Research on rainfall and the water cycle. Covers climate-driven precipitation, hurricanes and storms, moisture transport, and extreme-weather forecasting.
Researchers found that the optimal amount of rainfall for plant productivity lies in an intermediate climate, where plants can use slightly more moisture than usual. This 'mesic maximum' range is crucial for maintaining ecosystem health and agricultural systems under projected climate change conditions.
NASA's GPM mission observed remnants of Tropical Cyclone Ockhi reaching the Indian coast with heavy rainfall exceeding 101.6 mm per hour. The storms' displacement indicates strong vertical wind shear, pushing them away from the center.
Tropical Cyclone Ockhi was found to produce very heavy rainfall, with storms northwest of the eye dropping precipitation at rates over 60 mm/hour. The storm's vertical wind shear caused it to weaken, leading to a final landfall near the Gulf of Khambhat on Dec. 6.
Tropical Depression Dahlia's center was found to be devoid of rainfall by NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission. The storm was weakening and moving south at 10 knots, with cooler sea surface temperatures and wind shear expected to lead to its dissipation.
The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission observed heavy rainfall around Tropical Cyclone Dahlia, creating landslide potential in southern Java. The satellite data revealed storm tops stretching to 12 km high, indicating strong precipitation rates.
A new study suggests that understanding rainfall patterns is key to effectively addressing food insecurity among smallholder farms in Africa and Asia. Financial supports, such as cash or loans, were more frequently correlated with improved food security for drier farms, while agricultural inputs and practices were more effective for we...
Heavy downpours caused schools and universities to close in Jeddah, with GPM's radar measuring precipitation at rates of over 115.5 mm/h and 90 mm/h. A 3-D view of the storms was created using data from NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement Mission.
Two storm systems were visible on satellite imagery, one in the Pacific Northwest and another in the northeastern U.S. Heavy rain and snow are expected for pre-Thanksgiving travelers in these regions. Additionally, a cold front is exiting the East Coast, bringing cooler temperatures to the eastern U.S.
A new study found that heavy rainfall can indicate upcoming outbreaks of mosquito-borne viruses Zika and Chikungunya. The researchers developed a framework to predict where and when future outbreaks will occur, enabling municipalities to prepare measures to limit the spread of diseases.
A new study reveals that slight climate shifts can significantly affect the optimal water use of plant communities, with potential consequences for forests, grasslands, and deserts. The research uses a model to predict how rainfall is shared among plants, humans, and other factors in a changing climate.
New research from the University of Birmingham suggests that rapid global warming could result in more extreme rainfall and flood events. The study found a four-fold increase in sediment delivery from land to the deep ocean during a 56 million-year-old event, likely caused by increased rainfall intensity.
GPM data shows storms from Haikui's remnants containing light to moderate precipitation, with some areas dropping rain at over 23 mm per hour. Heavier precipitation was also detected in southern Vietnam, exceeding 79 mm per hour in downpours not associated with Haikui.
A new MIT study finds that Texas will face a significant increase in the annual risk of extreme rainfall, rising from 1% to 18% by the end of the century. This rise is attributed to climate change, which is expected to shift the odds in terms of high-intensity storms around the world.
A recent study published in Nature Communications found that northern high-latitude cooling played a key role in triggering the rapid termination of the African Humid Period around 5500 years ago. This period was characterized by significant rainfall, but its sudden end led to aridification in the region.
NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals (IMERG) analysis indicates Tropical Storm Damrey caused deadly flooding in Vietnam with over 580 mm of rain reported near the coast. The IMERG data also shows that the heaviest rainfall was in south central Vietnam, where more than 500 mm of rain was common.
A severe weather event on Nov. 5 was analyzed by NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission, revealing the location of strongest storms and predicting heavy rain. At least nine tornadoes were reported in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, causing widespread power outages and injuries.
The NASA GPM satellite collected detailed data on the storm's distribution and intensity of precipitation, revealing intense rain rates over 2 inches per hour. The storm's freezing level and wind gusts were also mapped, indicating heights of up to 5.6 miles and winds greater than 70 mph.
Tropical Depression 18 strengthened into Tropical Storm Philippe, located off Florida's east coast on Oct. 29, according to NASA's Aqua satellite analysis. The storm's cold cloud tops indicate very heavy rainfall potential.
Tropical Storm Selma has high potential for heavy rainfall due to very cold cloud top temperatures, posing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. The storm is expected to make landfall in western El Salvador on Saturday night, October 28.
