Scientists study bat and dolphin sonar systems to improve man-made active sensing technologies. Bat species use frequency-modulating calls to overcome acoustic interference, whereas dolphins rely on short clicks with minimal overlap.
Researchers at KIT developed a method to analyze social media photos to draw conclusions about the socio-cultural importance of natural landscapes. By analyzing tags and content, they identified cultural hotspots and understood how people use areas for leisure activities or nature appreciation.
A University of Oklahoma meteorologist predicts severe droughts and intense rainfall events will become more frequent and long-lasting worldwide. The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, uses standardized rainfall indices to compare event characteristics between regions and seasons.
Researchers developed a comprehensive forecast system to improve accuracy in wind, temperature, humidity, and gust forecasts. The scheme combines results from several global and regional forecasting schemes, reducing errors by up to 4 days.
A new study finds that strong Indian monsoons can push Atlantic Ocean hurricanes westward, increasing the likelihood they'll make landfall in the Americas. This newly-discovered relationship could help scientists better predict hurricane paths, especially during late summer months.
A new study finds that US tornado frequency has increased in the Midwest and Southeast over the past four decades, closing the gap with traditional Tornado Alley. The trend is significant for understanding future tornado exposure and damage.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a new weather model that incorporates data from next-generation satellites to improve tornado forecasting. The model was able to forecast supercell thunderstorms with high accuracy and suggests that lead times for tornado warnings can be extended beyond 30 minutes.
The DFG is establishing nine new Research Units to tackle pressing issues in their respective fields. The new units will focus on topics such as precipitation estimation, the brain's energy supply, Tourette syndrome, and climate change impact on high alpine geosystems.
The University of Oklahoma team has received a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation grant to develop the OU and Regional Research Store, a massive tape archive serving as a national model. The project will provide affordable storage for over 85 research teams across 27 institutions in 17 states.
Researchers will combine novel tracking devices with weather radar data to gain insights into migratory birds' atmospheric habitats. The project aims to understand the impact of climate change on bird migration patterns and develop strategies for local adaptation.
Tropical Storm Bebinca's strong storms lingered within its weakening center, with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is forecast to track further inland across Laos and northern Thailand before dissipating.
Researchers found that climate during wheat growing season has become warmer and drier in the past, causing changes in wheat phenology. The study reveals significant differences in phenological changes across regions and attributes these changes to both climate change and crop management measures.
Researchers developed a more comprehensive method for measuring the Earth's boundary layer depth using radar, which constantly ebbs and flows. This improvement in accuracy can lead to better forecasts for severe weather events, air pollution, and wildfire forecasting.
Alessio Figalli, a mathematician at ETH Zurich, has been awarded the Fields Medal for solving the Monge-Ampere equation, a famous partial differential equation with applications in urban planning, imaging, and meteorology. He has also made significant contributions to optimal transport and its connections to probability.
A new tool predicts dengue outbreaks in the Caribbean after droughts and intense rainfall, helping plan interventions to reduce disease risk. The model, developed by ISGlobal, considers combined impacts of drought and rainfall on mosquito-borne diseases.
Researchers found that urban areas stayed warmer than surrounding suburbs and country during a 2014 cold wave, with temperature differences greatest at night. The study suggests that heat released from buildings can help cities reduce heating demand and make being outdoors more tolerable during extreme cold.
Changes in land use significantly impact CO2 storage in vegetation and atmospheric concentration. Deforestation can lead to reduced capacity for plants and soil to absorb CO2.
A new research group at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will study the global impacts of agriculture on climate change and focus on reducing nitrous oxide emissions. The team, led by Dr. Clemens Scheer, aims to develop joint standards for measurement and modeling.
Historical data analysis reveals significant differences in source region contributions to haze under unfavorable weather systems. Policymakers can develop more efficient control plans by incorporating weather system analysis when haze events occur.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma are investigating tropopause polar vortices, which limit predictability in the Arctic. The team aims to develop new models and strategies to better understand TPVs and their impact on weather events.
A recent study in Canada investigated the relationship between wind turbine proximity and human health, finding no direct correlation. However, respondents closer to turbines reported lower environmental quality of life ratings, suggesting potential indirect effects.
