Sarah Kapnick named NOAA chief scientist Sarah Kapnick named NOAA chief scientist The Biden-Harris Administration named Sarah Kapnick, Ph.D., as NOAA’s chief scientist today. Kapnick will serve as the senior scientist for the agency, advancing policy and program direction for NOAA’s science and technology priorities. She is the third woman in NOAA’s history to be appointed to this role. Read more
Study validates accuracy of NOAA’s smoke forecasting model during the Camp Fire Study validates accuracy of NOAA’s smoke forecasting model during the Camp Fire 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
Atlantic nations team up to advance All-Atlantic science Atlantic nations team up to advance All-Atlantic science U.S. to host signing of international cooperation pact on July 13, 2022 At a time when cooperation for a healthy environment is more important than ever, NOAA on behalf of the United States, is playing a key role in bringing together countries from around the Atlantic Ocean to collaborate on ocean research to tackle environmental and climatic challenges. Read more
Sea Grant announces funding opportunities to support community-engaged marine debris removal and prevention Sea Grant announces funding opportunities to support community-engaged marine debris removal and prevention Sea Grant announces $19 million in federal funding opportunities to address the prevention and removal of marine debris. These opportunities are a component of nearly $3 billion in targeted investments for NOAA in the areas of habitat restoration, coastal resilience and weather forecasting infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Read more
Research: Global warming contributed to decline in tropical cyclones in the 20th century Research: Global warming contributed to decline in tropical cyclones in the 20th century The annual number of tropical cyclones forming globally has decreased by approximately 13% during the 20th century, and scientists say the main cause is a rise in global warming, according to a new study in Nature Climate Change by a group of international scientists including NOAA scientists. Read more
Projected increase in space travel may damage ozone layer Projected increase in space travel may damage ozone layer 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
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