Research on rainfall and the water cycle. Covers climate-driven precipitation, hurricanes and storms, moisture transport, and extreme-weather forecasting.
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.
Tropical Storm Koppu was analyzed by NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, which identified areas of intense thunderstorms dropping rain at over 88 mm/hour. The storm's energy release fueled potential intensification.
Tropical Depression Twenty Five formed east of Guam on October 13, with GPM detecting moderate to heavy rainfall. The depression strengthened into a tropical storm, Tropical Storm Champi, on October 14, forecasted to peak in intensity near 110 knots.
The Horn of Africa is becoming increasingly arid due to global warming, threatening the region's agriculture and exacerbating tensions. Researchers have found a 2,000-year trend of drying in the region, which contradicts predictions that it will become wetter.
The remnants of former Hurricane Oho are bringing strong southeasterly winds, damaging gusts, and heavy rain to western Canada and Washington state. Weather alerts have been issued for areas such as British Columbia, Haida Gwaii, and western Washington.
Scientists developed a new method to analyze air pressure data from thousands of measurements, revealing key gateways for teleconnections between climate changes. The East Pacific, Indonesia, and tropical Atlantic are most important regions, where air masses play a crucial role in transmitting perturbations.
Typhoon Choi-Wan showed strong thunderstorms with altitudes of up to 18.5 km, as revealed by NASA's GPM satellite. The storm was weakening but still dropping rain at rates over 66 mm/hour.
NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites captured infrared data on October 5, revealing powerful thunderstorms with cold cloud tops near Hurricane Joaquin. The storm maintained its comma shape as it brought heavy rains and strong winds to Bermuda.
Researchers at University of Bristol have discovered a new type of plant movement that uses falling raindrops to drive its trapping mechanism, outperforming the Venus flytrap. The pitcher plant's lid pivots up and down like a springboard, flinging ants into the trap with peak velocities similar to a jumping locust.
Major volcanic eruptions can trigger reduced river flow in tropical and northern Asia regions, including Amazon, Congo, and Nile, researchers found. The study also reveals increased flow in sub-tropical regions like the south-west US and parts of South America.
NASA satellites tracked Hurricane Joaquin's internal precipitation structure and heavy rainfall patterns, providing valuable data for forecasters. The storm reached Category 3 status on October 1, with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph and a minimum central pressure of 942 millibars.
Hurricane Joaquin strengthened into a hurricane after NASA satellites gathered data on its heavy rainfall and cloud height. The Global Precipitation Measurement satellite captured images of the storm's intense rain and convective towers, indicating its potential for intensification.
Typhoon Dujuan brought extreme rainfall to Taiwan, with heaviest totals over 275 mm along the coast south of landfall. The typhoon caused hundreds of injuries and at least three deaths in Taiwan.
NASA's Aqua satellite tracked Tropical Depression Marty over southwestern Mexico's coast as it slowly left the area. The storm still maintained a circular appearance despite weakening, bringing heavy rain and ocean swells that could produce life-threatening flash floods.
Tropical Storm Marty is being closely monitored by NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, which has detected substantial areas of rain on the eastern half of the storm. Heavy rainfall is expected to be a major threat to residents in western Mexico, with estimated amounts ranging from 2-12 inches.
Tropical Storm Joaquin formed in the western Atlantic on September 28, fueled by rain rates of up to 60 mm/hr. The storm is expected to strengthen over the next two days as it moves northward ahead of an upper-level trough.
Tropical Storm Marty is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds along the Mexican west coast, posing a threat of flooding and mudslides. The storm's maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph, with higher gusts and estimated central pressure at 990 millibars.
GPM measured rainfall rates at 122 mm/h, revealing intense rain showers and storm tops reaching 15 km. The tropical depression turned northwest late on September 25, with expected weakening over the next two days.
Tropical Storm Ida's wind shear is pushing clouds and strongest storms to the east and northeast of its center, with coldest cloud tops reaching -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm remains over open ocean, with forecasters predicting a slow eastward motion followed by a turn towards the north later on September 24.
New research shows clear signs of global warming appeared in the tropics as early as the 1960s, but in parts of Australia and Africa as far back as the 1940s. The study's findings closely match observational datasets used by the IPCC, indicating a growing trend in increasing temperatures.
