Articles tagged with Rain
New evidence reveals urban areas are altering rainfall patterns and daily precipitation trends, with higher rates during summer months downwind of large cities like Houston and Atlanta. Cities tend to be warmer than surrounding suburbs and rural areas due to urban heat islands.
A four-year study reveals that Himalayan erosion rates are uniform across wet and dry regions, contrary to expectations. The Indian Ocean's monsoon rains create a striking difference in precipitation between the north and south, yet erosion rates remain relatively constant.
A study found that ponderosa pine and Douglas fir needles can reduce water flow erosion by up to 60% and rain-induced erosion by up to 80%. Researchers used artificial rain laboratory experiments to test the effectiveness of needle cover in preventing post-fire soil erosion.
A recent study by Alessandra Giannini confirms a strong link between sea surface temperatures and precipitation in Africa's Sahel region. The research finds that Indian Ocean temperatures are the primary driver of precipitation in the area, with implications for climate prediction and seasonal predictions.
The Hotplate Total Precipitation Sensor uses a unique approach to measure precipitation rates, providing accurate readings for aviation and transportation applications. This breakthrough technology offers improved public safety and cost savings by reducing the need for manual snow gauges and deicing fluids.
The CBLAST project aims to provide more accurate predictions of hurricane intensity, landfall, and storm surge using new data-collection instruments and computer models. This research will help save lives and reduce economic losses for citizens and the Navy.
A new study using sediment cores from the Cariaco Basin reveals three large, rapid shifts of 5-7 degrees Fahrenheit in tropical temperatures on time scales of a century or less. These changes were synchronous with warming and climate changes recorded in Greenland ice cores.
Researchers found steady, light rain in central Pacific during El Niño, which differs from thunderstorms. This type of rain affects air movement and jet stream patterns, leading to improved rainfall forecasts worldwide.
Research finds African dust particles act as kernels for precipitation in low clouds, but suppress rainfall in high clouds. The study also suggests a link between increased dust levels and drought conditions.
A NASA study found that urban heat islands in coastal cities like Houston cause warmer air to rise, interact with sea breezes, and create heavier rainfall. The study also suggests that this effect may be more pronounced near coasts.
TRMM allows researchers to daily map areas of potential flooding using precipitation radar data and high-resolution measurements of cloud water content. The satellite provides updated records on a global scale, enabling scientists to track storms, monitor El Nino conditions, and assess crop health in remote regions.
Researchers Scott Curtis and Bob Adler found a significant pattern of alternating rainfall for El Niño since 1979. This discovery may help scientists improve rainfall forecasts around the globe during an El Niño event.
NASA's Aqua satellite and a P-3 Orion aircraft are conducting a joint research effort to gather data on snowfall and rainfall in Wakasa Bay, Japan. The study aims to improve the accuracy of global hydrologic cycle data and better understand precipitation patterns in the north Pacific.
Researchers gather data from an unusual storm over the Amazon rainforest to analyze the storm's inner workings, revealing a two-phase process where both precipitation forms at lower altitudes and higher in the atmosphere. The study provides new insight into storm intensity and hazards, which should be avoided by aircraft.
A new study reveals that mercury in California rainwater originates from industrial emissions in Asia, particularly coal combustion and ozone production. High concentrations of mercury were found in coastal and inland sites, with urban smog influencing the oxidation rate.
A four-year field study by K-State researchers found that altering rainfall patterns in a tallgrass prairie led to decreased physiological vigor of grasses, lower plant productivity, and reduced water availability. The team discovered significant reductions in carbon cycling and below-ground activity under variable rainfall conditions.
Researchers found that changes in SSTs affect the Madden Julian Oscillation, a key driver of South Asian monsoons. The study suggests that warmer sea surface temperatures can predict up to 30% of MJO fluctuations.
A NASA study analyzed satellite data from 1997-2000 and found that the transition from El Nino to La Nina reversed rainfall patterns in Africa, affecting vegetation greenness. This reversal has implications for agriculture, livestock farming, and vector-borne disease outbreaks.
Researchers have developed a method to measure spring output and analyze groundwater flow in the Blue Ridge province. The technique helps determine how much water is available for wells, addressing a pressing issue in Virginia due to drought and rapid growth.
