Scientists at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center highlight the dangers of lightning during National Lightning Safety Awareness Week. The study reveals that over 8 million cloud-to-ground lighting strikes occur daily worldwide, with an average of 67 deaths annually in the US.
By analyzing cloud height and rainfall patterns, NASA scientists can estimate whether a hurricane's surface winds will strengthen or weaken. Rainfall from clouds extending up to 9 miles high indicates stronger winds.
According to NASA, La Niña will have no effect on the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season due to rising sea surface temperatures and favorable atmospheric conditions. The current La Niña event is fading, with sea surface temperatures returning to near-average levels in the eastern Pacific.
The study aims to improve the ability to observe and simulate monsoons over North America. Researchers gathered extensive atmospheric, oceanic, and land surface observations in the core region of the North American monsoon, providing insights into warm-season convective processes.
Researchers used computer simulations to recreate Tropical Storm Gert's conditions, improving model accuracy and understanding of hurricane formation. The study revealed the importance of topography in Mexico's role in helping storms form.
Researchers combined NASA's QuikSCAT satellite data with aircraft sensor data from tropical storms, improving the accuracy of hurricane forecasts. The new generation WRF computer model was able to reproduce the structure of rainfalls that caused flooding during landfall, providing valuable insights into tropical cyclones.
Scientists will study the direction and velocity of flows in the corona, a phenomenon visible only during total eclipses. The event also marks NASA's annual Sun-Earth Day program, highlighting the interactions between the sun and our planet.
According to a NASA scientist, warmer water temperatures are increasing melting and accelerating ice flow in polar areas. The warming is primarily limited to the upper 1000 meters of the oceans, but has a deeper effect on the North Atlantic waters, where it has increased the melting of sea ice.
Scientists embark on an Arctic trek with sled dogs to collect snow samples and validate satellite observations. The goal is to improve understanding of global snow cover and its impact on water resources, particularly in the American West where melting snow supplies 70% of western states' water supply.
A new airborne radar system measures snow depth on Arctic sea ice, aiding climate change research and understanding polar bear habitats. The project validates satellite measurements and provides insights into the region's climate and wildlife.
A NASA study found that ozone pollution, a significant contributor to global air pollution, played a substantial role in warming the Arctic during winter and spring. Ozone was responsible for one-third to half of the observed warming trend in the region, with its impact being most pronounced near sources of emissions.
Researchers investigate transformation of air pollution as it flows downwind from Mexico City, focusing on impacts on human health and climate. The study aims to understand pollution transport across continents and assess regional air quality and climate effects.
A new analysis of global satellite data reveals that a warming climate has led to fewer but stronger storms in mid-latitudes, resulting in contrasting cooling and warming effects on the atmosphere. These storm changes affect the Earth's radiation and precipitation fields, leading to increased precipitation in the northern mid-latitudes.
The study found a net loss of ice from the combined polar ice sheets between 1992 and 2002, resulting in an increase in sea level. The survey also documented extensive thinning of the West Antarctic ice shelves and an increase in snowfall in Greenland.
Researchers from NASA and Columbia University reproduced an abrupt climate shift 8,200 years ago by simulating a massive freshwater flood into the North Atlantic Ocean. The study used GISS Model E-R to model the impact of the flood, which caused temperatures to drop several degrees in some areas.
The Laser Scaling Device uses twin lasers to add scale to photographs, allowing investigators to measure the size of objects in images. This technology facilitates fast and accurate measurement analysis of digital evidence, facilitating serendipitous evidence detection and improving crime scene investigations.
Using polarized light, NASA scientist Peter Wasilewski analyzes the colors and patterns in ice crystals to determine their type and consistency for various Olympic sports. He also examines snowflake shapes and forms to understand how they affect performance.
The Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS) uses NASA satellite data to predict and manage the spread of invasive plant species like saltcedar, which is damaging water supplies. Land managers can generate color-coded maps to help combat the spread of these species.
The U.S. Geological Survey's Coastal and Marine Geology Program investigates the extent and causes of coastal impacts of hurricanes and extreme storms on U.S. coasts. NASA technology provides rapid assessment of coastal conditions, supporting USGS research programs and emergency response agencies.
Researchers used NASA's TRMM satellite data to analyze temperature changes inside hurricanes, providing clues about storm transformations. The study sheds light on the stages of extra-tropical storms and helps forecasters better understand hurricane development.
Researchers evaluated innovative approaches to mitigate the urban heat island effect, including light-colored surfaces and vegetation. Strategies such as planting urban forests and creating living roofs showed promise in reducing air temperatures.
Researchers analyzed data from multiple satellites, including NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, to understand the rapid weakening of Hurricane Lili in 2002. The study found that dry air moving into the storm's low levels created an 'open eyewall' that led to a significant decrease in strength.
The year 2005 may have been the warmest year in a century, with global temperatures returning to levels seen in 1998. The Earth has warmed by 0.6° C or 1.08° F over the past 30 years and 0.8° C or 1.44° F over the past 100 years.
Scientists are studying the tropopause, a key transition zone in the atmosphere where air from the troposphere flows into the stratosphere. This region is critical for understanding climate change and ozone recovery, with water and bromine chemicals playing major roles.
The ST5 Project is testing new technologies for future science missions, with three micro-satellites weighing around 25 kg each. The satellites will demonstrate the benefits of a constellation of small low-cost spacecraft obtaining simultaneous measurements in different locations.
