer to weaken in late August, it never did.   We had 4 hurricanes (One being a major hurricane) and 1 tropical storm.

The Pacific Ocean basin on the other hand has been very active with numerous cyclones in the Eastern, Central and Western basins.  

2014 Eastern Pacific Cyclones

Tropical Cyclone Odile had a major impact in Mexico impacting resort areas of Mexico such as Cabo San Lucas.

Damage from Tropical Cyclone Odile

By the middle of September, it was assumed that increased wind shear would limit any Atlantic  tropical cyclones.  However, over the last week we have had two tropical disturbances develop over the Atlantic.    Hurricane Fay formed this weekend impacting Bermuda and Tropical Storm  Gonzalo approaching the Windward Islands.

NHC Active Tropical Cyclones (Sunday Oct. 12)

Track of Tropical Storm Gonzalo

Tropical Storm Gonzalo is expected to intensify over the next few days and tropical storm warnings are up for many of the Caribbean nations including Puerto Rico.  Gonzalo may become a major hurricane in a few days when it is out over the open Atlantic.   So you never know, but one thing that is certain, is that Saharan dust intensity has weakened considerably over last week giving tropical cyclones a better chance to develop.

Saharan Air or lack of it (Sunday October 12)

The Atlantic Tropical Season is almost over, but not yet.  Don't forget that Hurricane Sandy came up the East coast in late October causing major damage and loss of life.   Even if it is an El Nino year, the hurricane season is not officially over until November 30th.  Don't be caught off guard.

The People's Climate March - September 21st -- Community and HBCU involvement- WE NEED STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO REPRESENT

Next month up to 1,000,000 people will march in New York City to put pressure on leaders around the world to address anthropogenic climate change (http://peoplesclimate.org/march/)

Each day, humanity is pushing the Earth's climate system in such a manner as to change the chemical composition of the atmosphere which is warming the planet.  If you were born at the time when the declaration of independence was signed, the atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2) concentrations were probably 280 parts per million (ppm).

1776 - 280 PPM

If you were born when the emancipation proclamation was signed in 1863, allowing many of my ancestors to hear the word freedom after centuries of enslavement the atmospheric CO2 concentrations were 290 ppm.

1863 - 290 PPM

Nearly 100 years later, if you were born when the Civil Rights law was enacted in 1964, the atmospheric CO2 concentrations were 320 ppm.

1964 - 320 PPM

If you were born during 1984 when Michael Jackson gave the We ARE the WORLD concert to help with the severe drought across West Africa, the atmospheric CO2 concentrations were 344 ppm

1984-344 PPM

If you were born the year when President Obama was elected in 2008, the atmospheric CO2 concentrations were 385 ppm

2008 - 385 PPM

Today, August 12, 2014 the atmospheric CO2 concentrations are 398-400 ppm.  Notice that rate  CO2 concentrations are increasing faster now than in the past, because CO2 emissions rapidly increased from very low values prior  to the industrial revolution increasing to 1 billion metric tonnes after 1900 to nearly than 8 billion metric tonnes (14-16 trillion lbs) of CO2 today which are emitted annually around the globe.

We are dealing global problem that each and everyone one of us contributes to in one way or another.  If we do not level off the amounts of CO2 through policymaking then our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, no matter what race, gender, economic class, ethnicity are going to pay the price for what we do today.

My two grandkids... Nasir and Zoe if they are blessed to reach the tender age of 88 and 87 would should expect CO2 concentrations to be 500 ppm if there were actions to mitigate atmospheric CO2 by the generations before them the subsequent ones.  If there are limited actions, they should expect CO2 concentrations of 600-900 ppm.

Nasir - 2100 500-900 PPM

Zoe - 2100 500-900 PPM

We can't let that happen, because the impacts are going to be critical to the billions of people around the world -- a much warmer planet, loss of alpine glaciers, icesheets and sea ice,higher sea level (1-3 feet higher), regional droughts and flooding, threats to food security and water, new climate related diseases, stronger hurricanes. This is our moment in time to make a difference.

Dr. Marshall Shepherd, friend, colleague and past president of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) has written a number of articles in Ebony Magazine laying out the position that African American are vulnerable to climate change.

Dr. Marshall Shepherd, Past AMS President

http://www.ebony.com/news-views/are-african-americans-more-vulnerable-to-climate-change-352#axzz3ADSZkr4v

Dr. Shepherd has also given a TED talk about climate change that I would recommend that everyone take a look at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O019WPJ2Kjs


The African American community has a stake in what happens in the future and people who blow off climate change have forgotten about how historical disparities are going to creep into this situation. We need to continue to talk up this topic.

http://www.ebony.com/news-views/blacks-dont-care-about-climate-change-fact-or-fiction#axzz3ADSZkr4v


So, we are mobilizing and organizing young people from HBCUs to participate in the March on September 21st.  We are anticipating that buses will be available for students and community folks to
ride up to New York.  HBCUs from the south are organizing, but those from Maryland, DC and Virginia need to represent.  Howard, Hampton, UDC, Coppin, Bowie State, Morgan State, UMES, Virginia Union, Norfolk State, we need you to get your young people out to March.  It is their fate and that of the global village that hangs in the balance!!