Articles tagged with Atmospheric Science
A research team led by Dr. Franco Marcantonio found significant lead pollution in a Tibetan glacier starting in 1974, with highest levels between 2000 and 2007. The team traced the source of pollution to Chinese gasoline emissions containing lead until its phasedown after 2007.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have discovered a link between lightning storms on Earth and high-energy electrons in space. The team found that lightning strikes can knock these 'killer electrons' out of the inner radiation belt, which could pose a threat to satellites and astronauts.
The UK is investing £170 million in new research and innovation projects to support clean living, tackle climate change, and boost economic growth. The projects will focus on land use transformation, sustainable agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
Researchers estimate the dollar value of weather information to be over $100 billion, highlighting its significant economic impact. The study also explores lightning suppression and a unique 'storm generator' technology that can create thunderstorms in Chinese desert.
New research from University of Utah mathematicians and climate scientists sheds light on the dynamic processes driving global climate change. The studies reveal that sea ice is not a solid layer but a complex mixture of water, air, and brine, which affects heat transfer and polar ecosystems.
Researchers using NASA airborne platforms have found a new kind of gamma-ray emission, dubbed flickering gamma-ray flashes, that fills in the missing link between steady glows and brief bursts. These discoveries provide new insights into thundercloud radiation and mechanisms that produce lightning.
A Dartmouth-led study found that air pollution from fossil fuels reaches the remote Arctic, altering its fundamental atmospheric chemistry. The researchers detected declines in methanesulfonic acid, a biomarker linked to phytoplankton productivity, which plummeted in environments high in emissions.
Scientists have developed a strategy for optimizing light intensity to minimize electricity costs while maintaining plant growth. The study found that varying light intensity can cut electricity costs by 12% without compromising plants' carbon fixation.
A Dartmouth-led study projects that Antarctica's glaciers will rapidly retreat and potentially collapse by 2200, increasing global sea levels by up to 5.5 feet by 2300. The researchers used 16 ice-sheet models to refine the projection of ice loss over the next 300 years.
Research explores changes in global precipitation patterns and how they relate to climate change. Bird nests are found to predict rainfall in rural India, while heat stress is increasing in the southeastern US, particularly at night. European 'bomb' storms may intensify due to warming climate.
A global study published in PNAS found that most cities (over 60%) receive more rainfall than their surrounding rural areas, leading to worsened flash flooding. This is due to the convergence of air toward city centers caused by tall buildings and population density.
Researchers have found elevated 'oxidative potential' in sediments from the Great Salt Lake's playa, indicating a greater risk to human health. The sediments contain high levels of toxic metals, including lead, manganese, and arsenic, which can cause respiratory issues like asthma.
The American Meteorological Society recognizes outstanding contributions to the weather, water, and climate community with its 2025 Awards and Honors. This year's honorees have made significant impacts on scientific advancement and public safety, including warnings of wildfires and refinements in modeling techniques.
A team of researchers at Argonne National Laboratory has created accessible maps for colorblind scientists in the weather radar community. The new colormaps, developed using Python programming tools, highlight important characteristics of clouds and precipitation while being CVD-friendly.
Researchers at Soochow University introduced coherence entropy as a global characterization of light fields subjected to random fluctuations. Coherence entropy remains stable during the propagation of light through complex media, making it a robust indicator of light field behavior in non-ideal conditions.
A March 2022 weather event in Antarctica caused record-high death rates for invertebrate organisms. The event, which resulted in a massive thaw, was studied to understand its impact on the ecosystem and predict future responses to climate change.
A study by ETH Zurich scientists found that global warming's effects on plant recovery can last for thousands to millions of years. The research team discovered that the severity of climate shifts and the speed at which carbon is sequestered affect the duration of climate warming.
A new study found that certain tree species in NYC, such as oaks and sweetgums, produce high levels of isoprene, which interacts with nitrogen oxides to form ground-level ozone. This could lead to increased respiratory problems if current efforts to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions are not accelerated.
MIT researchers detected a clear signal of human influence on upper tropospheric ozone trends, separate from climate noise. The study provides insights into specific human activities driving this trend.
Research on wind farms reveals their potential to slow tropical cyclone winds and reduce precipitation. Additionally, a study found that people experiencing homelessness are four times more likely to suffer temperature-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, than the general population.
Researchers have found that the Southern Ocean absorbs 25% more carbon dioxide than previously estimated. The new study used direct measurements to assess existing flux products in the Southern Ocean.
