Research on clouds and the atmosphere. Covers Southern Ocean clouds, ocean-derived aerosols, sea-ice cloud formation, and dust after impacts.
The coldest thunderstorm cloud tops measured were near -63 Fahrenheit, indicating high uplift and potential for heavy rain. Tropical Depression 10W is expected to intensify as it passes just northwest of Luzon, northeastern Philippines.
Tropical Storm Kujira experienced strong vertical wind shear, displacing convection from its center. The strongest storms had coldest cloud top temperatures, indicating potential for heavy rainfall.
Researchers found that jet contrails depress daytime-highs and nighttime-lows, mimicking the effect of ordinary clouds, with a 5-6 degree Fahrenheit reduction in daily temperature range in regions like the South and Midwest.
NASA's RapidScat and Terra satellites observed Tropical Depression 3-E forming in the Eastern Pacific, with sustained winds near 15 meters per second (33.5 mph) and a powerful thunderstorm band spiraling into its center.
Remnant moisture from hurricane Blanca will generate scattered thunderstorms over New Mexico, with enhanced chances for rain in the northwest plateau and northern mountains. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected in Albuquerque, with a high near 88.
NASA satellites tracked Tropical Cyclone Ashobaa's powerful storms, with rainfall rates exceeding 70.5 mm per hour and storm heights reaching up to 21 km. The cyclone is strengthening despite high wind shear, but is expected to weaken after landfall on June 12.
The remnants of Hurricane Blanca are blanketing northern Baja California and mainland Mexico with disorganized storm clouds. NASA's GOES-West satellite captured an infrared image revealing the system's rapid disruption by high terrain, leading to dissipation later in the day.
A study published in ACS Central Science reveals how the chemical composition of ocean aerosol particles influences their ability to form clouds. The new method categorizes particles based on their likelihood of taking up water, providing a more precise measure of cloud-formation potential.
Tropical Storm Blanca weakened before making landfall in Baja California, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds decreasing to near 40 mph. The storm's eye had disappeared by June 7, and it was expected to degenerate into a remnant low by Tuesday.
The Suomi NPP satellite gathered infrared data on Hurricane Blanca, which was false-colored to show locations of the strongest thunderstorms. The image revealed two areas of coldest cloud top temperatures and strongest storms west-southwest and east-northeast of Blanca's circulation center.
Scientists have uncovered seven new species of highly miniaturized frogs in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, highlighting their vulnerability to extinction due to climate change. The discovery showcases the unique adaptations of these tiny frogs, with many exhibiting bright colors as a warning to potential predators.
Tropical Storm Andres is weakening due to strong west-southwesterly shear and cool waters, with the National Hurricane Center expecting it to become post-tropical by June 4. The storm's strongest winds were measured at 25 meters per second in a small area northwest of the center.
The EU has invested €9.5 million in the Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS-2), expanding its network of ground-based observatories to study aerosols, clouds, and trace gases. TROPOS coordinates remote sensing and operates a European Calibration Centre for Aerosol Physics in Leipzig.
Tropical Storm Blanca is strengthening due to low vertical wind shear, warm waters, and a moist atmosphere. The storm's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 mph with higher gusts.
Hurricane Andres, a Category 4 hurricane, is affecting surf along Mexico's Baja California coast with life-threatening swells and rip currents. NASA's Aqua satellite provided critical data on the storm's eye structure and cloud top temperatures, helping forecasters predict its weakening trend.
A global scale study estimates the impact of forest-emitted compounds on cloud seeds and aerosol particles. The findings suggest that these compounds can increase condensing vapours, leading to cloud formation and influencing climate.
NASA's CloudSat analyzed Typhoon Dolphin's eye, revealing intense convection and rainfall surrounding the storm. The satellite's data also showed the outward sloping eyewall and overall cloud structure of the category 5 system.
Typhoon Dolphin is moving north-northeast towards Iwo To island in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. The storm's maximum sustained winds are near 90 knots (103.6 mph), with strongest winds and heaviest rainfall expected on the northeastern side.
A new study from the University of Michigan and Texas A¼M reveals that pollen can break down into tiny particles that act as cloud condensation nuclei, forming clouds. This discovery has significant implications for climate science and public health.
Tropical Cyclone Quang formed quickly after organizing from a low-pressure area in the Southern Indian Ocean. NASA's Aqua satellite data revealed strong thunderstorms and high cloud top temperatures indicative of potential heavy rainfall.
