Research on rainfall and the water cycle. Covers climate-driven precipitation, hurricanes and storms, moisture transport, and extreme-weather forecasting.
Cities with high rainfall can achieve cooler temperatures through targeted planting, while extremely dry regions benefit from increased wind circulation and shade. The study provides a preliminary classification of cities for urban heat island mitigation, highlighting the importance of regional climate characteristics.
The NASA IMERG algorithm provides near-realtime precipitation estimates for Hurricane Dorian, showing storm-total rain accumulation exceeding 24 inches over the Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands. The hurricane's trajectory is expected to bring it dangerously close to the Florida east coast late today through Wednesday evening.
Tropical Depression Kajiki made a quick landfall in Vietnam, with the Global Precipitation Measurement mission analyzing rainfall rates. The heaviest rainfall was recorded over central Vietnam and Laos, falling at rates of up to 0.8 inches per hour.
A new PSU study estimates that snowfall frequency will decline across the Pacific Northwest by 2100, with low- and mid-elevation sites like the Cascades experiencing the largest declines. Global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions can slow this rate of decline.
Tropical Depression 7 has powerful thunderstorms with heavy rain capabilities affecting southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. NASA's Aqua satellite analysis found strongest storms in fragmented bands, with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Researchers modelled desert plantations in Israel and Oman, finding they can initiate convection and enhance rainfall. The Global Feedback Index suggests suitable desert environments for this precipitation enhancement method.
NASA's fleet of satellites is gathering data on Hurricane Dorian, helping scientists understand its structure and predict its path. The storms maximum sustained winds are currently at 115 mph with higher gusts, posing a significant threat to Florida and the northwestern Bahamas.
NASA estimates heavy rainfall in Hurricane Dorian, with IMERG product suggesting up to 120mm of accumulation in certain regions.
A recent study using convection-permitting models showed improved accuracy in simulating heavy rainfall events in the Yangtze River Basin. The models were found to better reproduce the spatial distribution of precipitation and smaller-scale disturbances, reducing biases compared to global models.
NASA's Terra satellite captures images of Hurricane Dorian near St. Thomas on August 28, 2019, confirming its Category 1 status. The storm is expected to continue strengthening over the Atlantic waters, posing a threat to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and other regions.
Tropical Storm Dorian is expected to produce heavy rainfall, with accumulations ranging from 1-10 inches. NASA's Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures to indicate strong storms capable of creating life-threatening flash floods.
Tropical Storm Dorian has shown heavy rainmaking ability thanks to cold cloud top temperatures, generating strong thunderstorms and potentially causing life-threatening surf conditions. The storm is expected to produce 3-8 inches of rainfall in the Windward Islands, with isolated totals reaching up to 10 inches.
A centuries-old Italian winemaking tradition is under threat from shifting rainfall patterns, leading to earlier grape harvests and reduced flavor complexity. Intense precipitation events are exacerbating the effects of global warming on premium wines.
Scientists have reconstructed 300-million-year-old rainwater to study the history of Western France and its mountain range. The analysis suggests that the area was once mountainous, near the Equator, and subject to violent tectonic processes.
The UTIA senior design team developed a pilot technology to enhance stormwater infiltration in rain gardens by inducing fractures in compacted soil layers. This technique could save homeowners and property owners time and money by unclogging failed rain gardens.
Tropical Storm Krosa is expected to make landfall in western Shikoku Island, Japan, with powerful thunderstorms and heavy rain capabilities. The storm's cloud top temperatures indicate strong storms with potential to generate heavy rainfall.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Krosa, showing a large center of circulation surrounded by fragmented bands of thunderstorms. The storm is expected to intensify to 50 knots as it approaches landfall in southwestern Japan.
A new study published in PNAS reveals that the northern tropical dry trend may be a result of natural climate variability rather than human activities. The research team analyzed stalagmite records from southern Thailand and found millennial-scale decreases in regional rainfall, similar to other records from the northern tropics.
A speleothem δ18O record from Klang Cave in southern Thailand shows decreased rainfall in the northern-central Indo-Pacific (NCIP) region. The study also found that anthropogenic forcing of rainfall may be indistinguishable from natural variability during certain climate periods.
NASA's GPM satellite detected heavy rainfall around Tropical Storm Henriette's center, with rates reaching 25 mm/hour. The storm is moving west-northwest towards Mexico, expected to weaken and degenerate into a remnant low pressure area.
