Record-breaking 2011 Lake Erie algae bloom may be sign of things to come Record-breaking 2011 Lake Erie algae bloom may be sign of things to come The largest harmful algae bloom in Lake Erie’s recorded history was likely caused by conditions that are expected to become more common in the future due to climate change. 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
Scientists size up black carbon in snow Scientists size up black carbon in snow Scientists have measured – for the first time – the size of black carbon particles in snow. Read more
Volcanic aerosols, not pollutants, tamped down recent Earth warming Volcanic aerosols, not pollutants, tamped down recent Earth warming In the search for clues as to why Earth did not warm as much as scientists expected between 2000 and 2010, researchers have discovered the answer is hiding in plain sight. 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
New NOAA study estimates future loss of labor capacity as climate warms New NOAA study estimates future loss of labor capacity as climate warms A new NOAA study projects that heat-stress related labor capacity losses will double globally by 2050 with a warming climate. The impact will be felt the most by those who work outside or in hot environments. Read more
Fragrant consumer products a key source of ozone-forming pollution in New York City 3Aug2021 Read more New research from NOAA finds that fragrant personal care products - the stuff that makes you smell good - are now responsible for a significant amount of the ozone pollution known as smog that plagues major urban areas. Read more
2020’s Economic Slowdown Provides Opportunity to Investigate Ozone Pollution in the U.S. 16Sep2021 Read more When COVID-19 pandemic began in the US, counties and cities across the nation imposed stay at home orders, closed schools or imposed travel restrictions. From March 2020 onward, many Americans hung up car keys and settled into their homes for work and school. Traffic patterns dramatically changed, and previously smog filled vistas became clearer. Read more
Human activities responsible for rapid increase in Earth's heat 28Jul2021 Read more A new study by Princeton University and NOAA researchers has found clear evidence of human influence on Earth’s climate in the past two decades of satellite measurements. “Human activity strongly influenced the positive trend in Earth's energy imbalance, causing a significant increase in the heat stored in the planet,” said Shiv Priyam Raghuraman, the lead researcher on the study. Read more
New research helps crack the mystery of clouds to improve climate prediction 25Aug2021 Read more NOAA and partner research on clouds and air-sea interactions will help improve a new generation of models that predict our weather and climate, according to a new summary article that is part of a special issue of the open access journal Earth System Science Data. Read more
NOAA’s new uncrewed glider poised to help vastly increase high-altitude research 7Oct2021 Read more NOAA scientists are testing a reliable, low-tech, uncrewed glider that can return a small payload of scientific instruments from the stratosperhere to a pre-determined landing spot, potentially opening up vast new reaches of the atmosphere to scientific investigation. Read more