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
Weather data from nation’s largest wind farms could improve U.S. models, forecasts Weather data from nation’s largest wind farms could improve U.S. models, forecasts Private companies share weather data with NOAA Two of the nation's largest producers of wind-generated electric power will share weather data with NOAA, providing additional observations from wind farms across the nation for research and operations. Read more
New study finds direct evidence of summer climate change New study finds direct evidence of summer climate change In many parts of the world, summers just aren't what they were a generation or two ago. Summer climates in some places are changing—mostly, but not always, warming—according to a new analysis of 90 years of observational data. Read more
New NOAA study suggests Great Plains may not suffer semi-permanent Dust Bowl as climate changes New NOAA study suggests Great Plains may not suffer semi-permanent Dust Bowl as climate changes A new NOAA study explores the reasons behind diverging views on future Great Plains drought. The good news is that it will probably not be as dire as some earlier studies suggest. Read more
Significant Measure Approved to Reduce Potent Greenhouse Gas Emissions 3Oct2022 Read more NOAA science expertise and data has supported the U.S. government decision to reduce potent greenhouse gas emissions. On September 21st, the United States Senate successfully approved the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol with strong bipartisan support. The Kigali Amendment, negotiated under the Obama administration in 2016, is an international agreement to phase-out and replace hydrofluorocarbons, a class of chemicals that act as potent greenhouse gasses. Read more
NOAA issues new guidebooks for climate resilience and adaptation 25Oct2022 Read more Today, NOAA and partners released Implementing the Steps to Resilience: A Practitioner's Guide, a handbook for national climate resilience. The resource is designed to help climate adaptation practitioners work with local governments and community organizations to incorporate climate risk and equity into their long-term decision making. Read more
Global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to rise 14Nov2022 Read more Global carbon dioxide emissions in 2022 remain at record levels and natural carbon sinks are being impacted by climate change, according to a report published last week by the Global Carbon Project. Read more
Meet NOAA Research’s new Assistant Administrator, Steven Thur, Ph.D. 14Nov2022 Read more In October 2022, Steve Thur, Ph.D., a nationally recognized leader in coastal science and management, began his tenure as the Assistant Administrator for the NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (NOAA Research). Read more
NOAA awards contract to establish ocean partnership office 12Oct2022 Read more NOAA Research, through NOAA Ocean Exploration, has awarded a $3.5 million, five-year contract to Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc. (ISS) to establish the National Oceanographic Partnership Program Office to support NOAA and the Navy Office of Naval Research (ONR) in their role in jointly co-chairing the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Federal Interagency Working Group (IWG). Read more