Severe thunderstorms swept through central Texas on April 26, 2015, generating heavy rainfall and large hail. The GPM Core Observatory satellite captured a 3D view of the storms, revealing some reaching altitudes above 7.7 miles.
The Internet2 NET+ initiative brings together universities to develop a collaborative strategy for cloud technology offerings, ensuring standards are met for security, accessibility, and integration. By leveraging the cloud, institutions can improve operating efficiency, enhance collaboration, and reduce costs.
Tropical Cyclone Joalane's clouds were analyzed by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency using the Global Precipitation Measurement satellite. The study found intense convective thunderstorms dropping rain at a rate of over 63 mm per hour, with storm tops reaching altitudes of up to 17.4 km.
The Tibetan Plateau is warming at a faster rate than the rest of the globe, with a 30-year decline in thermal forcing attributed to enhanced top-of-atmosphere outgoing radiation. This phenomenon enhances shortwave and longwave radiation, leading to increased cloud cover and radiative cooling.
Tropical Cyclone Bavi is losing steam due to moderate to strong southwesterly vertical wind shear, resulting in waning convection and developing thunderstorms. The storm is expected to dissipate in the next day or two as it tracks along the southern edge of a sub-tropical ridge.
NASA's Aqua satellite tracked Tropical Cyclone Bavi as it moved westward through the Philippine Sea, revealing strong thunderstorms and cold cloud top temperatures. The storm is expected to continue on a westerly trek before weakening into a depression near the northern Philippines.
The southern Atlantic Ocean's sub-tropical storm 90Q has fizzled out, marking the third such storm in the region since 2004. The storm formed on March 11 and was captured by NASA's Aqua satellite on March 12, showing a lack of convection and fragmented thunderstorms.
The TRMM satellite found heavy rain falling at over 1.4 inches per hour near the center of Tropical Storm Bavi, with moderate rainfall observed in a wide band of thunderstorms west of the center. The storm is currently located about 229 nautical miles east-southeast of Ujelang and is moving to the west-northwest towards Guam.
A new study finds most hurricanes over the Atlantic originate as intense thunderstorms in Western Africa, with larger cloud coverage predicting higher hurricane intensity. Only 10% of African disturbances turn into hurricanes, but spatial coverage can foretell intensity a week later.
A 67-year study reveals less summer fog in California is driven by urban growth, threatening native plants' water source during dry months. The shift could lead to warmer, drier hillsides and increased fire risk.
Tropical Storm Haliba was sandwiched between La Reunion and Mauritius in NASA satellite imagery, with the bulk of its clouds pushed east by westerly vertical wind shear. The heaviest rainfall, exceeding 7.1 inches per hour, was detected northeast of Reunion Island.
Tropical Cyclone Glenda is being stretched out by wind shear over the Southern Indian Ocean, according to NASA's Terra satellite imagery. The storm's maximum sustained winds have dropped to near 45 knots as it moves south at 7 knots.
Tropical Cyclone Glenda is intensifying with powerful thunderstorms and a hint of an eye forming in its center. It is expected to strengthen and then transition into an extra-tropical storm due to favorable upper-level conditions.
The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) instrument has provided a detailed profile of the atmosphere above Africa, revealing particles in the air at different heights. The data will help scientists model dust plumes and interactions with clouds and aerosols, improving our understanding of climate change.
Tropical Cyclone Lam made landfall in Australia's Northern Territory, with NASA satellites and instruments gathering data on the storm's structure and behavior before and after landfall. The storm was characterized by sustained winds of up to 90 knots (103.6 mph) and heavy rainfall rates of almost 55 mm per hour.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data on Tropical Cyclone Lam, revealing a large area of strong thunderstorms circling the center of the storm. The system is expected to intensify to Category one hurricane status, bringing heavy rainfall and powerful winds to northern Australia.
NASA's Aqua satellite revealed cloud top temperatures of -28C/-18F and -23C/-9F over the northeastern US, significantly colder than surface temperatures, which ranged from 4F/-16C to 23F/-5C in affected areas. The extreme cold was part of an Arctic air mass that brought wind chills below zero and single numbers across the region.
The Suomi NPP satellite captured an image of Tropical Depression Higos being pushed eastward, leaving behind a thin band of clouds. The storm's wind shear is estimated to be between 20 and 30 knots, causing it to dissipate under hostile atmospheric conditions.
A large snowstorm affecting New England is breaking records, with Boston experiencing over 61.6 inches of snowfall, surpassing the previous record. The storm system, captured by NOAA's GOES-East satellite, is also bringing freezing rain to western Pennsylvania and Long Island.
