Research on rainfall and the water cycle. Covers climate-driven precipitation, hurricanes and storms, moisture transport, and extreme-weather forecasting.
Researchers found that drought and flood conditions in bromeliad microcosms affected the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, particularly at the bottom of the food chain. The study showed that smaller organisms suffer more from rainfall instability than larger ones.
Post-tropical cyclone Teddy is generating heavy rainfall over eastern Canada, causing destructive waves and strong winds. NASA estimated rainfall rates around the center of circulation at 5-15 mm per hour, with heavier precipitation expected throughout most of the storm.
Tropical Storm Paulette reformed in the central North Atlantic Ocean, with estimated rainfall rates of up to 5mm per hour. NASA's IMERG satellite product provided near-real-time rainfall estimates, showing the storm's intensification and potential impact on the region.
Tropical Storm Beta is expected to stall inland over Texas today, bringing heavy rains and flash flooding. NASA's Aqua satellite analyzed the storm using infrared data, revealing coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hurricane Teddy's rainfall rates were estimated at around 30 mm per hour near the center of circulation, with heavier rain showers expected across Atlantic Canada between Tuesday and Thursday. The storm is forecasted to transition into a powerful post-tropical cyclone, posing risks of wind, rain, and storm surge impacts.
Climate models suggest that tropical and subtropical southern hemisphere countries, including Brazil, may experience longer droughts and reduced rainfall by the end of the century. The mid-Pliocene period, which occurred 3 million years ago, shares characteristics with modern warming, indicating a possible future scenario.
Hurricane Teddy generated up to 30 mm of rain per hour on its western side, with heavier rainfall expected near Bermuda. The storm is moving northwestward, increasing the risk of strong winds, storm surge, and heavy rainfall.
Tropical Storm Wilfred formed in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean on September 18, marking the end of the 2020 hurricane season. The storm is generating heavy rainfall rates, with estimates suggesting up to 30 mm per hour around its center.
NASA used satellites to estimate Hurricane Sally's rainfall and create a flood warning map. The storm generated high rainfall rates near its core, resulting in widespread flooding along the Gulf Coast.
Researchers at the University of Washington found that heavy rainfall, rather than large offshore earthquakes, triggers deep-seated landslides in the central Oregon Coast Range. Over a period of 1,000 years, they identified 2,676 landslides that occurred within the past millennium, with many triggered by heavy rainfall events.
Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Heavy rainmakers were detected north of the eye, with cloud top temperatures reaching -80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Researchers tracked precursors near the tropopause to predict persistent heavy rainfall in South China, finding anomalies in Arctic and tropical regions. The study revealed a special configuration of synoptic systems that leads to persistent heavy rainfall, providing new insights for regional prediction.
A study by Louisiana State University researchers found that heavy rainfall in August can suppress crawfish harvest yields in the spring due to low oxygen levels in ponds. Winter temperatures also impact crawfish growth, with freezing conditions slowing it down.
Tropical Depression Laura is generating heavy rain and triggering watches across the eastern U.S., with a risk of tornadoes in parts of Mississippi, Tennessee, and southern Kentucky. The depression is moving east-northeast at 20 mph, expected to continue along the Ohio Valley through tonight.
Tropical Storm Maysak formed on August 28 with a quick burst of strength, featuring powerful thunderstorms reaching temperatures as low as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm's cloud tops cooled significantly over the past 6 hours, consolidating its circulation center.
A new study found that extreme hurricane rainfall events in the Caribbean are five times more likely in a warmer world, but meeting Paris Agreement goals could reduce this risk by up to half. The research highlights the urgent need to tackle global warming and recommends targeting resilience funding towards the most at-risk areas.
Researchers develop a new concept to understand how precipitation affects tropical animals, including feeding behavior, predation, and physiological responses. The hygric niche framework has implications for conservation and climate change mitigation in the tropics.
Research in Niger links measles outbreaks to rainfall and temperature patterns, revealing a strong annual cycle associated with agricultural labor migrations. Vaccination strategies targeting migrating populations during the rainy season may break this pattern, reducing outbreaks.
Researchers successfully predicted a 2018 dengue outbreak in Réunion using subseasonal climate forecasts and mosquito population models. The study demonstrates the potential for using climate data to predict vector-borne disease suitability.
