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Geostationary Earth Orbit Hyperspectral Infrared Radiance data improve local severe storm forecasts proofed by using a new Hybrid OSSE method

Researchers used the hybrid OSSE method to evaluate the impact of GEO hyperspectral IR data on local severe storm forecasts. The study found improved atmospheric temperature, moisture, and precipitation forecasts, with a 5% Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) reduction.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateJun 4, 2021
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Are wind farms slowing each other down?

A recent study by Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon found that wind farms in the North Sea experience a significant slowing down of wind speeds when built close together, leading to reduced power output and economic consequences.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Hereon·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 3, 2021

Data from China's Fengyun meteorological satellites available to global Earth system science applications

Fengyun satellite data is available for real-time users, scientific researchers, and public users, with over 10TB of daily data volume produced daily. The data has been validated with in-situ observations and cross-referenced with other well-known satellite products.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 29, 2021
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Landscape induced back-building thunderstorm lines along the mei-yu front

A study analyzing high-resolution model simulations found that mountainous terrain, particularly the Nanling Mountains in Jiangxi Province, initiates back-building convective lines. This leads to torrential flooding and heavy rainfall within the mei-yu front rainband.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 22, 2021

NOAA study shows promise of forecasting meteotsunamis

Researchers used local citizen photos and data to reconstruct the first documented meteotsunami in the Great Lakes, caused by an atmospheric inertia-gravity wave. Existing NOAA models may enable scientists to predict these meteotsunamis minutes to hours in advance.

SourceNOAA Headquarters·JournalNatural Hazards·DateApr 1, 2021

Scientists begin building highly accurate digital twin of our planet

The 'Destination Earth' initiative aims to create a highly accurate digital model of the Earth, incorporating observational data and new human activity data. This digital twin will enable high-resolution simulations of complex processes and inform policies on sustainable development.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Computational Science·DateFeb 24, 2021

Alaska thunderstorms may triple with climate change

Researchers predict that Alaska will experience a significant increase in thunderstorms by the end of the century, with storms becoming more frequent and intense, especially in southern regions. This shift is driven by warming temperatures and ice-free waters around Alaska, which will fuel atmospheric moisture.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalClimate Dynamics·DateFeb 23, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Monitoring precious groundwater resources for arid agricultural regions

The developed framework captures detailed information on agricultural groundwater use at the regional scale down to individual fields. It combines data from satellite images, weather prediction models, and land-surface hydrology models to estimate water delivery to each field.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalHydrology and Earth System Sciences·DateFeb 8, 2021
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

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Modeling rainfall drop by drop

Researchers at KAUST developed a high-frequency rainfall model using new rain gauges that measure rainfall drop by drop, providing unprecedented insight into minute-to-minute rainfall dynamics. The model captures the 'skewness' of high-frequency precipitation data and generates synthetic precipitation data for water management.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalSpatial Statistics·DateDec 20, 2020

Scientists develop new land surface model including multiple processes and human activities

Scientists developed a new land surface model incorporating multiple processes and human activities to improve water-energy simulations and environmental protection. The CAS-LSM model can evaluate ecohydrological effects of stream water transfer and provide advice for urban planning.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalJournal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems·DateDec 18, 2020

AI model shows promise to generate faster, more accurate weather forecasts

A new AI model has shown promise in generating faster and more accurate weather forecasts by analyzing past weather patterns. The model uses about 7,000 times less computing power than traditional forecasting models while still simulating a year's weather around the globe.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems·DateDec 15, 2020

Xu developing tool to support resilient power grid

Researchers are developing a flexible simulation-based outer-loop application tool for resilient power grid planning and optimization. The tool leverages scalable parallel processing, adaptive computing budget allocation, and scientific machine learning to predict and respond to disturbances.