Typhoon Higos strengthened under NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite observation, with powerful thunderstorms circling its center. The storm is expected to intensify before weakening due to increased vertical wind shear.
Tropical Cyclone Ola was being battered by vertical wind shear when NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared picture. The storm's cloud tops showed stronger thunderstorms, but forecasters expected it to dissipate due to increasing wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures.
Tropical Cyclone Ola's elongated shape was caused by northeasterly wind shear pushing clouds southwest of the center. The storm is expected to dissipate over the next 48 hours due to decreasing ocean heat content.
The Blizzard of 2015 was captured by NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite, revealing the storm near peak intensity over New York through Boston Metropolitan areas. The satellite also showed the clouds associated with the nor'easter blanketing New England.
A strong nor'easter is developing in the Atlantic Ocean and will bring snowfall of 1-3 feet or more to parts of the Northeast. The storm system was captured in a NASA movie of NOAA's GOES-East satellite imagery, showing its progression from January 24 through 26.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Bansi, revealing clouds wrapping into its eye. Forecasters expect the storm to re-strengthen and peak at 115 knots.
Tropical Cyclone Bansi has triggered warnings for Mauritius and is expected to continue intensifying. The storm strengthened from a minimal tropical storm into a major hurricane (Category 3) with maximum sustained winds near 100 knots (115.1 mph/185.2 kph).
A NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center satellite image on January 7, 2015, revealed a blanket of northern snow and lake-effect snow from the Great Lakes. The cold front brought Arctic air as far south as Florida and stretched back over the Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical Depression Jangmi encountered strong southeasterly vertical wind shear, causing its north, northeast, and eastern quadrants to become almost cloud-free. The satellite image revealed the effects of this wind shear, showing weakening thunderstorms northwest of the center.
Tropical storm Jangmi has weakened to a tropical depression as it moves into the Sulu Sea, affecting central and northern Philippines. The storm is expected to continue moving toward Palawan before re-strengthening into a tropical storm in the South China Sea.
Two new mobile apps, SatCam and WxSat, utilize satellite data to capture observations and provide real-time weather information. SatCam enables users to submit cloud product quality assessments and receive satellite images, while WxSat displays and animates full-resolution satellite data for global weather forecasting.
A new study has found that the 'Rayleigh Jet' technique can increase cloud reflectance by 5% with minimal energy consumption, using 30 megawatts of power, about equivalent to two large ships. This method is a reversible geoengineering approach proposed to mitigate rising global temperatures.
A 13-year decline in vegetation in the eastern and southeastern Amazon has been linked to a decade-long rainfall decline in the region. The study used new satellite instruments to measure greenness and found a 0.8% decline in the Amazon, affecting over half the continental United States' area.
Researchers have developed a highly accurate airborne hygrometer, HAI, which simultaneously measures the amount of water present in the atmosphere as vapour, condensation, droplets, or ice. The device provides precise data on natural and anthropogenic cloud formation processes and their influence on climate development.
The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) instrument on the International Space Station measures aerosols and cloud layers, providing data to improve air quality forecasts and track hazardous events like wildfires. This information will also feed into climate models to better understand Earth's energy balance.
The NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center uses satellite imagery to monitor weather patterns across the US. Heavy snow is expected in the central Appalachians and the Northeast, while the Western US can expect snow in the Northern Rocky Mountains.
A team of astronomers detected eight large storms on Uranus's northern hemisphere, including the brightest storm ever seen at 2.2 microns. The storms are thought to be caused by gases such as methane rising in the atmosphere and condensing into highly reflective clouds of methane ice.
Typhoon Nuri underwent eyewall replacement as high clouds moved over its eye on Nov. 4, with MODIS instrument capturing visible image of intense thunderstorms spiraling into the eye.
Hurricane Vance is forecast to make landfall in northwestern mainland Mexico on Nov. 5, bringing large amounts of rainfall, including totals of 4-8 inches with isolated areas potentially seeing up to 12 inches. The storm is expected to weaken to a tropical depression over the next 24-36 hours before making landfall.
Tropical Cyclone Nilofar weakened and was pushed northeast by strong southwesterly wind shear, resulting in the demise of the storm. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image on October 31 showing the remnants of the cyclone's clouds and showers being pushed away from its center.
Tropical Storm Vance strengthened overnight and was named on Oct. 30, with its center exhibiting strong thunderstorms in a false-colored infrared image that resembles a pumpkin, NASA's Terra satellite captured the unusual sight. The storm is expected to strengthen gradually and potentially become a hurricane in 2 to 3 days.