A new study published in Earth System Dynamics reveals that only a minority of the world's large aquifers are depleting, with most experiencing non-linear and irregular trends in groundwater storage. Extreme rainfall events play a crucial role in replenishing groundwater resources in dry environments.
Tropical Storm Laura continues to move through the Caribbean Sea, producing heavy rainfall and potentially life-threatening flash flooding. NASA's infrared data reveals powerful storms with cold cloud top temperatures, affecting Jamaica and Cuba.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that precipitation must have been between 13-520 feet to fill ancient lake beds and river valleys on Mars. This study helps scientists understand the planet's climate and provides a crucial reference for future Mars missions.
NASA's Terra satellite reveals Post-Tropical Storm Fausto has lost strong storms, temperatures as cold as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Hurricane Center confirms the system has become a remnant low-pressure area with no organized deep convection expected to return.
Research finds global land monsoon summer precipitation increased by 2.54% and 5.75% in lowest and highest emission scenarios respectively, driven by thermodynamic responses to increased moisture. Model spread in projection was larger for higher emission scenarios, emphasizing importance of circulation change prediction.
Research predicts significant rise in East African rainfall due to climate change, with short rains expected to double by 2100. The region's long rains are less sensitive to greenhouse gas forcing and are expected to remain stable.
A Berkeley Lab study finds that California's winter precipitation will become 50% more variable by 2100, affecting agriculture, flood control, and water resource management. The MJO, a global rainfall pattern, is expected to transfer its precipitation-related atmospheric conditions to the West Coast via changes in strong winds.
NASA's Terra satellite detected powerful thunderstorms around Tropical Storm Mekkhala's center, with temperatures as cold as -80 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is expected to move north before making landfall in southern China, bringing potential heavy rainfall.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change suggests that intensified rainstorms predicted for a warmer climate may efficiently water major crops, partially offsetting projected yield declines caused by rising heat. The research found that years with heavy rains of up to 20 millimeters per hour resulted in higher yields.
Researchers have developed nanostructures modeled on moth eyes that exhibit anti-icing properties, with the addition of a paraffin layer improving their performance. The nanostructure showed great improvement in freezing time and water repellency, making it suitable for applications such as aircraft wings and energy transmission systems.
Tropical Storm Isaias is causing flooding in South and North Carolina due to heavy rain. The storm is expected to produce life-threatening flash flooding along the I-95 corridor and a risk of tornadoes from southeast Virginia to New Jersey.
CloudSat captured areas of heavy rain and high-powered clouds during Tropical Storm Isaias' intensification into a hurricane. The satellite's advanced cloud-profiling radar provided new insights into the storm's vertical structure and contributed to improved global model representations.
Scientists have developed a new method to measure rainfall in Germany using commercial microwave links, achieving high accuracy and temporal resolution. The technique involves analyzing signal attenuation caused by precipitation, with the help of artificial intelligence, and has been successfully tested for application in West Africa.
Tropical Storm Isaias developed into a tropical storm on July 29 with a well-defined center, according to NASA-NOAA satellites. The storm is expected to produce heavy rain and life-threatening flash flooding in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.
Hurricane Douglas passed close to Hawaii, bringing strong surf, heavy rains, and gusty winds. NASA's Terra satellite imagery showed the storm's track and center stayed just off shore from the islands.
NASA used infrared data from its Aqua satellite to track Tropical Depression Hanna's movement into Mexico. The storm brought heavy rain to Texas and broke records for rainfall in some areas, with forecasters predicting further heavy rainfall in parts of southern Texas and northern Mexico.
A new study shows that increased summer rainfall in Alaska is degrading permafrost across the state. The research team took 2750 measurements of how far below the land's surface permafrost had thawed by the end of summer, finding that more rainfall led to deeper thaw across all sites.
Researchers found that the WA Christmas Tree, a parasitic plant, adapts to its environment by adjusting to temperature changes rather than relying on precipitation. This discovery has implications for conservation and restoration efforts, as it could inform the collection of seed for these species.
A recent study reveals that Hurricane Lane's extreme weather conditions, combining heavy rainfall and fire hazards, exacerbated the storm's impact on the Hawaiian Islands. The research highlights the importance of considering both environmental and socioeconomic factors in assessing population vulnerability to natural hazards.
The research team created better climate model simulations that predict variation in monsoon rainfall the following season, with improved forecasts for the Indian subcontinent. The new model uses complementary satellite data to quantify the connection between snow pack characteristics and monsoon strength over the Asian monsoon region.
