Research on rainfall and the water cycle. Covers climate-driven precipitation, hurricanes and storms, moisture transport, and extreme-weather forecasting.
University of Washington experts are using the physics behind rain-on-snow flooding to better predict risks. They found that warm, humid air surrounding raindrops is most to blame for melting snow, and that tree cover can reduce flood risk by slowing storm winds.
A three-year restoration project in Pittsburgh's Frick Park has improved the health of Nine Mile Run, a stream affected by urbanization. The project, led by University of Pittsburgh hydrologist Dan Bain, involved rerouting the creek and creating habitats for fish and other species.
A powerful storm system, known as the Pineapple Express, brought intense precipitation to the western US, causing flash flooding, landslides, and damage. The satellite imagery captured by NOAA's GOES-West satellite showed a stream of clouds associated with the moisture from Hawaii, leading to violent rain storms in California.
A 13-year decline in vegetation in the eastern and southeastern Amazon has been linked to a decade-long rainfall decline in the region. The study used new satellite instruments to measure greenness and found a 0.8% decline in the Amazon, affecting over half the continental United States' area.
Typhoon Hagupit brought heavy rainfall to the Philippines, with NASA's Terra satellite capturing a picture of the storm. Rainfall totals reached over 450 mm in eastern Philippines and over 477 mm in the open waters of the Philippine Sea.
Heavy rainfall amounts of over 450 mm were found in eastern Philippines near where Typhoon Hagupit came ashore. The typhoon's slow movement resulted in frequent flooding along its track.
Super Typhoon Hagupit is forecast to make landfall in the eastern Philippines bringing heavy rainfall, damaging winds and storm surge. The storm's sustained winds were estimated at over 145 knots (166.8 mph) with heaviest rainfall just southwest of a well-defined eye.
Researchers found that rising greenhouse gas concentrations played a key role in causing more rainfall in two major regions of Africa, transforming desert into grasslands and savannas. The study validated the Community Climate System Model's predictions for future climate changes in Africa.
Researchers used tree-ring data and computer programs to create a finely scaled map of ideal Southwest growing regions for the past 2,000 years. The study suggests that localized climate change contributed to the depopulation of ancestral Pueblo people in southwest Colorado, with some areas becoming highly suitable for maize agriculture.
NASA's Terra satellite and GPM/TRMM satellites provide valuable data on Super Typhoon Hagupit's rainfall patterns and cloud height. Forecasters expect the storm to reach peak intensity and weaken, while warnings are issued for the Philippines due to typhoon-force winds.
A recent study has linked African rainfall increases to greenhouse gas concentrations thousands of years ago. The research team used computer simulations and geologic records to recreate past moisture conditions, finding that changes in carbon dioxide and methane led to the African Humid Period.
A new time-lapse animation of data from NOAA's GOES-West satellite reveals the movement of a record-setting storm system that brought heavy rainfall to Southern California. The storm, fueled by warm moisture from the Pacific Ocean, merged with a low-pressure system, resulting in torrential rains and setting new records for some areas.
Recent research suggests that human influence on climate may have contributed to the possibility of breaking global and UK temperature records. The global mean temperature for January to October is 0.57°C above the long-term average, with the full-year figure likely to be close to this estimate.
Tropical Storm Sinlaku made landfall in Vietnam, bringing heavy rainfall. NASA's TRMM and GPM satellites analyzed rainfall rates before landfall, while Terra satellite spotted the storm as it came ashore.
Tropical Depression 21W made landfall in southern Philippines on Nov 26, with heavy rainfall warnings issued for several provinces. The storm is forecast to track westward along a high-pressure ridge before strengthening in the Sulu Sea.
The NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center uses satellite imagery to monitor weather patterns across the US. Heavy snow is expected in the central Appalachians and the Northeast, while the Western US can expect snow in the Northern Rocky Mountains.
Researchers at Washington State University identified summer fallow management practices that can help farmers conserve soil, prevent sky-darkening dust storms, and improve air quality. Undercutter-tillage or no-till fallow systems were found to be the most effective options for reducing wind erosion in the Horse Heaven Hills region.
Heavy January rains in Svalbard caused record-breaking snow avalanches, making roads impassable. The extreme event also affected reindeer populations and permafrost temperatures, highlighting the increasing impact of climate change on Arctic ecosystems.
Tropical Storm Adjali formed on November 16, 2014, and started dissipating two days later. GPM data showed moderate rainfall rates near the storm center, with rain falling at over 69 mm/hour per hour. The storm dissipated in the Southern Indian Ocean by November 20.
