Asian emissions can increase ground-level ozone pollution in U.S. West Asian emissions can increase ground-level ozone pollution in U.S. West Springtime air pollution from Asia, swept across the Pacific Ocean on winds, can contribute to episodes of high surface ozone pollution in the western United States. Read more
NOAA-led study: Colorado oil and gas wells emit more pollutants than expected NOAA-led study: Colorado oil and gas wells emit more pollutants than expected When NOAA scientists began routinely monitoring the atmosphere’s composition at a tower north of Denver a few years ago, their instruments immediately sniffed something strange: plumes of air rich with chemical pollutants including the potent greenhouse gas methane. Read more
The serendipitous discovery of solar flares The serendipitous discovery of solar flares Independent astronomer records massive solar storm in 1859 Way back before we had the Internet and telephones and electrical wiring, scientists learned how solar flares can play havoc with manmade technologies. They also connected solar flares to the fantastic displays of auroral light, usually seen only at far northern and southern latitudes. And this discovery was completely by accident. Read more
Utah’s winter air quality mystery Utah’s winter air quality mystery NOAA study targets high ozone pollution events in western oil and gas fields During the last two winters, air quality monitors near oil and gas fields in the Uintah Basin have picked up episodes of ozone pollution far in excess of federal health-based standards in the least likely time -- during winter. Read more
Russell Schnell Wins NOAA Science Communicator Award Russell Schnell Wins NOAA Science Communicator Award A NOAA scientist who has published 134 scientific papers and holds patents in chemistry and microbiology can now add award-winning science communicator to his list of honors. Russell Schnell is the recipient of NOAA’s 2011 Dr. Daniel L. Albritton Outstanding Science Communicator Award. Read more
NOAA Researchers Honored for Outstanding Scientific Publications NOAA Researchers Honored for Outstanding Scientific Publications 2010 Awards Presented to 21 Scientists Twenty-one researchers have received 2010 Outstanding Scientific Paper Awards from NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research for discoveries that are expected to help improve weather forecasting and further understanding of climate change and ozone depletion. 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
Greenhouse gas pollution trapped 49% more heat in 2021 than in 1990, NOAA finds 23May2022 Read more The Annual Greenhouse Gas Index serves as a measure of global society's progress - or lack of progress - in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Read more
Projected increase in space travel may damage ozone layer 21Jun2022 Read more Scientists from NOAA and The Aerospace Corp. modeled the climate response of the stratosphere to increased future emissions of black carbon from rockets burning kerosene fuel. 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
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