Latest news with #Giammanco
San Francisco Chronicle
23-06-2025
- Science
- San Francisco Chronicle
Crushing it. What do you do with 4,000 hailstones that you collect while chasing storms
LEVELLAND, Texas (AP) — Dozens of researchers are chasing, driving and running into storms to collect fresh hail, getting their car bodies and their own bodies dented in the name of science. They hope these hailstones will reveal secrets about storms, damage and maybe the air itself. But what do you do with nearly 4,000 melting iceballs? A lot. Researchers in the first-of-its-kind Project ICECHIP to study hail are measuring the hailstones, weighing them, slicing them, crushing them, chilling them, driving them across several states, seeing what's inside of them and in some cases — which frankly is more about fun and curiosity — eating them. The whole idea is to be "learning information about what the hailstone was doing when it was in the storm,' said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini, one of the team's lead scientists. Calipers and crushers It's pushing midnight on a Friday in a Texas Walmart parking lot, and at least 10 vans full of students and full-time scientists are gathering after several hours of rigorous storm chasing. Hailstones are in coolers in most of these vehicles, and now it's time to put them to the test. Researchers use calipers to measure the width, in millimeters, of the hailstones, which are then weighed. So far after more than 13 storms, the biggest they found is 139 millimeters (5.5 inches), the size of a DVD. But on this night they are smaller than golf balls. Once the measurements are recorded in a laptop, the fun starts in the back of a van with a shark-festooned beach blanket protecting the floor. The hail is put on a vertical device's white holder. Jake Sorber, a meteorologist at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, squeezes a hand grip about a foot above it and another white block comes crashing down, crushing the ice to smithereens. In the front of the van, Ian Giammanco, another IBHS meteorologist, records how much force it took to cause the destruction. 'That tells us about its strength,' Giammanco said. Different teams do this over and over, with the debris littering vans. It's all about trying to get good statistics on how strong the typical hailstone is. On this night, Gaimmanco and colleagues are finding the day's hail is unusually soft. It's surprising, but there's a good theory on what's happening. 'In hailstones we have layers. So we start off with an embryo, and then you've got different growth layers,' said Central Michigan University scientist John Allen. 'That white growth is what's called dry growth. So basically it's so cold that it's like super cold liquid water freezing on surface. ... All the gas gets trapped inside. So there's lots of air bubbles. They tend to make a weak stone.' But don't get used to it. Less cold air from climate change could conceivably mean harder hail in the future, but more research is needed to see if that's the case, Giammanco said. 'Damage from a hailstone is not just dependent on how fast and the exact amount of energy it has. It's how strong are these hailstones,″ Giammanco said. 'So a really soft one is not actually going to damage your roof very much, especially an asphalt shingle roof. But a really strong one may crack and tear that asphalt shingle pretty easily.' How to collect a pristine hailstone Mostly researchers grab hail to test after it falls, wearing gloves so as not to warm or taint the ice balls too much. But to collect pristine hail and get it cold as soon as possible, there's SUMHO, a Super Mobile Hail Observatory. It's a chest-high metal funnel that catches hail and slides it directly down into a cooler. No contamination, no warming. Most of these pristine hailstones go directly to a cold lab in Colorado, where they are sliced with a hot wire band saw. The different layers — like a tree's rings — will help scientists learn about the short but rapid growth of the ice in the storm, Gensini said. Scientists will also figure out what's in the hail besides water. Past research has found fungi, bacteria, peat moss and microplastics, all of which helps researchers know a bit more about what's in the air that we don't see. After weeks of collecting these ice balls, Central Michigan student Sam Baron sampled the fruit of his labors. 'It tastes like an ice cube,' Baron said. 'It's like the good ice that they serve at restaurants.' ___
Winnipeg Free Press
23-06-2025
- Science
- Winnipeg Free Press
Crushing it. What do you do with 4,000 hailstones that you collect while chasing storms
LEVELLAND, Texas (AP) — Dozens of researchers are chasing, driving and running into storms to collect fresh hail, getting their car bodies and their own bodies dented in the name of science. They hope these hailstones will reveal secrets about storms, damage and maybe the air itself. But what do you do with nearly 4,000 melting iceballs? A lot. Researchers in the first-of-its-kind Project ICECHIP to study hail are measuring the hailstones, weighing them, slicing them, crushing them, chilling them, driving them across several states, seeing what's inside of them and in some cases — which frankly is more about fun and curiosity — eating them. The whole idea is to be 'learning information about what the hailstone was doing when it was in the storm,' said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini, one of the team's lead scientists. Calipers and crushers It's pushing midnight on a Friday in a Texas Walmart parking lot, and at least 10 vans full of students and full-time scientists are gathering after several hours of rigorous storm chasing. Hailstones are in coolers in most of these vehicles, and now it's time to put them to the test. Researchers use calipers to measure the width, in millimeters, of the hailstones, which are then weighed. So far after more than 13 storms, the biggest they found is 139 millimeters (5.5 inches), the size of a DVD. But on this night they are smaller than golf balls. Once the measurements are recorded in a laptop, the fun starts in the back of a van with a shark-festooned beach blanket protecting the floor. The hail is put on a vertical device's white holder. Jake Sorber, a meteorologist at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, squeezes a hand grip about a foot above it and another white block comes crashing down, crushing the ice to smithereens. In the front of the van, Ian Giammanco, another IBHS meteorologist, records how much force it took to cause the destruction. 