Researchers have discovered aluminum scandium nitride (AlScN) films that remain stable and maintain their ferroelectric properties at temperatures up to 600°C, making them promising candidates for next-generation ferroelectric memory devices. The films exhibit a high remnant polarization value and only a slight increase in coercive fie...
Research shows that oil and natural gas development in the Permian Basin contributes to high eight-hour ozone concentrations frequently exceeding EPA health standards during summer months. The study uses data from a 2019 field survey to confirm the impact of drilling, flaring, and other activities on ozone levels.
The University of Maryland has been awarded a five-year, $388 million cooperative funding agreement with NOAA to conduct collaborative research in Earth system science. The Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS) will continue its national leadership in this field.
New atmospheric particles form when stratospheric air intrudes into the troposphere below, contributing to cloud formation and influencing Earth's climate. This process occurs frequently over large geographic regions, particularly in remote marine areas.
Researchers study droughts, wildfires, and precipitation changes across the US Southeast and globally. The Great Salt Lake's drying exacerbates regional droughts, while a Maui wildfire is linked to atmospheric patterns.
Research highlights that wind-carried dust from the exposed bed of the Great Salt Lake is affecting Pacific Islanders and Hispanics disproportionately, with lower exposure levels among white people. Restoring the lake to a healthy water level could reduce these disparities, delivering ecological and economic benefits.
Researchers analyzed live-streams of hurricanes and storms, finding that people in affected areas used streams to discuss official risk advice and show support to impacted regions. The study highlights the importance of understanding how new technologies influence hazard risk perception and community engagement.
The review highlights the need for accurate bioaerosol detection methods that can distinguish between microorganisms at the species level. Laser-induced fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy are identified as promising technologies for online monitoring, but flaws in current methods must be addressed to improve accuracy.
Researchers estimate that between 280 to 360 meteorites strike Mars each year, forming impact craters greater than 8 meters across. The study uses seismic data from the NASA InSight Mission to make this estimate, which is five times higher than previously thought.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill released nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil and hydrocarbon gases, affecting an area of 1,100 square miles, nearly nine times larger than earlier studies. Biodiversity loss among harpacticoid copepods declined dramatically due to the spill.
Biogenic sources of VOCs dominate summertime air pollutant formation in Los Angeles, increasing with temperature. Temperature-dependent emissions drive ozone and secondary organic aerosol pollution, with roughly 60% formed through biogenic VOC emissions.
A team of researchers found that air turbulence in the thermosphere exhibits the same physical laws as wind in the lower atmosphere, leading to a new unified principle for Earth's environmental systems. This discovery can potentially improve future forecasting of both Earth and space weather.
Arctic sea ice is expected to lose mass in the coming decade due to dominant natural climate patterns. Exposure to extreme temperatures, particularly heat, may lead to adverse birth outcomes in China. Researchers also found that ocean warming intensifies typhoons, but moderation comes from atmospheric temperature and humidity changes.
The TDA-InSAR system overcomes traditional InSAR challenges by utilizing dual-antenna and dual-satellite configurations for fast 3D reconstruction. It achieves a remarkable relative height precision of 0.3 meters in urban areas and 1.7 meters in dense vegetation.
The University of Washington's STRIVE project aims to understand the troposphere and stratosphere, where the ozone layer resides, and their interface. This will help monitor changes in the ozone layer, air quality, and climate processes.
A recent study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Cory Armstrong found that roughly 50% of those surveyed in the mid-south region couldn't accurately define a tornado warning. Meanwhile, 35% correctly identified a warning as a tornado being sighted or indicated on weather radar.
A new study by the University of Plymouth found that saturated soils in upland regions could negatively impact the survival rates of young oak saplings and acorns. The research highlights the importance of considering soil conditions when creating temperate rainforests to combat climate change.
Researchers at University of Colorado Boulder discovered that hydrogen atoms in Venus' atmosphere go into space, causing the planet to lose roughly twice as much water every day. The team found that a molecule called HCO+ is responsible for this process, which may have driven Venus to its dry state.
A new study establishes official climate divisions in Hawaii, improving climate research and forecasting. Chronic pain sufferers who spend time outdoors experience stronger weather-based effects, while lightning-initiated wildfires are responsible for more than half the acres burned in the contiguous United States.