SourceGeorge Mason University·DateDec 11, 2020

Air-sea coupling improves the simulation of the western North Pacific summer monsoon in the WRF4 model at a synoptic scale resolving resolution

The WRF4-LICOM model shows improved summer mean monsoon rainfall, circulations, and sea surface heat fluxes. Regional air-sea coupling enhances the simulated daily SST-rainfall relationship, offering a more accurate representation of the western North Pacific summer monsoon.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateNov 25, 2020
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GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

The science of windy cities

A team from Oklahoma State University developed techniques to model environmental hazards for autonomous aircraft, while another group at the University of Surrey investigated building wakes to enhance air quality. Researchers also found an unbalanced exchange flow in natural ventilation systems, which can slow down cooling.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateNov 23, 2020

Stan receives funding for coupled weather model development

Cristiana Stan, a George Mason University researcher, has received $195,313 from NOAA to develop a coupled ensemble weather prediction system. The system aims to improve medium-range and subseasonal-to-seasonal forecasts by refining stochastic parameterizations and improving model coupling.

SourceGeorge Mason University·DateNov 20, 2020

Convection-permitting modelling improves simulated precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau

Researchers improve simulated precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau using convection-permitting models. These models better depict precipitation frequency and intensity, reducing the wet bias in traditional climate models. Higher resolution and more accurate parameterizations lead to improved simulations.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalQuarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society·DateNov 4, 2020
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Covid-19 "super-spreading" events play outsized role in overall disease transmission

A new MIT study found that Covid-19 super-spreading events, where one person infects many others, are more common than expected. The researchers developed a mathematical model that shows limiting gatherings to 10 or fewer people could significantly reduce the number of super-spreading events and lower overall infections.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 2, 2020

Scientists explore the potential for further improvements to tropical cyclone track forecasts

Researchers found that true forecast track error increases exponentially with lead time, implying dynamics of TC motions are linear and model-induced errors in TC position forecasts are minimal. The team's 4-parameter error model indicates potential extension of predictability limit beyond 6/8 days in 10/30 years' time.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateSep 13, 2020

New study reveals strength of the deep ocean circulation in the South Atlantic

Researchers describe daily variability of key deep currents in the South Atlantic Ocean, with variations linked to climate and weather globally. The study found that upper and deeper layers behave independently, impacting sea level rise and hurricane intensification.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 17, 2020

North Atlantic climate far more predictable following major scientific breakthrough

Scientists have made a major breakthrough in predicting North Atlantic pressure patterns, which drive European and eastern North American winter weather. The study suggests that decadal variations in atmospheric pressure are highly predictable, enabling advanced warnings of extreme weather events.

SourceCMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change·JournalNature·DateJul 30, 2020
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Blueprint may power up KSA's wind energy future

A comprehensive blueprint for Saudi Arabia's national wind energy strategy has been developed, aiming to reach 16 gigawatts of installed capacity by 2030. The plan leverages high-resolution modeling, unique wind and weather observations, and cost analysis to guide the optimal buildout of wind turbines.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalApplied Energy·DateJul 25, 2020

A sharper view of flood risk

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology devised a new analytical tool to predict flood risk by adapting a classical statistical model for analyzing extreme rainfall in large datasets. The model demonstrated potential in capturing observed patterns in northeast America, promising improved prediction capabilities.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalJournal of the American Statistical Association·DateJun 8, 2020

Applying the analogy method to improve the forecasting of strong convection

Researchers improve forecasting of strong convective weather using analogy method, which estimates occurrence environment for similar weather phenomena based on historical model forecasts. The method performs well in predicting potential for strong convection in different regions of China.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateMay 15, 2020

A new method to improve tropical cyclone intensity forecasts

A new method using Nonlinear Forcing Singular Vector (NFSV) reduces model error in numerical weather forecasting models. The approach identifies the uncertainty of variable and area most likely to cause large errors, enabling adaptive satellite observations to improve short-term forecasts.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateMar 9, 2020
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

