Invasive Fish Becomes Nutritious Dish for Haitians in Need Invasive Fish Becomes Nutritious Dish for Haitians in Need Some innovative thinking by Louisiana Sea Grant is turning invasive Asian Carp into a high-quality protein source for the children living in a Haitian orphanage. Read more
NOAA near-term weather forecasts get powerful boost from new computer model NOAA near-term weather forecasts get powerful boost from new computer model Research yields new tool to achieve a weather-ready nation Starting today, NOAA is using a sophisticated new weather forecast computer model to improve predictions of quickly developing severe weather events including thunderstorms, winter storms and aviation hazards such as clear air turbulence. Read more
Smoking out an air pollutant’s hot spots Smoking out an air pollutant’s hot spots New study identifies parts of the world with highest levels of isocyanic acid A smoke-related chemical, isocyanic acid, may be a significant air pollutant in some parts of the world, especially where forest fires and other forms of biomass burning are common. Read more
Methane from the sea Methane from the sea Researchers find elevated levels of the greenhouse gas above cracks in Arctic sea ice The potent greenhouse gas methane is seeping out of parts of the Arctic Ocean, and the discovery may represent another cycle contributing to climate warming in the region. Read more
When a tornado strikes a hospital When a tornado strikes a hospital NOAA investigates what makes hospitals vulnerable when severe weather strikes Because tornadoes, hurricanes, and other severe storms can destroy hospitals as indiscriminately as anything in their path, NOAA is funding research to better understand what makes hospital buildings vulnerable. Read more
Public invited to virtually join NOAA exploration of the Gulf, live from the seafloor Public invited to virtually join NOAA exploration of the Gulf, live from the seafloor Exploration visits unexplored areas and gas seeps in northern Gulf of Mexico Through telepresence technology, satellite, and high-speed Internet pathways between ship and shore, scientists ashore view information from sensors and high-definition cameras as it is collected at sea. 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