Research on rainfall and the water cycle. Covers climate-driven precipitation, hurricanes and storms, moisture transport, and extreme-weather forecasting.
Tropical Cyclone Ann is moving over the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to northeast Queensland. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for areas including Peninsula, North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Herbert and Lower Burdekin Forecast Districts.
A new model reveals 'tipping points' where small localized rain increases lead to widespread road disruptions, even isolating entire regions. The model was validated using Hurricane Harvey data and shows a 90.6% prediction rate for reported road closures.
Tropical Cyclone Fani brought heavy rainfall to the region and continues to drop heavy rainfall on May 3 as it moves towards Bangladesh. The GPM mission satellite captured an overpass of the powerful storm, showing high thunderstorms stretching into the troposphere and measuring rainfall rates up to 50 millimeters per hour.
Researchers identified long-term global effects on water supplies, with drying soils in North America and Eurasia, and wetter regions like the Indian subcontinent. The study suggests severe consequences for humans as warmer temperatures intensify droughts in dry regions.
Researchers found the Great Whirl, a massive whirlpool off East Africa, is larger and longer-lived than previously thought. It can grow to over 275,000 square kilometers in area and persist for about 200 days.
A recent US study found that excessive rainfall can reduce corn yield by up to 34% relative to expected yields, similar to the impact of extreme heat and drought. The research highlights the need for improved crop insurance models to address climate change-driven extreme weather events.
Tropical Storm Fani exhibited extreme rainfall patterns, with the heaviest downpours occurring south of its center circulation. GPM measurements showed hourly rainfall rates ranging from 1 inch (25 mm) in thunderstorm bands to 1.6 inches (40 mm) per hour in a localized area.
Tropical Cyclone Kenneth made landfall in northern Mozambique with maximum wind speeds of 140 miles per hour, causing significant rainfall and flooding. The storm's remnants continue to linger over the region, generating strong winds and severe thunderstorms.
A recent geography study by the University of Cincinnati found that hot temperatures are a better predictor of western wildfires than other factors. The researchers identified other risk factors, including vegetation cover and proximity to roads and population centers, which can increase the likelihood of wildfires.
A study by Ohio State University found that customers left more negative remarks on comment cards on rainy days than dry days. The researchers linked this to bad moods, which were related to less positive views about the restaurants visited.
A new study from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution uses coral chemical data to reconstruct nearly three centuries of wind data, revealing that monsoon winds have indeed increased over the past centuries. This finding suggests that stronger winds may be becoming more common due to climate change.
A new study finds that Hurricane Maria's extreme rainfall was due to human-caused climate warming, making a storm of its magnitude nearly five times more likely to form now than during the 1950s. The research analyzed Puerto Rico's hurricane history and found that Maria produced the largest maximum daily rainfall of those 129 storms.
Researchers found that enhanced rainfall in the tropics preceded each heat wave in predictable patterns, linking tropical weather to Central California's hot weather. The study used data from 1979 to 2010 and linked heat waves to the Madden-Julian Oscillation, a large atmospheric circulation pattern.
Researchers from UC Davis and APEC Climate Center found a significant correlation between tropical rainfall and heat waves in Central California. The study analyzed data from 1979 to 2010 and identified a predictable pattern linking enhanced MJO activity in the Pacific and Indian Oceans to intense heat waves.
Researchers found evidence of coronal rain in smaller, previously overlooked magnetic loops on the Sun. The discovery links two solar mysteries: the anomalous heating of the corona and the source of the slow solar wind.
Researchers suggest regional emission control strategies based on acid rain and PM2.5 pollution levels to balance benefits and drawbacks of reduced ammonia emissions.
A new metric called the E2E evaluates the intensification of wet and dry spells under global warming, revealing significant increases in event-to-event hydrological intensification index with rising temperatures.
A recent study suggests that rapidly phasing out air pollution emissions can prevent approximately 3.6 million avoidable deaths each year, while also increasing rainfall in drought-prone regions and limiting global warming. The researchers found that removing fossil fuel-related and all anthropogenic emissions could achieve the 2°C tar...
Tropical Cyclone Joaninha generated heavy rainfall in the Southern Indian Ocean, with rates exceeding 0.75 inches per hour around its center. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission data used by NASA's IMERG provided a comprehensive analysis of the cyclone's precipitation patterns.
A Vanderbilt University team found a link between winter rainfall in northeast India and the Pacific Ocean's climate conditions, aiding in predicting dry season rainfall amounts. The discovery uses stalagmite records from Mawmluh Cave to understand past variability in the global climate system.
