Research on clouds and the atmosphere. Covers Southern Ocean clouds, ocean-derived aerosols, sea-ice cloud formation, and dust after impacts.
Tropical Storm Erin weakened to a tropical depression due to cooler waters and dry air in the Eastern Atlantic. Its maximum sustained winds dropped to near 35 mph, with no significant changes expected over the next couple of days.
Tropical Storm Erin is intensifying in the eastern Atlantic due to strong thunderstorms and a 'hot tower' in its center, reaching maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. Research shows tropical cyclones with hot towers are more likely to intensify.
Researchers discovered that large waves in Norwegian fjords were triggered by a powerful Japan earthquake, while disposal of Marcellus Shale fracking waste caused earthquakes in Ohio. The Arctic region is also sensitive to black carbon emissions, which can have devastating effects on the environment.
NASA's GOES-West satellite image captures three active tropical cyclones in the Central and Eastern Pacific Oceans. System 92E has a more developed circulation and is expected to become a tropical cyclone with a high chance, while System 93E has a low chance of development.
Tropical Depression 11W is organizing and strengthening in the western North Pacific Ocean, with NASA's Aqua satellite capturing an infrared image of the system. Cloud top temperatures indicate strong storms, suggesting heavy rainfall rates when the depression strengthens into a tropical storm.
A new study suggests that the ozone hole could be causing a slight warming effect on the planet, rather than a cooling one. The ozone hole's impact on wind patterns causes clouds to move towards the South Pole, reducing their ability to reflect radiation and leading to increased temperatures.
NASA's TRMM satellite detected powerful thunderstorms reaching 10 miles high in Hurricane Henriette, which dropped heavy rainfall. The storm's towering clouds, known as 'hot towers,' played a role in its formation and intensification.
Tropical Storm Gil's cloud top temperatures warmed since the previous day, indicating a loss of thunderstorms' ability to form more powerful storms. As the storm weakened, it ceased to be a tropical cyclone and continued moving south of Hawaii.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data showing very cold cloud top temperatures of strong thunderstorms around Tropical Storm Mangkhut's center before landfall in northern Vietnam. The storm is expected to dissipate within 24 hours after making landfall about 65 miles south of Hanoi.
Tropical Storm Henrietta is strengthening in the Eastern Pacific Ocean with a developing eye, while Tropical Depression Gil continues to weaken and may cease to qualify as a tropical cyclone. Henrietta's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph/95 kph and are forecast to become a hurricane in the next day.
NASA's HS3 mission will investigate tropical cyclones using a new dual-frequency conical-scanning Doppler radar called HIWRAP. The instrument measures wind and rain in hurricanes, providing critical data sets needed for improved understanding and forecasting.
Tropical Storm Jebi developed on July 31 and is now filling half of the South China Sea. NASA satellite data shows strong winds and heavy rainfall in a band of thunderstorms southwest of the center.
NASA's TRMM and Aqua satellites observed Tropical Storm Gil intensifying into a hurricane, with the storm being pursued by another developing system. The satellite imagery revealed that the cloud pattern of Gil was not as organized as initially thought, with some areas showing less intense storms.
Tropical Depression 7E formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean with strong but fragmented thunderstorms. The depression is expected to intensify into a tropical storm and potentially become a hurricane, moving west-northwest at 16 mph.
Tropical Storm Dorian's remnants are producing showers and thunderstorms northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands. The low pressure area is moving westward towards Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, with a medium chance (40%) of regeneration into a tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Flossie brings heavy rainfall and strong winds to the Hawaiian Islands, with dangerously high surf expected. Satellite data shows the storm's movement and expected impact on Kona coffee crops, with moist air causing orographic lift and rain on the windward side.
Scientists studied Tropical Storm Dorian's infrared image, revealing thunderstorms as cold as 195 Kelvin, indicating very high clouds. The storm maintained strong thunderstorms around its center before moving into warmer sea surface temperatures.
Tropical Storm Flossie strengthened quickly on July 25, with powerful thunderstorms detected around its center and south of the center. Infrared data revealed cloud top temperatures near -63F/-52C, indicating very high thunderstorms.
Tropical Storm Cimaron made landfall in southeastern China, with the strongest storms located east of the center. The storm's cloud top temperatures were near -63F/-52C, and its maximum sustained winds dropped to 35 knots (40 mph) on July 17.
