NOAA researcher earns international honor for discoveries on the role of atmospheric water vapor in climate change NOAA researcher earns international honor for discoveries on the role of atmospheric water vapor in climate change Isaac Held, Ph.D., a senior research scientist with the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, N.J., will receive the prestigious BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award for his contributions to improved understanding of climate change and atmospheric circulation systems. Read more
Dr. Robert Detrick named new assistant administrator of NOAA research office Dr. Robert Detrick named new assistant administrator of NOAA research office Robert Detrick, Ph.D, a marine geophysicist, was named the new head of NOAA’s research office today. Detrick will start as the assistant administrator of the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research on Feb. 13. Read more
Chemical measurements confirm official estimate of Gulf oil spill rate Chemical measurements confirm official estimate of Gulf oil spill rate New NOAA-led analysis shows gases and oil in three chemically different mixtures deep underwater, in the surface slick, in the air By combining detailed chemical measurements in the deep ocean, in the oil slick, and in the air, NOAA scientists and academic colleagues have independently estimated how fast gases and oil were leaking during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Read more
Colorado mountain hail may disappear in a warmer future Colorado mountain hail may disappear in a warmer future NOAA-led study shows less hail, more rain in region’s future, with possible increase in flood risk Summertime hail could all but disappear from the eastern flank of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains by 2070, according to a new modeling study by scientists from NOAA and several other institutions. Read more
Air pollution levels from Deepwater Horizon spill similar to large urban area Air pollution levels from Deepwater Horizon spill similar to large urban area The amount of air pollutants in the atmospheric plume generated by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was similar to a large city according to a new NOAA-led study published today in a special issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read more
U.S.-Canada Arctic Ocean survey partnership saved costs, increased data U.S.-Canada Arctic Ocean survey partnership saved costs, increased data 2011 mission concludes joint seafloor survey operations A recent mission marked the completion of a five-year collaboration between the United States and Canada to survey the Arctic Ocean. The bilateral project collected scientific data to delineate the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the coastline, also known as the extended continental shelf (ECS). Read more
Study: Reducing human-caused air pollution in North America & Europe brings surprise result: more hurricanes 11May2022 Read more A new NOAA study published today in the journal Science Advances about four decades of tropical cyclones reveals the surprising result that reducing particulate air pollution in Europe and North America has contributed to an increase in the number of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic basin and a decrease in the number of these storms in the Southern Hemisphere. The study also found that the growth of particulate pollution in Asia has contributed to fewer tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific basin. Read more
NOAA report highlights 2021 climate, weather, ocean research 28Mar2022 Read more The newly released 2021 NOAA Science Report includes more than 60 stories that represent a selection of NOAA’s 2021 research and development accomplishments across the range of NOAA’s mission. Read more
Study previews how climate change may alter rain-making atmospheric rivers by 2100 24Mar2022 Read more A new NOAA modeling study suggests climate change is likely to disrupt Pacific atmospheric rivers, which are important sources of snow and rain for west coast states. Read more
NOAA’s observations help EPA track emissions of a family of greenhouse gases 22Apr2022 Read more NOAA atmospheric measurements are helping to support a national inventory of emissions from an important family of greenhouse gases. Read more
Background ozone burdens Las Vegas’ air quality in spring 23Feb2022 Read more High background levels of ozone pollution make it hard for Las Vegas and other southwestern cities to meet US air quality standards in spring, two NOAA studies find. But local pollution sources drive summer's high ozone days. Read more