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Predicting eruptions using satellites and math

Researchers are developing a method to forecast volcanic eruptions by analyzing satellite measurements and ground deformation data. By applying data assimilation techniques, they aim to improve predictions of magma movement and pressure buildup beneath volcanoes.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Earth Science·DateJun 28, 2017

Weather patterns' influence on frost timing

Researchers from the University of Utah and USGS analyzed 93 years of weather data to find that atmospheric circulation patterns account for 25-48% of variation in frost timing, while global warming contributes 3-5 days to the lengthening of the frost-free season.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 23, 2017

Diabetes app forecasts blood sugar levels

Researchers developed a personalized algorithm that predicts the impact of specific foods on an individual's blood sugar levels. The algorithm has been integrated into an app, Glucoracle, allowing individuals with type 2 diabetes to make better nutritional choices.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateApr 27, 2017

Unraveling the mystery of snowflakes, from the Alps to Antarctica

Researchers at EPFL's Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory developed an algorithm to classify six different classes of snowflakes, improving precipitation measurement and forecast accuracy. The study used high-resolution images of snowflakes taken from three angles and analyzed their shape, geometry, and electromagnetic properties.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalAtmospheric Measurement Techniques·DateApr 6, 2017

Special issue on the forecast and evaluation of meteorological disasters

The frequency of meteorological disasters has increased due to global warming, causing severe social and economic losses in China and globally. The Collaborative Innovation Center on the Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters aims to resolve key issues related to these phenomena through joint research.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateJan 21, 2017

York U research identifies icy ridges on Pluto

A team of researchers from York University, NASA, and Johns Hopkins University have identified icy features on Pluto, including penitentes, which are bowl-shaped depressions with spires around the edge. The study suggests that these features may exist on other planets where environmental conditions are similar.

SourceYork University·JournalNature·DateJan 4, 2017

Report reassesses variations in global warming

Experts reassess temperature trends, finding that global warming slowed less from 1998 to 2012, peaking in 2016 at a level around 1.5ºC above its level early in the Industrial Revolution. Global temperatures remain high due to exceptionally low sea-ice extent in both hemispheres.

SourceWiley·JournalQuarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society·DateDec 5, 2016

Ensemble forecast of a major flooding event in Beijing

A recent study used a convective-permitting ensemble forecast system to evaluate the extreme rainfall event on July 21, 2012, in Beijing. The results showed that some members of the ensemble forecasting system captured the extreme prediction reasonably well, including the timing and location of extreme precipitation.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateNov 9, 2016