Research on rainfall and the water cycle. Covers climate-driven precipitation, hurricanes and storms, moisture transport, and extreme-weather forecasting.
A powerful winter storm is expected to bring heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions to the Mid-Atlantic region. Snowfall totals may exceed 2 feet in some areas, including Baltimore and Washington D.C., with gusty winds and storm surge flooding also possible.
A historic blizzard is forecast for Washington, D.C., while states from Texas to Florida experience severe weather due to a developing winter storm. Severe weather, including hail and at least one reported tornado, has been observed along the Gulf Coast.
Tropical Cyclone Corentin developed with intense showers dropping rain at rates of over 71 mm/hour in strong storms. NASA's GPM mission provided a 3D view of the storm, revealing heights of 13 km (8 miles) in its feeder band.
Tropical Storm Alex formed in January 2016, becoming the earliest hurricane to do so since 1938. NASA analyzed storm data using AIRS, RapidScat, GPM, and Suomi NPP satellites, revealing strongest winds at 30 meters per second and rainfall rates decreasing significantly after declaration as a hurricane.
A study by James Cook University scientists found that lizards in environmentally variable areas can tolerate more fluctuations, leading to wider ranges. Climate change predictions are met with evidence of species adapting to extreme weather events.
NASA analyzed data from GPM core observatory and Suomi NPP satellite, discovering the hurricane had an eye forming with heavy rain falling at 84.5 mm per hour on its eastern side. The storm's convective storms reached heights of over 12 km, while its strongest feeder band wrapped around its eastern side.
The National Hurricane Center has been monitoring System 90L, a low-pressure center producing winds of over 52 knots (60 mph) and heavy rainfall rates up to 94 mm/h. The system's strongest winds were observed southwest and southeast of the low pressure center.
Tropical Cyclone Ula reached category four status with winds of 115 knots, but weakened to 50 knots by Jan. 12. NASA's GPM measured heavy rain falling at over 63.5 mm/h near the storm's eye.
NASA estimated rainfall over a 7-day period while analyzing satellite data from the Eastern Pacific Ocean, revealing extreme rain events affecting southern California. The analysis showed highest rainfall totals of over 4.5 inches in the eastern Pacific and 4 inches near Lake Tahoe.
The Headwaters Diversion system, built to protect agricultural lands from overflow and Ozark Plateau runoff, has increased peak flow of Mississippi River water and led to increased flooding. Climate scientists predict a continued pattern of extreme rainfall events, exacerbating the issue.
Tropical Cyclone Ula formed on Dec 30 and intensified with rain rates exceeding 83.6 mm per hour, generating rough surf and dangerous coastal conditions for Fiji and American Samoa.
NASA analyzed rainfall totals in Paraguay and found the highest amounts occurred northeast of Asuncion, with over 400 mm recorded in central and southern parts. The strong El Niño phenomenon is believed to be the cause of the heavy flooding, affecting over 150,000 people across Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The NASA GPM mission analyzed extreme weather in the US from December 2015, detecting heavy rainfall, tornado outbreaks, and record-breaking flooding. The analysis revealed a line of tornadic thunderstorms moving through the Midwest, generating two tornadoes and 14 deaths.
A massive low pressure system generated severe weather, including tornadoes, heavy rainfall, and snow, in the southwestern and central US. The storm system brought significant impacts, particularly to Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured temperature data on the storm's remnant low pressure area after it made landfall in Caraga / Manay, Davao Oriental. The remnant area is expected to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and isolated thunderstorms over several regions.
Typhoon Melor brought heavy rainfall to the Philippines, with northeastern Luzon experiencing over 771 mm of rain. The central region received nearly three feet of rain, surpassing initial estimates.
NASA used its Terra satellite to observe Melor after it weakened into a trough of low pressure. The storm spread moisture over Luzon, with light to moderate precipitation falling on the island.
Super Typhoon Melor dropped heavy rainfall on the Philippines in December 2015, with the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite capturing its intensity. The GPM data showed that the storm's eye wall was producing intense storms with precipitation rates of over 86 mm/hour.
The 2015 El Nino event is expected to bring more precipitation to California, with atmospheric rivers intensifying and potentially causing flooding. Meanwhile, the risk of wildfires in tropical regions increases due to reduced rainfall, which can exacerbate carbon dioxide buildup and air quality issues.
Tropical Depression Melor formed in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean close to Yap island, consolidating with powerful thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures exceeding -63F. The storm is expected to strengthen to 60 knots before landfall in the eastern Philippines on Dec. 14.