New version of Earth model captures detailed climate dynamics

The new E3SM model can capture complex climate-generating behavior with high resolution, simulating regional climate and built infrastructure. It will help predict how changes in climate and water cycling respond to increasing CO2.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems·DateMar 3, 2020

Verifying forecasts for major stratospheric sudden warmings

A new study verified multi-system forecasts for major stratospheric sudden warmings (MSSWs), showing that all four systems can be judged skilled for five-day forecasts when averaged across available MSSWs. Longer lead times present challenges, with some systems skillful but others not.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateFeb 17, 2020

Small altitude changes could cut the climate impact of aircraft

Scientists report that small altitude changes in flight paths could cut the climate impact of aircraft contrails, reducing warming effects by up to 59.3%. By targeting high-warming flights and making minor adjustments, contrail impact could be reduced by 91.8% with cleaner engines.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 12, 2020
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Deep neural networks speed up weather and climate models

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed domain-aware neural networks to replace expensive parameterizations in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. These algorithms can predict environmental data more accurately with significantly less training data, enabling faster and higher-resolution simulations.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalGeoscientific Model Development·DateNov 12, 2019

Turbulence creates ice in clouds

Researchers from Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research found that vertical air motions increase ice formation in mixed-phase clouds. This correlation has important implications for understanding the water cycle and predicting precipitation.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)·Journalnpj Climate and Atmospheric Science·DateNov 8, 2019

Applying machine learning in intelligent weather consultation

A new machine learning method, MOML, simulates weather consultation to improve forecast accuracy by 27.91% compared to ECMWF model forecasts. The approach leverages observational data and both high- and low-frequency information for more accurate results.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateAug 20, 2019

Facial recognition technique could improve hail forecasts

Scientists trained a deep learning model to recognize features of individual storms that affect hail formation and size, improving prediction accuracy by up to 10%. The study highlights the importance of considering a storm's entire structure in hail forecasting.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalMonthly Weather Review·DateAug 19, 2019
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Data assimilation method offers improved hurricane forecasting

A new approach developed at Penn State's Center for Advanced Data Assimilation and Predictability Techniques can accurately forecast the intensity and trajectory of Hurricane Harvey. The method uses data from the GOES-16 satellite and Penn State's all-sky radiance technique, which more accurately models hurricanes.

SourcePenn State·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateAug 15, 2019

Smart irrigation model predicts rainfall to conserve water

A predictive model combining plant physiology, soil conditions, and weather forecasts helps make informed decisions about irrigation, conserving up to 40% of water used. The research also aims to identify the best method for each crop and determine the costs and benefits of switching to an automated system.

SourceCornell University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology·DateJul 19, 2019

Using artificial intelligence to better predict severe weather

Researchers developed an AI framework that detects rotational movements in clouds from satellite images, pointing to potentially threatening storm formations. The method achieved 99% accuracy and predicted 64% of severe weather events, outperforming existing detection methods.

SourcePenn State·JournalIEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing·DateJul 2, 2019
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Solving the entrainment puzzle

Dr. Wiebke Frey is using wind tunnel experiments and model simulations to investigate mixing processes at cloud edges, which affect cloud lifetime and climate sensitivity estimates. Her goal is to develop a reliable formulation for understanding entrainment, a key process in climate modeling.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)·DateJun 3, 2019

New lidar instruments peer skyward for clues on weather and climate

Researchers have developed diode-based lidar instruments that can measure atmospheric water vapor, aerosols and temperature, filling gaps in US meteorological data. The instruments are operational and have provided accurate measurements with minimal error, paving the way for improved weather forecasting and climate modeling.

