New NOAA study in North Carolina may improve forecasting, lead times for dangerous storms New NOAA study in North Carolina may improve forecasting, lead times for dangerous storms This month, NOAA launched a 1½-year long pilot study in North Carolina to improve understanding and forecasting of dangerous storms that can lead to flooding and economic losses. From the coastline to the mountains, state-of-the-art NOAA instrumentation is being set up in numerous locations across the state that may improve forecasting and lead-time for tropical storms and summertime thunderstorms. Read more
The origins of cirrus: Earth’s highest clouds have dusty core The origins of cirrus: Earth’s highest clouds have dusty core Scientists have found that wispy cirrus clouds have cores of dust and metallic particles, answering questions about how these clouds form and giving insight into their climatic implications in the future. Read more
New study gives first independent confirmation of global land warming New study gives first independent confirmation of global land warming A new observational study that did not use temperature recordings from land stations has confirmed global land warming. Read more
Thin, low Arctic clouds played an important role in the massive 2012 Greenland ice melt Thin, low Arctic clouds played an important role in the massive 2012 Greenland ice melt New study shows clouds will be important in region’s future Clouds over the central Greenland Ice Sheet last July were “just right” for driving surface temperatures there above the melting point. Read more
Researchers develop method to better predict severity of tornado outbreaks Researchers develop method to better predict severity of tornado outbreaks NOAA researchers have developed a method to help forecasters better predict the severity of tornado outbreaks. Read more
Saharan and Asian dust, biological particles end global journey in California Saharan and Asian dust, biological particles end global journey in California UCSD, NOAA study is the first to show that dust and other aerosols from one side of the world influence rainfall in another A field study of aerosol impacts on clouds and precipitation in the Sierra Nevada mountains shows that dust and microorganisms transported from as far away as the Sahara desert help to spur the precipitation that California counts on for its water supply. Read more
NOAA Science Report features new data-gathering drones, advances in wind, weather and water forecasts 29Mar2023 Read more Discovering a 207-year-old whaling ship, advancing air-quality forecasts, improving storm surge and wind forecasts, and deploying the first-ever drone-based tagging of endangered whales. These are a few of the more than 60 stories about NOAA’s many notable scientific accomplishments from the past year that are featured in the 2022 NOAA Science Report, which emphasizes a wide range of impacts that NOAA science advancements have on the lives of Americans. Read more
Scientists discover hydrothermal vent activity along the Puy de Folles vent field 17Apr2023 Read more NOAA, Schmidt Ocean Institute, and partners recently embarked on the In Search of Hydrothermal Lost Cities expedition on the Schmidt’s Research Vessel Falkor (too) to locate and observe hydrothermal vent activity along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The team successfully located never-before-seen black smoker vents near the Puy de Folles vent field and the impressive ecosystems they support. Read more
Heat waves happen at the bottom of the ocean too 13Mar2023 Read more A team led by NOAA researchers used a combination of observations and computer models to generate the first broad assessment of bottom marine heat waves in the productive continental shelf waters surrounding North America. Read more
How deadly are dust storms? 5Apr2023 Read more A new research paper from NOAA’s Air Resources Laboratory published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society finds that dust storms – previously assumed to be rather rare and isolated to particular regions – are contributing to a larger number of U.S. traffic fatalities than are recorded. This research also proposes modifications to the current reporting classifications to more accurately capture dust storm impact. Read more
NOAA research in the stratosphere is taking off 2Mar2023 Read more Flying out of Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska, a NASA WB-57 research jet carrying a payload of sampling instruments into the stratosphere will gather measurements of trace gases and aerosols in an undersampled region of the atmosphere. Read more