Articles tagged with Atmosphere
Researchers have shed new light on the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system, revealing that all seven planets are mostly made of rock and contain up to 5% water. The study also found that five planets lack a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere, similar to Neptune or Uranus.
The study rules out a cloud-free hydrogen-rich atmosphere for three planets, but leaves open the possibility for planet TRAPPIST-1g. The observations provide key insights into the potential habitability of these planets, paving the way for future studies with the James Webb Space Telescope.
The ExoMars joint space mission involves two phases, the first launched in 2016 with Schiaparelli lander and Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), while the second phase is scheduled for 2020 with a new lander and rover.
Atmospheric rivers originating in three main clusters exhibit diverse track shapes, landfall regions, and precipitation anomalies. Improved understanding of these features can enhance storm prediction and preparation for their impacts on water supply maintenance.
D. James Baker was selected as a Fellow of The Oceanography Society for his foundational role in establishing the organization and providing leadership to the nation's ocean science and policy communities. He has made significant contributions to physical oceanography, climate science, and environmental measurement technology.
Researchers found a correlation between Arctic warming and extreme UK weather events, particularly winter storms and summer rainfall. The study suggests that changes in the North Atlantic jet stream and Greenland high-pressure blocking may be driving these trends.
Brown dwarfs blur the line between stars and planets, making their formation a puzzle. The James Webb Space Telescope will study specific brown dwarfs to gain insight into star formation and exoplanet atmospheres.
University of Leeds scientists find fungi essential for establishing breathable atmosphere by transferring phosphorus to plants. The amount of phosphorus transferred could have dramatically altered the ancient atmosphere, influencing the timing of oxygen generation.
Researchers use large ensemble of model simulations to examine lead-lag relationships between Arctic sea ice and atmospheric circulation. They find evidence that sea ice change is both a driver of and a response to atmospheric variability.
The MAVEN mission helps answer the question of how long a rocky planet might be habitable by orbiting a red dwarf star. Based on Mars' atmospheric loss data, researchers estimated that such a planet's atmosphere could lose charged particles and neutral particles at significantly higher rates.
A special issue of Advances in Atmospheric Sciences highlights recent research on Arctic-midlatitude linkages. The study aims to improve understanding and prediction of Arctic change, which influences extreme weather events in the mid-latitudes.
A recent study investigates the relationship between Arctic sea ice loss and the Eurasian winter cooling trend. The research suggests that changes in sea surface temperature, not sea ice concentration, are responsible for the observed warming trend.
The Arctic's rapid warming and sea ice loss have significant impacts on Eurasian weather and climate, particularly in winter. The study finds that sea areas and western coasts of continents are relatively less affected, while continental regions, especially over Eurasia, experience the strongest influence.
A recent study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that natural atmospheric particles can cool the planet and offset some of the temperature rise due to climate change. The research highlights the need for complex interactions to be well-represented in climate models.
Researchers Prof. Fei Zheng and Jin-Yi Yu found significant skill score differences between EP and CP El Niño events, with EP events better predicted at all lead times. This is attributed to systematic forecast biases and an overly warm eastern Pacific during the spring season for CP El Niño prediction.
Researchers discovered a significant cooling of Titan's polar atmosphere, contradicting model predictions and other celestial bodies. The study attributes this phenomenon to exotic photochemical reactions producing hydrocarbons that cool the atmosphere.
A new analysis of Pluto's hydrocarbon haze reveals a novel cooling mechanism controlling the dwarf planet's frigid atmosphere. The study proposes that haze particles absorb heat and emit infrared radiation, resulting in an atmospheric temperature of about 70 Kelvin.
A recent study reveals that continental rift zones release large amounts of CO2 from depth, influencing global climate change. The East African Rift and Eger Rift are examples of such systems, which contribute a significant fraction of the anthropogenic carbon release today.
Reservoirs of oxygen-rich iron between the Earth's core and mantle may have played a major role in shaping our planet's history. The discovery suggests that massive iron dioxide rocks could be generated annually above the core, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere, potentially triggering the Great Oxygenation Event.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography will develop an advanced ocean and atmosphere simulator to replicate complex ocean conditions and generate gale-force winds in a controlled setting. The simulator will help researchers understand how pollutants and climate change affect marine animals, plants, cloud formation, and the planet.
