Oil and Gas Wells Contribute Fuel for Ozone Pollution Oil and Gas Wells Contribute Fuel for Ozone Pollution NOAA and University of Colorado scientists confirm that oil and gas well emissions add to ozone pollution Emissions from oil and natural gas operations north of Denver are releasing gases into the air that could add to ozone pollution in the region. Read more
One in a million: NOAA ocean profilers hit new data transmission milestone One in a million: NOAA ocean profilers hit new data transmission milestone The Argo fleet, now more than 3,000 floats strong, recently collected its one millionth temperature and salinity profile. Read more
New NOAA technical report reveals global sea level rise scenarios through 2100 New NOAA technical report reveals global sea level rise scenarios through 2100 Today, NOAA released a report that estimates global mean sea level rise over the next century based on a comprehensive synthesis of existing scientific literature. 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
The Earth at night: Suomi NPP satellite offers unprecedented views The Earth at night: Suomi NPP satellite offers unprecedented views Scientists today unveiled unprecedented snapshots of Earth at night. Global composite images, constructed from cloud-free nighttime images from the new NOAA-NASA Suomi NPP satellite, were showcased at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting in San Francisco. Read more
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
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