Large planetary waves in the atmosphere led to a smaller Antarctic ozone hole in 2002. However, scientists emphasize that these weather patterns do not indicate the ozone layer is recovering and may return to previous sizes next year.
The study found that conventional diesel buses produce nitrogen oxide pollutants contributing to photochemical smog and fine soot particles. Laser sensors measured pollutant levels in exhaust plumes from different bus types, revealing varying pollution problems.
The study found that Arctic temperatures are increasing at a rate of 1.2 degrees Celsius per decade, leading to the decline of perennial sea ice. If the perennial ice cover disappears, it could profoundly impact summer shipping lanes, plankton blooms, ocean circulation systems, and global climate.
The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) has recorded the Sun's influence on ozone and atmospheric gases over an 11-year solar cycle. The complete dataset provides key measurements toward understanding natural and man-made influences on ozone.
A new GPS-based index improves lightning strike forecasts by nearly 10% and reduces false alarm rates by 26% at the Kennedy Space Center. The index combines data on water vapor in the atmosphere with other meteorological data to provide valuable guidance for forecasters.
Researchers found that changes in SSTs affect the Madden Julian Oscillation, a key driver of South Asian monsoons. The study suggests that warmer sea surface temperatures can predict up to 30% of MJO fluctuations.
A NASA study analyzed satellite data from 1997-2000 and found that the transition from El Nino to La Nina reversed rainfall patterns in Africa, affecting vegetation greenness. This reversal has implications for agriculture, livestock farming, and vector-borne disease outbreaks.
A new study suggests that future extreme rain events could cause significant crop losses and damages, particularly in the US Corn Belt. The researchers used a modified crop model to simulate the effects of excess soil moisture on corn crops, finding potential damages up to $3 billion per year by the 2030s.
NASA's Public Health Applications Program aims to provide public health agencies with innovative technologies, data, and satellite-based tools to combat the disease. The program helps identify environmental indicators, predicts disease outbreaks, and informs mosquito surveillance efforts.
A new NASA-funded study reveals that human-caused land-use changes significantly contribute to climate change, potentially more so than greenhouse gas emissions. The research proposes a method for comparing different climate change factors, highlighting the importance of land surface changes in redistributing heat and affecting regiona...
The Antarctic ozone hole is smaller than usual this September due to unusual stratospheric weather patterns. The researchers warn that a single year's pattern does not make a long-term trend, and the data are not conclusive that the ozone layer is recovering.
A NASA study suggests that black carbon particles are responsible for changes in precipitation patterns over China, leading to increased flooding in the south and droughts in the north. The study used climate computer models and aerosol data to analyze the effects of black carbon on hydrologic cycles in China and India.
The GISS 'SI2000' climate model demonstrates that global temperature change is mainly a response to human-made forcings, such as carbon dioxide and methane. The study projects possible futures under two contrasting scenarios, with minimal warming if air pollution decreases and CO2 emissions are stabilized.
Researchers found thicker, denser storm clouds over warmer waters, covering wider areas of the tropics and releasing more moisture as rain. This contradicts the 'Adaptive Iris' theory, which suggests cloud cover decreases with rising ocean temperatures.
Researchers have developed a method to distinguish between human pollution and natural atmospheric particles using MODIS satellite data. This breakthrough allows for more precise quantification of the role of human aerosols in Earth's weather and climate systems.
The Iturralde Crater Expedition 2002 aims to determine if the site was created by a meteor impact. The team will analyze rocks, soil, and magnetic properties to confirm or rule out an impact origin. They will also examine the area's vegetation structure and drainage patterns.
A NASA study has linked the transport of sea ice through Fram Strait to the position and phase of the longest sea level pressure wave circling the Earth at polar latitudes. The study found that variations in this wave, called 'wave 1', explain up to 70% of Arctic ice export through the strait.
Since 1992's Category 5 Hurricane Andrew, NASA satellites have provided critical data to improve hurricane forecasts. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), QuikSCAT, and Aqua satellites offer insights into rainfall intensity, wind patterns, and ocean temperatures.
Despite expected global warming impacts, a NASA study reveals an increase in Antarctic sea ice coverage, with the area lengthening by at least one day per year spanning around 5.6 million square kilometers.
Phytoplankton levels have dropped by over 30% in the North Pacific Ocean and 14% in the North Atlantic since the mid-80s, while summer plankton concentrations rose by 50% in the Northern Indian and Equatorial Atlantic Oceans. These changes are linked to regional climate shifts, including warmer sea surface temperatures and reduced winds.
The AEROCAN subnetwork measures aerosols globally, verifying NASA's Terra satellite data and providing a complete picture of pollution. Forest fires in western Canada generate significant aerosol effects, affecting visibility and air quality.
Scientists have discovered a significant upward bulge at the equator and downward bulge at the poles in the Earth's gravity field. The observed changes are counteracting the gravitational effects of post-glacial rebound, leading researchers to investigate potential causes such as climate change or ocean circulation.
Scientists will investigate high, tropical cirrus clouds in Florida to reduce uncertainties in forecasts of the Earth's future climate. The Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers - Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE) aims to improve large-scale measurements of clouds using aircraft and satellite data.
Scientists have improved weather and climate forecast models by using new Terra data to measure albedo, revealing regional variability in the Sahara Desert and Arabian Peninsula. This correlation will help fine-tune weather and climate models, enabling more accurate predictions.
The Aquarius mission will provide global maps of salt concentration on the ocean surface, allowing scientists to closely monitor ocean circulation and heat transport. The mission will help advance understanding of ocean-atmosphere interactions and potentially inform strategies to mitigate the impacts of natural events.