A study by Hong Kong Baptist University found that slow-moving tropical cyclones bring about 20% more rainfall, resulting in increased flood risks in the region. The research also identified a correlation between slower moving speeds and higher rainfall volumes.
Scientists predict a 54% increase in rainfall variability in California by the end of this century due to climate change. The study found that extreme weather patterns will become more frequent and intense, with significant impacts on agriculture, flood control, and water management.
Researchers at Clemson University found that climate change will lead to more extreme wet and dry seasons globally. The study predicts that regions already prone to drought and flooding will be disproportionately affected.
NASA tracked Tropical Storm Fay's development using satellite data, creating an animation of the storm's progression. The strongest storms were located in the northeastern quadrant, with temperatures as cold as -63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating powerful thunderstorms and potential heavy rainfall.
Researchers replicated extreme rainfall events in Central and South America's neotropics, finding top-heavy food webs with predators when rainfall varied daily. This altered the trophic structure of bromeliad tanks, affecting energy flow through ecosystems.
Alaska's chinook salmon populations are declining due to climate-driven changes in their freshwater habitats. Productivity decreased when stream temperatures rose above 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and heavy rains led to lower spawn production.
A study found that heavy rainfall can lead to massive fish kills in lakes suffering from oxygen depletion, triggered by labile organic matter. Researchers released breeding stock to help recover lake Filsø's pike population, which has never fully recovered after the event.
The new South American Drought Atlas shows widespread, intense droughts and unusually wet periods have increased since the mid-20th century. The study suggests global warming and pollution may be contributing factors.
A study recreated 600 years of South American hydroclimate records, revealing an increase in prolonged droughts and rainfall events since the 1960s. The researchers attribute these changes to oscillations between El Niño and La Niú events, as well as wind patterns at middle southern latitudes.
Climate researchers projected changes in nine monsoon regions across five continents, revealing delayed onset and intensified seasonal fluctuation. The study found that reduced greenhouse gas emissions under RCP2.6 scenario could minimize long-term shifts, while RCP8.5 scenario predicts significant changes.
Researchers at MIT found that a combination of warmer ocean temperatures and changes in air pressure patterns contribute to the Mediterranean region's projected drought. The study could refine global climate models and provide greater certainty for water resource management and agriculture in the affected areas.
Researchers analyzed tropical cyclone speed and daily precipitation in China from 1961 to 2017, identifying a slowdown of 10-11% over the coast. This resulted in increased flood risks as slower cyclones increased passage time and total local rainfall.
A 50-year drying period in north central India reversed after 1999. Natural variability, including the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), contributed to changes in rainfall. The study supports robust handling of IPO in climate models for accurate projections.
Researchers found microplastics in remote and protected areas of western US National Parks, highlighting the importance of reducing plastic pollution. Atmospheric transport plays a crucial role in distributing microplastics globally, with smaller particles traveling farther under dry conditions.
Post-tropical cyclone Cristobal is soaking the Great Lakes, triggering watches and warnings for heavy rain, gusty winds, and tornadoes. Rainfall rates reached 1 inch per hour in some areas, with minor to moderate river flooding expected.
Heavy rainfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour were observed north of Tropical Storm Cristobal, leading to large amounts of rain on the ground. The National Hurricane Center predicts storm total rainfall accumulations of 5-10 inches across portions of the Gulf Coast.
NASA's Aqua satellite gathered infrared imagery and cloud top temperature data on Tropical Depression Cristobal, revealing areas of powerful thunderstorms with potential for heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to strengthen later today and regain tropical storm strength in the next 48 hours.
Cristobal has the potential to generate heavy rainfall, with NASA's AIRS instrument revealing cold cloud top temperatures indicating strong storms. The storm is expected to produce extreme rainfall amounts through the end of the week, causing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides in affected areas.
Tropical Storm Cristobal generated large amounts of rainfall over Mexico's Yucatan and Central America. NASA analyzed cloud top temperatures using satellite data to assess the storm's strength.
Tropical Depression 03L is expected to generate heavy rainfall in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. NASA's Aqua satellite detected coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storms in the region.
New climate model projections indicate that droughts will become longer and more frequent globally, particularly in regions like the Amazon, Mediterranean, and southern Africa. The study's findings suggest that variability in rainfall is a key factor in predicting future drought intensity.