Unique collaboration works to extend sea ice prediction from days to decades Unique collaboration works to extend sea ice prediction from days to decades For more than two decades, Elizabeth Hunke has worked at the Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory to design, create and improve a model used to predict sea ice extent, thickness and movement in both the Arctic and Antarctica. From the beginning, Hunke understood that collaboration was the key to improving this model. At a time when sea ice prediction is needed more than ever, NOAA, the Navy and other agencies are working together to extend sea ice prediction from days to decades. Read more
Snapping shrimp may ring 'dinner bell' for gray whales off the Oregon coast Snapping shrimp may ring 'dinner bell' for gray whales off the Oregon coast Editor's note: The following story is adapted from a news article released by the American Geophysical Union on February 13, 2018. PORTLAND — Scientists have for the first time captured the sounds of snapping shrimp off the Oregon coast and think the loud crackling from the snapping of their claws may serve as a dinner bell for eastern Pacific gray whales, according to new research by NOAA and Oregon State University presented here today. Read more
NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown sets sail to boost ocean data for weather prediction NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown sets sail to boost ocean data for weather prediction NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown steamed out of Charleston, South Carolina, on February 15, 2018, for a multi-stage trip around the world to improve ocean data that informs US and global weather prediction. Read more
New research reveals patterns of US and global ozone pollution New research reveals patterns of US and global ozone pollution Despite significant gains in controlling ground-level ozone pollution, some residents of California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic spent more than 15 days each year between 2010 and 2014 breathing unhealthy levels of pollution, according to information from a new global database developed with NOAA support. Read more
NOAA research holds promise of predicting snowpack before snow falls NOAA research holds promise of predicting snowpack before snow falls New NOAA research is showing we can predict snow levels in the mountains of the West in March some eight months in advance. This prediction can be down to the scale of a mountain range, which will improve regional water forecasts. Read more
A climate science milestone on Colorado’s Continental Divide A climate science milestone on Colorado’s Continental Divide Fifty years ago, the first carbon dioxide measurement from high in the Rocky Mountains laid the groundwork for one of the climate science community's most valuable datasets. 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