Research on rainfall and the water cycle. Covers climate-driven precipitation, hurricanes and storms, moisture transport, and extreme-weather forecasting.
NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission has estimated significant rainfall from the Pineapple Express in southwestern Oregon and northern California. The storms brought heavy rains, with parts of Arizona receiving moderate to heavy precipitation as well.
A new study by Vladimir Dinets of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville shows that broad-footed moles feed on the ground frequently during cool, wet nights with fog or rain. This nocturnal foraging behavior makes surface-active moles difficult to observe, and contradicts long-held assumptions about their fossorial lifestyle.
NASA used its Terra satellite to track the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Dineo, which generated heavy rainfall in southern Mozambique. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission captured detailed images of the storm's intense rain bands, revealing precipitation rates over 86 mm per hour.
A large storm system is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to southern California, with rainfall totals reaching up to 6 inches in coastal areas and 10 inches in mountain locations. A second storm system is also heading towards the east, bringing flash flood risks and rapid runoff to fire-scarred areas.
The NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured a night-time image of the ex-tropical cyclone, showing it had become elongated as it weakened. The storm is expected to continue weakening as it tracks further inland on February 16, bringing heavy rain and localized flooding to parts of South Africa.
Tropical Cyclone Dineo is centered just off the coast of Mozambique, with maximum sustained winds near 80.5 mph. The storm is expected to make landfall in southern Mozambique before weakening, according to NASA's satellite observations.
Tropical Cyclone Carlos was tracked by NASA as it moved between Madagascar and La Reunion Island in the Southern Indian Ocean, revealing a concentrated storm with heavy rainfall rates up to 120 mm per hour. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 51.7 mph, with a predicted intensification due to decreasing vertical wind shear.
Tropical Cyclone Carlos formed north of La Reunion Island in February 2017, bringing heavy rain and towering storms to the area. NASA's GPM satellite collected data on the storm's structure and precipitation rate, showing intense feeder bands with rainfall rates over 100 mm per hour.
Researchers found that the lake was six times larger and water levels were 60 meters higher than present during the early and middle Holocene period. The shifting monsoon likely altered the course of early human cultures in China, leading to changes in ecosystems and population dynamics.
Researchers from IUPUI reconstructed 2,100 years of temperature and precipitation data, pointing to climate change as a primary cause of the disappearance of the Mississippians. The study found that drought conditions due to changed atmospheric circulation undermined agricultural production, leading to the destabilization of sociopolit...
Rainfall totals of close to 300 mm were estimated along Australia's northwest coast using NASA's IMERG product. The analysis was conducted on the remnant low pressure area that formed from Tropical Cyclone 03S, which moved into the Indian Ocean on January 27, 2017.
Researchers analyze how ancient South Asian population coped with changing environmental conditions using lake records and speleothem data. They found that the civilization developed in a diverse environment where water was critical for survival, and its populations were well-adapted to varying climate conditions before urbanization.
NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) estimated record-breaking rainfall totals over the western United States from January 17 to 24, 2017. Rainfall of almost 4 inches in one day was reported in Long Beach, California, causing flooding and mudslides.
A team of mathematicians from the University of Averio combined past and future operators to create a new theory for fractional calculus, which can predict how variables change and react. This breakthrough has implications for various technologies and applications, including information exchange and automation.
Scientists have uncovered a continuous record of the Green Sahara period's rainfall patterns, revealing that the region was 10 times wetter than today. This discovery provides critical climate context for understanding human migration and lifestyle changes during this period.
New research predicts a 11.3-30% intensification of rainfall from extreme precipitation events in Australia with a 2°C rise in global temperatures. This will occur despite some areas becoming increasingly drought-prone, highlighting the need for infrastructure adaptation to extreme rainfall events.
NASA used its Global Precipitation Measurement mission to analyze heavy rainfall in southern Thailand, which resulted in record-breaking totals. The analysis showed extreme rainfall of over 700 mm over the Gulf of Thailand and greater than 500 mm on land., Rainfall has increased significantly over Thailand during this La Nina year.
NASA's TRMM-based Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis reveals higher-than-average precipitation in California due to the Pineapple Express, causing widespread flooding and mudslides. The atmospheric river event has brought much-needed relief but also poses significant challenges.
A recent NASA study found a significant correlation between wildfires and drought in northern sub-Saharan Africa. The research, led by Charles Ichoku, used satellite records to analyze the impact of fires on water cycle indicators, revealing that burning suppresses precipitation in the region.
