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Machine learning helps scientists peer (a second) into the future

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new machine learning method called next-generation reservoir computing that can learn spatiotemporal chaotic systems in a fraction of the time. The algorithm is more accurate and uses less training data, making it easier to predict complex physical processes like Earth's weather.

SourceOhio State University·JournalChaos An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 28, 2022

Climate data can help model the spread of COVID-19

A new study finds that climate data, particularly UV radiation levels, can help accurately model the spread of COVID-19. The research analyzed data from 196 countries and found that high UV radiation levels are strongly associated with reduced COVID-19 transmission rates.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 7, 2022

Coarse sea spray keeps lightning strikes away

Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered that coarse sea spray significantly reduces the amount of lightning in storm clouds. The study found that aerosols larger than 1 micron, or coarse sea spray, inhibit lightning by up to 90%, while smaller aerosols actually increase lightning and affect rainfall.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature Communications·TypeImaging analysis·DateAug 8, 2022

Cloud study demystifies impact of aerosols

Aerosol particles in the atmosphere have a bigger impact on cloud cover than previously thought, increasing it by approximately 10%. Clouds hold more water before rainfall occurs due to smaller and more numerous droplets, leading to reduced precipitation. The study uses satellite data and machine learning to improve climate models.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 1, 2022

Western wildfire smoke plumes are getting taller

Climate change is intensifying Western US wildfire activity, resulting in taller smoke plumes and more aerosols injected into the atmosphere. The study models 4.6 million smoke plumes and finds that maximum plume height increased by an average of 320 ft per year in four regions, with some areas experiencing a 750 ft per year increase.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2022

Timing is everything for weed management

Researchers identified peak emergence times for 15 problematic weed species in the Northeast, revealing that waiting till after June 1 can avoid common ragweed. Flexible crop rotations and weather-based predictions can help farmers plan ahead and control weeds more effectively.

SourceCornell University·JournalFrontiers in Agronomy·DateJul 5, 2022

How much spring nitrogen to apply? Pre-planting weather may provide a clue

Researchers found that wetter pre-growing seasons reduced soil nitrogen through leaching, but applying more fertilizer can mitigate this effect. The model also showed that cold pre-growing season temperatures limited early growth in ways that affected yield potential, making extra fertilizer less effective.

New method can predict summer rainfall in the Southwest months in advance

Scientists developed a method to estimate summer rainfall in the Southwest months in advance, performing well in Arizona. By analyzing lower atmosphere moisture, they created monthly forecasts to aid reservoir storage and water allocation decisions.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 28, 2022

Using satellite data to improve a model’s interpretation of albedo improves snowfall simulations on the Tibetan Plateau

Researchers used satellite spectral albedo data to develop a scheme that optimizes albedo parameters at the local level, significantly reducing model albedo overestimation and improving snowfall simulations. This improves the accuracy of water cycle modeling on the Tibetan Plateau.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 22, 2022

How do waves form in the sea?

Tel Aviv University researchers develop innovative model that explains wave formation, tested in complex experiments. The model takes into account all unstable harmonics and limitations of previous models, providing high reliability for describing physical situation.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 10, 2022

Chaos theory provides hints for controlling the weather

Researchers have used computer simulations to show that small adjustments to certain variables can modify weather systems, mimicking the 'butterfly attractor' phenomenon in chaos theory. This approach could lead to weather control technology and prevent extreme windstorms.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNonlinear Processes in Geophysics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 28, 2022

Chaos to control: Scientists use a ‘butterfly attractor’ to control and change the weather

Researchers at RIKEN Center for Computational Science used computer simulations to show that extreme weather phenomena can be controlled by making small adjustments to variables in the weather system. The study's findings promise multiple applications, including preventing and mitigating extreme windstorms.

SourceEuropean Geosciences Union·JournalNonlinear Processes in Geophysics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 28, 2022

A global variable-resolution model helps meteorologists understand the hydrological cycle throughout the Tibetan Plateau

A new global variable-resolution model helps meteorologists understand the hydrological cycle in the Tibetan Plateau, revealing complex topography's impact on moisture transport and precipitation. The study shows that resolving topography at a few kilometers improves precipitation simulations by 11%.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateMar 21, 2022

New study questions explanation for last winter’s brutal U.S. cold snap

A new study questions a widely-held theory that sudden stratospheric warming caused the extreme cold weather in Texas and other parts of the US. The research suggests that the polar vortex's disruption, which occurred six weeks after the initial warming event, was not significant enough to impact the weather.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 7, 2022

New simulations can improve avalanche forecasting

Researchers developed a new avalanche forecasting method using computer simulations of snow cover, which can detect weak layers and identify hazard in a different way. The approach showed consistent results with observed frequencies over 16 years, offering potential to support forecasting in the future.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalCold Regions Science and Technology·DateJan 19, 2022

Climatic drivers of honey bee disease revealed

A new study has found that increasing temperatures and heavy rainfall reduce the prevalence of Varroa mite disease in UK honey bee colonies, while heavy wind reduces its severity. Climate change is predicted to impact the risk of European foulbrood disease, with a hot spot identified in the South West England.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2021

Scientists discover how forest fires influence rain cloud formation in the Amazon

A Brazilian study reveals that forest fires and wildfires modify the freezing process of cloud droplets, altering natural cloud functioning and potentially impacting precipitation. The research used a large dataset to show that aerosols emitted by fires can affect cloud formation in southern Amazonia during the rainy season.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 27, 2021

Changing ocean currents are driving extreme winter weather

New research from the University of Arizona suggests that a slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) will intensify extreme cold weather in the US. The study found that without the AMOC, extremely cold winter weather would become more frequent and severe.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 20, 2021

Climate change caused the devastating floods in part of Brazilian´s Southeast region, study says

A study found that climate change increased the probability of heavy rainfall by 70% in Brazil's Minas Gerais state, leading to severe flooding, deaths, and massive damage. The extreme event caused over 90,000 people to be temporarily homeless and resulted in significant economic losses.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalClimate Resilience and Sustainability·DateOct 19, 2021