Research on clouds and the atmosphere. Covers Southern Ocean clouds, ocean-derived aerosols, sea-ice cloud formation, and dust after impacts.
Tropical Storm Georgette formed rapidly south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with the GOES-11 satellite capturing its clouds extending over extreme southern Baja California. The storm is forecast to make landfall in western Mexico, bringing heavy rainfall and tropical storm-force winds.
Hurricane Igor underwent significant changes in shape and strength due to NASA's MODIS and AIRS instruments, which captured its transformation from a rounded storm to a comma-shaped storm over three days. The storm's cold cloud temperatures and cloud cover were also analyzed by the AIRS instrument.
The Amazon Basin acts as a self-contained biogeochemical reactor during the rainy season, producing organic material that serves as cloud condensation nuclei. This process allows scientists to investigate natural cloud formation and precipitation without human influence.
Hurricane Karl's powerful thunderstorms featured very high icy cloud tops, while moderate to heavy rainfall was observed from the storm. The GRIP mission gathered valuable data on Karl's rapid intensification, which went from a tropical storm to a Category 3 hurricane overnight into Friday.
Researchers isolated aerosol particles in near-pristine pre-industrial conditions, providing crucial clues about cloud formation and differences between natural and polluted environments. The finding could help understand global climate change and inform modeling of anthropogenic perturbations.
Hurricane Julia has weakened to a Category 2 storm due to wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures. The storm is being pulled northwest by mid-level winds, causing its main convection to shift away from the center, resulting in weakening.
Karl strengthened into a hurricane as it moved across the Gulf of Mexico, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to the region. The storm is forecast to make landfall in mainland Mexico late Friday or Friday night, with minimum central pressure at 983 millibars.
Research team isolates aerosol particles in near-pristine pre-industrial conditions, shedding light on cloud formation and precipitation. Organic compounds from plants are found to be a primary source of submicron particles, which can affect climate.
Researchers found that pristine rainforests in the Amazon produce aerosol particles that act as seeds for cloud formation and precipitation. These particles are formed from organic molecules emitted by trees and other biological matter, and play a crucial role in sustaining the hydrological cycle.
Hurricane Igor is a monstrous storm, stretching over 500 miles in diameter. Maximum sustained winds near 145mph indicate weakening, but the hurricane remains powerful and expected to hit Bermuda in the next few days.
Hurricane Julia intensified rapidly overnight, becoming a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. NASA satellites captured clues as they passed over her from space, including heavy rainfall dropping at over 50 mm/hr and a clear eye structure with impressive cloud top enhancement.
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder captured icy cold cloud top temperatures in Hurricane Igor, with readings as low as -90F. The storm's eye showed a warmer, open area with sea surface temperatures powering it.
NASA satellites detect intense rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour around Igor's circular eye, indicating powerful thunderstorms. The storm is expected to remain a Category 4 hurricane for the next couple of days, posing significant threats to affected areas.
The GOES-13 satellite captured an image of Hurricane Earl northeast of North Carolina, showing a huge storm with cloud cover stretching over the northeastern U.S. The category 2 hurricane is expected to turn towards the northeast and approach southeastern New England.
Tropical Depression Nine strengthened into Tropical Storm Gaston before weakening back into a depression due to dry and stable air. The storm's compact circulation showed high, cold thunderstorm cloud tops reaching -63 degrees Fahrenheit.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared imagery showing two areas of strong convection north and south of Fiona's center, with cloud tops as cold as -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is intensifying, bringing tropical storm conditions to the Northern Leeward Islands with potential rainfall accumulations of 1-3 inches.
Hurricane Danielle has reached Category 2 status with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, driven by low wind shear and warm waters. Forecasters expect the storm to intensify over the next 24 hours, potentially becoming a major hurricane by Wednesday.
NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder captured an infrared image of Tropical Depression 5's (TD5) remnants on August 18, showing showers and clouds extending from Louisiana northeast into Tennessee. The strongest thunderstorms were located over south central Louisiana and north central Alabama, producing heavy rainfall.
The remnants of Tropical Depression Five continue to bring heavy rain to Louisiana and Mississippi, with some areas experiencing localized flooding. NASA satellite imagery shows the slow-moving system stretching from Louisiana northeast into Mississippi, with some higher thunderstorms embedded in the cloud cover.
