Ellen Prager, PhD
@elprager.bsky.social
Marine and earth scientist, nature lover, author, aquanaut, on-air expert, consultant, and passionate about science communication
Learning while you laugh in full swing last night at SciNite Rookery Bay Reserve with Sara Falkowski, Friends of Rookery Bay. Great engagement with audience, combating #misinformation about ocean, atmosphere, & climate change & fabulous prizes for participants in pre-talk trivia questions. 🧪🌊🌀
November 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Learning while you laugh in full swing last night at SciNite Rookery Bay Reserve with Sara Falkowski, Friends of Rookery Bay. Great engagement with audience, combating #misinformation about ocean, atmosphere, & climate change & fabulous prizes for participants in pre-talk trivia questions. 🧪🌊🌀
Thanks to Bruce Thomas, BlueBird Weather and WeatherCall. Genius idea, loved playing host and creating new category and questions for Wheel of Weather - OCEANS. 🧪🌊
WHEEL OF WEATHER a huge hit this week at @iaem-org.bsky.social conference. Fun, educational, & engaging. #SciComm at its best. Also talked IOOS ocean observations, data sharing & collaboration @geocollaborate.bsky.social. Fabulous prizes included our book, Megalodons, Mermaids, and Climate Change.
November 20, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Thanks to Bruce Thomas, BlueBird Weather and WeatherCall. Genius idea, loved playing host and creating new category and questions for Wheel of Weather - OCEANS. 🧪🌊
WHEEL OF WEATHER a huge hit this week at @iaem-org.bsky.social conference. Fun, educational, & engaging. #SciComm at its best. Also talked IOOS ocean observations, data sharing & collaboration @geocollaborate.bsky.social. Fabulous prizes included our book, Megalodons, Mermaids, and Climate Change.
November 20, 2025 at 9:13 PM
WHEEL OF WEATHER a huge hit this week at @iaem-org.bsky.social conference. Fun, educational, & engaging. #SciComm at its best. Also talked IOOS ocean observations, data sharing & collaboration @geocollaborate.bsky.social. Fabulous prizes included our book, Megalodons, Mermaids, and Climate Change.
Reposted by Ellen Prager, PhD
Quite a metaphor. 👀
"The blaze [sent] panicked delegates racing to evacuate...rain from a torrential downpour leaked into the meeting spaces...There were complaints about food shortages, & the air-conditioning struggled to keep up with the high heat..."
"The blaze [sent] panicked delegates racing to evacuate...rain from a torrential downpour leaked into the meeting spaces...There were complaints about food shortages, & the air-conditioning struggled to keep up with the high heat..."
Fire Breaks Out at COP30 Climate Talks in Brazil
Delegates were evacuated from the conference venue, where thousands from nearly 200 countries had gathered.
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Quite a metaphor. 👀
"The blaze [sent] panicked delegates racing to evacuate...rain from a torrential downpour leaked into the meeting spaces...There were complaints about food shortages, & the air-conditioning struggled to keep up with the high heat..."
"The blaze [sent] panicked delegates racing to evacuate...rain from a torrential downpour leaked into the meeting spaces...There were complaints about food shortages, & the air-conditioning struggled to keep up with the high heat..."
Menhaden should not be fished for feed or oil, it is too important to other fish and the overall ecosystem. Reductions in catch should be based on SCIENCE not pressure by lobbyists and industry. Don't wait for a total collapse before taking action. wapo.st/4rbf1Qo 🐟
Opinion | It’s the ‘most important fish in the sea.’ And it’s disappearing.
If the menhaden decline continues, striped bass could be next to vanish.
wapo.st
November 20, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Menhaden should not be fished for feed or oil, it is too important to other fish and the overall ecosystem. Reductions in catch should be based on SCIENCE not pressure by lobbyists and industry. Don't wait for a total collapse before taking action. wapo.st/4rbf1Qo 🐟
Reposted by Ellen Prager, PhD
Some false reports are circulating that Mt. Rainier is suddenly showing seismic tremor activity — this is not true. The signal being referenced is actually radio interference, most likely due to rime ice buildup on the antenna of one of our seismic stations.
November 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Some false reports are circulating that Mt. Rainier is suddenly showing seismic tremor activity — this is not true. The signal being referenced is actually radio interference, most likely due to rime ice buildup on the antenna of one of our seismic stations.
Through science, our understanding of Rogue Waves is improving so that one day we may be able to predict when and where they will occur and warn ships. Science Rocks! 🧪🌊
www.scientificamerican.com/article/scie...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/scie...
