Research on clouds and the atmosphere. Covers Southern Ocean clouds, ocean-derived aerosols, sea-ice cloud formation, and dust after impacts.
Tropical Storm Chris was imaged by NASA's Aqua satellite on July 10, showing a backwards 'C' or comma-shaped storm with cold cloud tops. The system has potential for heavy rainfall and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane later today.
Typhoon Maria appeared as a well-organized storm on July 9, with coldest cloud top temperatures reaching minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. NASA's predictions indicate the storm will maintain typhoon status and make landfall in southeastern China on July 11.
Tropical Storm Chris strengthened off the Carolina coast after passing over NASA's Aqua satellite on July 9. The storm showed signs of heavy rainfall potential due to cold cloud top temperatures as low as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected two areas of strong thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit, capable of generating heavy rainfall. The remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl are expected to pass over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico today, producing locally heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds.
NASA's Aqua satellite gathered temperature data on Hurricane Beryl, showing coldest cloud top temperatures near -70 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is a compact hurricane with hurricane-force winds extending up to 10 miles from the center.
Tropical Storm Fabio's strong convection has dissipated, replaced by a swirl of low- to mid-level clouds. Ocean swells from the system are causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along southern California and Baja California coasts.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected a small area of strong thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Fabio, which has the potential to generate very heavy rainfall. The storm's convective structure has continued to degrade, leading to decreased winds and a forecasted weakening into a remnant low.
Hurricane Fabio's cloud top temperatures reached as low as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storm capabilities. The storm is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane later in the forecast period.
Typhoon Prapiroon's ragged eye became cloud-filled as it moved into the Sea of Japan, affecting the Korean Peninsula and southern Japan. Maximum sustained winds were near 75 mph, with the typhoon weakening due to increasing wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Post-Tropical Cyclone Emilia showing four small areas of strongest thunderstorms east of the center. The storm is weakening and dissipating due to cool waters and a stable air mass.
Researchers found that increased greenhouse gas emissions have led to a significant increase in noctilucent cloud formation and visibility. The study suggests that human-caused climate change is affecting the middle atmosphere and making these clouds more visible.
Tropical Storm Emilia is intensifying due to strong uplift, as indicated by NASA infrared satellite imagery showing very cold cloud top temperatures. The storm strengthened over the past two days, with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph and higher gusts.
Researchers used machine learning to improve cloud representation in climate models, which is crucial for predicting global warming and greenhouse gas concentrations. The approach, called Cloud Brain, demonstrates promising results in fully coupled climate models.
Tropical Depression Carlotta has powerful storms in fragmented thunderstorms over mainland Mexico and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Hurricane Center forecasts heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash floods, especially in areas of higher terrain.
Tropical Depression Bud brought heavy rainfall to western Mexico and the southwestern US, with thunderstorms flaring east of its center. The storm's remnants are expected to produce 1-2 inches of rain with isolated totals of up to 3 inches across the region.
Tropical Storm Bud is generating heavy rainfall in a band extending from the storm's center, with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for southern Baja California Sur, Mexico.
NASA's Aqua satellite captures infrared data on Hurricane Bud, revealing very high and towering thunderstorms near land. The storms have cold cloud top temperatures of minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong uplift and potential for heavy rain.
Hurricane Aletta strengthened after passing over NASA's Aqua satellite on June 7, with coldest cloud top temperatures reaching -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is expected to intensify to Category 4 status before weakening begins this weekend.
Tropical Storm Ewiniar made landfall in southeastern China on June 7, according to NASA's Aqua satellite. The storm's extreme cold cloud tops, reaching -63 degrees Fahrenheit, are indicative of its potential for heavy rainfall and severe weather.
Tropical Depression 05W shows strong storms with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating potential for heavy rainfall. The depression is expected to reach tropical storm strength late on June 5 and make landfall in southeastern China early on June 7.
A new study found that urbanization and climate change are driving off low-lying morning clouds in southern California, leading to increased wildfire risk. The decrease in cloud cover correlates with lower vegetation moisture and higher fire danger.
Alberto has weakened to a subtropical depression with strongest storms circling its low-level center, producing heavy rainfall and flash flooding concerns.
Mekunu is now classified as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm, with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph and a central pressure of ~964 hectopascals. The storm is forecast to make landfall near Salalah, Oman early on May 26, posing a significant threat to shipping in the Gulf of Aden.
Tropical Cyclone Sagar made landfall in Somalia on May 19, with NASA's Terra satellite capturing infrared images of the storm. The MODIS instrument revealed powerful thunderstorms northwest of the center, which generated heavy rain due to extremely cold cloud top temperatures.
Scientists successfully simulated FY-2D infrared cloud images using a high-resolution WRF regional numerical weather prediction model product and forward radiation transfer model RTTOV. The results show improved accuracy, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.5 in the first 24 hours.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured images of Tropical Cyclone Flamboyan, revealing northwesterly wind shear pushing the storm southeast. The coldest cloud tops were highest in the atmosphere, indicating strong storms capable of producing heavy rainfall.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected Tropical Cyclone Fakir weakening in the Southern Indian Ocean with coldest cloud top temperatures as low as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. On April 25, Fakir's maximum sustained winds decreased to 35 knots, and the system is moving southeast, indicating potential for heavy rainfall.
Researchers found temperature, precipitation, humidity, and cloud cover associated with positive or negative expressed sentiments. Positive expressions increased up to 20 degrees Celsius before declining over 30 degrees Celsius, while high humidity and cloud cover were linked to negative expressions.
A line of strong storms, including an EF-2 tornado that killed one person and a tornado near Lynchburg, Virginia, were captured by NASA's GPM. The storm system was spawned by a deep trough of low pressure west of the Appalachians.
Tropical Cyclone Keni is being battered by vertical wind shear, with NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite revealing clouds and storms pushed southeast of the center. Sea surface temperatures are too cool to support a tropical cyclone, making Keni an asymmetric and elongated storm.
A new study from University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists describes a method using cloud characteristics to quantify snowfall on the Greenland Ice Sheet. The research found two distinct cloud types producing snow at Summit Station, with mixed-phase clouds accounting for 51% of snow accumulation.
Tropical Cyclone Iris is weakening and moving away from the Queensland coast as it continues to move southeast. The cyclone's wind speeds decreased to 52 mph near its center, with cloud top temperatures indicating potential for heavy rainfall.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Tropical Cyclone Iris, revealing powerful thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm has the capability to produce heavy rainfall and is currently moving southeast towards the Queensland coast.
Tropical Cyclone Josie is crawling south of Fiji with very cold cloud top temperatures and strong storms. The storm is expected to move southeast away from the Fijian archipelago, strengthening slightly in three days.
Tropical Storm Jelawat is intensifying due to cold cloud top temperatures as low as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm's maximum sustained winds strengthened to 50 knots on March 28, forecasted to reach hurricane force within 24 hours.
Tropical Cyclone Iris is being torn apart by strong wind shear, resulting in fragmented areas of thunderstorms and potential for heavy rainfall. The storm is weakening rapidly due to cooler waters and stronger vertical wind shear, expected to dissipate in the next day or two.
Tropical Cyclone Marcus is weakening rapidly due to interactions with cooler waters and increased vertical wind shear. The storm's cloud top temperatures have warmed over the last day, indicating a weakening of its uplift.
Tropical Cyclone Marcus is strengthening as it moves away from Western Australia, fueled by strong thunderstorms indicated by cloud top temperatures of -80°F (or colder). The eye of the storm is 11 nautical miles wide and moving westward at 17.2 mph.
Tropical Cyclone Eliakim's cloud tops have been found to be warming by NASA, suggesting the storm is weakening due to strong wind shear. The warmer cloud tops also led to a decrease in rainfall on the northern side of the storm.
Tropical Cyclone Linda lost a strong band of thunderstorms east of its center, weakening and fragmenting in just 9 hours. Cloud top temperatures indicate the storm's capability for heavy rain, with temperatures as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tropical Cyclone 13P developed powerful storms with extremely cold cloud top temperatures, indicating strong storms capable of heavy rain. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts the storm will continue strengthening before dissipating in four days.