A new study found that tropical groundwater is replenished disproportionately from heavy rainfalls, making it a climate-resilient source of freshwater. The long-term viability of these resources relies on the replenishment of groundwater supplies.
Tropical cyclone Bohale's powerful thunderstorms were dropping rain at a rate of over 77 mm per hour near its center of circulation. A 3-D image created using GPM data showed the structure of precipitation within the storm, with thunderstorm tops reaching heights above 16.6 km.
The US Pacific Northwest experienced extreme rainfall from Dec. 2 to 9, 2015, with areas receiving over 160 mm of rain and the open waters of the Pacific Ocean seeing totals over 310 mm. This heavy moisture was attributed to atmospheric rivers originating in the Western Pacific Ocean.
A series of low-pressure areas pummelled the Pacific Northwest from Nov. 29 to Dec. 9, 2015, bringing heavy rain and snow to western Washington and northwestern Oregon. The National Weather Service described the event as a classic atmospheric river event with subtropical moisture and upper-level disturbances affecting the region.
Hurricane Sandra's rainfall was extensively studied using NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) data. The analysis showed that the hurricane produced over 700 mm of rainfall in an area northeast of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Tropical Cyclone Tuni lost its tropical characteristics and became extra-tropical as it moved southeast in the Southern Pacific Ocean. The storm's maximum sustained winds decreased from 60.4 mph to 40 mph, with heavy rain falling at a rate of over 1.4 inches per hour.
Tropical Storm Sandra is decoupling from its lower layer due to strong upper-level winds, resulting in a tight swirl of low clouds devoid of deep convection. This weakening trend is expected to produce 2-4 inches of rainfall across western Mexico, leading to life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
Hurricane Sandra, the latest major hurricane on record in the Eastern Pacific, is forecast to make landfall in Western Mexico. It is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 1-3 inches over Baja California Sur, with isolated amounts reaching up to 10 inches.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission found extreme rainfall rates of over 266 mm/h in Typhoon In-fa, driven by powerful convective thunderstorms. The satellite's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar instrument provided detailed insights into the storm's structure and intensity.
Tropical Storm Sandra strengthened to 35 knots with intense convective storms dropping rain at over 80 mm per hour. It is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by Nov. 25, with a well-suited environment for intensification due to warm ocean water and light vertical wind shear.
Typhoon In-fa intensified quickly from a tropical depression to a typhoon, maintaining tropical-storm force on Nov. 19. Rainfall data revealed powerful convective thunderstorms with rates over 74 mm/hour, while storm top heights reached up to 16.7 km.
A recent study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers reveals that long-term ocean warming significantly increased the risk of devastating floods in northeast Australia during the 2010/2011 event. The study found that warmer sea surface temperatures contributed to record-breaking rainfall and extreme weather conditions.
Heavy flooding in southeastern India has caused at least 70 reported deaths, with Chennai experiencing exceptionally high casualties. NASA's Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) data indicate rainfall totals of over 200mm in large areas of Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka.
NASA's GPM, RapidScat, and NOAA's GOES-East satellites observed former tropical cyclone Kate in the Northern Atlantic. The system exhibited intense storms with heavy rainfall and strong winds, peaking at category one hurricane strength on November 11, 2015.
Recent La Niña years have brought less-than-normal rainfall to Hawai'i, contrary to past trends. The shift in weather patterns has important implications for agriculture and water resource management.
A new study identifies 97 basins serving 2 billion people at risk of declining snowmelt due to warming, posing a critical threat to human water supplies. The most vulnerable regions include California, the Caucasus, and parts of Europe and Asia.
Cyclone Chapala brought over a year's worth of rain to south-central Yemen, while Cyclone Megh made landfall with much lighter rainfall totals. Despite weaker winds, Megh caused more damage and fatalities on Socatra.
A new study predicts that continued deforestation in the Amazon could lead to annual rainfall of less than drought years by 2050. Deforestation rates would need to revert back to pre-2004 levels to achieve this decline, according to researchers.
NASA is conducting a field campaign in the Pacific Northwest to verify rainfall and snowfall observations made by the Global Precipitation Measurement satellite mission. The region's frequent winter rain and snowfall make it an ideal location for studying precipitation patterns.
Tropical Cyclone Chapala recently dissipated over Yemen, but another storm is now forming in the Arabian Sea. NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission detected this new system with scattered light to moderate rainfall falling at a rate of 23.3 mm per hour.