Dangerous Rogue Waves Aren’t Random—They’re Predictable
An 18-year dataset from the North Sea reveals that rogue waves are not freak accidents but particular products of ordinary swells stacking up—an insight that could make prediction possible
www.scientificamerican.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Through science, our understanding of Rogue Waves is improving so that one day we may be able to predict when and where they will occur and warn ships. Science Rocks! 🧪🌊
www.scientificamerican.com/article/scie...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/scie...
Reposted by Ellen Prager, PhD
NOAA cut funding to the Alaska Earthquake Center, directed by my friend Mike West. As a result, seismic monitoring by nine stations in Alaska tracking tsunami-causing earthquakes will go offline by the end of the month. This endangers people in Alaska, Hawaiʻi, and other parts of the Pacific.
This lab is key for tracking deadly waves. Its sensors are about to go offline.
After NOAA cut funding to the lab that’s been monitoring seismic activity for more than 25 years, nine stations tracking tsunami-causing earthquakes for the agency will go offline by the end of the mo...
www.washingtonpost.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:24 PM
NOAA cut funding to the Alaska Earthquake Center, directed by my friend Mike West. As a result, seismic monitoring by nine stations in Alaska tracking tsunami-causing earthquakes will go offline by the end of the month. This endangers people in Alaska, Hawaiʻi, and other parts of the Pacific.
Need an entertaining night out before the turkey in the Naples, FL area? Join us Tues., Nov 25th for Science Nite at Rookery Bay Environmental Center. Fun and funny as we answer frequently asked and zany #weather, #ocean, and #climate change questions. 🧪
www.coastalbreezenews.com/news/communi...
www.coastalbreezenews.com/news/communi...
Rookery Bay Science Nite Series
Oceans, Plastics, and Peace of Mind
www.coastalbreezenews.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Need an entertaining night out before the turkey in the Naples, FL area? Join us Tues., Nov 25th for Science Nite at Rookery Bay Environmental Center. Fun and funny as we answer frequently asked and zany #weather, #ocean, and #climate change questions. 🧪
www.coastalbreezenews.com/news/communi...
www.coastalbreezenews.com/news/communi...
Solid science and well written. Spread the word and let's try to help more people understand the real impacts of climate change. 🧪🌎
Excellent piece on increased moisture in the atmosphere and flooding. Well done!!! " .....ordinary people must come to terms with a difficult truth: The floods of their future will not be like those of their past." wapo.st/4oklfvh
Deadly rivers in the sky
A new Washington Post investigation reveals where climate change has supercharged the movement of moisture through the skies.
wapo.st
November 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Solid science and well written. Spread the word and let's try to help more people understand the real impacts of climate change. 🧪🌎
Excellent piece on increased moisture in the atmosphere and flooding. Well done!!! " .....ordinary people must come to terms with a difficult truth: The floods of their future will not be like those of their past." wapo.st/4oklfvh
Deadly rivers in the sky
A new Washington Post investigation reveals where climate change has supercharged the movement of moisture through the skies.
wapo.st
November 3, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Excellent piece on increased moisture in the atmosphere and flooding. Well done!!! " .....ordinary people must come to terms with a difficult truth: The floods of their future will not be like those of their past." wapo.st/4oklfvh
Melissa impacts #Bermuda with high winds and power outages, efforts mobilizing to help those in #Jamaica and how you can help in today's update for the All-Hazards Consortium by @geocollaborate.bsky.social. Happy #Halloween and please stay safe. 🧪🌀🎃
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj4V...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj4V...
Melissa Slaps Bermuda and Jamaica Needs Our Help, See Two Foundations Making a Difference Now SISE
YouTube video by StormCenter Communications | GeoCollaborate
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Melissa impacts #Bermuda with high winds and power outages, efforts mobilizing to help those in #Jamaica and how you can help in today's update for the All-Hazards Consortium by @geocollaborate.bsky.social. Happy #Halloween and please stay safe. 🧪🌀🎃
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj4V...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj4V...
PS On my post below....My book The Shark Whisperer has nothing to do with the so-called "Shark Whisperer". It is a fun middle grade fiction adventure novel I wrote a few years ago...but if you like sharks, adventure, humor and other sea creatures it's a fun read.
Science matters and to falsely claim you are doing science and benefiting conservation with science-based work hurts all of us who work so hard to get accurate information to the public and promote science-based conservation. Thank you Dr. Cooper.
