The Terra satellite provides daily global measurements of sea surface temperature accurate to within half a degree, surpassing previous satellites' accuracy. This high-resolution data enables scientists to better understand climate change and its effects on the ocean's temperature.
The CLPX aims to improve prediction of the hydrologic cycle and management of water resources. Scientists will collect snow data using skis, snowmobiles, aircraft, satellites, and microwave measurements to analyze snow water content, temperature, and crystal formation.
Scientists discuss advancements in predicting extreme weather events, analyzing changes in global snow and ice cover, and the challenges of global environmental monitoring. New data from NASA's Earth-observing spacecraft reveal complex patterns in climate change and its effects on our planet.
Engineers have demonstrated the precision attitude control capability of NASA's Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT) on board the EO-1 satellite, making it the first time this technology has been used. The PPT is a fuel-efficient system that uses electromagnetic forces to propel a spacecraft, offering potential benefits for future space missions.
Researchers mapped areas of Africa at risk for RVF outbreaks, identifying conditions necessary for breeding mosquitoes that transmit the virus. Satellite data also suggested a link between dry to wet changes in tropical regions and Ebola outbreaks.
A NASA-funded study utilizes satellite data on temperature and vegetation to forecast West Nile Virus transmission and identify high-risk areas. The analysis reveals that mosquito populations thrive in warmer, wetter conditions, allowing researchers to pinpoint disease hotspots and make predictions about future outbreaks.
Scientists observed less cloud cover blocking incoming radiation and trapping outgoing heat in the tropics. This led to more sunlight entering and heat escaping, contradicting current climate models' predictions.
A NASA-funded study reveals that ancient South American forests hold the key to understanding US ecosystems before the industrial revolution. The study finds complex organic compounds as the main form of nitrogen in unpolluted ecosystems, contradicting previous beliefs about inorganic nitrogen.
A new NASA study warns of increased winter flooding in California as global warming alters streamflow patterns. The study projects a drier growing season, with snowmelt-driven watersheds experiencing early streamflow increases and higher flood risks.
Scientists tested the Iris effect using CERES instrument on TRMM satellite, finding clouds slightly destabilize climate instead of cooling it. The study challenges recent theory proposing clouds cool the Earth and counteract predictions of global warming.
Researchers found a strong relationship between climate event El Niño and outbreaks of Bartonellosis, an insect-borne disease highly fatal to humans. The study suggests that warming of the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean is closely linked to the worst outbreaks, occurring one to three months after El Niño.
A new method significantly improves U.S. seasonal forecast accuracy by analyzing changes in sea surface temperatures across various ocean basins. The approach raises the bar for seasonal and inter-annual climate forecasts, with increases in predictability noted during spring and summer months.
Researchers have developed a new method to detect potential tropical cyclones using satellite data, allowing for earlier warning times of up to 40 hours. This technique uses wind speed data from the SeaWinds scatterometer on NASA's QuikSCAT satellite to identify areas of rotating winds.
A new NASA-funded study shows that global warming in recent decades has been caused by carbon dioxide, with other greenhouse gases including methane, tropospheric ozone, and black carbon. The growth of emissions has slowed over the past 20 years, primarily due to the phase-out of ozone-depleting gases.
The Southern African Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI 2000) study investigated coupled land-atmosphere processes associated with aerosols and trace gases. Key findings show the impact of southern African emissions on climate, as visualized through satellite, airborne, and ground-based observations.
A NASA study reveals that Zambia faces significant air quality challenges due to the transportation of pollutants across southern Africa. Ground-level ozone levels in Lusaka exceeded .90 parts per million during the day, posing serious health risks to local populations.
Researchers used computer models to simulate the effects of elevated carbon dioxide on cotton crop yields, predicting a 26-36% increase in yields. The study's findings suggest that climate change may have a positive impact on US cotton production.
Large volcanic eruptions, such as Mount Pinatubo's 1992 eruption, trigger a response in plant ecosystems where they become more efficient at drawing carbon dioxide out of the air. This process is thought to be triggered by reduced direct sunlight allowing plants to photosynthesize more efficiently.
A study suggests that a massive release of frozen methane from ocean sediments may have warmed the prehistoric Earth around 55 million years ago. The researchers propose that similar scenarios could occur in the future if oceans warm substantially, highlighting the importance of considering multiple greenhouse gases beyond carbon dioxide.
A new NASA climate model suggests that low solar activity during the Little Ice Age (1400s-1700s) triggered regional cooling in Europe and North America. The study found that a dimmer sun reduced westerly winds, leading to cold temperatures during winter.
The TRMM satellite is continuing to collect data on various climate and weather questions, including the formation of snowflakes and raindrops inside clouds. Microscopic dust and soot particles are found to interfere with rain formation in 'dirty' clouds.
A NASA-funded study found that glacier melting can shut down North Atlantic Deep Water production, leading to a reduced Gulf Stream and cooling Western Europe. The study suggests that freshwater additions from increased rain and snow could cause this phenomenon in the future.
A recent study by NASA researchers analyzed global weather stations and satellite observations to identify minimal local human influence. They found larger warming at urban stations on average, but used rural stations to adjust the records for a more accurate climate change measure.
Researchers have discovered a new source of information to aid in weather forecasting, leveraging shifts in stratospheric winds to predict surface weather two months in advance. The study reveals that changes in the stratosphere can influence storm tracks and extreme cold events in the Northern hemisphere.