Tropical Storm Saola is being affected by vertical wind shear and displaying powerful convective storms with rainfall rates exceeding 252 mm/h. The storm's height was measured to be above 17.5 km, indicating intense thunderstorms.
Typhoon Lan caused extreme flooding, landslides, and seven deaths when it hit Japan. NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission analyzed the storm and found rain totals of up to 800 mm (31.5 inches) in parts of Honshu.
A team of FSU scientists outlines a methodology that uses rainfall rates to mark the span of the Indian Summer Monsoon. The new system has been shown to capture ISM evolution comprehensively, enabling easy real-time monitoring.
Typhoon Lan's powerful thunderstorms are stretching high into the troposphere, fueled by extremely warm ocean waters. The storm is expected to continue intensifying as it moves toward higher latitudes, potentially becoming a powerful typhoon with winds of up to 127mph.
NASA's Suomi NPP satellite provided detailed thermal and precipitation data on Hurricane Ophelia, showing extreme heavy rainfall rates of over 8.4 inches per hour. The hurricane was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone but expected to bring hurricane-force winds to Northern Ireland.
Researchers found that extreme methane rainstorms occur frequently on Titan, creating massive floods in deserts and shaping the moon's surface. The storms are correlated with the formation of alluvial fans, similar to those on Earth.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission found Ophelia's heaviest rainfall south of the center, with rain falling at a rate of almost 3.2 inches per hour. The storm strengthened into a hurricane on Oct. 11, with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph and higher gusts.
Researchers analyzed 50 years of rainfall data in a semi-arid drainage basin in Arizona, finding a decline in heavy rainfall events despite increased total rainfall. A new model simulates convective rainfall and shows less runoff from dryland basins under climate change.
Researchers created a model, STORM, to simulate watershed rainfall under various climate change scenarios. They found that while overall rainfall is increasing, individual storms are becoming less intense and delivering less water, leading to declining runoff and affecting regional water resources. This study provides insights into the...
A new study by Princeton University researchers reveals that the North American monsoon is facing a dramatic reduction in precipitation, with significant implications for regional water resources and hazards. The study corrects for sea surface temperature biases and suggests that the region's famous thunderstorms may become less common.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured thermal images of cloud top temperatures from Post-tropical cyclone Nate, revealing coldest temperatures in storms over the Mid-Atlantic States. The storm brought moderate to heavy rainfall to the central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic regions.
NASA's Aqua and Suomi NPP satellites analyzed cloud top temperatures in Hurricane Nate, revealing the strongest storms were near the center of the tropical cyclone. Temperatures as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit indicate strong thunderstorms capable of heavy rain.
Tropical Storm Nate is forecasted to produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides across a wide area of Central America. The storm's center is expected to move across the northwestern Caribbean Sea, reaching the eastern coast of Mexico before moving into the southern Gulf of Mexico.
Heavy rainfall is expected to occur over a wide area, including locations well away from the center, along the Pacific coast of Central America. The tropical cyclone is forecast to strengthen as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening coastal areas from Louisiana through the Florida panhandle.
Tropical Depression 16 developed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on Oct. 4, according to NASA imagery from Terra and Aqua satellites. The depression is forecast to bring heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash floods to parts of Nicaragua, with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph.
A University of Oklahoma research team led by Elinor Martin will apply statistical and artificial intelligence methods to predict heavy rainfall events. The team aims to improve forecasting and increase communication between researchers, forecasters, and stakeholders to enhance societal resilience to extended periods of heavy rainfall.
A team led by Professor Steven Rutledge will test the SEA-POL radar in the intertropical convergence zone near the Equator. The radar uses dual polarization technology to measure ocean rainfall and collect detailed information about clouds.
A study by Ruhr-University Bochum found that gamers excelled in a learning competition against non-gamers, particularly in situations with high uncertainties. This advantage is linked to increased brain activity in the hippocampus, a key region for learning and memory.
Hurricane Maria appears asymmetric due to vertical wind shear, with eastern clouds receiving more precipitation than the western side. GPM radar data shows light rain showers around the eye, but stronger storms are located northeast of the center.
Tropical Storm Pilar formed off Mexico's coast on September 23 and continued to make landfall as a tropical depression. NASA's satellite imagery captured the storm's strong thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures, indicating potential for heavy rainfall and flooding in affected areas.
The Suomi NPP satellite analyzed Hurricane Maria in visible and infrared light, revealing intense rainfall bands with rates of over 6.57 inches per hour. The satellite's data helped forecasters predict storm track and strengthen, with Maria expected to become a tropical storm by Tuesday night.