The remnants of Tropical Depression 16E have moved over the U.S. Southwest, bringing light to moderate rain and flash flood watches in Arizona and New Mexico.
Tropical Storm Malia was on a northwesterly track, moving away from the Hawaiian Islands on Sept. 22. Satellite imagery showed a span of 250 nautical miles between the storm's center and strongest thunderstorms.
Tropical Depression 16E made landfall in northwestern Mexico on September 21, bringing heavy rainfall and threatening life-threatening flash floods. The depression is expected to produce 3-5 inches of rain across the northern Baja California peninsula and Sonora, with isolated amounts of up to 12 inches possible.
The GPM mission satellite detected extremely high-altitude thunderstorms and heavy rainfall within Tropical Storm Ida. The storm's powerful convective storms reached altitudes above 17 km, indicating potential intensification.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission core satellite collected data on TD9's rainfall, revealing intense rain rates of 58.2 mm/hour and towering thunderstorms up to 14.9 km high. Tropical Depression Nine is expected to degenerate into a remnant low pressure area by Saturday, September 19.
Tropical Storm Vamco brought extreme rainfall to central Vietnam and Laos, resulting in flash floods and landslides. The NASA GPM mission measured over 220 mm of rainfall along the storm's path, highlighting the importance of monitoring heavy precipitation events.
A new study finds India's monsoonal rainfall is 12% below average due to El Niño and La Niña fluctuations. Asteroids cause fractures up to 25 kilometers below the moon's surface, according to a Geophysical Research Letters study. Scientists will use a community fleet of drones for Earth monitoring
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters has identified changes in the shape of rainfall across Europe, making it challenging to determine local climate change. In Scotland, researchers found that heavy rainfall days have increased by over 50%, leading to more intense rain events.
Twin tropical cyclones brought catastrophic rainfall to Japan, causing widespread flooding, landslides, and over one million evacuations. NASA's GPM Core satellite provided critical rainfall data, showing Honshu received over 100mm of rain, with extraordinary totals near the south-central coast.
Tropical Storm Etau drenched central Japan with intense rainfall, with GPM satellite measurements showing up to 88 mm/h rain rates. The storm's remnants are expected to transition northwestward off the Japanese coast.
Tropical storm Grace has weakened to a depression in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean after just three days of formation. NASA's GPM satellite found only scattered areas of light rain in the system.
Hurricane Jimena's eyewall is eroding due to decreased rainfall rates observed by NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) core satellite. The storm weakened from a Category 4 to an estimated 110 mph maximum sustained winds, with hazardous surf expected along east-facing shores of the main Hawaiian Islands.
Researchers have found that a 12,000-year-old climate shift in northern latitudes occurred rapidly, while equatorial regions took hundreds of years to respond. This discovery can help scientists understand the relationship between temperature and precipitation in the face of climate change.
GPM captured Hurricane Jimena's intense eyewall, with the heaviest rainfall occurring on its northern and eastern sides. The storm maintained a strong system despite an eroded southern half of the eyewall.
Hurricane Jimena is classified as a category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds near 130 mph. The Global Precipitation Measurement satellite detected a double eye-wall structure with evidence of erosion, indicating decay and weakening of the storm's inner eyewall.
Hurricane Ignacio is being affected by wind shear, weakening the storm. Infrared satellite data shows that southwesterly wind shear is pushing thunderstorms to the northeast, causing a 'warmer banding feature' across the western and northern semicircles.
NASA's GPM mission detected intense rainfall near the center of Hurricane Fred on August 30, suggesting rapid intensification. The storm's 'hot towers' reached heights of up to 10 miles, releasing latent heat and fueling its growth into a hurricane.
NASA's GOES-East satellite tracked Tropical Storm Erika's movement from August 27 to August 29, showing its weakening as it passed through the Leeward Islands and into the Eastern Caribbean Sea. The storm's remnants are expected to produce heavy rainfall across portions of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and eastern Cuba through Sunday.
Tropical Storm Erika was centered in the Eastern Caribbean Sea, affecting Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. The storm produced total rainfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches with maximum amounts of 10 inches possible across portions of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Heavy rainfall from Hurricane Ignacio was measured by NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) core satellite on August 27, with rates reaching over 60 mm per hour south of the eye. The storm is expected to slowly strengthen through late Saturday and peak at 110 mph on August 29.