A new study by Duke University researchers suggests that deforestation in the Amazon can lead to a significant reduction of rainfall in the Midwest and Dakotas during summer months. The simulation used mathematical equations to model climate behavior, finding a 10-15% decrease in precipitation in these regions.
Researchers found thicker, denser storm clouds over warmer waters, covering wider areas of the tropics and releasing more moisture as rain. This contradicts the 'Adaptive Iris' theory, which suggests cloud cover decreases with rising ocean temperatures.
A NASA study found that urban heat islands create more summer rain over and downwind of major cities worldwide. The increased heat promotes rising air and alters weather patterns, leading to higher rainfall rates in urban areas.
Researchers developed a formula to accurately determine water-use efficiency in typical soils, showing that no-till techniques can improve crop yields while reducing runoff and drainage losses. Soils with higher clay content and greater capacity to retain water produce better results, highlighting the importance of soil type management.
A new climate study reveals California's increased risk of warmer temperatures, smaller snowpacks, and altered water supplies due to rising carbon dioxide levels. The research offers precise regional specificity and statistical analysis, providing a more reliable basis for planning climate change mitigation strategies.
A new prediction index uses satellite-based data to identify signs of El Niño development in the winter, providing a 6-9 month lead-time. The study found high values that preceded five strongest El Niños, and predicts the next event to begin between July and October 2002.
A new NASA study suggests that changes in rainfall patterns play a significant role in plant growth and carbon absorption in the United States. The research found that higher humidity combined with increased precipitation led to a 14% increase in plant growth between 1950 and 1993.
Researchers at Stanford University found that extreme climate variability in the past 70 years hastened the extinction of Bay Area checkerspot butterfly populations. The study tied climate variability to a mechanism and showed that population extinctions are a prelude to species extinctions, threatening ecosystem services.
Aerosols from pollution particles reduce ice crystal sizes in thunderstorms, leading to less precipitation over land. Aerosol levels are highest over Northern Africa, with smaller ice crystals found in clouds above the eastern Pacific and southern Indian Oceans.
Researchers found the warmest portion of a hurricane's eye is approximately 3.5 miles high, corresponding to falling pressure and destructive winds. The data provided a comprehensive 3D image of the inner core, revealing how heat from rising air powers the storm.
A massive weather study is underway in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, using six aircraft and 30 ground sensors to track water vapor and predict heavy rain. The IHOP2002 project aims to improve forecasts from 1 to 12 hours ahead of heavy rain, which could help in flash-flood safety and other applications.
The new model traces water vapor from its source in the atmosphere to where it falls back to Earth, providing a clearer picture of how water moves. This allows for more accurate weather forecasts by identifying regional sources of atmospheric moisture.
Researchers detected a magnitude 5.7 quake on Kilauea's southern flank in November 2000 using GPS data, which caused the volcano's southern flank to slide nearly 3.5 inches into the sea. The event could become a model for predicting catastrophic tsunamis in the Pacific.
Researchers found that soil geology plays a significant role in the Congo River Basin's response to drought. The basin's varied geology, including ferruginous cuirassed peneplain, sandy soils, and porous aquifers, affects discharge reduction rates during droughts.
The TRMM satellite is continuing to collect data on various climate and weather questions, including the formation of snowflakes and raindrops inside clouds. Microscopic dust and soot particles are found to interfere with rain formation in 'dirty' clouds.
Researchers at Texas A&M University found that wind-borne pollutants can travel long distances, contaminating both air and water. They used rain and air samplers to collect pollutants in Corpus Christi Bay and estimated the amounts deposited into the bay area.
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) spacecraft will continue to provide vital data on global rainfall and climate change with its extended mission. Scientists anticipate improved climate predictions and a more robust record of rainfall patterns.
Research found that heavy rainfall precedes most waterborne disease outbreaks in the US, with extreme precipitation levels increasing outbreak risk. The study analyzed data from 1948-1994 and found a significant association between precipitation and waterborne disease outbreaks.
A team of researchers led by Bradley and Yale archaeologist Harvey Weiss found that sudden climate changes were often present in societies that collapsed during the past 10,000 years. The study suggests that climate change was a major factor in the collapse of several societies around the world.