Tropical Depression 08W formed east of the Philippines and is moving northwest, expected to intensify into a tropical storm. The depression's strong thunderstorms have cloud top temperatures near 210 K (-81.6 F/-63.1 C), while sea surface temperatures support its development and intensification.
The National Hurricane Center reported that Chantal's remnants remained disorganized and development became less likely due to upper-level winds. NASA's GOES-13 satellite spotted the storm's remaining clouds and showers moving north in the Atlantic.
Researchers discovered a 3% increase in flower production on Barro Colorado Island since 1987 due to rising temperatures and precipitation. In contrast, the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot in Puerto Rico showed no overall increase in flower production over the same period.
Typhoon Soulik's eye is filling with clouds, indicating a weakening storm, but satellite data shows the eyewall is reforming. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center reports that the storm is forecast to move near Japan and Taiwan before making landfall in China.
Researchers propose targeted cloud brightening as a means to lower sea temperatures and reduce coral bleaching. The technique, which involves seeding marine clouds with tiny seawater droplets, could provide a 50-year reprieve for coral reefs threatened by acidification and warming.
Typhoon Soulik exhibits a tight concentration of powerful storms surrounding its center, with cloud top temperatures colder than -63F/-52C, indicating heavy rainfall.
A recent study by Florida State University researcher Stephanie Pau found that tropical forests produce more flowers in response to only slight increases in temperature. This is the first study to combine long-term flower production data with direct estimates of cloud cover based on satellite information.
Tropical Storm Soulik has become more organized and is expected to intensify rapidly, potentially reaching typhoon strength by July 9. The storm's eastern quadrant covered the Marianas Islands in NASA's Aqua satellite images, showing a brilliant visible image of the storm's center near the northern islands.
Researchers at ETH Zurich found that ocean eddies have a significant impact on weather patterns, particularly in the Southern hemisphere. Warm eddies increase near-surface wind speed, cloud cover, and rain probability, while cold eddies have the opposite effect.
Research finds that 30% of excess energy from human-caused greenhouse effect warms the deep ocean, while a new study predicts an increase in hurricanes hitting western Europe as sea surface temperatures rise. Scientists also identify changes in wind patterns and volcanic eruptions as factors driving this warming trend.
The West Fork Complex fire in southwestern Colorado reached heights of up to 13.5 kilometers, while smoke plumes were detected in European airspace. The fire was part of a larger complex involving three separate fires, burning over 75,000 acres before being fully contained.
Researchers have explained the behavior of Saturn's giant storms for the first time, using computer models and high-resolution images from the Cassini space probe. The storms are characterized by intense winds of up to 500 km/h and a turbulent ring with an enormous surface area.
Tropical Storm Barry was captured by NASA's Aqua spacecraft on June 20, 2013, revealing maximum sustained winds of 40 knots and gusts up to 50 knots. Rainfall totals of 3-5 inches are expected in southern Mexico, posing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
Pyrocumulus clouds formed above a New Mexico wildfire, demonstrating their unique characteristics in satellite images. The Silver fire's pyrocumulus cloud reached altitudes of 10-11 kilometers and temperatures up to -45°C.
A new study by researchers from IIASA and CICERO estimates that personal travel impacts the climate, with air travel having the biggest impact per distance traveled. The study suggests that choosing trains, buses, or carpooling can significantly reduce an individual's carbon footprint.
Tropical Storm Yagi was located just south of Japan's Big Island when captured by NASA satellite imagery. The storm is expected to weaken and dissipate over the next couple of days as it moves southeast.
Tropical Storm Andrea's extensive cloud cover blanketed half of the East Coast, with most rain occurring ahead of the storm's center. The storm is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2-4 inches along the eastern seaboard into coastal Maine.
Tropical Storm Andrea featured towering thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures above -63F (-52C) and heaviest precipitation over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and southeastern Florida. TRMM satellite data revealed a large area of moderate to heavy rainfall in the storm's northeast quadrant, spreading over Florida.
Heavy rainfall rates were detected in Tropical Storm Andrea by NASA's TRMM satellite, with rates reaching up to 5 inches per hour in the southern part of the storm. The storm intensified into a tropical storm on June 5, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph.
Researchers used laser light pulses to study aerosol and cloud processes in atmospheric conditions. The results show that high-intensity laser pulses can increase the number of ice particles in cirrus clouds by up to a factor of 100 within seconds, intensifying their optical density and making them appear brighter.
Hurricane Barbara strengthened into a hurricane before making landfall, but quickly weakened into a tropical depression after interacting with the Mexican coast. Satellite imagery showed cloud tops warming and thunderstorms fragmenting around the storm's center.