Cyclone Chapala brought heavy rains and flooding to Yemen, with IMERG rainfall estimates showing totals of 5-15 inches in south central Yemen and coastal areas. The storm caused significant damage and loss of life, with at least 3 deaths and 200 injured reported.
Tropical Cyclone Chapala made history as the first land-falling tropical storm in 30 years of record-keeping. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 85 mph (140 kph) before rapidly weakening to 25 knots (28.7 mph/46.3 kph).
Cyclone Chapala is approaching landfall in central Yemen, with the GPM satellite analyzing heavy rain and wind speeds of up to 120mph. The storm is expected to weaken rapidly after landfall, dissipating by November 4.
NASA analyzed rainfall data from Tropical Cyclone Chapala in the Arabian Sea, revealing light to moderate precipitation near its center. The storm is forecast to strengthen into a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds expected to reach 140 knots.
NASA's RapidScat instrument captured windy conditions in the Mid-Atlantic region, fueled by remnant moisture from Hurricane Patricia and Gulf of Mexico moisture. The National Weather Service predicted widespread rainfall across the eastern third of the US, with heaviest amounts expected along the I-95 corridor.
NASA's RapidScat detected moderately high winds over a broad area in the Gulf of Mexico, with sustained winds near 40 mph/64 kph, just south of Louisiana. The hybrid system's cloud cover extended from Florida to Louisiana and into the Mid-Atlantic States.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission tracked rainfall within Storm Olaf, revealing high storm tops and sparse rain on the western side. The post-tropical cyclone weakened over cooler waters, eventually dissipating by October 28, 2015.
NASA's RapidScat instrument gathered wind speed and direction data on the storm's remnants over the western Gulf of Mexico. The data showed strongest sustained winds near 80.5 mph/129.6 kph north and west of the center, contributing to heavy rainfall and flash flooding in Texas and other Gulf Coast states.
RapidScat data revealed strong winds in the remnants of Typhoon Champi near Alaska, with wind speeds reaching up to 80.5 mph/129.6 kph. The storm's effects brought rain, gusty winds, and warmer than normal temperatures to the region.
Hurricane Patricia broke records as the strongest eastern North Pacific hurricane on record, with a minimum central pressure of 880 millibars and maximum sustained winds near 200 mph. The storm is expected to produce catastrophic impacts in southwestern Mexico, including life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
Tropical Storm Patricia produced lopsided heavy rains along the Mexican coast, with the western side receiving most of the moderate to heavy rainfall. The storm intensified into a hurricane on October 22, bringing warnings and watches for several states.
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that California will experience more frequent and severe droughts and floods due to the El Nino-Southern Oscillation. The researchers found that extreme weather events are likely to increase, with droughts potentially doubling and floods tripling by 2100.
Typhoon Koppu brought extreme heavy rainfall to the Philippines, causing deadly flooding and mudslides. The GPM satellite data showed most of Luzon received over 300mm of rain, with some areas reaching 760mm.
The Eastern Pacific Ocean's twentieth tropical depression of the season developed into Tropical Storm Patricia, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. The storm is forecast to approach the Mexican coast on Friday, bringing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
Typhoon Champi remained a powerful storm after passing over NASA's GPM satellite on October 21, 2015. The storm displayed a large eye with heavy rainfall and high winds near 86mph.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission (GPM) analyzed rainfall rates in Category 4 Hurricane Olaf, with rain falling at over 71.5 mm/hour in the eye wall and 56.8 mm/hour in scattered rain bands on the western side.
Typhoon Champi generated heavy rainfall with rain rates exceeding 114.8 mm/h due to GPM's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar. The storm's strongest winds were found in its northern quadrant, with winds reaching 89.4 mph.
Researchers at Princeton University found that intense rainfall leads to a decrease in tree growth and an increase in grass growth on the African savanna. This is because trees struggle to utilize excess water, while grasses can absorb it quickly, giving them a competitive advantage.
NASA's GPM satellite analyzed Koppu's intensifying storm system on October 15, revealing an eye forming near its center. Rainfall rates reached over 133 mm per hour in intense thunderstorms just southwest of the storm's center.
Research finds that climate variability played a significant role in the emergence, decline, and re-establishment of ancient agrarian states in Mexico and Peru. The study analyzed climate records from stalagmites and ice caps to understand how climate conditions influenced the growth and instability of these civilizations.