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
NOAA, NASA: Antarctic ozone hole second smallest in 20 years NOAA, NASA: Antarctic ozone hole second smallest in 20 years Warmer air temperatures high above the Antarctic led to the second smallest seasonal ozone hole in 20 years, according to NOAA and NASA satellite measurements 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
Scientists show climate patterns may influence extreme U.S. tornado seasons Scientists show climate patterns may influence extreme U.S. tornado seasons NOAA and university researchers believe they have found a climate signal related to a specific phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation that could be linked to, and possibly serve as a predictor of, massive tornado outbreaks. 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
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