Scientists used lithium isotope data to show that continental clay export promoted organic carbon burial and thus atmospheric oxygenation during the Cambrian period. This finding challenges traditional views on marine oxygen levels during this time, suggesting a complex interplay between oceanic and atmospheric processes.
A study from Colorado State University explores how human activity is altering the atmospheric water cycle, leading to changes in precipitation distribution and cloud formation. The research uses science fiction narratives to imagine possible futures and spark conversations around water management policies.
Scientists uncovered insights into pre-industrial aerosol formation processes in an environment with minimal human influences. Researchers observed the release of highly oxygenated organic molecules at night, leading to aerosol particle formation resembling the pre-industrial atmosphere.
A new survey reveals that US landfills are emitting substantial amounts of methane, a key contributor to global warming. The study found that point-source emissions account for a significant proportion of total emissions, with some landfills experiencing persistent activity for months or even years.
A new study finds that extreme tropical cyclone rainfall is increasing across the continental US, while climate warming restricts 'outdoor days' for people living in developing countries. Additionally, air pollution increases mortality risks from heat, especially when combined with other factors like wildfires and reduced aerosols.
The Juno spacecraft has directly measured charged oxygen and hydrogen molecules from Europa's atmosphere, providing key constraints on the potential oxygenation of its subsurface ocean. The findings suggest that oxygen is continuously produced in the surface ice shell, with an estimated 12 kg per second, which could support habitability.
The study emphasizes that human-induced climate change primarily arises from the planet's heating, leading to energy imbalance and altered flows of energy through the climate system. This framing changes how climate change is manifested, particularly in extremes such as droughts, storms, and flooding.
Research suggests polar climates are adjusting to a warming climate with changes in regional climate dynamics. Altered ocean-sea ice interactions may be driving recent fluctuations in sea ice extent, according to new studies.
Wide-scale forestation efforts may drive warming through changes in atmospheric composition and surface reflectivity, offsetting up to a third of CO2 removal benefits. Tree planting remains an important climate change mitigation strategy when combined with emission reductions.
Research conducted in Fairbanks found that residential heating fuel is the main contributor of primary sulfate pollution in wintertime air. The study's findings will help air quality managers decide on improvement methods and benefit high-latitude urban areas during winter.
Atmospheric nitrate radicals degrade floral scents, reducing flower visitation by 70% in hawkmoth pollination. Urban areas with high O3 and NO3 pollution levels can also impact global pollination.
A new study published in Monthly Weather Review analyzes hundreds of extreme snowfall events in Utah's central Wasatch Mountains. Researchers found that storm systems carrying relatively little water vapor were still capable of producing heavy snows, and the relationship between high-IVT storms and extreme precipitation is complex.
Dust storms enhance phytoplankton tolerance to thermal and pH changes, facilitating algae growth in mountain lakes. This experimental study highlights the impact of atmospheric dust on aquatic ecosystems.
The Global Climate Science-Media Action Pledge aims to ensure scientifically accurate, accessible, and actionable climate change communications. Nearly 30 leading professional societies and media organizations from around the world have committed to this pledge.
A recent study by Megan He and colleagues finds that traditional methods for estimating pollution in the Canadian oil sands can be severely inaccurate, with actual emissions exceeding industry values by up to 6300%. The research highlights the need for more comprehensive monitoring of organic carbon emissions from oil sands operations.
The AMS 104th Annual Meeting will focus on climate change research, mitigation, and adaptation, with key discussions on overcoming barriers to implementation. The meeting features numerous scientific conferences and symposia covering topics like climate variability, air pollution meteorology, AI for environmental science, and more.
The American Meteorological Society's Presidential Forum will discuss how to overcome barriers limiting the use of climate science. The event aims to advance society's acceptance and use of climate science, amidst misinformation and disinformation campaigns.
Researchers found that joint action of tropical and extratropical variations led to persistent heavy rainfall over Japan. The study revealed a link between upper-tropospheric blocking high, near-surface atmospheric flow, and cumulus convection in enhancing the northwestern Pacific subtropical high.
A new hyperspectral remote sensing technique provides precise high-resolution data on nitrogen dioxide's horizontal distribution, revealing emission hotspots and urban pollution dynamics. This enhances effective pollution control strategies and safeguards public health.
A new Dartmouth study finds that seasonal snowpacks have shrunk significantly over the past 40 years due to human-driven climate change. The sharpest global warming-related reductions are in the Southwestern and Northeastern United States, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe.