Articles tagged with Clouds
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have discovered thick clouds and a surprising lack of methane on the planet's nightside, while ubiquitous water presence was found throughout its atmosphere. The discovery reveals the first observation of clouds on the nightside of WASP-43b, a giant gas-filled exoplanet.
Researchers developed a high-resolution lidar technique that can measure cloud droplet number concentrations remotely. The device provides unprecedented fine-scale structure at the base of clouds, enabling scientists to gain insight into aerosol-cloud interactions and their impact on climate.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that marine cloud brightening can account for 60-90% of the cooling effect, increasing cloud cover by up to 50%. The study suggests MCB could be a more effective 'painkiller' than previously thought.
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.
Researchers developed a model predicting how changes in anvil cloud area affect global warming, confirming its effectiveness and reducing uncertainty. However, the brightness of clouds remains understudied and is a key obstacle to predicting future global warming.
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.
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.
A new study analyzed 98,000 UAP sighting reports over a 20-year period, finding that the majority occurred in western parts of the US. The researchers identified 'hot spots' with high numbers of reports and 'cold spots' with low numbers.
Scientists simulated the runaway greenhouse effect, transforming habitable climates into hostile environments, with significant changes in atmospheric structure and cloud coverage. The study provides key insights for the search of life elsewhere, as it demonstrates a critical water vapor threshold beyond which a planet cannot cool down.
Marine bacteria and atmospheric rivers play a crucial role in forming ice clouds at higher-than-expected temperatures over the Southern Ocean. The findings from this study provide key information for improving numerical models of ice cloud formation, which can help better predict climate conditions in vulnerable polar regions.
Researchers found that the coastline produces up to five times more giant sea salt aerosols than the open ocean, affecting cloud formation and rainfall around the Hawaiian Islands. The study's findings can improve numerical weather prediction of nearshore cloud formation and rainfall patterns.
Researchers from Tampere University discovered that marine organisms can form new atmospheric particles in the South Pacific Ocean, which could help explain climate change predictions. The study found that these particles were formed at night and were accompanied by signs of nitrogenous compounds.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discover that pollutants trigger significant changes in large-scale weather patterns, leading to enhanced radiative forcing. Aerosols stop rain in some areas, causing moisture to move to regions with big clouds, which release heat and strengthen winds.
Researchers analyzed microplastics in mountain clouds and found they can modify particles in ways that enable them to affect cloud formation. The study also found that clouds can increase the presence of toxic metals on these particles.
Research by Dominik Stolzenburg reveals that aerosols from volatile organic substances can cluster together to form condensation nuclei for water vapor. This process affects cloud density and global warming, potentially offsetting the effect of CO2 increases on climate change.
Scientists have developed a system to detect icing conditions in drones flying over the polar regions, allowing for safer and more efficient data collection. The onboard aerosol counters enable real-time detection of supercooled cloud droplets, which can damage drone components.
Researchers detected nine types of polymers and one type of rubber in cloud water, confirming microplastics play a key role in rapid cloud formation. The presence of hydrophilic polymers in the atmosphere could lead to significant changes in ecological balance and severe loss of biodiversity.
Researchers at PSI have identified sesquiterpenes as a major factor in cloud formation, which could reduce uncertainties in climate models. The study's findings suggest these compounds form ten times more particles than other organic substances.
A recent study introduces an innovative approach to calculating the entrainment rate of shallow cumulus clouds, promising enhanced reliability and precision. The findings highlight the prominent role of vertical velocity in influencing the rate of entrainment, offering valuable insights into improving cloud models and predictions.
Researchers mapped canopy soils to determine where they form and how they support biodiversity. These 'soil-in-miniature' contain abundant plant and animal life, including epiphytes and air plants.
Researchers find Tibetan Plateau's shape orchestrates airflows and radiation energy transfers, dictating sky temperatures and cloud cover over East Asia. The plateau enhances airflows that generate more clouds over South China, while its thermal influence creates areas of low pressure and surface warming.
Researchers discovered that aromatic molecules convert to aerosol particles through a fast reaction process, producing carcinogenic compounds. This finding bridges the gap between theory and observation, providing better understanding of urban environment chemistry.
Scientists have found that dust storms in Alaska can cause ice formation in clouds, which could add to or help cool the planet. The particles from these storms contain more biological material than those from desert environments, making them effective at forming ice crystals.
Researchers found long-term disruptions in Saturn's atmosphere, caused by past megastorms, which persist for hundreds of years. The study revealed that ammonia gas is being transported from the upper to lower atmosphere via precipitation and reevaporation processes.
Researchers at Nagoya University found that Arctic dust is a significant source of particles forming ice crystals in Arctic low-level clouds. The findings suggest that Arctic dust can act efficiently as an ice nucleating particle, increasing the number of ice nucleating particles by over 100 times.
Researchers create an AI-based approach to predict precipitation intensity and variability, addressing the missing piece of cloud organization in traditional climate models. The new algorithm improves precipitation predictions, including extreme events, and enables better projections of future changes in the water cycle.
A study by researcher Breno Arsioli Moura investigated the depictions of Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment in illustrations published in the 19th century. The study found several inaccuracies, including the incorrect location where the experiment was performed and the method used to harness electricity from the clouds.
Researchers develop a new composite strategy to produce clean Landsat images with reduced cloud and shadow errors. The approach uses an algorithm to select pixels from multiple dates to create a virtual median-value point, detecting and replacing clouds and shadows in the process.
Researchers developed a review to improve cloud microphysics modeling, addressing challenges such as turbulence and parameterization. The model aims to enhance short- and long-term weather forecasting and optimize solar energy capture.
Researchers found that ragweed and ryegrass emit more subpollen particles than previously thought, which can boost cloud formation and contribute to climate change. Whole pollen grains also facilitate cloud growth, but SPPs are poor ice-nucleating sites.
A team of Chinese scientists developed high-resolution Earth system models incorporating clouds and ocean submesoscale eddies, capturing major weather-climate extremes. The models simulate cross-scale interactions and provide new insights into weather-climate mechanisms.
A recent study reveals that uneven future warming in the Indian Ocean can cause shifts in monsoon precipitation, with potential impacts on societies and ecosystems. The research identifies key mechanisms driving these changes, including winds and ocean currents.
New research reveals methane traps heat in the atmosphere but also creates cooling clouds that offset 30% of the heat. Methane absorbs both longwave and shortwave energy, leading to a slight cooling effect.
A new study finds that supernovae have a persistent influence on marine life's biodiversity, with variations in nearby exploding stars closely following changes in marine genera. Supernovae may regulate climate through cosmic rays, influencing nutrient transport and primary bioproductivity.
Brazilian researchers used a high-speed camera to capture an image of lightning rods trying to connect to nearby buildings, revealing details of the connections. The image shows that even with multiple lightning rods in place, the strike connected to a smokestack on top of one building, highlighting the importance of proper installation.
A new method devised by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Moussa N'Gom enables effective free-space optical communication between satellites and the ground, unaffected by rain and clouds. The ultrafast lasers create a long filament of light that clears space for visible light transmission.
The COALA project aims to measure the relationships between aerosols and clouds in Antarctica's 'clean-air laboratory' using ground-based instruments. Long-term observations will help scientists better understand cloud formation, precipitation, and radiation budget in this region.
Researchers studied ship tracks, which reflect sunlight and are formed by moving ships, to understand their benefits and risks of slowing climate change. They developed a mathematical model of ship tracks and found them to persist for more than 24 hours, longer than previously documented.
A study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics found that phytoplankton productivity in the Southern Ocean contributes to dense clouds that reflect sunlight. The high density of water droplets in these clouds helps regulate global temperatures and precipitation patterns.
A new algorithm and framework for evaluating approaches have improved the accuracy of land change imagery by removing cloud cover. This allows for more accurate analysis of land surface changes, enabling scientists to study events like forest harvesting and urban development.
