Study sheds light on persistent gap in natural gas methane emissions measurements Study sheds light on persistent gap in natural gas methane emissions measurements A new multi-agency study helps to shed light on how to improve basin-scale methane emission estimated. Read more
NOAA funding research effort to develop global aerosol map NOAA funding research effort to develop global aerosol map A better map of dust in the wind will improve aerosol forecasts The University of Colorado has been awarded funding for development of an improved global map of smoke, dust and other aerosol particles. Read more
Wildfire Temperatures Key to Understanding Smoke Impacts Wildfire Temperatures Key to Understanding Smoke Impacts Findings will help 2019 NOAA-NASA wildfire campaign New research finds the temperature of a wildfire is a better predictor of what’s in the smoke than the type of fuel being burned - a surprising result that will advance a wildfire smoke-modeling tool currently under development. Read more
Studying wildfires by flying directly through the smoke Studying wildfires by flying directly through the smoke We already have the Hurricane Hunters, now make room for the Wildfire Hunters. Understanding how wildfires impact air pollution and the composition of Earth’s atmosphere is critical for communities near and far because smoke from wildfires can travel long distances and have adverse health impacts on citizens. Read more
Ready for summer heat? Study finds new primary driver of extreme Texas heat waves Ready for summer heat? Study finds new primary driver of extreme Texas heat waves Summer is finally here, and that means families all over the country are starting to fire up the barbecue grill and open up their beach chairs. But summertime also means hot weather — sometimes dangerously hot. Read more
Emissions of ozone-destroying chemical controlled by Montreal Protocol rising again, NOAA data shows Emissions of ozone-destroying chemical controlled by Montreal Protocol rising again, NOAA data shows Emissions of one of the chemicals most responsible for the Antarctic ozone hole are on the rise, despite an international treaty that required an end to its production in 2010, a new NOAA study shows. Read more
Hurricane hunter lands at NOAA's Boulder labs 17Oct2018 Read more The former Chief of Operations at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida, pilot and NOAA Corps CAPT Catherine A. Martin is now the Executive Director of NOAA Boulder Laboratories. Read more
Drifting buoys track Hurricane Michael in the Gulf of Mexico 12Oct2018 Read more On Monday night, October 8, 2018, 10 drifting buoys were thrown from the hatch of a U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunter into the Gulf of Mexico so they could be in front of Hurricane Michael to help with hurricane forecasting. Read more
NOAA funding research effort to develop global aerosol map 19Sep2018 Read more The University of Colorado has been awarded funding for development of an improved global map of smoke, dust and other aerosol particles. Read more
Ozone hole modest despite conditions ripe for depletion 2Nov2018 Read more Weather conditions were ripe for a big ozone hole this year. But declining levels of ozone-depleting chemicals kept it to near-average size. Read more
Small unmanned aircraft flies into rapidly intensifying Hurricane Michael 15Oct2018 Read more NOAA scientists flew multiple missions into Hurricane Michael in the days before landfall, closely observing the rapid intensification of the storm. Their tools included a small unmanned aircraft, called the Coyote, which flew into the strongest winds of the eyewall as the storm intensified to a category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Read more