Recent outbreaks of tornadoes in Nebraska, Kansas, and elsewhere in the Midwest leave no doubt that tornado season is well underway. Tornadoes are common weather features in North America, and the United States leads the world in tornado counts, with an average of more than 1,000 recorded tornadic events each year. A tornado can develop…
A recent study published in the European Respiratory Journal, the journal of the European Respiratory Society, demonstrates how poor indoor air quality can dramatically affect the respiratory health of elderly patients, the European Lung Foundation reports. The study, which was funded by the European Union as part of its GERIE program (Geriatric study in Europe…
With the recent opening of our Boston office, it’s time to take a look at the climate of this historic American city. Bostonians, Cantabrigians, and others who live along Massachusetts Bay enjoy four distinct seasons, although “enjoy” might not be the first term to come to mind after this season’s relentless series of winter storms.…
In an earlier article on wind exposure, we highlighted the different upwind exposure categories defined in ASCE/SEI 7-10 (Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures). Exposure categories B, C, and D represent suburban and wooded areas; open, lightly vegetated terrain; and water, salt flats, and ice, respectively. Of course, reality rarely falls so neatly…