Researchers using Aura's nearly up-to-the-hour data track important pollutants like ozone and nitrogen oxide. The satellite provides better predictions of future climate change by monitoring ice in clouds, which affects solar energy reflection and radiation trapping.
Recent images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft show jets of fine, icy particles emanating from Saturn's moon Enceladus' south polar region. The discovery provides unambiguous visual evidence that the moon is geologically active and has a fountain-like source of material.
This year's Antarctic ozone hole measured slightly larger than last year's at 9.4 million square miles, but still smaller than in previous years. The protective ozone layer has gotten larger since satellite measurements began in 1979, primarily due to human-produced chlorine and bromine chemicals.
NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers are uncovering evidence of wet, possibly habitable conditions on Mars in areas they're exploring. They've found variations of bedrock, including platform-like structures, that suggest a hot, violent past with volcanic explosions and impacts.
Researchers discovered a link between GPS data and satellite images of the plasmasphere, allowing them to understand the ionosphere-thermosphere-magnetosphere as a coupled system. The study provides a new understanding of space storms and their impact on Earth's upper atmosphere.
The Mosaic map reveals subtle changes in terrain that indicate the direction ice is flowing now and where it has gone in the past. The digital elevation model complements this view with elevation measurements over more of the continent than ever surveyed before, yielding new information about how topography drives ice flow.
ICESat measures polar ice sheets, clouds, mountains, and forests with three lasers, enabling scientists to see objects in three dimensions. The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) instrument has fired its one billionth shot, collecting detailed information on the vertical structure of the Earth system.
The two Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft will explore coronal mass ejections' origin, evolution, and interplanetary consequences during their two-year mission. The STEREO mission aims to improve our understanding of space weather and its impact on Earth systems.
Research finds that heavy rainfall and flooding can lead to more dust being released into the atmosphere, especially in regions like the Tigris-Euphrates Basin and North Africa. In contrast, areas with more vegetation and lower wind speeds tend to experience a decrease in dust emissions.
The new NASA animation shows the tracks of all 21 named storms, including Arlene and Wilma. The video is available for download in various formats, including MPEG-1 and JPEG.
A NASA study suggests that a warmer climate may not result in a wetter world, with simulations showing an increase in global evaporation and precipitation. However, the atmospheric storage of water vapor decreases as temperatures rise.
The study revealed significant changes to the island, including beach erosion and overwash deposition. The data will be used to develop computer models predicting coastal impacts from severe storms.
Researchers dropped instruments called dropsondes into the hurricane to measure temperature, pressure, winds, and more. The study reconstructed the structure of the eye in three dimensions from high altitude to great detail.
Satellites have recorded a significant loss in Arctic sea ice extent, with the minimum concentration reaching 2.05 million sq. miles in 2005. The decline is attributed to warming trends and climate changes, which are expected to continue due to projected Arctic warming.
Airborne LiDAR technology has been successfully used to monitor and protect rare species such as California spotted owls and Delmarva fox squirrels. The system provides detailed measurements of forest canopy, tree height and biomass, enabling researchers to identify suitable habitats for endangered species.
Scientists used satellite imagery to estimate that at least 23% of the Mississippi River's freshwater discharge traveled into the Gulf of Mexico, around Florida Keys, and into the Atlantic Ocean. The study combined MODIS data with ship observations to track the dark water plume's journey, reaching as far as the Georgia coast.
A new study reveals that tropical deforestation affects rainfall in the US and around the globe, with significant changes observed in various regions. Deforestation in Amazonia influences precipitation in Mexico to Texas, while Central Africa affects the US Midwest, and Southeast Asia alters rainfall in China and the Balkan Peninsula.
A new study using NASA satellite images found that MODIS can detect changes in Amazon land cover rapidly and reliably. This technology allows for regional analyses of land cover in a matter of days, reducing the time required for analysis compared to high-resolution Landsat data.
A new NASA-funded study reveals that warmer air temperatures from greenhouse gas emissions may lead to an increase in sea ice volume in the Antarctic's Southern Ocean. This finding suggests a counterintuitive phenomenon where some of the melt in the Arctic is offset by increased sea ice volume in the Antarctic.
New research shows that volcanic eruptions far north of the equator affect the world's climate differently than volcanoes in the tropics. The study focused on Mount Katmai's eruption in June 1912, finding it had a significant cooling effect during summer months.
The NUGGET instrument could help scientists determine if primitive forms of life existed on Mars by analyzing fossils embedded in rocks. By generating three-dimensional images, it can quickly identify areas where samples might be taken for further study.
A team of NASA scientists, led by Dr. Michael King, traveled through Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Eritrea to find locations for AERONET sunphotometers. They identified several ideal sites in East Africa to study aerosols and their effects on climate change.
Urban areas affect climate, with satellite data showing changes in surface properties like thermal conductivity and vegetation cover. NASA satellites capture these changes, enabling improved simulation of urban effects in climate models.
The Eye Saver provides 40 percent more surface illumination on work and reading surfaces, reducing eyestrain by lowering glare. This innovative light bulb is suitable for people of all ages and particularly useful for those afflicted with age-related macular degeneration.
The newly completed field tests show that the new approach in coupling models can be successful, producing similar temperature and wind outputs globally. The ESMF enables sharing and comparison of alternative scientific approaches from multiple sources, making it easier to develop realistic representations of the Earth as a system.