New maps of ozone air pollution support Global Burden of Disease study New maps of ozone air pollution support Global Burden of Disease study Researchers have mapped global ground-level ozone concentrations by year for the Global Burden of Disease study using a data fusion approach, the first time this method was applied to ozone observations. Read more
Understanding the Arctic polar vortex Understanding the Arctic polar vortex In late February, as the Southern Plains and Gulf Coast suffered through an unusually strong blast of wintry weather, weather talk turned to the polar vortex and the possibility that the extreme cold was yet another example of weather-gone-wild due to global warming. Read more
Short-range weather modeling application released to forecasting community Short-range weather modeling application released to forecasting community Data sharing will enable new innovations in numerical weather prediction science NOAA and partners have released the source code for its next-generation short-range forecast application to the weather research community to accelerate development of the model, which predicts atmospheric behavior on a timescale from less than an hour to several days, including critical life-saving weather and water forecasts during extreme events. Read more
New rating system charts a path to improved tornado forecasts New rating system charts a path to improved tornado forecasts All tornadoes -- whether large or small -- originate from thunderstorms, but not all thunderstorms are the same. Nighttime twisters, summer tornadoes and smaller events can be tougher to forecast. New research in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society presents a method for rating the skill of tornado warnings based on environmental challenges. Read more
New study identifies mountain snowpack most “at-risk” from climate change New study identifies mountain snowpack most “at-risk” from climate change As the planet warms, scientists expect that mountain snowpack should melt progressively earlier in the year - but that melt isn't evenly distribted from location to location. Read more
Researchers make small but important step in seasonal tornado forecasting Researchers make small but important step in seasonal tornado forecasting A new model named SPOTer (Seasonal Probabilistic Outlook for Tornadoes) shows promise in predicting active seasons 1-2 months in advance. Read more
Carbon dioxide peaks near 420 parts per million at Mauna Loa observatory 7Jun2021 Read more In May, NOAA's measurements at the Mauna Loa observatory averaged 419.13 parts per million. Scientists at Scripps calculated a monthly average of 418.92 ppm. It's the highest level since accurate measurements began 63 years ago. Read more
NOAA index tracks how greenhouse gas pollution amplified global warming in 2020 24May2021 Read more The annual analysis of samples collected by NOAA’s Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network provides an updated measure of the excess heat trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gas pollution. Read more
Meet 5 NOAA buoys that help scientists understand our weather, climate and ocean health 2Jun2021 Read more Keeping track of ocean health is critical for understanding climate change, weather patterns, and the health of important fisheries. But how do NOAA and partner scientists gather data on such a vast environment? Read more
NOAA, Boeing team up to test greenhouse gas-measuring technology 3Jun2021 Read more Scientists with NOAA's Global Monitoring Laboratory will evaluate the optimal placement of greenhouse-gas sampling inlets on a Boeing 737 flying testbed owned by Alaska Air during Boeing's 2021 ecoDemonstrator technology development program. Read more
NOAA initiatives among the first round of Ocean Decade endorsed actions 11Jun2021 Read more NOAA scientists and priorities are well reflected in several of the first Ocean Decade actions endorsed and announced this week by the United Nations Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC). Documents to download NOAA Blue Carbon Inventory Project.4.21.21(.pdf, 1.09 MB) - 166 download(s) Read more