The Experts Weigh In: How To Close the Gap Between Weather and Climate Predictions The Experts Weigh In: How To Close the Gap Between Weather and Climate Predictions Meteorologists can tell you whether it will storm 10 days before your wedding, and climatologists can determine if you’re likely to have a hot and dry summer almost a year in advance. But the time period in between, known as the subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) timescale, has remained a major weather-climate prediction gap despite growing public demand. Read more
Study: Climate change soon to be main cause of heat waves in West, Great Lakes Study: Climate change soon to be main cause of heat waves in West, Great Lakes A new analysis of heat wave patterns appearing today in Nature Climate Change concludes that climate change driven by the buildup of human-caused greenhouse gases will overtake natural variability as the main cause of heat waves in the western United States by the late 2020s and by the mid-2030s in the Great Lakes region. Read more
NOAA Science Report highlights 2017 research accomplishments NOAA Science Report highlights 2017 research accomplishments The NOAA Annual Science Report provides an overview of the agency’s research portfolio, and highlights a selection of NOAA’s Research and Development accomplishments. NOAA research aided emergency response efforts across the country in 2017, from wildfires in the western United States to hurricanes in east, advanced weather forecasting, improved fisheries management, and helped improve aquaculture production. Read more
New research offers potential to predict atmospheric river activity up to 5 weeks ahead New research offers potential to predict atmospheric river activity up to 5 weeks ahead Those long, intense plumes of moisture in the sky known as atmospheric rivers are a vital water source to communities along the U.S. West Coast. In their absence, desiccating droughts can develop. But in their presence, they can cause extreme rain and floods that can disrupt travel, cause landslides, and trigger infrastructure failures. Read more
NOAA research is gradually closing the sub-seasonal prediction gap NOAA research is gradually closing the sub-seasonal prediction gap New NOAA forecast product guides temperature and precipitation outlooks 3-4 weeks ahead Predicting the weather a few days in advance is a complex undertaking. But what about the weather 3 to 4 weeks from now? Read more
Consumer, industrial products now a major urban air pollution source Consumer, industrial products now a major urban air pollution source New study finds big impact from paints, pesticides, perfumes as vehicle emissions drop Chemical products like household cleaners, pesticides, paints and perfumes that contain compounds refined from petroleum now rival motor vehicle emissions as the top source of urban air pollution, according to a surprising NOAA-led study Read more
NOAA research model brings severe weather into focus 12Jul2018 Read more NOAA’s best severe-weather model just received an upgrade developed by NOAA researchers that will help the National Weather Service provide more accurate hazardous weather and aviation forecasts. Scientists are also using it to advance a wide array of future forecast tools. Read more
When noise becomes signal 27Jul2018 Read more Last spring, Governor Jerry Brown declared an end to California’s historic drought that caused over $5 billion in damage to agriculture as well as substantial impacts to fisheries, infrastructure, human health, and vegetation. The drought was not only severe, but it also spanned the winters of 2015-16 and 2016-17, which had unusual and unexpected precipitation that affected the drought’s evolution. Read more
A bird’s eye view of the Arctic - and future weather research 5Jul2018 Read more New NOAA research demonstrates that drones and weather balloons can gather data needed to improve weather forecasts in severe working environments. Read more
Ready for summer heat? Study finds new primary driver of extreme Texas heat waves 28Jun2018 Read more Summer is finally here, and that means families all over the country are starting to fire up the barbecue grill and open up their beach chairs. But summertime also means hot weather — sometimes dangerously hot. Read more
NOAA Arctic explorers sail North 8Aug2018 Read more This is the first in a series Dispatches from the Arctic on the August science cruise by NOAA and partner scientists aboard the Coast Guard icebreaker Healy. Today's post is from Emily Osborne, Arctic Program Manager at NOAA Research, Janet Hsiao, NOAA John Knauss Sea Grant fellow, and Meredith LaValley of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee. Read more