Research on rainfall and the water cycle. Covers climate-driven precipitation, hurricanes and storms, moisture transport, and extreme-weather forecasting.
Researchers link climate changes to bursts of technological innovation and population growth in sub-Saharan Africa. The study suggests that sudden climate shifts led to the emergence of modern human culture, symbol expression, and agriculture.
A low-pressure area has formed near the Philippines and is expected to develop into Tropical Depression 4 in the coming days. The system, named System 91W, is currently located about 355 miles east-southeast of Manila and is moving northwards.
NASA's TRMM satellite measured rainfall totals of 400-600 mm over Cuba and the southeast Gulf of Mexico, with widespread flooding reported in western Cuba. Along Andrea's track, rainfall amounts were lighter, ranging from 45-150 mm over parts of South Carolina, eastern Georgia, and coastal North Carolina.
Tropical Storm Yagi developed over the weekend of June 8 and 9 in the Western North Pacific. The storm's heaviest rain fell south of its center, with rates reaching up to 1.2 inches per hour.
Tropical Storm Andrea's extensive cloud cover blanketed half of the East Coast, with most rain occurring ahead of the storm's center. The storm is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2-4 inches along the eastern seaboard into coastal Maine.
Researchers found that aerosol pollution from the Northern Hemisphere cooled the region, shifting tropical rain bands and leading to drought in central Africa. The study used decades of historical observations and climate models to determine this global impact. The discovery highlights the remote climate effects of air pollution.
Heavy rainfall rates were detected in Tropical Storm Andrea by NASA's TRMM satellite, with rates reaching up to 5 inches per hour in the southern part of the storm. The storm intensified into a tropical storm on June 5, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph.
Tropical Storm Andrea featured towering thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures above -63F (-52C) and heaviest precipitation over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and southeastern Florida. TRMM satellite data revealed a large area of moderate to heavy rainfall in the storm's northeast quadrant, spreading over Florida.
A NASA satellite captured infrared imagery revealing a large area of disorganized thunderstorms and strong gusty winds over the southeastern Gulf. The system has a high chance (60%) of becoming a subtropical or tropical cyclone within 2 days, posing a threat to southern Florida.
A study by Georgia State University researcher Jeremy Diem found that a decrease in pollution following the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970 led to an increase in summer rainfall for the Atlanta metropolitan area. Precipitation levels dropped in the 1950s and 1960s due to air pollution, but rebounded in the late 1970s as pollution ...
Hurricane Barbara made landfall along Mexico's southern Pacific coast, with NASA-NOAA satellites capturing its movement and rainfall rates. The storm weakened into a tropical depression after making landfall, with remnants dissipating over the western Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane Barbara strengthened into a hurricane before making landfall, but quickly weakened into a tropical depression after interacting with the Mexican coast. Satellite imagery showed cloud tops warming and thunderstorms fragmenting around the storm's center.
A tropical low-pressure system, System 92E, is developing near southwestern Mexico and may become Tropical Storm Barbara by May 28. The National Hurricane Center expects the storm to consolidate and bring heavy rains to southern Mexico and western Central America.
Researchers used geological proxies and computer models to understand how sea level affected rainfall patterns in the Indo-Pacific warm pool during the last ice age. The study found that lowered sea levels led to reduced convection over a region of the warm pool, resulting in drier climates in some areas and wetter climates in others.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience investigates the ability of climate models to simulate tropical climate change by analyzing preserved geological evidence from the Last Glacial Maximum. The research reveals that only one model reproduces the rainfall patterns found from the geological evidence, with implications for simulatin...
Climate change is stressing amphibian populations worldwide, with USGS research revealing that extreme rainfall events and droughts can decrease their numbers. Scientists examined the impact of changes in rainfall patterns on amphibian life cycles, finding that a balance between deluges and droughts is crucial for survival.
Tropical Cyclone Mahasen brought heavy rains and tropical storm force winds to southern Bangladesh, resulting in reported deaths of at least 13 people. NASA's TRMM satellite measured the cyclone's rainfall rates from space, providing valuable insights into its impact.
Cyclone Mahasen brought heavy rainfall to southern Bangladesh, with the TRMM satellite capturing areas of intense thunderstorms north of the storm's center. The cyclone is expected to weaken and move across northeastern India due to rugged terrain and strong wind shear.
Cyclone Mahasen is strengthening in the Bay of Bengal, with NASA satellites tracking its movement and predicting a large storm surge along the Bangladeshi coastline. Heavy rainfall totals over 500 mm have been recorded in the northern Indian Ocean, posing significant flooding risks for residents in coastal areas.
