Carbon dioxide levels hit record peak in May Carbon dioxide levels hit record peak in May Monthly average surpassed 414 parts per million at Mauna Loa observatory Carbon dioxide levels reached the highest seasonal peak recorded in 61 years of observations at NOAA's Mauna Loa observatory. This the seventh consecutive year of steep global increases in concentrations of this important greenhouse gas pollutant. Read more
Climate change to make events like 2017 Northern Plains flash drought more likely Climate change to make events like 2017 Northern Plains flash drought more likely Short, sharp drought surprised scientists, caused $2.6 billion in losses The 2017 Northern Plains drought hit hard and without warning, desiccating pastures, rangelands and wheat, sparking massive wildfires, and causing widespread livestock sell-offs across the Dakotas, northeastern Montana and the Canadian Prairies. While it wasn't the region's worst drought, it caused $2.6 billion in losses. A new study shows droughts like this are 20% more likely due to climate change. Read more
XPrize announces winners in contest to advance ocean science and discovery XPrize announces winners in contest to advance ocean science and discovery NOAA Bonus Prize goes to team of junior high students and Florida team Editor’s note: This story was adapted from the XPrize news release issued on May 31, 2019. XPRIZE, the global leader in designing and operating incentive competitions to solve humanity’s grand challenges, announced winners on May 31, in the $7M Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE and the $1 million NOAA Bonus prize as part of the global competition to advance ocean technologies for rapid, unmanned and high-resolution ocean exploration and discovery. Read more
NOAA names Colorado State University to host cooperative institute for atmospheric research NOAA names Colorado State University to host cooperative institute for atmospheric research The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration today announced it has selected Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, to host NOAA’s cooperative institute focused on developing new satellite products and models designed to improve weather and climate prediction. Read more
Rising emissions drive greenhouse gas index increase Rising emissions drive greenhouse gas index increase Record levels of greenhouse gas pollution continued to increase humanity’s impact on the atmosphere’s heat-trapping capacity during 2018, according to a yearly analysis released by NOAA scientists today. Read more
New NOAA, partner buoy in American Samoa opens window into a changing ocean New NOAA, partner buoy in American Samoa opens window into a changing ocean NOAA and partners have launched a new buoy in Fagatele Bay within NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa to measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the waters around a vibrant tropical coral reef ecosystem. Read more
A Message from Craig McLean: Hurricane Dorian and Exceptional Service 10Sep2019 Read more NOAA Research Assistant Administrator Craig McLean's message to colleagues, dated Monday, September 9th, regarding Hurricane Dorian and its wide-ranging impacts Read more
A Year Locked in Ice 20Sep2019 Read more An expedition to the central Arctic will give scientists the first opportunity to study the dramatic changes sweeping across the top of the world for an entire year. Read more
Old weather “time machine” opens a treasure trove for researchers 9Oct2019 Read more https://cires.colorado.edu/A NOAA-funded research team ha published an update the 20th Century Reanalysis Project, a dauntingly complex, high-resolution, four-dimensional reconstruction of the global climate that estimates what the weather was for every day back to 1836. Read more
Heat waves could increase substantially in size by mid-century, says new study 7Oct2019 Read more Our planet has been baking under the sun this summer as temperatures reached the hottest ever recorded and heat waves spread across the globe. While the climate continues to warm, scientists expect the frequency and intensity of heat waves to increase. However, a commonly overlooked aspect is the spatial size of heat waves, despite its important implications. Read more