The NASA Aqua satellite provided detailed images of Typhoon Lekima's cloud top temperatures, revealing cold air extending into the troposphere, generating heavy rainfall. The storm's powerful thunderstorms were also visible in infrared and visible light, surrounding a small, rounded eye.
A new study led by UCL and Cardiff University finds that groundwater replenishment depends on heavy rainfalls and flood events amplified by climate change. This knowledge can inform strategies to enhance groundwater supplies in drylands, where it is often the only lasting source of freshwater.
A new study from the University of Washington explores how Pacific Ocean conditions contribute to prolonged droughts in the Southwestern US. Researchers found that El Niño events can lead to multi-year droughts if followed by a La Niña event, and that a complex interplay between ocean and atmospheric conditions is at play.
NASA's GPM satellite detected heavy rainfall east of Tropical Storm Krosa's center, falling at a rate of 50 mm/hour over open ocean. The storm was moving northwest and had maximum sustained winds near 40 knots (46 mph) before strengthening into a typhoon.
NASA's Terra satellite detected a small area of strong storms northeast of Tropical Depression Flossie's center. The storm had cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating its strength.
Tropical Storm Lekima was formed on August 4 as Tropical Depression 10W, strengthening into a tropical storm on August 5. NASA's Aqua satellite analyzed the storm, finding cloud top temperatures of strongest thunderstorms as cold as or colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tropical Storm Francisco is expected to bring heavy rainfall to southern Japan as it approaches landfall. The strongest storms have cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong potential for heavy rainfall.
Tropical Storm Erick's center was located near latitude 16.8 degrees north latitude and 157.4 degrees west longitude using data from NASA satellites, including Aqua and Suomi NPP. The storm is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression by Sunday, with potential for heavy rainfall and dangerous surf conditions in the Hawaiian Islands.
Hurricane Erick is a small storm with strong thunderstorms holding on, but expected to significantly weaken as it passes Hawaii. The National Hurricane Center forecasts Erick's winds will be 200 miles from the islands.
NASA used satellite data to analyze Hurricane Erick's rainfall rates and cloud temperatures, revealing coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The heaviest rainfall was found near the northern eyewall of the storm's center, with rates exceeding 40 mm per hour.
A new study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs found that net use increases during rainy seasons and decreases in the dry season. This seasonal variation in net use can lead to gaps in malaria prevention efforts if not taken into account.
Monsoon rain storms have become more intense in the southwestern United States, with a 6-11% increase in rainfall intensity since the 1970s. Climate change is attributed to these changes, as temperatures in the region have risen by 0.4 degrees F per decade.
Tropical Depression 3 formed off central Florida's eastern coast, generating heavy rainfall northeast of its center. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission found rain falling at a rate of 25 mm/hour in this area.
Researchers analyzed a 120-year data set to confirm climate change's impact on precipitation events and floods. The study found six of seven highest precipitation events occurred within the last 20 years, with three storms resulting in abnormally large floods.
Tropical Storm Dalila strengthened after NASA's Aqua satellite detected reduced wind shear, enabling stronger storms to form around its center. The storm is now forecast to weaken by Thursday and potentially degenerate into a remnant low.
Researchers found that volcanic eruptions in one hemisphere reduce monsoon rainfall in the same hemisphere, while enhancing it in other hemispheres. This phenomenon is attributed to changes in atmospheric circulation, which play a dominant role in rainfall responses.
Researchers found that species already adapted to hot climates may actually benefit from increased rainfall. The study discovered a boom in the population of aggressive sugar-feeding ants with every rapid increase in rainfall.
NASA's GPM core satellite analyzed Barry's rainfall rates several hours after it made landfall on the coast of Louisiana. Heavy rain bands were revealed by the data, with rainfall rates exceeding 10 mm/hour in some areas. The storm brought heavy rains and flooding to the mid-Mississippi Valley as it moved through the region.
NASA analyzed cloud top temperatures in Tropical Storm Barry, indicating the storm's strength. The Aqua satellite found coldest cloud tops with temperatures near minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit, indicative of strong storms capable of generating heavy rainfall.
Tropical Storm Barry is expected to make landfall in south-central Louisiana, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds. The storm's cloud top temperatures indicate a high level of organization, suggesting heavy rainfall potential.