A NASA-led modeling study projects that global warming will lead to an increase in heavy rainfall and a decrease in moderate rainfall worldwide. The study suggests that regions around the equator, such as the Pacific Ocean and Asian monsoon areas, will experience significant increases in heavy precipitation.
Cyclone Zane is a disorganized storm with strongest rain northwest of the center. NASA's TRMM satellite measured light to moderate rainfall within the storm, with an area northwest of the center showing a high rainfall rate of around 2 inches/50 mm per hour.
A NASA-University of Iowa collaboration uses ground instruments and satellite observations to improve flood forecasting. The study evaluates the accuracy of NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission satellite rainfall data.
Researchers discovered cicadas can use jumping droplets to remove contaminants from their wings, offering an alternative to conventional self-cleaning methods. This phenomenon works without relying on external forces or gravity.
Scientists at the University of Hawaii predict that Hawaii's rainfall trend will continue, with less rain and fewer heavy-rain days. A statistical model developed by researchers estimates a significant decrease in heavy rain events during the rainy season from November to April.
Researchers found that two global warming mechanisms complement each other to shape seasonal rainfall in the tropics. The wet-gets-wetter mechanism predicts increased rainfall in already wet regions, while the warmer-gets-wetter mechanism suggests increased rainfall in regions with rising sea surface temperatures.
Cyclone Victoria was torn apart by strong wind shear, with TRMM spotting limited rainfall areas. The storm dissipated due to interaction with cool waters.
New NASA satellite imagery shows Cyclone Imelda's strongest thunderstorms and precipitation located east of the storm's center. An upper-level trough is causing subsidence, preventing clouds from forming as air sinks to the surface.
Researchers used Kauai's unique rainfall gradient to test the relationship between precipitation and erosion, finding a strong correlation between rainfall rates and erosion rates. They also found that factoring precipitation into a widely used mathematical formula improved accuracy in predicting erosion rates.
A new study by Purdue University researchers shows that clean-air regulations have reduced acid rain in the US, Europe, and Japan over the past 30 years, but the opposite is true in fast-growing East Asian megacities due to lax antipollution rules or lack of enforcement. The effects of acid rain can propagate through aquatic ecosystems...
Simulations suggest a shift northward, which could increase or decrease seasonal rainfall in areas such as the Amazon, sub-Saharan Africa or East Asia. A warmer northern hemisphere causes atmospheric overturning to weaken in the north and strengthen in the south, shifting rain bands northward.
The Northern Hemisphere monsoon has intensified, with a 9.5% increase in rainfall, due to natural climate swings rather than global warming alone. Natural long-term climate swings, such as the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, contribute significantly more to this intensification.
Heavy rains in the Midwest have increased significantly over the past 60 years, according to a study published by the University of Iowa. The research suggests that rising surface temperatures are contributing to this trend, as warmer air can absorb more water vapor, leading to an increase in precipitation.
NASA's TRMM satellite detected a significant drop in rainfall intensity of Cyclone Sandra from March 11 to 13, with the heaviest rain falling south of the storm's center. The weakening tropical cyclone moved into an area of high wind shear and cold sea surface temperatures, expected to transform it into a cold-core system.
A new study predicts that the summer monsoon rains over the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico will arrive later in the coming decades due to climate change. The delay is expected to affect agriculture, livestock, and desert ecosystems, with potential impacts on crop yields, wildfires, and water resources.
New research reveals that poor simulation of cloud cover in the Southern Ocean is the primary contributor to climate models' glitch in tropical rainfall. The study found that excessive sunlight reaching the ocean surface causes heat accumulation, leading to incorrect rainfall forecasts.
Heavy rainfall rates of 2 inches/50 mm per hour were observed around the center of circulation, with powerful thunderstorms reaching heights of 9.3 miles (15 kilometers). The tropical storm strengthened and moved east-northeast at 11 knots (12.6 mph/20.3 kph), affecting New Caledonia by March 11.
The Aquarius instrument captures the first full year of surface salinity data, revealing rapid evolutions of salt patterns in the tropics. Salinity variations drive ocean circulation and provide valuable insights into global climate change.
Cyclone Rusty intensified as it approached landfall in Western Australia, with NASA satellites observing increased power and cloud height. The storm's slow movement meant more rainfall, flooding potential, and rough surf along the Pilbara coast.
Cyclone Haruna is being blown apart several hundred miles away from La Reunion Island due to increasing wind shear. The storm's eye has elongated as a result of wind shear, causing the main precipitation to be pushed south of the center.
