Andrew J. Grundstein, a professor in the geography department of UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, was recently quoted in Science about thunderstorm-triggered asthma attacks.
First identified in the 1980s, thunderstorm asthma is a phenomenon that meteorologists are just beginning to understand. It is known to require high airborne pollen counts, along with thunderstorm winds to sweep up pollen grains and send them pouring down onto a vulnerable populace. Grundstein found that seven thunderstorm asthma events in Melbourne, Australia, featured high pollen levels, multiple storm cells and strong but not damaging winds.
“The work we’re doing can help to refine that warning system,” said Grundstein. “More thunderstorms spread more pollen around. Damaging winds aren’t necessary. Pollen is light.”
