Joint BOEM, NOAA, USGS mission discovers record depth for Lophelia coral on Gulf of Mexico energy platforms Joint BOEM, NOAA, USGS mission discovers record depth for Lophelia coral on Gulf of Mexico energy platforms A team of federal and university scientists on a 10-day expedition in the Gulf of Mexico has discovered Lophelia coral growing deeper than previously seen anywhere in the Gulf. Read more
NOAA, partners find increase in airborne ethanol NOAA, partners find increase in airborne ethanol Changes in the composition of transportation fuels are showing up in the atmosphere Ethanol, now used commonly in U.S. transportation fuels, is turning up in urban air at more than six times the levels measured a decade ago, according to a new study by a team of NOAA researchers and colleagues. Read more
NOAA, partners find 50-year decline in some Los Angeles vehicle-related pollutants NOAA, partners find 50-year decline in some Los Angeles vehicle-related pollutants Scientists find steady reduction in one type of air pollutant, although region still suffers bad air days In California’s Los Angeles Basin, levels of some vehicle-related air pollutants have decreased by about 98 percent since the 1960s, even as area residents now burn three times as much gasoline and diesel fuel. Read more
NOAA-funded researchers find caffeine in Pacific Northwest coastal waters NOAA-funded researchers find caffeine in Pacific Northwest coastal waters Finding caffeine in waters just off a coastline heavy with coffee shops may not be surprising. A NOAA-funded study suggests that traces of caffeine in Pacific Northwest waters come from septic tanks and sewer overflows. Read more
NOAA, partners: Earth’s oceans and ecosystems still absorbing about half the greenhouse gases emitted by people NOAA, partners: Earth’s oceans and ecosystems still absorbing about half the greenhouse gases emitted by people Earth’s oceans, forests and other ecosystems continue to soak up about half the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere by human activities, even as those emissions have increased, according to a study by University of Colorado and NOAA scientists published today in the journal Nature. Read more
NOAA research on South Asian monsoon honored by World Meteorological Organization NOAA research on South Asian monsoon honored by World Meteorological Organization A 2011 NOAA research paper that tied weaker South Asian summer monsoons to human activities has won the World Meteorological Organization’s Norbert Gerbier-MUMM International Award for 2013. 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