SourceOptica·DateMay 21, 2019
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Predictability limit: Scientists find bounds of weather forecasting

Researchers confirm a long-hypothesized limit for weather prediction, first proposed in the 1960s, which is approximately two weeks on average. They used state-of-the-art models to test this limit and found that reliable forecasts are now possible nine to 10 days out in mid-latitudes.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Climate·DateApr 15, 2019

New research adds to work of Prandtl, father of modern aerodynamics

Researchers Inanc Senocak and Cheng-Nian Xiao uncover fluid instabilities in the Prandtl model for katabatic slope flows, a complex phenomenon crucial for reliable weather predictions. Their findings suggest that dynamic stability cannot be determined by a single dimensionless parameter alone.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJournal of Fluid Mechanics·DateApr 11, 2019

Raindrop size distributions vary across seasons and rain types

Researchers found seasonal variations in raindrop size distribution in East China, with summer having larger raindrops and higher mean rain rates. These findings have implications for microwave communication, radar, and satellite remote sensing, as well as numerical weather prediction models.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateFeb 27, 2019
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

China launched world's first rocket-deployed weather instruments from unmanned semi-submersible vehicle

Chinese scientists have launched a rocketsonde from an unmanned semi-submersible vehicle, enabling accurate meteorological and oceanographic data collection over vast marine environments. The launch aims to improve numerical weather forecasts, typhoon tracking, and coastal zone monitoring.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateJan 31, 2019

Better living through improved weather forecasting

Advances in weather forecasting have significantly improved accuracy, enabling reliable predictions up to 10 days in advance. This has enabled timely emergency preparations and evacuations for hazardous events like hurricanes and tornadoes, saving countless lives.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJan 24, 2019

More than air: Researchers fine-tune wind farm simulation

A collaborative research team examined predictive models used to forecast wind farm effects, revealing the importance of model resolution in simulating weather patterns. Higher vertical and horizontal resolutions improved simulations, but more study is needed to optimize wind energy deployment.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateDec 13, 2018

Taming turbulence: Seeking to make complex simulations a breeze

Scientists have developed a new approach to modeling turbulence, which allows for the simplification of complex systems. By representing both growing and decaying motions, researchers can greatly improve existing models and tackle previously intractable problems, such as fusion experiments and weather forecasting.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateDec 11, 2018
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Hacking the aging code: Big data for saving human lives

Researchers used big data from human medical studies and physics approaches to develop novel anti-aging therapeutics and biomarkers of aging. The strategy involves analyzing data from large biobanks and applying concepts from complex dynamic systems to predict biological age, aging rate, and potential targets for therapies.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalFrontiers in Genetics·DateNov 26, 2018

Weather and US maize yields

Researchers found that US maize has seen a yield increase of around 28% since 1981 due to beneficial changes in weather and farming practices. The study attributes this growth to warmer temperatures allowing for earlier planting and more favorable conditions.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 5, 2018

Windier wind farms

Researchers at UCSB and Cambridge developed models to optimize wind farm productivity by improving airflow mixing and using vertical-axis turbines, potentially leading to orders-of-magnitude improvements in energy production. This could enable more efficient use of land and reduce costs.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·DateOct 4, 2018
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

New weather model could increase tornado-warning times

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.

SourcePenn State·JournalMonthly Weather Review·DateOct 1, 2018

Forest Service science improving fire weather prediction

The USDA Forest Service introduces the Hot-Dry-Windy Index (HDW) to predict wildland fire danger, leveraging temperature, moisture, and wind variables. Researchers tested HDW against existing indexes and found promising results, with potential applications worldwide.

SourceUSDA Forest Service - Northern Research Station·JournalAtmosphere·DateSep 12, 2018

'Cloud computing' takes on new meaning for scientists

Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, and other institutions have developed a new method using deep machine learning to simulate cloud physics. The approach achieved stable and accurate multiyear simulations that included realistic precipitation extremes and tropical waves.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 11, 2018
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

A bird's eye view of the Arctic

Researchers from CIRES and NOAA are utilizing drones and tethered balloons to collect weather data in the Arctic, filling critical gaps in atmospheric measurements. These unmanned technologies provide a comprehensive understanding of the region's lower atmosphere, enabling more accurate weather and climate forecasts.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateJul 5, 2018