Cyclone Haruna made landfall near Manombo, Madagascar on February 22, with its eye becoming cloud-filled. The storm's maximum sustained winds dropped to 80 knots after interacting with land, but it will continue to weaken due to friction and wind shear.
Cyclone Haruna strengthened into a cyclone with a wide-eyed eye visible on NASA's Aqua satellite. Heavy rainfall was detected by TRMM satellite, with cloud top temperatures colder than -63F (-52C). The storm is expected to make a brief landfall near Androka in Madagascar as it moves southeast into the southern Indian Ocean.
Cyclone Gino's rainfall is being pushed away from its center due to vertical wind shear. The heaviest rain fell southeast of the center at 2 inches per hour. Cyclone Gino may weaken quickly as it transitions into an extra-tropical storm.
Researchers have found a decreasing trend in intense rainfall frequency in the Ebro basin since 1955. This decrease is attributed to a general decrease in rainfall erosivity, suggesting persistent long-term climate changes.
Climate change models predict higher temperatures and months without rainfall, doubling the risk of death in calves up to five years old. The study highlights the importance of protecting vulnerable calves from the effects of climate change.
Cyclone Felleng formed over the Mozambique Channel and transitioned into a cold core low pressure area, with NASA's TRMM satellite capturing its rainfall rates. The storm dissipated in the next couple of days as it moved south-southeast in the open waters of the Southern Indian Ocean.
A global review of rainfall data found that extreme rainfall events are increasing in intensity and frequency due to rising temperatures. The study, published in the Journal of Climate, shows a 7% increase in extreme rainfall for every degree rise in atmospheric temperature.
A new study reveals that global warming from greenhouse gases has a weaker impact on global precipitation compared to solar heating. The researchers found that the global rainfall rate increased by about 40% less during the present-day warming period than during past warming phases, despite higher temperatures.
A UCI study found that doubling of moisture in air doubles summer rain, boosting runoff but also accelerating monsoons. The extra water vapor accelerates atmospheric circulation, drawing in more moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
Cyclone Oswald's remnants continue to bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds to eastern Queensland, Australia. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology reports rainfall totals exceeding 700 mm in less than 2 days, leading to rapid river rises.
Cyclone Garry's powerful thunderstorms fueled heavy rainfall over the open waters of the Southern Pacific Ocean. The storm was predicted to weaken while moving toward the southeast, eventually becoming an extra-tropical cyclone.
NASA's satellite imagery reveals a powerful band of thunderstorms east of Oswald's center, with temperatures as cold as -63 Fahrenheit (-52 Celsius). The low-level circulation center has become well-defined, triggering severe weather warnings for destructive winds and heavy rainfall across parts of Australia.
Tropical Storm Oswald brought extreme rainfall to northern Queensland, with NASA's TRMM satellite measuring over 600mm of rain in some areas. The storm caused severe flooding, cutting off communities and forcing travelers to cancel plans.
Tropical Storm Peta formed off the coast of Port Hedland, Australia on January 22, 2013, with rain rates reaching up to 94 mm per hour. The storm strengthened into a tropical depression before making landfall and dissipating over land, weakening its structure.
Researchers at the University of Hawaii's International Pacific Research Center have made a breakthrough in predicting Asian summer monsoon rainfall and tropical storm activity. By analyzing fluctuations in the western Pacific Subtropical High, they achieved substantially improved skills in forecasting these weather phenomena.
Tropical Storm Oswald weakened over land in the southwestern Cape York Peninsula of Queenstown, Australia, with maximum sustained winds dropping from 35 knots to 25 knots. The storm brought thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and gusts up to 90 kph, posing a threat to locations including Aurukun, Weipa, and Cooktown.
Tropical Storm Emang is showing moderate to heavy rainfall near its center, with estimated rates of 2 inches per hour. The storm is currently moving westward at 3 knots and expected to pass southwest La Reunion Island by January 21.
Cyclone Narelle's intensity has steadily weakened as it moved southward towards Western Australia. TRMM satellite data showed falling cloud heights and weaker rainfall, indicating a significant decrease in the storm's power.
Tropical Storm Narelle is weakening as it moves south along Western Australia's coast, according to NASA. The storm's rainfall rates have decreased, and its eye has become cloud-filled.
Tropical Cyclone Emang developed with strong convection and moderate to heavy rainfall around its center. The storm is expected to slowly intensify over the next couple of days as it travels over open ocean, reaching peak intensity by the end of the week.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle has formed a well-formed storm center with an approximately 15 nautical mile-wide eye, according to NASA's Terra satellite. The cyclone's maximum sustained winds have increased to 115 knots, making it a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.