The TRMM and GPM satellites provided critical data on Hurricane Vance before it made landfall in western Mexico. The analysis revealed a large area of heavy rainfall near the center of the hurricane, with some intense storms dropping rain at rates of over 50mm per hour.
Typhoon Nuri passed close to Japan's Iwo To island with maximum sustained winds at 92 mph. The storm is expected to continue weakening and transitioning into an extra-tropical storm over the next day or two.
Hurricane Vance is forecast to make landfall in northwestern mainland Mexico on Nov. 5, bringing large amounts of rainfall, including totals of 4-8 inches with isolated areas potentially seeing up to 12 inches. The storm is expected to weaken to a tropical depression over the next 24-36 hours before making landfall.
Typhoon Nuri underwent eyewall replacement as high clouds moved over its eye on Nov. 4, with MODIS instrument capturing visible image of intense thunderstorms spiraling into the eye.
Hurricane Vance's tropical-storm force winds stretched over northwestern Mexico, producing rainfall totals of 4-8 inches with isolated amounts up to 12 inches. The storm is expected to rapidly weaken due to increasing vertical wind shear.
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) will cease science operations in April 2015, ending 17 years of rainfall and storm monitoring. The satellite's instruments, including the Precipitation Radar, have provided critical insights into precipitation patterns and their impact on climate, weather, and natural disasters.
Cyclone Nilofar is exhibiting a comet-like tail and core due to wind shear. The storm has weakened significantly, expected to become a depression by November 1, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to the region.
Tropical Storm Hanna made landfall near Nicaragua and Honduras on Oct. 27, bringing strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to the region. The remnants of the storm continued to generate isolated thunderstorms over Honduras and northern Nicaragua until they dissipated by Oct. 28.
Tropical Depression 9 reformed into Tropical Storm Hanna, becoming a 'zombie' storm that brought strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to Nicaragua and Honduras. The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for the area, predicting life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
Tropical Storm Ana has moved west of the Hawaiian Islands and into the open waters of the Central Pacific Ocean, strengthening into a hurricane and weakening back to a tropical storm. The storm is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to British Columbia's central coast, with wind warnings posted along some coastal sections.
Tropical Storm Ana was still generating moderate rainfall when NASA's TRMM satellite observed it on October 22. The storm moved northward with a gradual increase in speed, and is expected to be absorbed by an extra-tropical low pressure area near British Columbia, Canada.
Tropical Storm Ana was impacted by strong southwesterly wind shear, causing the bulk of clouds and showers to be pushed north and east of its center. The storm's minimum central pressure is estimated at 1005 millibars, with forecasters predicting some strengthening through early Friday.
Tropical Depression 9 has formed over the western Bay of Campeche and is expected to produce life-threatening flash floods in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The depression is predicted to intensify into a tropical storm before landfall.
TRMM satellite used to estimate rainfall rates from Hurricanes Fay and Gonzalo, generating areas with totals over 12 inches. Rainfall estimates developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center show maximum rainfall of 8 inches for Fay and 4-8 inches for Gonzalo
Tropical Storm Ana is still affecting parts of Hawaii on October 20, according to NASA's Aqua satellite imagery. The storm's eastern quadrant covered the islands of Kauai and Niihau, with strong southwesterly wind shear pushing clouds and showers north and east of the center of circulation.
New research finds that rainfall patterns, not just amount, influence landslide risk. Scientists developed a model to predict landslides based on rainfall variability. Changing winds in Antarctica are also causing coastal glaciers to melt at an accelerated rate.
Hurricane Gonzalo brought severe weather to Bermuda, causing power outages and damage. The storm then moved east across the North Atlantic, affecting eastern Canada and Scotland with heavy rains and gusty winds.
Researchers found that Mediterranean and semi-arid plant communities remained unchanged after nine years of experimental drought, contradicting climate change predictions. Local adaptation was the primary course of action for these plant communities.
The WB-57 aircraft flew over Hurricane Gonzalo on Oct. 15 carrying two HS3 mission instruments called HIWRAP and HIRAD, providing unique observations of sea surface wind speed, temperature, and rain. The data gathered will advance understanding and predictability of hurricane intensity.
Tropical Storm Ana is nearing hurricane strength and expected to become a hurricane before reaching the Big Island of Hawaii. The storm's outer clouds are already affecting the island, causing heavy rainfall and potentially life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
A new NASA study reconstructs North American drought history over the last 1,000 years and finds that the 1934 drought was the driest and most widespread of the past millennium. The drought was caused by a high-pressure system and dust storms, which suppressed rainfall and led to severe conditions across western North America.