A team of astronomers observed the surface of a red giant star, similar to the Sun, using ALMA. The research revealed powerful shock waves and unexpected heat in its atmosphere, challenging current theoretical models.
Researchers aim to understand the evolution of our solar system by studying 'hot Jupiters', gas giants orbiting close to their parent stars. They will measure escaping gases and look for evidence of magnetic fields on these planets.
The Institute of Atmospheric Physics published a special issue in AAS to commemorate Duzheng Ye's life's achievements. The collection focuses on Ye's theories and their impact on modern weather forecasting, climate change research, and Tibetan Plateau meteorology.
Researchers use Hubble Space Telescope to find 'sunscreen snow' on hot giant planet outside solar system, where titanium dioxide condenses into clouds. The discovery sheds light on exoplanet climates and may aid in gauging Earth-size planets' habitability.
Researchers found a potential bridge between Martian geology and atmospheric models, suggesting peak daily temperatures above freezing could cause melting at glacier edges. This meltwater could have carved the features observed on Mars today, supporting the formation of water-carved valleys and lakebeds.
A study reveals that massive coal formation 300 million years ago nearly led to global glaciation due to low CO2 concentrations. The research indicates that current levels of CO2 in the atmosphere pose a significant threat to climate stability.
A new IASI channel selection method has been developed to improve weather forecasting accuracy by reducing bias in humidity forecasts. The method used a one-dimensional variational analysis approach to select 200 new channels from the available 314 channels.
The Global Aerospace Corporation has developed a Pluto lander concept that uses drag from the ultra-thin atmosphere to decelerate and gently land on the surface of Pluto. The lander-hopper can then hop around the surface, investigating surface features and performing science measurements.
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet, GJ 436b, with a huge gas cloud resembling a comet's tail, caused by intense stellar irradiation. The planet's atmosphere loses hydrogen due to the star's radiation, forming a massive cloud that absorbs UV radiation.
Researchers have created a new climate risk classification system to account for potential existential threats from rapid global warming. The categories include catastrophic and unknown risks, which could play out by century's end, posing dangers such as species extinctions and human health risks.
Researchers analyze climate models to show that polynyas in the Southern Ocean can release heat into the atmosphere, warming temperatures and wind patterns globally. This process also affects tropical rainfall and water resources in regions like Indonesia and South America.
Researchers develop new scale to measure civilization advancement, emphasizing the importance of sustainable planet management. Earth may reach Class V in future if humanity adopts renewable energy sources.
Researchers analyzed Akatsuki data to uncover wind velocities with temporal and spatial variabilities in lower-to-middle cloud layers. The discovery of an equatorial jet near the equator has significant implications for understanding superrotation theories.
Scientists confirm weathering of rocks is key to planet's recovery from extreme temperatures, enabling life to thrive for over 4 billion years. However, rapid global warming poses a threat to this recovery process, highlighting the need for urgent action.
A new study reveals the elemental composition of the Sun's corona is strongly linked to its 11-year solar magnetic activity cycle. This discovery suggests that changes in magnetic activity may influence the heating of the Sun's corona, and potentially other star atmospheres.
Researchers found elevated sulfur acidification in glacial samples due to oxidized pyrite, leading to CO2 release into the atmosphere. This process may play a role in regulating Earth's climate over long cycles.
A new model developed by international scientists predicts multi-year US droughts and wildfire risks, enabling improved agricultural planning and water management. The model's success is attributed to the analysis of tropical climate variability, global climate change, and soil filtering effects.
Scientists confirm the presence of vinyl cyanide on Saturn's moon Titan, suggesting chemical processes analogous to those important for life on Earth. The findings provide insights into Titan's unique environment and potential prebiotic chemistry.
Researchers at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School found that manmade aerosol particles in the atmosphere drive changes in global rainfall patterns. The study suggests that these aerosols are a primary driver of large-scale shifts in precipitation, particularly in the tropics.
The University of Oklahoma has secured an $161 million NASA contract for a groundbreaking Earth science mission. The Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory (GeoCarb) will monitor plant health and vegetation stress across the Americas, as well as probe carbon dioxide and methane exchange processes in the atmosphere.
Astrophysicists from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology discovered that hydrogen bromide could play an important part in the photochemistry of Venus' lower atmosphere. The study found low abundance of HBr, but thermodynamic calculations suggest it dominates at lower altitudes.