NASA's ARIA team created a flood proxy map using satellite data from the ALOS-2 satellite, depicting areas of Louisiana likely flooded due to heavy rain and Tropical storm Barry. The map can be used as guidance to identify potentially flooded areas, but its reliability is limited over urban and vegetated regions.
Tropical Storm Barry moved slowly north through Arkansas and Louisiana, causing widespread flooding along the Mississippi River. The storm dropped up to 15 inches of rain in some areas, with local flash flooding remaining a likely threat.
The study used machine learning to analyze data on Hepatitis E epidemics and environmental statistics, identifying areas with high risk of transmission. The researchers hope their map will inform prevention campaigns in high-risk regions, such as northern India.
The GPM Core Observatory captured estimates of rainfall rates within Tropical Storm Barry, with storm top heights reaching up to 18 kilometers. Flooding due to heavy rainfall is the primary threat, with intense thunderstorm activity expected to strengthen the storm.
Researchers found that the soil in Chaco Canyon could not support farming due to scarce rainfall and destructive flash floods. The team calculated that only 100 acres of farmland would have been sufficient to feed a maximum of 1,000 people.
Satellites analyzing developing gulf potential Tropical Cyclone Two have predicted heavy rainfall and storm surge for the central Gulf Coast. The system is forecast to strengthen into a tropical depression on Thursday morning and a hurricane by Friday.
A global analysis of cave drip waters reveals vital clues for understanding past rainfall patterns. In warmer climates, oxygen isotopes in stalagmites display the balance between wet weather events and prolonged drying periods.
NASA's GPM core satellite detected the heaviest rainfall rates in Hurricane Barbara, exceeding 50 mm per hour around the eye. The storm is expected to weaken, transitioning from a category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm on Friday.
Tropical Storm Barbara formed on June 30, intensifying with heaviest rainfall rates northeast of its center. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission detected rain falling at 41 mm/hour, part of a band of thunderstorms surrounding the low-level center.
Researchers at MIT have designed surfaces that cause droplets to bounce away from surfaces, reducing contact time and area of impact. The new method focuses on minimizing the spatial extent of contact, creating a bowl-shaped splash pattern that redirects droplets upward and prevents icing or soaking.
Plant communities in Mediterranean climates with limited underground water storage can thrive in both low-water and rainy years. They do well because the soil stores little water relative to rainfall, replenishing the supply even during dry years.
A new study predicts that Midwestern corn growers will require irrigation as temperatures rise and crop yields increase, posing risks to local water sources. The researchers found that the warmer atmosphere will draw more moisture from plants, necessitating a significant expansion of irrigation to maintain current yields.
A recent study investigated the desirability and practicality of producing snack peppers with low seed count. The findings revealed that true breeding pepper lines with reduced fruit seed count exhibited significantly reduced seed count, making them more suitable for specialty markets.
A Rutgers University study found that warming ocean temperatures in the western tropical Pacific influence weather patterns around West Antarctica, leading to increased thunderstorms and rainfall. This could impact the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and global sea-level rise.
A low-pressure system in the Gulf of Campeche brought heavy rainfall to southeast Texas and southern Louisiana, with flash flooding reported throughout the Houston area. The National Weather Service predicts a high risk for flash flooding across parts of the region, with rainfall totals expected to reach 3-7 inches.
System 91L is a tropical low pressure system located in the Bay of Campeche, spanning across Mexico's Yucatan state and surrounding states. The system has a 40% chance to develop into a depression over the next two days, producing heavy rainfall over eastern Mexico, southeastern Texas, and the Lower Mississippi Valley.
Research led by the University of Saskatchewan found a significant increase in extreme downpours globally over the past 50 years, coinciding with intensifying global warming. The study used thousands of rain records to analyze precipitation extremes, revealing a clear upward trend in torrential rain events across various regions.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected a low-pressure area with strong thunderstorms and cold cloud top temperatures, indicating the potential for heavy rainfall. The system is forecast to move northwestward towards Mexico's northeastern coast, where it could become a tropical cyclone.
A new study from the University of Delaware has shed light on the age and origin of groundwaters in Egyptian aquifers using chlorine isotopes as chemical tracers. The research found that some groundwater samples are up to 200,000 years old, indicating a complex interaction between shallow and deep aquifers.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ann is moving west into the Gulf of Carpentaria, causing warnings for strong winds and flooding potential. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a Strong Wind Warning and Flood Watch for coastal catchments in Queensland.