NOAA's miniature aerosol instrument delivered to space NOAA's miniature aerosol instrument delivered to space "POPS" will help monitor air quality in crew quarters A miniaturized aerosol spectrometer developed by scientists in NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Labotatory will be one of several insttuments making sure air in the living spaces of the International Space Station stays safe. Read more
Aviation is responsible for 3.5 percent of climate change, study finds Aviation is responsible for 3.5 percent of climate change, study finds The study evaluated all of the aviation industry’s contributing factors to climate change, including emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide, and the effect of contrails and contrail cirrus – short-lived clouds created in jet engine exhaust plumes at aircraft cruise altitudes that reflect sunlight during the day and trap heat trying to escape at night. Read more
When smoke is in the air, all eyes turn to this NOAA weather model When smoke is in the air, all eyes turn to this NOAA weather model NOAA's HRRR-Smoke model may still be designated as experimental, but when wildfires are burning, many count on it for smoke forecasts. Read more
NOAA experimental model predicts smoke movement from California fire NOAA experimental model predicts smoke movement from California fire Read more
New NOAA research model improves dust, air quality forecasts New NOAA research model improves dust, air quality forecasts Running on the newest version of NOAA’s Global Forecast System, or GFS, the FV3-Chem model forecasts the distribution of some primary air pollutants: smoke, soot, organic carbon, sulfate, and large and small particles of dust and sea salt - collectively known as aerosols. Because these aerosols affect the weather, the model also provides weather forecasts. Read more
The Saharan Air Layer: What is it? Why does NOAA track it? The Saharan Air Layer: What is it? Why does NOAA track it? Read more
When smoke is in the air, all eyes turn to this NOAA weather model 26Aug2020 Read more NOAA's HRRR-Smoke model may still be designated as experimental, but when wildfires are burning, many count on it for smoke forecasts. Read more
Aviation is responsible for 3.5 percent of climate change, study finds 3Sep2020 Read more The study evaluated all of the aviation industry’s contributing factors to climate change, including emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide, and the effect of contrails and contrail cirrus – short-lived clouds created in jet engine exhaust plumes at aircraft cruise altitudes that reflect sunlight during the day and trap heat trying to escape at night. Read more
Arctic melt season puts focus on sea ice forecasts 21Aug2020 Read more Improving Arctic sea ice forecasts is a high priority for NOAA, as indigenous communities, fisheries, ecotourism, oil and gas industries, shipping concerns, wildlife managers and scientists need better information in a region that is rapidly shifting from a reliable frozen ice cap to an open-water ocean. Check out an animation of this summer's Arctic snow and ice melt. Read more
Mapping, listening at the bottom of the sea 26Aug2020 Read more Barely had the ink dried on the partnership agreement signed by NOAA and ocean explorer Victor Vescovo, owner of Caladan Oceanic LLC, when his team headed out to the Pacific Ocean to dive and map the Mariana Trench, and answer the questions -- how deep and where exactly is the bottom of the ocean. Read more
NOAA teaming up with Arizona firm to advance study of stratosphere 19Aug2020 Read more World View Enterprises has offered to carry a miniaturized NOAA instrument on its high-altitude balloon to capture measurements of atmospheric particles on a series of flights in 2021 that will last weeks and cover thousands of miles at altitudes above 55,000 feet. Read more