Tropical Depression Five's remnants have re-emerged in the Gulf of Mexico, with NASA satellites tracking its thunderstorms and potential for rebirth. The system has a 60% chance of developing into Tropical Depression 5 again, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to coastal areas.
A NOAA study found that clouds exhibit oscillating patterns influenced by precipitation, creating regular rainfall events. The discovery highlights the impact of aerosols on large-scale cloud structure and climate change, suggesting a more complex understanding of interactions between aerosols and clouds.
Researchers demonstrate how rain causes air movement that breaks down and builds up cloud walls, forming honeycomb clouds with self-organizing patterns. These clouds cycle regularly due to the interaction between rising and falling air, resulting in shifting showers over time.
Tropical Storm Colin formed after strengthening from Tropical Depression 4, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph and no expected impact on land areas. The storm is moving west-northwest at 23 mph and is forecast to pass northeast of the Leeward Islands late Wednesday and early Thursday.
Chanthu, a tropical storm, made landfall in southeastern China and began to weaken, according to NASA infrared imagery. The storm's cloud temperatures and convection are decreasing, indicating reduced intensity.
System 97L is developing into a system with intense rainfall, affecting Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Hispaniola. NASA satellite data shows strong thunderstorms and cold cloud tops, indicating potential for a tropical cyclone.
NASA's infrared satellite image shows strong thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Conson. The storm is being pushed southwest due to a subtropical ridge over China, forcing it to take a more southern route and eventually make landfall in northern Vietnam.
System 96E is showing signs of tropically organizing in visible imagery from the GOES-11 satellite. The system is located approximately 300 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico, with its center near 14.3 North and 104.0 West.
NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites confirmed strong, high thunderstorms in Tropical Depression 2 after its center made landfall. The storms had cloud tops as cold as -63F, indicating heavy rainfall.
System 96L is an elongated area of low pressure moving west-northwestward with increased shower and thunderstorm activity, posing a risk for heavy rains and gusty winds in eastern Texas and northeastern Mexico.
Tropical storm Alex is strengthening due to low wind shear and warm ocean surface temperatures, posing a threat of heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and storm surge to northeastern Mexico and southeastern Texas. The National Hurricane Center predicts the storm will make landfall on Wednesday, bringing potentially life-threatening conditions.
A new study suggests that seeding clouds over the ocean to make them more reflective could actually increase monsoonal rains and cause continents to become wetter on average. This contradicts previous assumptions about the impact of geoengineering schemes on global rainfall patterns.
System 93L in the western Caribbean has become better organized, leading to a higher chance of forming Tropical Depression Alex. Forecasters expect heavy rainfall and gusty winds affecting the Yucatan Peninsula this weekend.
Celia's well-defined eye is visible in NASA's infrared image, measuring 15-20 nautical miles wide. High cloud tops indicate strong thunderstorms, while warm sea surface temperatures support the storm's development.
NASA infrared imagery hinted Darby would become a hurricane due to strong convection and rapidly rising air. The storm intensified into category one hurricane on June 24, with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph.
A recent study found that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) explanation for global warming is flawed, with ENSO contributing less than a third of the signal. Meanwhile, researchers question whether permafrost thaw poses a reduced risk to global warming due to its potential impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites captured images of Tropical Storms Blas and Celia in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on June 19 and 20. The imagery revealed that Convection in Blas was waning while convection in Celia increased, indicating strengthening.
Tropical Storm Blas exhibited areas of very high, frigid clouds near the storm center. Convection strengthened quickly by June 18 morning.
Tropical Depression 2-E is close to land, bringing heavy rain to western Mexican coast states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. Tropical Storm Blas has strengthened into a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph, expected to strengthen further over the next 48 hours.
Researchers developed a new model to understand the impact of urbanization on human health and comfort. By analyzing the urban boundary layer in Phoenix, Arizona, they created a framework to predict periods of high particulate pollution and extreme temperature fluctuations.
Research found that aircraft can seed mid-level clouds, causing narrow bands of snow or rain to develop. The study also discovered that water droplets at subfreezing temperatures are key to forming these holes in the clouds.