Post-Tropical Cyclone Jose is continuing to weaken off the New England coast, with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph. The storm's slow southeastward drift will impact Bermuda and the US east coast, causing dangerous surf and rip current conditions.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite provided a thermal image of Hurricane Maria, revealing the strongest sides of the storm. The National Weather Service reported heavy rain causing flooding in eastern Puerto Rico, with flood warnings issued until 5:45 p.m. EDT.
Fires have broken out in areas previously burned by previous fires, highlighting the ongoing risk of wildfires in Australia. Heavy rainfall and overgrowth have created fire conditions that can spread quickly, putting new areas at risk.
NASA used a fleet of satellites to measure Hurricane Maria's rainfall, estimating totals greater than 10 inches (254 mm) along its track. The storm caused catastrophic flooding in Puerto Rico, with extreme flooding reported in San Juan and the capital city.
Scientists found that mid-latitude circulation anomalies led to a negative YRV rainfall anomaly in August 2016, opposite to the strong positive anomaly in 1998. These anomalies resulted from the 'Silk Road Pattern' and increased anticyclonic circulation over East Asia.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission found extreme storms within Hurricane Maria's feeder bands were dropping rain at an hourly rate of greater than 5.4 inches. The hurricane made landfall on Sept. 20 near Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, with maximum sustained winds reported to be 149.5 mph.
Hurricane Jose is slowly moving northward off the U.S. East Coast, producing dangerous surf and rip currents along the coast of North Carolina and Long Island. The storm's movement and strength are being closely monitored by NASA's GPM satellite and NOAA's GOES East satellites.
Hurricane Maria strengthened to a Category 5 storm due to rapid updrafts in the eyewall, creating a tall thunderstorm cell known as a 'hot tower.' The NASA GPM satellite provided 3-D imagery of the storm, while the Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures indicating strong storms capable of heavy rain.
Tropical Depression Norma has a smaller area of strong storms, with cloud top temperatures as cold as -63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating potential for heavy rainfall. The depression is weakening and expected to degenerate into a remnant low on Wednesday, moving westward towards Mexico.
Researchers analyzed over five decades of data to find that changes in non-extreme precipitation are more significant than previously realized. The study highlights the importance of examining precipitation in a nuanced way, as even small changes can have a substantial impact on ecosystems and resource management.
Researchers analyzed over five decades of precipitation data from North America to find that changes in nonextreme precipitation are more significant than previously realized and larger than those in extreme precipitation. These changes can have a strong effect on ecosystems, agriculture, infrastructure design and resource management.
Hurricane Jose is producing dangerous surf and rip currents along the US east coast, with Tropical Storm Warnings and Watches in effect for several states. Satellite imagery shows the storm's asymmetric cloud pattern, indicating it is losing some tropical characteristics.
Tropical Storm Norma is bringing rough ocean conditions and rain to Baja California, Mexico. The National Hurricane Center warns of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions due to the storm's proximity to the coast.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured Hurricane Max making landfall and quickly weakening, with the storm degenerating into a large area of low pressure. The coldest cloud tops were found around the center of circulation and over the coast of Guerrero state, indicating storms that reached high into the troposphere and generated heavy rain.
Typhoon Talim's large eye was a distinctive feature in NASA's 3D image, showing intense rainfall on the western side and weaker rain to the east. Wind shear has pushed the upper-level eye northwest of the lower-level eye, with strongest storms on the western side.
The NASA-NOAA satellite captured images of Hurricane Irma's remnant clouds and rains covering a quarter of the continental US. The satellite data showed the extent of the storm's impact, with moderate to locally heavy rain expected in the Mid-South and Southeast regions.
Typhoon Talim produces heavy precipitation in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with storms dropping rain at rates of over 76 mm/hour and 120 mm/hour. The typhoon is expected to intensify as it moves towards Japan, with winds forecast to reach 115 knots.
Hurricane Jose is experiencing vertical wind shear, weakening its circulation and causing asymmetry in its clouds. The strongest rainfall is occurring southeast of the center, with rates near 50 mm per hour.
Irma dropped extremely heavy rain, up to 20 inches, across Cuba and Florida, causing severe flooding. The post-tropical cyclone weakened over Georgia, but its remnants produced additional 1-3 inch rain accumulations across the southeastern US.
A Rice University and Texas A&M-Galveston study found that FEMA's 100-year flood plain maps failed to capture 75 percent of flood damages from five serious floods. The research suggests that innovative computational tools can build more predictive maps, improving flood risk assessments.