A new spectral band on NASA's Landsat satellite helps identify high-altitude cirrus clouds, allowing scientists to account for their impact on data. The feature enables users to disregard cloudy images or correct data from other spectral bands, ensuring accurate results.
Cyclone Mahasen brought heavy rainfall to southern Bangladesh, with the TRMM satellite capturing areas of intense thunderstorms north of the storm's center. The cyclone is expected to weaken and move across northeastern India due to rugged terrain and strong wind shear.
Tropical Storm Alvin was the first to be named in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, as observed by NASA's Aqua satellite. The storm showed bands of thunderstorms wrapping into its low-level center, strengthening further over May 16.
Researchers discovered that individuals who use an emotional regulation strategy called reappraisal tend to experience less anxiety than those who suppress their emotions. Reappraisal involves reframing a problem in a positive light, finding the positives and focusing on challenging situations.
Tropical Cyclone Jamala's remnants are visible in NASA satellite images. The storm broke apart due to harsh atmospheric conditions, leaving behind a weaker system.
An interdisciplinary team from MIT identified cirrus clouds' major seeds as mineral dust and metallic aerosols. The study found that these particles freeze into ice crystals, influencing global climate patterns.
Researchers discovered that organic compounds from pollution and forest emissions can increase cloud droplets, making clouds brighter and affecting climate. This effect is significant enough to counteract the uncertainty in pollution's impact on clouds.
A team of scientists used a new approach to study aerosols, finding that biological activity in sea spray reduces its ability to form clouds. The study isolated marine aerosols, demonstrating the impact of biological mixtures on climate properties.
Cyclone Imelda's eye appeared clearly on visible imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite on April 14, but closed by April 15 due to cloud coverage. The storm was also elongated from west to east, with weakening convection around its low-level center.
New NASA satellite imagery shows Cyclone Imelda's strongest thunderstorms and precipitation located east of the storm's center. An upper-level trough is causing subsidence, preventing clouds from forming as air sinks to the surface.
Cyclone Imelda continues to strengthen with powerful convection throughout the storm. Infrared satellite imagery captures cloud top temperatures indicating stronger uplift and higher thunderstorm development. The cyclone is moving west-southwest at 4 knots, influenced by a high-pressure ridge and a low-pressure trough.
A new ice cloud has appeared over Titan's south pole, marking the onset of a global air circulation reversal. The cloud is composed of an unknown ice type and appears to be building rapidly, while its northern counterpart is slowly fading.
Researchers tracked increasing melt rates since 1979 but July 2012 event was unusually large, prompting study on low-level clouds. Thin clouds allowed solar energy to pass through, trapping heat and pushing temperatures above freezing, contributing to record-breaking ice melt.
The remnants of ex-cyclone Tim are drifting west towards the Queensland coast, causing rough to very rough seas and moderate south to southeasterly swell. NASA's infrared satellite imagery shows the weakening storm with significantly warmed cloud top temperatures and strongest thunderstorms appearing in a small area offshore.
Scientists have found that Jupiter's hot spots are created by a Rossby wave pattern, which glides up and down through layers of the atmosphere. The researchers mapped wind speeds and tracked small cloud movements to tease out individual motions, revealing the wave's true nature.
New research reveals that poor simulation of cloud cover in the Southern Ocean is the primary contributor to climate models' glitch in tropical rainfall. The study found that excessive sunlight reaching the ocean surface causes heat accumulation, leading to incorrect rainfall forecasts.
Cyclone Sandra is intensifying in the Southern Pacific Ocean, with NASA's Aqua satellite capturing infrared data showing cloud top temperatures growing colder and thunderstorms strengthening around its center.
A powerful Nor'easter merged two low-pressure areas on March 6, bringing winter weather advisories to the Mid-Atlantic. NASA provided satellite views of the storm's power and movement, showing the heaviest precipitation over New Jersey and Maryland.
A study by UCSD and NOAA finds that aerosols from the Sahara desert help spur precipitation in California, highlighting the impact of global weather patterns on regional water supplies. The research uses advanced instruments to track the journey of aerosols across continents and demonstrates their role in seeding storm clouds.
The GOES-R satellite will detect lightning inside storm clouds, enabling more accurate tornado detection and severe weather warnings. The new technology aboard GOES-R is expected to improve lead time for warnings by providing earlier detection for storms, regardless of the season or time of day.