Researchers suggest that converging waves in the upper atmosphere amplify naturally occurring airglow, causing the unexplained glow seen in historical observations. Bright airglow can be a concern for astronomers, but its effects are still observable in remote areas.
A new study reveals that vegetation can alter climate and weather patterns by up to 30 percent. The researchers found substantial feedback loops in semi-arid regions, where vegetation growth enhances heat transfer and increases cloudiness, affecting surface radiation.
Researchers from the University of Utah and USGS analyzed 93 years of weather data to find that atmospheric circulation patterns account for 25-48% of variation in frost timing, while global warming contributes 3-5 days to the lengthening of the frost-free season.
Astronomers have discovered a new gas giant, KELT-11b, with an incredibly low density similar to styrofoam, offering opportunities to test atmospheres and assess habitability. The planet's large atmosphere will aid in developing techniques to identify chemicals and products of life.
A team of international researchers has uncovered the primitive atmosphere surrounding a distant exoplanet called HAT-P-26b, also known as Warm Neptune. The study found that the planet's atmosphere is composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium with no clouds present.
Astronomers have found clear signs of water in the atmosphere of HAT-P-26b, a Neptune-sized exoplanet. The presence of water suggests that the planet's gaseous envelope formed late in its formation process, with little to no pollution by impacting debris.
A NASA study using Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes reveals a primitive atmosphere around HAT-P-26b, composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. The planet's water signature suggests it formed closer to its star or later in the planetary system than similar planets.
A new study reveals that HAT-P-26b, a Neptune-sized planet, has a hydrogen and helium-dominated atmosphere with a strong water signature. The discovery challenges the long-held assumption that planets like Neptune formed in a region of icy debris, instead suggesting alternative formation mechanisms.
A team of researchers discovered that SIMP J013656.5+093347 is a planetary mass object, rather than a brown dwarf, due to its mass being at the boundary between brown dwarf-like and planet-like properties. This finding offers new insights into the atmospheres of gas giant exoplanets.
Astronomers predict that combining NIRISS and NIRSpec on James Webb Space Telescope will maximize information content about exoplanet atmospheres. This combination allows for the observation of key chemical compounds such as water, methane, and carbon dioxide.
The CARAFE airborne campaign will gather data on greenhouse gas levels and vertical wind speeds over a range of vegetation types in the Mid-Atlantic region. This will help improve computer models that predict Earth's carbon sinks and inform greenhouse gas policy decisions.
Researchers analyzed atmospheric temperatures and dust for 720,000 years, finding frequent climate fluctuations during glacial periods. Climate simulations revealed global cooling and freshwater inflow as key factors causing instability.
Scientists have created a global map measuring the cooling effect of forests by regulating water and energy exchange between the Earth's surface and atmosphere. This new statistical model allows communities to pinpoint ideal locations for forest protection or reforestation efforts.
Astronomers have discovered a super-Earth orbiting a quiet red dwarf star, LHS 1140, in the habitable zone where liquid water can exist. The exoplanet's large size and dense iron core suggest it may have retained an atmosphere long after its star calmed down.
A University of Washington study shows that two leading methods for calculating the planet's response to greenhouse gas emissions are not as far apart as previously thought. The study, published in Nature Climate Change, found that recent observations support a climate sensitivity of about 2.9 degrees Celsius.
A new study finds that climate change will lead to a significant increase in severe turbulence, with some flights experiencing turbulent conditions twice as often as currently. The research suggests that the average amount of light turbulence will rise by 59% and moderate turbulence by 94%.
A recent study found that a specific wave pattern in the upper atmosphere, called wavenumber-5, is associated with California's droughts and floods. The wave pattern emerges during the northern winter and can lead to persistent extreme events like heat waves, droughts, and floods. Scientists hope that this new understanding of wavenumb...
A new study in Space Weather suggests that aircrews may experience increased radiation exposure due to weak solar activity, which could impact flight safety and radiation exposure for frequent flyers. Researchers also found auroral activity on Uranus, providing fresh clues about its magnetosphere.
New measurements reveal that 66% of Mars' argon has disappeared from its thin atmosphere since formation, leading to huge climate changes. The research suggests that Mars once had a thicker atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide, which was largely lost due to solar wind bombardment.