A new study finds that Hurricane Maria's damage to trees in Puerto Rico was unprecedented, with big, old trees suffering the worst. The study suggests that more frequent storms whipped up by a warming climate could permanently alter forests across the Atlantic tropics.
NASA's Aqua satellite provides critical infrared data on Tropical Cyclone Idai before its landfall, indicating cloud top temperatures as low as -63 degrees Fahrenheit. This suggests extremely strong storms with the potential to create severe thunderstorms and heavy rain in Mozambique.
Tropical Cyclone Idai is approaching the coast of Mozambique with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating powerful thunderstorms. NASA's Terra satellite captured infrared data showing Idai's eye is about 20 nautical miles wide, with maximum sustained winds near 103.6 mph.
A global study reveals that modern coal-fired power stations emit more ultrafine dust particles than road traffic, modifying and redistributing rainfall patterns on local to regional scales. This can lead to extreme weather events, including intense rain and dry conditions.
Global crop-growing regions will experience changes in rainfall patterns by 2040, even if Paris Agreement targets are met. Up to 14% of wheat and maize land will be drier while up to 31% will be wetter.
A new study finds that rain is becoming increasingly common over parts of the Greenland ice sheet, triggering sudden melting events. The researchers estimate that nearly a third of total runoff is initiated by rainfall, leading to more widespread future melting.
A new technique uses Liebig's Law to improve estimates of historical temperature and rainfall from tree rings. The method selects trees that were growing well, linking their growth to the climate they experienced, resulting in more precise measurements.
A new study found that giraffes living near human settlements have larger home ranges than those living far from towns, while areas with more rain have smaller home ranges. This suggests that humans are impacting giraffe habitat and forcing them to travel longer distances to access critical resources.
Researchers found seasonal variations in raindrop size distribution in East China, with summer having larger raindrops and higher mean rain rates. These findings have implications for microwave communication, radar, and satellite remote sensing, as well as numerical weather prediction models.
Tropical Cyclone Pola has shown strong storm characteristics, indicating a high risk of heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to strengthen and reach peak strength as a tropical storm on Feb. 27.
A recent study published in PNAS revealed that raindrop impact can transport rust spores using tornado-like air vortices, enabling long-distance pathogen spread. This discovery has significant implications for preventing disease spread in wheat crops and may inform new strategies for managing disease.
A study by Joep Schyns et al. estimates limits to green water availability due to limited annual rainfall, affecting global food and production systems. The analysis reveals that green water scarcity is a significant concern, particularly in regions with low rainfall.
New research reveals that regions with higher rainfall variability are more resilient to current and future climate disturbances. However, the Amazon's ability to cope with climate change is still uncertain due to ongoing forest clearance and policy issues.
NASA's Aqua satellite uses infrared analysis to track Tropical Cyclone Oma's strongest storms, finding cloud top temperatures as cold as -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is expected to weaken due to increased wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures.
Researchers reconstructed past rainfall patterns in south-east Queensland using preserved paper-bark tea tree leaves from North Stradbroke Island, finding a generally wet period around 5000-6000 years ago. The study suggests that the probability of a drought worse than the Millennium Drought may be as much as 10 times higher.
A new definition for the Northeast Indian Monsoon (NEM) season has been established using surface temperature analyses, identifying the average onset and demise dates as November 6 and March 13. This definition provides a more objective and reliable approach to monitoring the monsoon season, which is critical for millions of people in ...
Tropical Cyclone Funani's strongest rains wrapped around the center and extended northwest, with heaviest rainfall found around the center and a fragmented band of thunderstorms northwest. Rainfall rates reached up to 13 mm per hour, as the storm continued to move southeast towards Mauritius.
A new study reveals that sea snakes in dry regions rely on freshwater lenses formed on the ocean's surface to quench their thirst. Researchers found that only a portion of the captured snakes accepted the offered freshwater after rainfall began.
A new study published in GSA Today reveals that Hurricane Maria triggered more than 40,000 landslides in at least three-fourths of Puerto Rico's municipalities. The study assesses the factors contributing to these extreme events and aims to enhance landslide susceptibility analyses and risk management efforts.
Tropical Storm Funani is experiencing heavy rainfall southwest of its center, with rain falling at a rate of 1.2 inches per hour. The storm is rapidly strengthening and will intensify to 105 knots within two days before weakening.