A new NASA study found that the Icelandic low-pressure system affects Arctic sea ice cover, leading to regional variations and an overall decrease in ice extent. The system brings warm air northward, reducing ice cover east of Iceland, while also contributing to climate warming.
The Georgia Tech/Goddard Global Ozone Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) model accurately reproduces short-term and long-term variations in dust concentrations and distributions. The model provides five-day dust forecasts to warn people with respiratory problems and fisheries about potential red tides.
A new study found that Saharan dust clouds traveling thousands of miles can lead to massive toxic algae blooms in the Gulf of Mexico. The research used satellite and ground-based measurements to track dust clouds, which increased iron concentrations by 300% and triggered a huge bloom of toxic red algae.
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) spacecraft will continue to provide vital data on global rainfall and climate change with its extended mission. Scientists anticipate improved climate predictions and a more robust record of rainfall patterns.
The Terra satellite beams daily images of western U.S. wildfires to NASA, which are then transmitted to the Forest Service. The collaboration uses MODIS data to create Active Fire Maps that help resource allocation decisions and aid in public understanding of fire locations.
A new study suggests that increased solar activity can lead to an increase in cloud cover over the United States, particularly during times of high solar maximum. The jet stream plays a crucial role in linking solar variability with cloudiness, precipitation, and storm formation in the US.
A 21-year global record of precipitation suggests a decrease in rainfall over the Indian Ocean may signal an approaching strong El Niño. This finding could provide nations most affected by El Niños with earlier warning systems to better prepare for devastating climate changes.
Scientists found that warmer surface temperatures can splinter an ice shelf and prime it for a major collapse. The process is triggered by the added pressure from surface water filling crevasses, which can crack the ice entirely through.
Researchers found that El Niño events result in wetter oceans and drier land areas, with droughts more common than floods. Global precipitation patterns show an increase in rain over the Indian monsoon region and a decrease over central Africa during these events.
A study by NASA researchers found that the eastern U.S. has cooled by 0.1° Celsius per decade, contrasting with global warming. The researchers attribute this cooling to increased cloud cover caused by warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific.
Researchers at NASA Langley studied various aspects of atmospheric science, including the tropical radiation energy budget, climate classification, and the impact of increased aircraft traffic on climate change. The study used data from the NASA Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) to analyze the effects of weather and climate para...
New satellite-generated rain maps provide more accurate tropical rainfall measurements, helping manage water resources and understand El Niño-La Niña patterns. The TRMM satellite's high-resolution data also enables better weather forecasting and climate projections.
A new study revises previous estimates of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet's contribution to global sea-level rise, suggesting it may be a slower source. The ice sheet was previously estimated to add 1 millimeter per year to sea level, but new data indicates this may be an overestimation.
A new study has successfully mapped the global extent of 'iron-limited' ocean regions, which are crucial for understanding how the ocean's biology controls the flow of carbon between the atmosphere and the ocean. These regions were identified by analyzing satellite data on dust deposition and phytoplankton productivity.
Researchers expect Arctic ozone layer recovery to be slower than expected due to unusually low stratospheric temperatures and increasing greenhouse gases. The phase out of chlorine-containing chlorofluorocarbons and halons has not slowed down ozone losses over the Arctic, with significant losses observed last spring.
Scientists have found that 'raining' electrons from Earth's magnetosphere destroy ozone in the upper atmosphere, creating a new aspect of natural ozone destruction. The degree of electron precipitation is directly related to the 11-year solar cycle.
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center presented new findings on lower dust absorption of sunlight, Arctic stratospheric temperature control and the impact of a large solar proton event on the atmosphere. The studies aim to improve climate modeling and understanding of climate change.
The NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Global Change Media Directory 2001 features over 343 scientists from 50 disciplines, including climate change, natural hazards, ozone, water resources, and global warming. The directory contains a list of experts with complete contact information.
The unprecedented fire season in southern Africa produced a thick haze layer that affected regional air quality and provided valuable data for climate change research. Scientists were able to track the movement of the haze layer, measure its impact on clouds, and investigate its effect on greenhouse gases.
The NASA Terra spacecraft and ER-2 aircraft conducted the first synchronized scientific observations over Southern Africa as part of the six-week SAFARI 2000 initiative. The target was to measure carbon monoxide levels in the atmosphere, a major component of air pollution.
A new Amazon rainforest field research facility will conduct extensive ecological studies to understand the region's impact on global change. Scientists from around the world will study logging effects, carbon exchanges, and ecosystem cycles.
The new land cover maps will provide more precise assessments of land use types, including residential development, wetlands, forests, and crop lands. The maps will help improve estimates of polluted water runoff into the Chesapeake Bay by identifying pasture land and different crops.
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center will present new findings on the impact of urbanization on photosynthetic production, climate change in coastal regions, and Arctic warming. These studies provide valuable insights into the effects of human activity on the environment.
Scientists are using harmonic analysis on satellite images to study changes in vegetation during growing seasons and land use patterns. They can detect desertification, forest regeneration, and climate change by analyzing wave patterns and amplitude measurements.
Researchers studied Atlanta, Salt Lake City, and other cities using Landsat data, finding that adding trees and light-colored roofs can cool city temperatures. Computer models also simulated land use changes to predict stormwater runoff patterns and urban growth in abandoned strip mines.
A NASA study reveals that urbanization can reduce annual photosynthetic productivity in some areas by up to 20 days. However, research also shows that human activity can increase productivity in resource-limited regions through land transformation.