Two UNIST faculty members, Professor Myong-In Lee and Professor Dong Hyun Cha, have received top government awards for their outstanding contributions to urban meteorology and climatology. They were recognized for their research on climate change, disaster risks, and regional climate modeling.
Under projected high greenhouse gas levels, Floridians may face more extreme heatwaves with profound impacts on human health and the state's economy. Heatwaves lasting longer at night could exacerbate urban heat island effects, making cities like Miami and Orlando particularly vulnerable.
Researchers found that the Unified Model's microphysics scheme produces unrealistic raindrop size distributions, affecting storm structures. The study emphasizes the importance of selecting the right microphysics scheme for accurate weather prediction.
A new Yale study finds that global lake evaporation will increase 16 percent by the end of the century as a result of climate change. The specific mechanisms driving this phenomenon are not what scientists expected, with other factors such as shortened ice periods and changes in heat energy allocation playing a crucial role.
Tropical Cyclone Iris is weakening and moving away from the Queensland coast as it continues to move southeast. The cyclone's wind speeds decreased to 52 mph near its center, with cloud top temperatures indicating potential for heavy rainfall.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Tropical Cyclone Iris, revealing powerful thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm has the capability to produce heavy rainfall and is currently moving southeast towards the Queensland coast.
A tropical cyclone weakened to a low pressure area off Queensland's coast but strengthened into a Category 1 storm on April 2. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured an image of the storm, showing a thick band of thunderstorms surrounding its center.
OU Professor Cameron Homeyer received a NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science grant to study the effects of storms on atmospheric composition. He aims to link ground-based radar observations with satellite data to better understand storm characteristics.
NASA analyzed satellite data to calculate Tropical Cyclone Nora's heavy rainfall in Queensland, revealing over 433 mm of rain in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The analysis also indicated significant precipitation along Nora's track into northwestern Queensland, causing flooding and landslides.
Tropical Cyclone Nora strengthened into a hurricane as observed by NASA satellite imagery, with an eye forming and powerful thunderstorms wrapping around it. The cyclone is forecast to continue intensifying and making landfall in southwestern Queensland on March 27.
Tropical Cyclone 16P has developed over the Arafura Sea, located between Australia's north coast and New Guinea. The storm is moving east at 4.6 mph and is expected to intensify as it enters the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The VIIRS instrument aboard NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured a true-color image of Tropical Cyclone Marcus on March 18, 2018. The storm brought hurricane-force wind gusts to Darwin, Australia, and was moving west at 16 mph per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Marcus has developed off Australia's Northern Territory coast, with NASA's Aqua satellite providing a visible light image of the storm. The cyclone is expected to move southwest, gradually turning to the west and affecting Darwin and eastern parts of Melville Island.
Research reveals a significant relationship between the Silk Road Pattern and Eurasian climate anomalies, particularly in strong north-jet years. Stronger-than-usual Rossby wave source anomalies contribute to this link, suggesting more attention be given to these years.
Tropical Storm 10S has formed about 50 miles west of Broome, Australia, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. The storm is expected to strengthen rapidly and make landfall between Broome and Port Hedland on Sunday, Feb. 18.
A Rutgers University study found that most large storm surges in the Northeast are caused by non-hurricane extratropical cyclones. These storms include nor'easters and other low-pressure systems that generate tighter pressure gradients and longer-lasting onshore winds.
Scientists investigated aerosol optical properties and radiative effects in the Pearl River Delta region of China. They found that fine-mode strongly absorbing particles dominated aerosols during the dry season, significantly influencing radiation exchange between Earth's surface and atmospheric system.
New research from the University of Lincoln found that jet stream changes are significantly associated with UK regional rainfall and temperatures. The study suggests that using predictions of jet stream changes can produce more accurate seasonal weather forecasts on a smaller, regional scale.
A century of observations reveals how sea-level rise is increasing tidal range in the Chesapeake and Delaware bays, impacting ocean navigation, fishing, and energy sources. The study found that sea-level rise can amplify tidal effects in some areas, while decreasing them in others.