NASA's QuikSCAT satellite data reveals two ITCZs: a northern zone near the equator and a southern zone south of the equator. The southern zone is weaker due to cooler ocean water, affecting wind speeds and precipitation patterns globally.
A collaboration between students and scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center aims to identify environmental triggers of pediatric asthma in Baltimore. The Baltimore Student Sun photometer Network (BSSN) will collect daily aerosol data, enhancing science, math, and technology skills for the students involved.
A NASA study suggests that mixed croplands can lead to a cooler and wetter climate in certain regions. The researchers used satellite measurements of vegetation to simulate regional climate and found that this type of land use can alter atmospheric circulation, leading to increased convection and precipitation.
The NOAA-17 satellite has been successfully launched into orbit, providing improved imaging and sounding capabilities for weather forecasting and climate monitoring. The spacecraft will collect meteorological data and transmit it to users worldwide.
The EO-1 satellite has produced over four times the expected volume of imagery, demonstrating the effectiveness of its Hyperion and Advanced Land Imager (ALI) instruments in monitoring Earth's surfaces. These instruments have already proven invaluable in applications such as forestry and agricultural crop assessment.
Aqua has successfully transmitted engineering images from five of its six instruments, providing a glimpse into the spacecraft's performance and paving the way for operational data in early September. The high-quality data will help improve weather forecasts and advance our understanding of Earth's climate system, particularly the role...
A NASA study found that urban heat islands create more summer rain over and downwind of major cities worldwide. The increased heat promotes rising air and alters weather patterns, leading to higher rainfall rates in urban areas.
Researchers found that large volcanic eruptions, like the 1991 Pinatubo eruption, can temporarily cool the Earth and reduce plant growth due to increased aerosols in the atmosphere. This 'greener greenhouse' effect is partly caused by reduced sunlight and carbon dioxide emissions.
New measurements show that Greenland ice sheet flow speeds up from 31.3 cm/day in winter to a peak of 40 cm/day in summer, correlated with surface melting timing and intensity. The observed process may have contributed to the demise of past ice sheets and could impact sea level rise.
Scientists found that climate change from greenhouse gases may greatly slow ozone recovery due to increased water vapor and temperature changes in the upper atmosphere. Ozone levels are expected to reach their lowest point by around 2006, according to NASA research.
NASA's SHADOZ project has solved a decade-old mystery about the source of Atlantic ozone, revealing a 'wave-one pattern' that is predominantly in the troposphere. The data also show that the tropical tropopause is not a sharp boundary but a 2-mile thick transition layer.
Scientists warn of significant global impacts from glacier decline, with effects on agriculture, water supplies, and ecosystems. Glacier melting may lead to both serious problems and short-term increases in water availability.
A new prediction index uses satellite-based data to identify signs of El Niño development in the winter, providing a 6-9 month lead-time. The study found high values that preceded five strongest El Niños, and predicts the next event to begin between July and October 2002.
Research found that a warm polar winter made it easier for ozone to accumulate in the Arctic stratosphere, as warmer air prevented the formation of polar stratospheric clouds. This prevented the breakdown of ozone molecules, leading to higher levels of ozone in the lower stratosphere.
The FLAMBE project utilizes geostationary satellites to detect and monitor forest fires every half-hour, providing early warnings of haze events. The system also estimates burned areas, smoke fluxes, and radiative impacts, complementing NASA's Terra satellite products for improved global climate understanding.
The new tool helps decision makers utilize long-range forecasts by explaining and evaluating their performance. It allows users to customize evaluations based on lead-times, seasons, and locations relevant to their specific needs.
A new NASA study suggests that changes in rainfall patterns play a significant role in plant growth and carbon absorption in the United States. The research found that higher humidity combined with increased precipitation led to a 14% increase in plant growth between 1950 and 1993.
NASA is investing $22.8 million in 11 research teams to develop software infrastructure for climate and space science modeling. The partnerships aim to create a framework that enables seamless sharing, reuse, and comparison of scientific approaches from multiple sources.
Aerosols from pollution particles reduce ice crystal sizes in thunderstorms, leading to less precipitation over land. Aerosol levels are highest over Northern Africa, with smaller ice crystals found in clouds above the eastern Pacific and southern Indian Oceans.
Researchers found the warmest portion of a hurricane's eye is approximately 3.5 miles high, corresponding to falling pressure and destructive winds. The data provided a comprehensive 3D image of the inner core, revealing how heat from rising air powers the storm.
Researchers found high concentrations of small ice crystals at the top of Hurricane Humberto, reflecting more sunlight and creating a temperature contrast that may contribute to its strength. The discovery is being entered into computer models to improve hurricane predictions.
Large icebergs from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf are dramatically affecting the growth of minute plant life in the ocean, with a 40% reduction in phytoplankton blooms observed. The icebergs block normal drift of pack ice, reducing open water and altering the marine ecosystem.
The new model traces water vapor from its source in the atmosphere to where it falls back to Earth, providing a clearer picture of how water moves. This allows for more accurate weather forecasts by identifying regional sources of atmospheric moisture.
A NASA study reveals strong relationships between El Niño episodes and changes in Antarctic sea ice cover, indicating a connection between the Southern Oscillation and global climate. The findings suggest that El Niño affects regional ice distributions, with notable associations observed in the Amundsen, Bellingshausen, and Weddell Seas.
A 'volcanic ozone hole' is likely to occur over the Arctic within the next 30 years due to high volcanic activity coinciding with cold winters. This could lead to a significant increase in springtime ozone loss over the Arctic, threatening more populated areas.