Researchers found that El Niño events result in wetter oceans and drier land areas, with droughts more common than floods. Global precipitation patterns show an increase in rain over the Indian monsoon region and a decrease over central Africa during these events.
New satellite-generated rain maps provide more accurate tropical rainfall measurements, helping manage water resources and understand El Niño-La Niña patterns. The TRMM satellite's high-resolution data also enables better weather forecasting and climate projections.
Researchers propose a multi-million dollar observing system to identify climate signals in the Indian Ocean, potentially predicting regional rainfall months in advance. The network could help sustain crop development and influence winter rainfall across southern Australia.
Researchers suggest that mountain-front reservoirs store water, smoothing out seasonal fluctuations and leaving only long-term cycles. This process is influenced by the fluctuating position of the water table relative to stream levels.
A recent study published in Science reveals that urban and industrial air pollution can suppress rainfall and snowfall by creating clouds with abnormally small water droplets. This phenomenon occurs when pollution particles act as 'seeding' sites, preventing cloud moisture from condensing into raindrops and ice crystals.
Scientists have found that sea surface temperatures in Atlantic, Pacific, and Western Pacific oceans significantly impact rainfall patterns in the Amazon. Sea surface temperatures play a crucial role in predicting drought or floods in the region.
Dutch researchers use calculations to show that tubular-shaped vortices can form within areas of air turbulence, causing water droplets to congregate at the edge and leading to rain precipitation. This discovery contradicts previous assumptions about cloud formation and supersaturation.
Researchers have found that smoke from forest fires practically shuts off the 'warm rain' processes that create rain in tropical clouds. The cloud tops must grow above the freezing level for an alternative mechanism to start producing rain. This study, based on TRMM data, provides direct evidence of the impact of smoke on rainfall.
Researchers at Penn State found a correlation between jet stream strength and precipitation in the Sahel region, which has been experiencing drought since the 1970s. The Tropical Easterly Jet was mostly weaker during dry periods, while the African Easterly Jet showed slightly stronger patterns in very dry years.
Researchers in Mexico City are testing an antenna system designed to ionise the atmosphere, hoping to influence local wind patterns and rainfall to disperse air contaminants. However, experts remain sceptical due to the enormous number of electrons required to alter the natural level of ionisation.
A sensor measuring raindrop energy may soon warn farmers of potential crop disease outbreaks. Early results show that the sensor can explain how rain spreads fungal spores causing some crop diseases.
Researchers have found that decreasing pan evaporation does not necessarily mean less evaporation in surrounding landscapes. By considering regional land-surface moisture, environmental engineers explain how evaporation figures can drop due to saturated terrain, resolving the paradox.
The new instrument will provide insight into cloud behavior and lightning's impact on rainfall and El Nino events. LIS data will be used for lightning research, improving understanding of the phenomenon.
The reserve protects diverse ecosystems and biodiversity, including indigenous communities and unique plant species. The establishment of the reserve demonstrates Brazil's commitment to preserving its natural heritage.
Researchers at the University of Washington have discovered a correlation between lightning frequency and rainfall, which could lead to a new method for tracking precipitation in remote regions. The connection is thought to be due to ice particles that transfer electric charge when colliding in clouds.
Experts argue that global change research should focus on predicting rainfall patterns rather than temperature changes. Changes in rainfall can have significant effects on human activities and structures, such as road design and agriculture. By prioritizing rainfall prediction, researchers can help mitigate severe floods and droughts.
A high-tech radar system developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) successfully distinguished between heavy rain and hail in Colorado. The experimental dual-polarimetric radar proved its precision on July 12th, 1996, providing accurate measurements of raindrop size and shape that can help predict flash floods.
A four-year study reveals that winter rainfall is crucial for desert plant growth, contrary to previous assumptions. This discovery sheds light on the complex factors causing desertification and emphasizes the need for further research on desert ecology.
Researchers discovered a correlation between El Nino events and increased rainfall in central Israel over the past 20 years. The study used tree rings, satellite cloud images, and rainwater analysis to identify a link between El Niáo and Israeli rainfall.