Tropical Cyclone Joyce made landfall along the Pilbara Coast in Western Australia, with maximum sustained winds near 45 knots. The cyclone is expected to weaken as it tracks southwest through the region, but will continue to bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
NASA's JPSS-1 satellite captured visible images of Tropical Cyclone Joyce as it moved south along the northwestern Australian coast on January 11. The cyclone had maximum sustained winds near 45 knots and was forecast to make landfall near Wallal Downs mid-day local time on January 12.
Tropical Depression 5S formed with sustained winds of 30 knots and was consolidating off Western Australia's coast. NASA satellite data showed a band of thunderstorms with temperatures as low as -90 degrees Celsius, capable of producing heavy rainfall.
Scientists analyzed NASA's Aqua satellite records to find that rising maximum temperatures are affecting every ecosystem on the planet, from ice sheets to tropical forests. Temperature extremes coincided with severe droughts and heat waves across the globe, particularly in tropical regions and northern hemisphere.
Tropical Depression Dahlia's center was found to be devoid of rainfall by NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission. The storm was weakening and moving south at 10 knots, with cooler sea surface temperatures and wind shear expected to lead to its dissipation.
Heavy downpours caused schools and universities to close in Jeddah, with GPM's radar measuring precipitation at rates of over 115.5 mm/h and 90 mm/h. A 3-D view of the storms was created using data from NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement Mission.
Researchers argue that central pressure deficit is a better indicator of economic damage from storms in the United States. The study suggests that this metric can be used to calculate peak wind speed, which could improve hurricane predictions.
The Institute of Atmospheric Physics published a special issue in AAS to commemorate Duzheng Ye's life's achievements. The collection focuses on Ye's theories and their impact on modern weather forecasting, climate change research, and Tibetan Plateau meteorology.
A team of climate scientists found that sea-level rise, not stronger storm surges, will cause future NYC flooding. Rising sea levels could lead to a 50-foot flood height by 2300, with smaller changes in coastal risk if sea-level rise is prevented.
A researcher from MSU has discovered complex changes in temperature and relative humidity in Moscow over the past century. Urban heat island intensity stabilized in the second half of the 20th century but increased in recent years due to urban densification.
Explosive volcanic eruptions in the tropics can lead to El Niño events by pumping sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, reflecting solar radiation and reducing global surface temperature. Climate model simulations show that El Niño tends to peak during the year after large volcanic eruptions.
A University of Oklahoma research team led by Elinor Martin will apply statistical and artificial intelligence methods to predict heavy rainfall events. The team aims to improve forecasting and increase communication between researchers, forecasters, and stakeholders to enhance societal resilience to extended periods of heavy rainfall.
Penn State researchers create a low-cost delivery system for probes to collect thermodynamic data in storms, with successful launches into supercell storms. The new system aims to link temperature data with radar wind data to predict tornado formation and improve forecasts.
A recent paper revisits an idea proposed by Chinese meteorologist Duzheng Yeh in 1959 about abrupt seasonal changes in the general circulation. The study's authors successfully reproduce these transitions without lower-boundary inhomogeneities, sparking questions about their underlying causes.
A new study found that installing 'cool roofs' in Southern California could lead to small increases in ozone and fine particulate pollution levels. The predicted increase can be minimized by requiring more comprehensive performance standards for cool-roofing materials.
A new study by CIRES and NOAA researchers found that the spring snowmelt has arrived nearly three days earlier every decade from 1975 to 2016, while the first snow has been happening later. The end result is an increase in length of the snow-free season by about one week per decade.
Researchers found that two more degrees of warming are already committed to by past emissions, regardless of current efforts. Even if all fossil fuel emissions stopped, warming would still reach about 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100.
The Indian summer monsoons have strengthened in the last 15 years over north central India, reversing a 50-year drying period. This increase in monsoon rainfall is attributed to a shift in India's land and sea temperatures, with higher land temperatures combining with lower ocean temperatures.
Researchers at Stockholm University found a link between the West African Monsoon and ENSO variability, revealing reduced variability by 30-60% compared to pre-industrial times. Accounting for a vegetated and less dusty Sahara improved model simulations and provided insights into future climate change predictions.
Researchers from Penn State's IST have developed a method to identify bow echoes in radar images, a phenomenon associated with fierce winds. The algorithm can automatically detect bow echoes as they begin to form, providing instant notifications for severe weather alerts.