Researchers found that benzene and toluene emitted by ocean plankton contribute significantly to aerosol production, increasing organic aerosols by up to 80% in the Southern Ocean. This biological origin of these gases is a significant factor in cloud formation and climate accuracy.
A new field campaign will provide crucial details on cloud and precipitation properties in the Southern Ocean. Scientists aim to improve climate models' accuracy with data from this region.
A European consortium has successfully guided lightning using a high-power laser installed at the top of Mount Säntis in Switzerland, increasing the radius of protection from 120m to 180m. The Laser Lightning Rod (LLR) works even in poor weather conditions, such as fog.
A research team investigated NPF events in Beijing's atmosphere, discovering regional transport plays a vital role in creating 'polluted' NPF events. These events significantly impact air quality, climate, and human health, highlighting the importance of joint air pollution control measures.
A study from Nagoya University reveals that atmospheric secondary particle formation influences the number of cloud condensation nuclei in remote areas. This leads to a greater cooling effect by clouds on climate change. The research aims to improve climate model accuracy and predict future climate change.
Researchers analyzed observational data from a major field campaign in 2020 and found that trade-wind clouds' contribution to climate warming has been overestimated. The study shows that the clouds are more resilient to global warming than previously thought, which can improve the accuracy of future climate projections.
A new study reveals that large parts of Europe are experiencing faster-than-average warming during summer months, leading to worse heatwaves and an increased risk of fires. The climate across the continent has also become drier, particularly in southern Europe.
A new study has resolved the first molecular steps of particle formation from iodine emissions, a crucial process in atmospheric secondary particles. The research team found that iodine plays a significant role in forming clouds, providing a key piece in understanding the changing atmosphere.
A research team at UNIST has identified subtropical low cloud feedback as a key mechanism driving teleconnections between the Southern Ocean and tropical precipitation. Their findings suggest that this impact is stronger than previously thought, with implications for mid-latitude climate predictions.
A new lidar ceilometer can accurately measure cloud phase, providing crucial data for climate models. Researchers tested the device in northern Japan, comparing its results to those of a cloud particle sensor sonde, and found promising results.
Research published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics found that particles with two phases can form when different types of SOA mix. The number of phases depends on the difference in oxygen-to-carbon ratio between the given SOA types.
A new study predicts that climate change will increase rainbow viewing opportunities in northern latitudes and high elevations, while decreasing them in tropical regions. The research used photographs from Flickr to map rainbow occurrences under current and future climates.
A University of California, Davis study reveals that air temperature and cloud cover are influenced by the buoyancy effect of water vapor, which is currently neglected in some leading global climate models. This effect can lead to an error of up to 50% in low cloud cover predictions, impacting the planet's energy balance.
Researchers studied cloud responses to quadrupled CO2 over East Asia, finding that slow cloud responses can cause cooling effects in certain regions. The study suggests that understanding these changes is crucial for predicting future climate effects.
A new study shows that precipitation events decrease atmospheric aerosol concentrations, particularly sulphate, in boreal forest environments. The researchers found significant formation of sulphate mass in non-precipitating clouds, which can improve the accuracy of climate models estimating aerosol transport.
Citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt presents 3D renders of Jupiter's cloud tops using JunoCam data, revealing textured swirls and peaks. The team uses solar illumination to pinpoint elevation, aiming to unveil the chemical composition of the clouds.
A recent study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences identifies compensating errors in widely used climate model protocols, known as CMIP6. The researchers analyzed five CMIP6 models and found large uncertainties in cloud microphysical properties, including cloud fraction, liquid water path, and droplet effective radius.
A researcher will combine ARM data and fine-scale modeling datasets to understand marine boundary layer aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions. The goal is to improve climate models' portrayal of cloud-processing of aerosols and address uncertainty in global climate models.
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.
A new study used satellite data to determine the effect of fuel regulations on sulfur pollution from cargo ships. The research team found significant changes in pollution after regulations went into effect, and their data can contribute to understanding how pollutants interact with clouds and affect global temperatures.