Bats use rain noise as a salient informational cue to inform their decision making about emerging from roosts. This study shows that noise can be beneficial for animals, providing important information about their environment and when it's safe to hunt.
A new scale has been developed to characterize the strength and impacts of atmospheric rivers, which can deliver heavy precipitation to the Western United States. The scale assigns five categories to atmospheric rivers based on the amount of water vapor they carry and their duration in a given location.
A recent study found that early spring rainfall warms up thawing permafrost bogs in Alaska, promoting plant growth and increasing methane emissions. The team discovered a 30% increase in methane production compared to previous years, highlighting the sensitivity of these regions to thermal effects.
Researchers discovered a global pattern of extreme rainfall teleconnections linked to jetstreams, which could enhance weather forecasting and damage mitigation. The study's findings have practical relevance for improving predictions of extreme rainfall events.
Researchers have discovered global connections in extreme rainfall events, which could lead to better forecasts and more accurate climate models. By analyzing satellite data, the team found that extreme rainfall events are connected across the world through atmospheric patterns.
A new study from the American Geophysical Union confirms evidence of rainfall on Titan's north pole, providing insight into the moon's changing seasons. The findings suggest that sunlight reflecting off a wet surface likely resulted in the observed reflective feature.
Researchers tracked changes in river discharge, ocean stratification, and planktonic foraminifera oxygen isotopes to analyze past monsoon strength. Abnormally strong winter precipitation occurred around 4.5-4.3 thousand years ago, followed by a minimum at 4.1 thousand years ago.
Tropical Cyclone Kenanga is weakening due to dry air within the storm. The GPM satellite captured the storm's eye filling in and powerful storms south of its center producing heavy rainfall.
A team of researchers has successfully detected rain over the ocean using GNSS Reflectometry, a technique that measures sea surface roughness to infer precipitation. This innovation could provide unprecedented temporal resolution and spatial coverage for monitoring atmospheric precipitation.
Tropical Cyclone Kenanga generated powerful thunderstorms reaching high into the troposphere, resulting in extreme rainfall as confirmed by NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission. The heaviest rainfall was found in the storm's southeastern quadrant, with rates exceeding 161 mm per hour.
Seismic activity near Oroville Dam was related to reservoir discharge altering pressure on underlying rock fractures, causing them to open and close. The events occurred for decades prior to the dam's spillway failure and continued after it.
Tropical Cyclone Kenanga strengthened into a tropical storm over the Southern Indian Ocean, with rainfall rates reaching up to 119 mm/h. NASA's Aqua and GPM satellites captured detailed data on rainfall, temperature, and storm structure.
Research found that global water supplies are shrinking as soils dry out due to climate change, leading to drought-like conditions. Despite intense rain, large rivers are drying out, and urban flooding is becoming more common.
Tropical Cyclone Owen has intensified over the Gulf of Carpentaria, with NASA's GPM satellite detecting extremely heavy rainfall rates up to 97 mm/h in the Arafura Sea. The storm is expected to continue strengthening and potentially reach Category 4 intensity by Friday.
Researchers found that warmer winters mean more ice on the ground due to increased winter rain, posing challenges for Arctic wildlife and ecosystems. The formation of basal ice can kill plants and starve animals, while rain-on-snow events can lead to avalanches.
A new study reveals that regions worldwide are experiencing more extreme weather events, with heavy rainfall in North America and Europe, while Africa sees an increase in droughts. The study suggests that human-caused climate change is driving these changes, with significant impacts on people's livelihoods.
NASA's GPM mission provided detailed data on rainfall rates within Tropical Cyclone Owen's remnants as they approached the Queensland coast. The satellite's instruments revealed intense rainfall rates of over 32.4 mm/h and 52 mm/h in feeder bands, indicating a potentially intensified cyclone.
Heavy precipitation fell in California wildfire areas, causing evacuations and flash floods, with IMERG data showing rainfall totals between 6.3-9.4 inches in north central California.
Tropical Cyclone Owen formed in the Southern Pacific Ocean and produced heavy downpours, with rain rates reaching over 53 mm/hour near its center. The GPM satellite captured powerful storms on the eastern side of the cyclone, dropping rain at a rate of over 94 mm/hour
NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) data revealed that Tropical Storm Usagi dropped moderate to heavy rain along its path in Southeast Asia. The analysis showed the storm produced over 350 mm of rainfall in Vietnam, causing widespread flooding around Ho Chi Minh City.