A recent study found that changing rainfall patterns are the key driver of changes in groundwater storage in India, rather than pumping. Groundwater withdrawals have increased tenfold since the 1950s, but variability in monsoons is the main factor driving changes in groundwater levels.
New University of Washington research reveals that rapid Arctic warming events cause a shift in Southern Hemisphere winds, which can impact global rainfall patterns and climate feedbacks. The study uses chemical clues from an Antarctic ice core to support the findings.
Tropical Depression 01W formed near Mindanao on January 8, 2017, and quickly weakened due to wind shear. The depression moved west through Mindanao towards the South China Sea, bringing moderate to heavy rains and rough seas to the region.
Severe thunderstorms spawned tornadoes and generated flooding rainfall over the Southeast, with up to a foot of rain falling in five days. At least 13 deaths were blamed on the violent weather, according to NASA's Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) program.
A new study by University of Iowa engineers finds that flood risk is growing in the northern US and declining in the southern half, due to shifting rainfall patterns and groundwater levels. The research suggests regional variations can be attributed to changes in rainfall and climate change.
Typhoon Nock-ten generated significant rainfall in the Philippines and South China Sea. The NASA GPM mission provided estimated rainfall totals of up to 350 mm, highlighting the storm's intense precipitation.
Tropical Storm Nock-ten, also known as Nina, is intensifying before making landfall in the Philippines. NASA's Suomi NPP satellite captured strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall predictions.
Tropical Cyclone Yvette's center of circulation has seen an increase in continuous rainfall area, with convective storms dropping rain at rates over 60 mm per hour. The storm's maximum sustained winds have reached up to 52 mph, with forecast predictions indicating landfall on Christmas Day.
Tropical Cyclone Yvette formed in the Indian Ocean with intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall rates of over 127 mm per hour. The GPM satellite revealed the 3D structure of precipitation in storms near the center of circulation, with some storm tops reaching altitudes above 17 km.
A recent review by Renguang Wu examines the relationship between Indian and East Asian summer monsoons, highlighting a weakening of historically strong correlations. The study focuses on two pathways connecting Indian summer monsoon anomalies to East Asian rainfall fluctuations.
Tropical Cyclone Vardah produced heavy rainfall in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, with estimated totals ranging from 300-500 mm. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission detected intense storms with rainfall rates exceeding 101 mm/h, indicating a lifetime of heavy precipitation.
A new, fully-automated rainout shelter has been developed to enable precise testing of crop varieties for their tolerances to water stress. The shelters use a portable solar power system and customizable features like rain sensors and surveillance cameras.
NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission provided detailed images of Tropical Cyclone Vardah's cloud cover and heavy rainfall rates before it made landfall. The storm weakened to a remnant low pressure area over southern India, bringing heavy rainfall warnings for affected regions.
Research highlights the role of oceans in climate variability and how year-to-year weather variations are impacted by anthropogenic factors. The study suggests that reduced predictability will hinder seasonal weather forecasts, affecting agriculture and energy sectors.
NASA's Suomi NPP satellite captures a visible-light image of the storm, showing bands of thunderstorms around its low-level center. Tropical Cyclone Vardah brought hurricane-strength winds of 86.3 mph to areas in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Tropical Cyclone Vardah is moving west-northwest across the Bay of Bengal, threatening eastern India. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached 52 mph with gusty winds and rainfall affecting the Andaman Islands.
A new study finds that extreme precipitation events could increase across the US due to climate change. The research suggests that summertime storms producing extreme downpours may increase by as much as 400 percent, leading to more frequent and intense flash floods.
Research identifies mesoscale convective systems as primary cause of increased heavy rainfall in the region. The study found a significant increase in the frequency and duration of these storms over the past 35 years.
The GPM core satellite gathered data on severe storms that impacted the southeastern US, resulting in at least seven fatalities and significant damage. The storms, which included tornadoes, hail, and heavy downpours, affected several states, including Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee.
Recent studies investigated two local heavy rainfall events in Beijing Metropolitan Region, revealing that cold pool outflows and urban surface played key roles. The development of convective storms was facilitated by a favorable convergence zone near the border of northwestward-concaved valleys and urban surfaces.
Research in southern China reveals a relationship between tropical cyclones and summer monsoons, impacting regional rainfall patterns. The study separates total rainfall into cyclone- and monsoon-induced components to better understand the variability of summer rainfall in the region.