Tropical Cyclone Hola was torn apart by wind shear in the South Pacific Ocean. The satellite image showed the center of the storm fully exposed and almost devoid of precipitation except for the southern quadrant.
Researchers have developed a high-resolution climate model that accurately simulates the interaction between aerosols and clouds. The model shows that increasing aerosol density can lead to a decrease in cloud cover in certain areas, contradicting previous assumptions.
A recent study by UMBC physicists found that the interaction between wildfire smoke and clouds results in a net cooling effect, contrary to previous understanding. The team discovered that the smoke increases cloud reflectivity, leading to an overall cooling effect.
Researchers discovered that biomass smoke from South Africa significantly enhances the brightness of low-level clouds in the southeast Atlantic Ocean, creating a cooling effect. This process helps counteract the greenhouse effect and results in substantial climate cooling.
Tropical Cyclone Dumazile strengthened after being renamed from Tropical storm 11S, with powerful thunderstorms surrounding its eye. The storm is forecast to weaken but maintain hurricane intensity before encountering cooler waters and increased wind shear.
Tropical Storm 10S has formed about 50 miles west of Broome, Australia, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. The storm is expected to strengthen rapidly and make landfall between Broome and Port Hedland on Sunday, Feb. 18.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible-light image of Tropical Depression Sanba on Feb 15, revealing wispy clouds and low-level circulation center without rainfall. The depression was centered in the Sulu Sea, moving northwest towards the South China Sea with maximum sustained winds at 23 mph.
NASA's Terra satellite revealed the area of strongest storms in Tropical Cyclone Sanba when it was located over the island of Palawan. Cloud top temperatures below -80 degrees Fahrenheit indicate strong thunderstorms capable of heavy rain.
The APSOS facility in Tibet provides range-resolved profiles of atmospheric variables and constituents, including temperature, wind, water vapor, and greenhouse gases. Long-term measurements are being taken to establish the first whole-atmosphere measurement database over the Tibetan Plateau.
A new study forecasts a 15% drop in average global lightning flashes by 2100 due to climate change. This could lead to fewer wildfires and reduced impact on infrastructure, as well as altered greenhouse gas emissions.
Tropical Cyclone Cebile, a weak and wispy storm, was detected by NASA's Aqua satellite on February 8. The storm lacked rainfall and had a thick band of clouds in its eastern quadrant.
Wind shear significantly impacted Tropical Cyclone Cebile, with the bulk of clouds and thunderstorms being sheared to the southeast of the center. The storm is weakening due to dropping sea surface temperatures and high vertical wind shear, according to NASA's Aqua satellite observations.
Scientists investigated aerosol optical properties and radiative effects in the Pearl River Delta region of China. They found that fine-mode strongly absorbing particles dominated aerosols during the dry season, significantly influencing radiation exchange between Earth's surface and atmospheric system.
Tropical Cyclone Cebile is being severely impacted by strong northwesterly vertical wind shear, causing clouds and thunderstorms to be sheared to the southeast of the center. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts further weakening due to decreasing sea surface temperatures and persistent high wind shear.
A study published in Science reveals that ultrafine aerosol particles can intensify rainfall in the Amazon region by enhancing cloud formation and thunderstorms. The presence of these nanoparticles, which are too small to play a significant role in polluted areas, has a substantial impact on the hydrologic cycle in the Amazon.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured a powerful ring of storms surrounding Tropical Cyclone Cebile's eye, with temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm underwent eyewall replacement on January 30, expanding its pinhole eye to 60 nautical miles wide.
Researchers found that ultrafine aerosol particles can have a stronger impact on storm clouds and precipitation than previously thought. In the Amazon rainforest, these tiny particles can intensify storms and cause more rain due to their ability to form many small droplets that draw excess water vapor from the atmosphere.
Research reveals ultrafine particles can cause powerful storms, intensify clouds, and increase rainfall. The smallest of particles have a significant impact on weather patterns, even at high concentrations in clean environments.
A new study suggests that ultrafine aerosol particles can increase cloud formation and warm surrounding air, intensifying thunderstorm-causing clouds in the Amazonian tropics. This finding highlights the potential for human-made aerosols to influence global weather patterns.