Tropical Storm Ana is expected to intensify and impact the Hawaiian Islands, causing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. The storm may produce large swells and damaging surf along exposed shorelines.
A new NASA study reconstructing North American drought history over the last 1,000 years found that 1934 was the driest and most widespread drought of the millennium. The severity was attributed to a combination of high-pressure systems and dust storms caused by poor land management practices.
A new forecasting method uses complex networks analysis to predict extreme rainfall events in the South American Andes. The approach, developed by an international team of scientists, can accurately forecast 90% of extreme rainfall events under El Niño conditions and 60% under other conditions.
The 1934 drought was seven times larger than comparable droughts and nearly 30% worse than the next most severe drought, affecting nearly 72% of western US. Dust storms intensified the drought and spread it throughout the region.
Tropical Storm Gonzalo formed quickly on Oct. 12 east of the Leeward Islands, triggering tropical storm warnings for many islands. The storm is expected to strengthen over the next two days and move through the Leeward Islands early Monday morning.
NASA's TRMM and Aqua satellites provide forecasters with detailed data on Super Typhoon Vongfong's cloud extent, rainfall rates, and distribution. The storm is expected to slowly weaken as it moves north, passing just east of Okinawa before turning northeast and changing to an extra-tropical cyclone over Japan.
Tropical Cyclone Hudhud is consolidating and getting more organized, with a developing eye. Warnings have been issued for heavy rainfall, storm surges, and high winds along the northern Andhra Pradesh coast and south Odisha coastline of eastern India.
A study led by Rutgers University-Newark found that plant communities in the Holy Land can withstand significant changes in rainfall, contradicting predictions of dire ecological consequences. The research team subjected diverse ecosystems to nine years of drought and found no measurable changes in vegetation characteristics.
NASA's GOES-East satellite captures Hurricane Simon's landfall in Mexico and movement into the U.S. Southwest, with remnants expected to reach the central Plains and Midwest on Oct. 9-10. Heavy rain, including a threat of flash flooding, is forecast for eastern Kansas and western Missouri.
Two NASA satellites collected data on Super Typhoon Vongfong, revealing powerful storms producing heavy rainfall and a wide circular eye. The storm had wind speeds of up to 138 mph, making it a Category 5 super typhoon.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data on the thunderstorms expected to bring flash flooding to parts of Arizona and other desert regions in the US Southwest. The National Weather Service warned of up to an inch of rainfall possible across Arizona, leading to potential flash flooding.
Typhoon Vongfong strengthened into a Super typhoon on October 7, with cloud top temperatures indicating high rainfall capabilities. The storm is moving westward, creating massive ocean swells, and forecasters predict it will turn north by October 12.
Typhoon Phanfone brought heavy rainfall to Japan, with the most intense rain occurring west of Tokyo and over the Pacific Ocean southeast of Japan. The TRMM satellite provided near-real-time data on rainfall totals, revealing areas with rainfalls exceeding 275 mm (10.8 inches) in central Japan.
Tropical Storm Simon is weakening over Mexico's Baja California, expected to produce 3-5 inches of rainfall with isolated amounts up to 8 inches. Heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding and mudslides, while winds remain a threat.
Tropical Storm Simon is expected to bring heavy rainfall and rough surf to the western United States, particularly the desert Southwest. The National Hurricane Center forecasts storm total rainfall amounts of 3-6 inches in central and northern Baja California and Sonora, Mexico, with isolated areas reaching up to 9 inches.
Typhoon Vongfong has exited the Mariana Islands and is now tracking west-northwest towards an area of low pressure. The typhoon has maximum sustained winds near 90 knots and is generating rough seas in the western North Pacific Ocean.
Typhoon Phanfone formed a large eye with intensifying winds reaching 110 knots (126.6 mph). The typhoon is predicted to peak at 125 knots and then weaken, passing near Tokyo, Japan.
NASA's GOES-West satellite captured an infrared image of Tropical Storm Simon on Oct. 3, showing strong thunderstorms circling the storm's center and rainfall in western Mexico. The storm is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 3-5 inches with isolated amounts up to 8 inches, causing flash flooding and mudslides.
A NASA animation shows Tropical Storm Simon forming over three days, strengthening into a tropical storm on Oct. 2. The storm is expected to produce 3-5 inches of rainfall with isolated amounts up to 8 inches in western Mexico.
A recent study suggests that emissions from human activity have caused a decline in monsoon rainfall over the past 50 years. The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, found that rising levels of anthropogenic aerosols are responsible for the decrease, which affects billions of people primarily in India and parts of Africa.