NOAA, California partner to improve forecasts of powerful 'atmospheric river' winter storms NOAA, California partner to improve forecasts of powerful 'atmospheric river' winter storms NOAA scientists and colleagues are installing the first of four long-term "atmospheric river observatories" in coastal California this month, to better monitor and predict the impacts of landfalling atmospheric rivers. Read more
New NOAA experimental tool offers customizable views of Great Lakes water level data New NOAA experimental tool offers customizable views of Great Lakes water level data Researchers, educators, residents can compare decades of data on a single screen The new NOAA Great Lakes Water Level Dashboard presented this week at the American Geophysical Union annual fall meeting this week offers interactive displays of water level data for the North American Great Lakes. Read more
Research, response for future oil spills: Lessons learned from Deepwater Horizon Research, response for future oil spills: Lessons learned from Deepwater Horizon A special collection of articles about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill provides the first comprehensive analysis and synthesis of the science used in the unprecedented response effort by the government, academia, and industry. Read more
Texas heat wave of 2011 largely caused by drought, ocean temperatures, says NOAA-led study Texas heat wave of 2011 largely caused by drought, ocean temperatures, says NOAA-led study A new NOAA study finds that La Niña-related sea-surface temperature conditions were the most important factor leading to the drying out in Texas and the U.S. Southern Plains last year. Read more
NOAA seeks members for its new Ocean Exploration Advisory Board NOAA seeks members for its new Ocean Exploration Advisory Board NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research is accepting applications from and nominations for individuals who are interested in serving on NOAA's Ocean Exploration Advisory Board. Read more
An East Side, West Side Story: Ozone Pollution in the United States An East Side, West Side Story: Ozone Pollution in the United States In a new study, academic and NOAA scientists found that ozone pollution is declining at rural sites in the East, but is steady or even increasing at most sites in the rural West, with strongest increases in spring. Read more
Path to recovery of ozone layer passes a significant milestone 24Aug2022 Read more An annual analysis of air samples collected at remote sites around the globe that is tracking a continued decline in the atmospheric concentration of ozone-depleting substances shows the threat to the ozone layer receding below a significant milestone in 2022, NOAA scientists have announced. Read more
NOAA and Saildrone launch seven hurricane-tracking surface drones 3Aug2022 Read more In partnership with NOAA, Saildrone Inc. is deploying seven ocean drones to collect data from hurricanes during the 2022 hurricane season with the goal of improving hurricane forecasting. For the first year, two saildrones will track hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. Read more
Thirty years of progress in hurricane forecasting since Hurricane Andrew 22Aug2022 Read more Hurricane Andrew made landfall on August 24, 1992, near Homestead, Florida, becoming one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in U.S. history. It had an extremely low central pressure of 922 millibars and maximum sustained wind speeds estimated at 165 miles per hour. The storm rapidly intensified less than 36 hours before landfall, leaving most residents less than a day to secure their homes and heed evacuation orders. When NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) staff found themselves with a major hurricane on their doorstep, hurricane researchers urgently began working to aid forecasters at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC). Hurricane Andrew affected their families, and even destroyed one scientist’s home. Once the hurricane passed, our scientists went right back to work, using what they had learned and seen firsthand to improve our understanding of tropical cyclones. In the 30 years since Andrew, NOAA scientists, forecasters and partners have revolutionized hurricane forecasting to save lives and property. Read more
NOAA celebrates new Arctic observatory near Utqiaġvik 5Aug2022 Read more More than 50 years after NOAA commissioned the first Arctic atmospheric observatory in a temporary building at the northernmost point of the United States, NOAA leadership celebrated a new, expanded observatory and research facility worthy of the significance of its work. Read more
Study validates accuracy of NOAA’s smoke forecasting model during the Camp Fire 5Jul2022 Read more A research team led by scientists from the University of California Berkeley and NOAA found that HRRR-Smoke accurately predicted the intensification of smoke pollution from the Camp Fire. Read more