Shark Whisperer is lying to you: a look into the harmful effects of Ocean Ramsey and shark influencers | This quotes me and is very thorough. Check it out.
October 31, 2025 at 1:38 PM
PS On my post below....My book The Shark Whisperer has nothing to do with the so-called "Shark Whisperer". It is a fun middle grade fiction adventure novel I wrote a few years ago...but if you like sharks, adventure, humor and other sea creatures it's a fun read.
Science matters and to falsely claim you are doing science and benefiting conservation with science-based work hurts all of us who work so hard to get accurate information to the public and promote science-based conservation. Thank you Dr. Cooper.
Shark Whisperer is lying to you: a look into the harmful effects of Ocean Ramsey and shark influencers | This quotes me and is very thorough. Check it out.
Shark Whisperer is lying to you: a look into the harmful effects of Ocean Ramsey and shark influencers — Dr. Jack A. Cooper
Ocean Ramsey is undoubtedly one of the most well-known “shark influencers”, whose videos show her free diving and touching wild great white and tiger sharks as she swims right up alongside them.…
www.drjackacooper.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Science matters and to falsely claim you are doing science and benefiting conservation with science-based work hurts all of us who work so hard to get accurate information to the public and promote science-based conservation. Thank you Dr. Cooper.
CAT2 Melissa accelerating toward Bermuda, devastation in Jamaica, and East Coast Storm in today's update for the All-Hazards Consortium by @geocollaborate.bsky.social. Also watch as brave Hurricane Hunters fly through Melissa, Yikes! Now that is one bumpy ride. 🧪🌀
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCMI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCMI...
Hurricane Melissa Headed for Bermuda, Jamaica Devastated, East Coast Storm SISE Update
YouTube video by StormCenter Communications | GeoCollaborate
www.youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:20 PM
CAT2 Melissa accelerating toward Bermuda, devastation in Jamaica, and East Coast Storm in today's update for the All-Hazards Consortium by @geocollaborate.bsky.social. Also watch as brave Hurricane Hunters fly through Melissa, Yikes! Now that is one bumpy ride. 🧪🌀
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCMI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCMI...
Reposted by Ellen Prager, PhD
2X increase in the most extreme hurrucanes!
Looking at every Cat 4 & 5 in the Atlantic since 1980 (reliable records/ data gathering) I broke the record into 2 equal parts.
1980-2002 and 2003-2025
The most recent period has more than double the number of most intense hurricanes in the Atlantic!…
1/
Looking at every Cat 4 & 5 in the Atlantic since 1980 (reliable records/ data gathering) I broke the record into 2 equal parts.
1980-2002 and 2003-2025
The most recent period has more than double the number of most intense hurricanes in the Atlantic!…
1/
October 30, 2025 at 2:04 PM
2X increase in the most extreme hurrucanes!
Looking at every Cat 4 & 5 in the Atlantic since 1980 (reliable records/ data gathering) I broke the record into 2 equal parts.
1980-2002 and 2003-2025
The most recent period has more than double the number of most intense hurricanes in the Atlantic!…
1/
Looking at every Cat 4 & 5 in the Atlantic since 1980 (reliable records/ data gathering) I broke the record into 2 equal parts.
1980-2002 and 2003-2025
The most recent period has more than double the number of most intense hurricanes in the Atlantic!…
1/
Reposted by Ellen Prager, PhD
Fake Hurricane Videos of AI-Generated Sharks Are Flooding Social Media: How to Spot Them | Your default assumption should just be “any shark in a flooded city street is fake”
Fake Hurricane Videos of AI-Generated Sharks Are Flooding Social Media: How to Spot Them
Officials warn against sharing these videos with others who are seeking legitimate coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
people.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Fake Hurricane Videos of AI-Generated Sharks Are Flooding Social Media: How to Spot Them | Your default assumption should just be “any shark in a flooded city street is fake”
Reposted by Ellen Prager, PhD
Take it from someone who studies weird animal #Cancer, everything gets cancer…
Sharks absolutely get cancer, and people claiming otherwise are pseudoscientific grifters preying on the desperate.
Even if sharks did not get cancer, eating shark would not cure your cancer any more than eating LeBron James would make you better at basketball.
Even if sharks did not get cancer, eating shark would not cure your cancer any more than eating LeBron James would make you better at basketball.