'That tells us about its strength,' Giammanco said. Different teams do this over and over, with the debris littering vans. It's all about trying to get good statistics on how strong the typical hailstone is. On this night, Gaimmanco and colleagues are finding the day's hail is unusually soft. It's surprising, but there's a good theory on what's happening. 'In hailstones we have layers. So we start off with an embryo, and then you've got different growth layers,' said Central Michigan University scientist John Allen. 'That white growth is what's called dry growth. So basically it's so cold that it's like super cold liquid water freezing on surface. … All the gas gets trapped inside. So there's lots of air bubbles. They tend to make a weak stone.' But don't get used to it. Less cold air from climate change could conceivably mean harder hail in the future, but more research is needed to see if that's the case, Giammanco said. 'Damage from a hailstone is not just dependent on how fast and the exact amount of energy it has. It's how strong are these hailstones,″ Giammanco said. 'So a really soft one is not actually going to damage your roof very much, especially an asphalt shingle roof. But a really strong one may crack and tear that asphalt shingle pretty easily.' How to collect a pristine hailstone Mostly researchers grab hail to test after it falls, wearing gloves so as not to warm or taint the ice balls too much. But to collect pristine hail and get it cold as soon as possible, there's SUMHO, a Super Mobile Hail Observatory. It's a chest-high metal funnel that catches hail and slides it directly down into a cooler. No contamination, no warming. Most of these pristine hailstones go directly to a cold lab in Colorado, where they are sliced with a hot wire band saw. The different layers — like a tree's rings — will help scientists learn about the short but rapid growth of the ice in the storm, Gensini said. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Scientists will also figure out what's in the hail besides water. Past research has found fungi, bacteria, peat moss and microplastics, all of which helps researchers know a bit more about what's in the air that we don't see. After weeks of collecting these ice balls, Central Michigan student Sam Baron sampled the fruit of his labors. 'It tastes like an ice cube,' Baron said. 'It's like the good ice that they serve at restaurants.' ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Los Angeles Times
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Boots & Brews boot scoots into Irvine
If you weren't able to rope tickets to Stagecoach this year, don't put your cowboy boots away just yet. Another country music festival is making its way to Orange County's backyard, as Boots & Brews comes to Great Park Live in Irvine on April 11. The premier outdoor concert event brings live country music to venues across California and this year will be the first time the show has boot-scooted to Orange County. 'Boots & Brews was born in Ventura County in 2012,' said Vincenzo Giammanco, chief executive officer at CBF Productions, which produces the event. 'Since then, we now travel and do it at a bunch of different cities. We still do it in Ventura, Morgan Hill, Santa Clarita and now Irvine.' Country music singer Jake Owen, who has had 10 hits make the No. 1 spot on the US country charts, including 'Beachin'' and 'Barefoot Blue Jean Night' will headline, with Jerrod Niemann and RaeLynn also on the bill. Locally produced beers will be on tap along with cocktails and mocktails and attendees can look forward to a Western-themed vendor market with gear like cowboy boots and cowboy hats. A honky-tonk area will be dedicated to line dancing too, for guests of all abilities. Giammanco said he has been hoping to bring the festival to Orange County since its inception and was thrilled when the opportunity finally presented itself. 'A lot of times when we produce this show, a majority of our attendees are from the O.C.,' said Giammanco. 'When I found Great Park Live, which is new pop-up amphitheater, it intrigued me and when I went out there and did a tour, I knew it was perfect. You have beautiful grass, a beautiful stage and great weather.' Great Park Live is a temporary live music venue that opened last summer to replace the FivePoint Amphitheater, which closed in October 2023. Positioned in a corner of the Great Park Sports Complex, the outdoor live entertainment space has served as a summer concert venue for Pacific Symphony concerts and other live events, while the city of Irvine works to develop a more permanent amphitheater facility. Boots & Brews will be the first big show of the season for Great Park Live and Giammanco hopes it won't be the last time the festival comes to Orange County. He is looking forward to providing a memorable experience for country fans. 'When the headliner hits the stage and the lights go out and the place just goes absolutely nuts, you are seeing people singing the songs and you are seeing couples holding each other and sharing a moment; knowing that we helped create the atmosphere for those moments they'll remember for the rest of their lives is amazing.' Tickets for Boots & Brews start at $59.99 for general admission and $149.99 for the VIP Lounge. There are also party packs that offer tickets at a discounted price when you purchase four or more, and private cabana experiences too. For details on tickets visit
