Thin, low Arctic clouds played an important role in the massive 2012 Greenland ice melt Thin, low Arctic clouds played an important role in the massive 2012 Greenland ice melt New study shows clouds will be important in region’s future Clouds over the central Greenland Ice Sheet last July were “just right” for driving surface temperatures there above the melting point. Read more
Scientists size up black carbon in snow Scientists size up black carbon in snow Scientists have measured – for the first time – the size of black carbon particles in snow. Read more
Arctic continues to break records in 2012: Becoming warmer, greener region with record losses of summer sea ice and late spring snow Arctic continues to break records in 2012: Becoming warmer, greener region with record losses of summer sea ice and late spring snow NOAA scientists participated in a panel discussion of the annual Arctic Report Card, which has summarized the quickly changing conditions in the Arctic since 2006. Read more
NOAA, National Archives team up with citizen-scientists to reconstruct historical climate of the Arctic NOAA, National Archives team up with citizen-scientists to reconstruct historical climate of the Arctic Before satellites, weather data transmitters, or computers, there were the ship's logs of Arctic sea voyages. A new crowdsourcing effort could make the weather data from these ship logs available to climate scientists worldwide. Read more
Arctic summer wind shift could affect sea ice loss and U.S./European weather Arctic summer wind shift could affect sea ice loss and U.S./European weather Changes in summer Arctic wind patterns contribute not only to an unprecedented loss of Arctic sea ice, but could also bring about shifts in North American and European weather. Read more
NOAA: Carbon dioxide levels reach milestone at Arctic sites NOAA: Carbon dioxide levels reach milestone at Arctic sites NOAA cooperative measurements in remote, northern sites hit greenhouse gas milestone in April The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Barrow, Alaska, has reached a new milestone this spring, according to NOAA measurements. Read more
Atmospheric Rivers: What are they and how does NOAA study them? 11Jan2023 Read more You may have heard of atmospheric rivers in the news lately due to the intense rainfall and flooding along the U.S. West Coast. These naturally occurring air currents can bring both severe disruption and great benefit through the heavy rain and mountain snows that contribute to regional water supply. NOAA studies atmospheric rivers to improve forecasting capabilities as well as to improve our understanding of atmospheric river impacts on communities and the physical environment. Read more
One facility makes a big contribution to Salt Lake’s winter brown cloud 25Jan2023 Read more The 2.4 million people who live along Utah’s Wasatch Front experience some of the most severe winter particulate matter air pollution in the nation. Now, analysis of measurements taken during NOAA research flights in 2017 indicates that emissions from a single source, a magnesium refinery, may be responsible for a significant fraction of the fine particles that form the dense winter brown clouds that hang over Salt Lake City. Read more
When volcanoes roar: protecting the public and tracking long-term climate impacts 5Jan2023 Read more 2022 was a busy year for volcanic eruptions with Hawaii's Mauna Loa and Kilaeau erupting simultaneously, along with Mount Semeru, Indonesia and the Hunga undersea volcano in Tonga. While the United States Geological Survey is the primary agency that monitors volcanic activity in the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oversees safety systems for tsunamis and other volcano-related threats, as well as studies the impact of volcanic gasses on our global climate. Read more
Towering wildfire clouds have big impacts on the stratosphere 23Feb2023 Read more Smoke from wildfire-generated thunderstorms has greater impacts on the stratosphre, lasts longer and acts differently than scientists previously thought, a new research paper in the journal Science concludes. Read more
Low ice on the Great Lakes this winter 17Feb2023 Read more Ice coverage has reached a record low in the Great Lakes for this time of year. Read more