October 30, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Take it from someone who studies weird animal #Cancer, everything gets cancer…
After devastating Jamaica and Cuba, Melissa strengthening over the Bahamas, headed to Bermuda and another coastal storm to lash the East Coast in today's update for the All-Hazards Consortium by @geocollaborate.bsky.social. 🧪🌀
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz50...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz50...
Melissa Strengthening Over the Bahamas Headed to Bermuda, Another Coastal Storm on East Coast
YouTube video by StormCenter Communications | GeoCollaborate
www.youtube.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:16 PM
After devastating Jamaica and Cuba, Melissa strengthening over the Bahamas, headed to Bermuda and another coastal storm to lash the East Coast in today's update for the All-Hazards Consortium by @geocollaborate.bsky.social. 🧪🌀
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz50...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz50...
Thank you @johnmoralestv.bsky.social. Let me add that climate change is a serious threat. Action needed now to reduce emissions, support alternative energies, use climate-friendly agriculture, cement production . . . the solutions are there, but we need the will, policies and investments to do it!
"I feel compelled to make people realize that this is not going away, that this is going to continue to happen over and over again, and that we need to harden ourselves in every possible way and adapt to these increasing disasters." —part of yesterday's #Melissa coverage on @nbcmiami.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Thank you @johnmoralestv.bsky.social. Let me add that climate change is a serious threat. Action needed now to reduce emissions, support alternative energies, use climate-friendly agriculture, cement production . . . the solutions are there, but we need the will, policies and investments to do it!
CAT5 Hurricane #Melissa roars into #Jamaica with furious winds and water making landfall, moving to Cuba, Bahamas and possibly Bermuda in today's update for the All-Hazards Consortium. Stay aware and as safe as possible, our thoughts are with you. 🧪🌀
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1OM...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1OM...
Record Setting Melissa Strikes Jamaica Now Moving to Cuba and the Bahamas Then Bermuda
YouTube video by StormCenter Communications | GeoCollaborate
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:11 PM
CAT5 Hurricane #Melissa roars into #Jamaica with furious winds and water making landfall, moving to Cuba, Bahamas and possibly Bermuda in today's update for the All-Hazards Consortium. Stay aware and as safe as possible, our thoughts are with you. 🧪🌀
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1OM...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1OM...
So worried for Jamaica. Heart wrenching 🧪🌀
Landfilling Melissa is a 30-60 mile wide EF4-EF5 tornado! Nothing will withstand this monster!
October 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
So worried for Jamaica. Heart wrenching 🧪🌀
Reposted by Ellen Prager, PhD
The NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft (N42RF) flying into Melissa this morning had to return early due to severe turbulence. Melissa has 165mph winds and is expected to make landfall late tonight or early tomorrow morning at this same intensity...with gusts to 200mph. 🧪 #WithoutPay
October 27, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft (N42RF) flying into Melissa this morning had to return early due to severe turbulence. Melissa has 165mph winds and is expected to make landfall late tonight or early tomorrow morning at this same intensity...with gusts to 200mph. 🧪 #WithoutPay
Catastrophic #CAT5 #Melissa headed for #Jamaica, #Cuba, #TurksandCaicos, and #Bahamas in today's update for the All-Hazards Consortium. A dire situation with expected life-threatening flooding, storm surge, winds, and landslides. Please stay as safe as possible. 🧪🌀
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyIy...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyIy...
Catastrophic Melissa 175mph Winds Headed for Jamaica, Cuba and Southern Bahamas, Turks and Caicos
YouTube video by StormCenter Communications | GeoCollaborate
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Catastrophic #CAT5 #Melissa headed for #Jamaica, #Cuba, #TurksandCaicos, and #Bahamas in today's update for the All-Hazards Consortium. A dire situation with expected life-threatening flooding, storm surge, winds, and landslides. Please stay as safe as possible. 🧪🌀
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyIy...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyIy...
Reposted by Ellen Prager, PhD
If you doubt the magnitude of gusts over mountainous islands, just ask Hurricane Marylin (1995) survivors in St. Thomas USVI. Storm total precipitation could reach 40 inches (1000 mm). And the coastal storm surge as high as 13 feet (4 m). The worst storm in #Jamaica history. 2/2 fin
October 27, 2025 at 3:50 PM
If you doubt the magnitude of gusts over mountainous islands, just ask Hurricane Marylin (1995) survivors in St. Thomas USVI. Storm total precipitation could reach 40 inches (1000 mm). And the coastal storm surge as high as 13 feet (4 m). The worst storm in #Jamaica history. 2/2 fin