Tropical Storm Agatha made landfall in El Salvador and Guatemala, and its remnants are now tracked by NASA. The National Hurricane Center reports a near-zero percent chance of reorganization, solving the forecasting mystery.
UK researchers have discovered electrically charged ash in the plume of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano. The finding contradicts models and adds a new dimension to understanding volcanic plumes' impact on air travel. Detailed measurements reveal self-renewing charge within the plume, which affects particle behavior and growth.
University of Arizona researchers presented new findings on improving hurricane predictions and understanding the effects of tropical cyclones on the U.S. Southwest. Cloud clusters with higher symmetry are more likely to become hurricanes, and tropical storms in the eastern Pacific are linked to the Caribbean Low-Level Jet.
A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers reveals that pollution can significantly alter thunderstorm intensity, leading to changes in local weather patterns and rainfall. The study used lightning patterns as a quantitative measure of the impact of air pollution on cloud development over large areas.
The MODIS instrument on NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites captured daily visible and infrared imagery of the ash plume from Eyjafjallajokull volcano. The ash cloud consisted of fine particles of pulverized rock, posing a rare but potentially catastrophic hazard to aviation.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected a weakened Cyclone Paul over the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, leading to the cancellation of all mainland weather warnings. The storm's remnants are expected to track inland and weaken further, with only coastal waters warning in effect.
Cyclone Imani has developed a 'tail' of clouds and reached category one status due to strong winds. The storm's movement is expected to lead to its dissipation within two days.
Tropical storm Omais has doubled in size due to wind shear, weakening from 63 mph to 52 mph. The storm is expected to dissipate over the next day and a half as it encounters cooler, drier air associated with a cold front.
Researchers found that introducing aerosols into the model made clouds significantly more reflective, but only in certain situations. The team also tested when to spray seawater aerosols to maximize brightness.
Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science has joined the Open Cirrus test bed, a global open-source initiative for cloud computing research and education. The new facility will provide additional resources for researchers worldwide, enabling them to explore new applications and innovations in Internet-scale computing.
Cyclone Oli has strengthened to Category 4 strength, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to the region. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite observed large circulation patterns and intense rainfall in distant islands like Bora Bora and Tahiti.
Tropical Storm Oli is a large storm with high thunderstorm cloud tops and strong winds near 52 mph, affecting the islands of Bora Bora and Raratonga. The storm is expected to move southeast and pass between the islands in the next couple of days.
Tropical Storm Oli formed on February 1, 2010, near Fiji, with maximum sustained winds of 57 mph. The storm is expected to strengthen temporarily due to low wind shear, but will face increased wind shear in cooler waters after day four.
New research reveals heat from the Pacific Ocean is responsible for Arctic sea ice loss. Satellite radar can accurately measure hurricane wind speeds. Nitrogen dynamics may accelerate global warming by constraining carbon dioxide absorption.
The TRMM satellite provided a three-dimensional view of tropical cyclone Magda, showing its eye and powerful thunderstorms. The data revealed hurricane-force winds and intense rainfall rates over 50mm per hour.
The TRMM satellite captured a clear picture of Tropical Storm Edzani's current state, revealing heavy rainfall on the eastern side and minimal convection on the western side. The storm is weakening and transitioning into an extra-tropical storm, but forecasters are monitoring its movement back over warmer waters for possible regeneration.
Research reveals how aerosols from pollution contribute to isolated thunderstorm clouds, improving climate scientists' understanding of the interaction between aerosols and clouds. Wind shear plays a crucial role in determining whether pollution swells or saps storms, with strong wind shear conditions hindering thunderhead formation.
The AIM satellite has captured unprecedented data on noctilucent clouds, also known as 'night-shining' clouds. The results show that temperature and water vapor play a crucial role in their formation and variability, with global patterns emerging due to planetary waves and coupling between hemispheres.
NASA satellites capture images of Cyclone Cleo's strong convection and rainfall patterns. The storm is larger than 230 miles in diameter with hurricane-force winds extending 45 miles from its center.
Tropical Depression Nida is weakening due to cool, dry air and wind shear, while System 97W is gaining organization and strengthening in a better atmospheric environment.