Tropical Storm Kilo displays a giant comma shape in infrared imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite, indicating powerful thunderstorms with heavy rainfall potential. The storm is forecasted to strengthen and become a hurricane over the next couple of days.
Tropical Storm Kilo has bands of thunderstorms wrapped more than halfway around the system, affecting Johnston Island and expected to bring 5-10 inches of rainfall. Sea surface temperatures are near 29C, promoting strengthening and potential hurricane formation after passing the island.
The GPM satellite captured intense rainfall rates of up to 52.8 mm per hour, with embedded convection necessary for storm strengthening, but displaced due to wind shear. The storm's low-level center was located northwest of the rain field, hindering intensification.
Tropical Storm Ignacio strengthened to a storm with heavy rain rates of over 74 mm per hour, posing no threat to land areas. Its westward motion is expected to continue, with an increased forward speed and potential turn toward the west-northwest.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission saw intense rainfall near hurricane Loke's center, with measurements showing over 160 mm/h. The storm's top heights reached above 15.3 km, and it is forecast to accelerate toward the northwest before undergoing transition to an extra-tropical low.
The remnants of Typhoon Atsani triggered watches for heavy rain and snow in parts of Alaska on August 26, 2015. Cloud top temperatures indicated strong storms with potential for heavy rainfall, particularly near -63F/-53C.
NASA's GPM and NOAA's GOES satellites provide insights into Tropical Storm Erika's rainfall patterns and cloud structure. The storm is expected to approach the Leeward Islands on Wednesday night, prompting a Tropical Storm Watch for several Caribbean islands.
Tropical Depression Kilo has recently become more energetic, with heavy rainfall rates of almost 65 mm/hour detected by NASA's GPM Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar. The depression's storm tops were also found to be very tall, measuring over 15.4 km altitude.
Tropical Cyclone Atsani transitioning into an extra-tropical low with potential for heavy rainfall in eastern Russia. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued its final bulletin on August 26, predicting landfall south of eastern Russia.
NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission has detected heavy rainfall from Tropical Depression Kilo as it approaches Johnston Island. The tropical depression is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday, bringing strong winds and large surf to the area.
Tropical Depression Danny was already affecting the Leeward Islands when NASA's Terra satellite passed overhead. The storm is expected to produce heavy rainfall over several islands in the region.
After strong earthquakes, landslides decrease due to an internal healing process of the landscape, returning to pre-earthquake levels in months to years. The destabilization caused by the quake gradually recovers as cracks close and are filled with sand and earth.
NASA's Aqua satellite and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) core satellite tracked Typhoon Goni as it affected the Philippines. The satellites provided detailed insights into the typhoon's inner eye wall, showing intense rainfall rates of over 88 inches in extreme areas.
Tropical Storm Danny formed in the central Atlantic on August 18 with a strong El Nino influence, leading to potential hurricane formation. The GPM satellite analyzed Danny's rainfall structure, revealing an asymmetric rain band with high rain rates.
A new study finds that global warming is deepening California's drought by driving moisture from plants and soil into the air. The research estimates that up to a quarter of the drought can be attributed to rising temperatures.
Typhoon Atsani intensified with heavy rainfall rates exceeding 90 mm/h, reaching 16.8 km in height. NASA's GPM analysis predicts it will become a super-typhoon by August 20, posing a threat to the Pacific Ocean.
Typhoon Goni, a powerful storm, was tracked by NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission core satellite. The data revealed strong storms surrounding the eye dropping rain at over 65 mm/h and maximum sustained winds near 132.3 mph.
Typhoon Atsani formed on August 14 as Tropical Depression 17W and strengthened into a typhoon on August 16. NASA's Terra satellite detected powerful thunderstorms around its eye on August 17, with cloud top temperatures reaching -63F/-53C.
Researchers discovered unique 'graffiti' on a Chinese cave wall describing drought effects on the local population over 500 years. The inscriptions combined with chemical analysis of stalagmites paint a picture of how societies are affected by droughts over time, pointing to potentially greatly reduced rainfall in the region.
Tropical Storm Hilda is weakening due to diminishing winds, with maximum sustained winds holding at 45mph. The storm is expected to move west-southwest and produce heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash floods across the Hawaiian Islands.