Los Angeles air pollution declining, losing its sting Los Angeles air pollution declining, losing its sting The cleanup of California’s tailpipe emissions over the last few decades has not only reduced ozone pollution in the Los Angeles area, it has also altered the pollution chemistry in the atmosphere, making the eye-stinging “organic nitrate” component of air pollution plummet, according to a new study. Read more
Mystery solved: "Extra” methane in LA's air traced to fossil-fuel sources Mystery solved: "Extra” methane in LA's air traced to fossil-fuel sources A new study, led by NOAA and its Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, used a novel approach to trace methane in the Los Angeles basin back to its sources, and found that "extra" methane is likely coming from sources related to fossil fuels. Read more
Carbon Dioxide at NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory reaches new milestone: Tops 400 ppm Carbon Dioxide at NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory reaches new milestone: Tops 400 ppm On May 9, the daily mean concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mauna Loa, Hawaii, surpassed 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time since measurements began in 1958. 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
The National Sea Grant Advisory Board welcomes four new members The National Sea Grant Advisory Board welcomes four new members Four new members were appointed to the National Sea Grant Advisory Board at its March 2013 meeting in Washington, D.C. Read more
New study: Pace of climate zone shifts quickens as climate warms New study: Pace of climate zone shifts quickens as climate warms As our planet is warming, not only have Earth’s climate zones begun to shift – the pace of change is expected to accelerate, according to a new study led by the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado. Read more
Rise of carbon dioxide unabated 4Jun2020 Read more Atmospheric carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa Observatory reached a seasonal peak of 417.1 parts per million for 2020 in May, the highest monthly reading ever recorded. Monthly CO2 values at Mauna Loa first breached the 400 ppm threshold in 2014, and are now at levels not experienced by the atmosphere in several million years. Read more
NOAA exploring impact of COVID-19 response on the environment 6May2020 Read more NOAA has launched a wide-ranging research effort to investigate the impact of reduced vehicle traffic, air travel, shipping, manufacturing and other activities on Earth’s atmosphere and oceans due to the response to COVID-19. Read more
Dangerous humid heat extremes occurring decades before expected 8May2020 Read more Climate models project that combinations of heat and humidity could reach deadly thresholds for anyone spending several hours outdoors by the end of the 21st century. However, new NOAA-supported research says these extremes are already happening — decades before anticipated — due to global warming to date. Read more
Warming influence of greenhouse gases continues to rise, NOAA finds 28May2020 Read more NOAA’s Annual Greenhouse Gas Index tracks the concentrations of greenhouse gases being added to the atmosphere principally from human-caused emissions. The AGGI then calculates the heat being added to Earth's atmosphere and oceans as a result. Read more
NOAA teams with United Nations to create locust-tracking application 7May2020 Read more NOAA’s powerful air quality model used to track pollution from wildfires, volcanoes and industrial accidents is now being used to help warn communities across Africa and Asia of what have been called the worst locust swarms in a quarter century. Read more