Researchers have found a strong association between El Niáo-Southern Oscillation conditions and observed weather in Sri Lanka, leading to exacerbated dengue epidemics. The study used the Oceanic Niño Index to quantify data associations and found an increasing relative risk of dengue with increasing rainfall and temperatures.
Heavy rainfall over Hispaniola led to widespread flooding in the northern Dominican Republic, with rainfall totals exceeding 230 mm. NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) data revealed the extent of the flooding, which was caused by slow-moving frontal systems and a tropical wave.
Researchers have developed a formula to understand where quantum objects land when transmitted, offering insights for controlling open quantum systems. The formula suggests that 'rain gutters' and 'gates' can be engineered to manipulate quantum objects, either after they land or during their flow.
Researchers discovered that cholera follows distinct outbreak patterns in different climate subzones of Cameroon, with varying relationships between rainfall, temperature, and disease transmission. Locally targeted interventions are necessary to control the spread of the disease, according to the study's findings.
A new study challenges the understanding of subtropical rainfall decline in response to increased greenhouse gases. Researchers found that land will warm faster than oceans, leading to less severe impacts on people living in these regions.
Tropical Storm Tina rapidly formed and weakened off Mexico's southwestern coast, with maximum sustained winds decreasing from 40 to 35 mph by Nov. 14.
Tropical cyclones have formed frequently in the Western Pacific since July 2016, with 36 named storms emerging in under five months. NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement mission observed Tropical Depression Ma-on forming on November 10, 2016, with heavy showers and strong convective storms.
A recent study used a convective-permitting ensemble forecast system to evaluate the extreme rainfall event on July 21, 2012, in Beijing. The results showed that some members of the ensemble forecasting system captured the extreme prediction reasonably well, including the timing and location of extreme precipitation.
A comprehensive study of Australian natural hazards finds increasing heatwaves and extreme bushfires, but uncertain projections for storms and rainfall. Temperature-related hazards are projected to become more extreme, while others may see increased frequency or intensity, with complex interlinkages between climate extremes.
D.J. Seo and his team aim to enhance National Weather Service rainfall maps for heavy-to-extreme events, benefiting emergency managers, water managers, and the public.
A study published in Nature reveals that atmospheric aerosols above the Amazon rainforest originate from nanoparticles formed in the upper atmosphere. These particles are transported to the ground by clouds and rain, forming new populations of aerosol particles that act as cloud condensation nuclei.
Hurricane Seymour became a major hurricane on Oct. 25, with heavy rainfall and a 3-D image of its structure provided by the Global Precipitation Measurement mission. The storm is moving toward the west-northwest at 15 mph, with expected weakening and rapid decline in forward speed.
A new study has found that features in animal teeth can detect unfavourable weather conditions, such as long dry periods or heavy rains. This method, known as reverse engineering, allows researchers to infer annual rainfall and average temperatures from fossil records, providing valuable information about past environmental conditions.
Researchers from DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory tracked particles in the Amazon rainforest, studying how natural particles form clouds. In the absence of industrial emissions, particles are carried down by rainfall and condense into nuclei for cloud formation.
A team of researchers, including a Pitt University expert, analyzed core samples from Lake Malawi to find that the continent has experienced a 100,000-year cycle of wet and dry conditions, contrary to previous studies that suggested it was drying. The findings shed new light on human evolutionary theory and the savannah hypothesis.
Typhoons Sarika and Haima brought extraordinary rainfall to the northern Philippines, with over 500mm of rain recorded by NASA's IMERG data. The storms also generated heavy winds and flooding, causing power outages and mudslides.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission captured heavy rainfall rates within Hurricane Nicole's eye, with strong storms dropping rain at a rate of over 113 mm per hour. The satellite also analyzed the storm's top heights, finding powerful storms reaching only about 12 km in height.
Hurricane Matthew's heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding and deaths in North Carolina, with rivers still rising on Oct. 12. The NASA rainfall analysis used IMERG data to estimate the storm's total rainfall, which was over 20 inches in some areas.
A new study from Cardiff University found that climate change is unlikely to increase landslide frequency in storm-affected areas, despite projected increases in rainstorms. The research challenges current theories and highlights the importance of soil accumulation on steep hillslopes in triggering landslides.
Hurricane Matthew made landfall in western Haiti on October 4, with NASA tracking its movements and intensity. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached near 145 mph, making it a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.