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Human activities increase likelihood of more extreme heatwaves, researchers find

A recent study found that greenhouse gases are the primary reason for increased temperatures and will likely continue to be the main contributing factor. Simulations show that extreme heatwave events will increase by over 30 percentage points in coming years, primarily due to human-caused emissions.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateJul 22, 2022

North Atlantic temperature helps forecast extreme events in Northeast Brazil up to 3 months in advance

A study by Brazilian, Chinese, Australian, and German researchers found that North Atlantic temperature can predict reduced rainfall and intense droughts in the Northeast region of Brazil. The findings suggest a more persistent influence of the North Atlantic than previously thought.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJul 21, 2022

Ozone depletion over North Pole produces weather anomalies

Researchers found a correlation between Arctic ozone depletion and extreme weather events in the Northern Hemisphere. Simulations suggest that reduced ozone levels contribute to warmer temperatures and droughts in central Europe, while wet conditions prevail in polar regions.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2022

With changing climate, global lake evaporation loss larger than previously thought

Researchers created a dataset quantifying trends of evaporative water loss from 1.4 million global lakes and artificial reservoirs, revealing a 15.4% increase in long-term lake evaporation volume. This finding highlights the importance of accurate information for water management decision-makers in addressing climate change impacts.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateJul 5, 2022

Scientists develop method for seasonal prediction of Western wildfires

Researchers developed a method to predict Western wildfire severity based on winter and spring climate conditions. The study found that April snowpack has a persistent influence on land and atmosphere during the summer, making it more conducive for fires.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 24, 2022

New method can predict summer rainfall in the Southwest months in advance

Scientists developed a method to estimate summer rainfall in the Southwest months in advance, performing well in Arizona. By analyzing lower atmosphere moisture, they created monthly forecasts to aid reservoir storage and water allocation decisions.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 28, 2022

Using vertical sounding data to forecast Zonda wind in the Andes region

Researchers used vertical sounding data to improve forecasting of Zonda windstorms, a severe weather phenomenon affecting Argentina's agricultural communities. By analyzing atmospheric profiles and applying principal component analysis, they achieved reliable forecasts with up to 24 hours of lead time.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 11, 2022

How do waves form in the sea?

Tel Aviv University researchers develop innovative model that explains wave formation, tested in complex experiments. The model takes into account all unstable harmonics and limitations of previous models, providing high reliability for describing physical situation.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 10, 2022

New study questions explanation for last winter’s brutal U.S. cold snap

A new study questions a widely-held theory that sudden stratospheric warming caused the extreme cold weather in Texas and other parts of the US. The research suggests that the polar vortex's disruption, which occurred six weeks after the initial warming event, was not significant enough to impact the weather.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 7, 2022

How machine learning can improve food insecurity predictions

Researchers found that machine learning models can help predict village food insecurity outcomes in Sub-Saharan African countries. The models incorporate publicly available data on weather, geography, and food prices to capture a wide variety of factors that can influence food insecurity. Key takeaways include the need for interpretabl...

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalApplied Economic Perspectives and Policy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 2, 2022

New simulations can improve avalanche forecasting

Researchers developed a new avalanche forecasting method using computer simulations of snow cover, which can detect weak layers and identify hazard in a different way. The approach showed consistent results with observed frequencies over 16 years, offering potential to support forecasting in the future.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalCold Regions Science and Technology·DateJan 19, 2022

Air pollution from wildfires, rising heat affected 68% of US West in one day

A recent study found that large wildfires and severe heat events worsen air pollution across the western United States, affecting 68% of the region's population in one day. The study revealed an increasing trend in days with high levels of both particulate matter and ozone, tied to rising temperatures and wildfires.

SourceWashington State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 6, 2022

High impact climate events: Better adaptation through earlier prediction

A new prediction framework can forecast extreme climate events like floods and heatwaves up to two days in advance, allowing for crucial preparation time. This network-based approach analyzes large-scale connectivity patterns in observational data to improve forecasting accuracy.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 15, 2021

Scientists discover how forest fires influence rain cloud formation in the Amazon

A Brazilian study reveals that forest fires and wildfires modify the freezing process of cloud droplets, altering natural cloud functioning and potentially impacting precipitation. The research used a large dataset to show that aerosols emitted by fires can affect cloud formation in southern Amazonia during the rainy season.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 27, 2021

Artificial intelligence brings better hurricane predictions

A new machine learning approach has been developed by researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to improve hurricane intensity predictions. The model uses artificial intelligence techniques and can run on a commercial laptop, offering more accurate forecasts than existing models. It also enables th...

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalWeather and Forecasting·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 22, 2021

Public will pay over $500 million a year for hurricane forecast improvements, study finds

A recent survey of people affected by hurricanes found that the public is willing to pay more than $500 million a year for improved hurricane forecasts. The study also found that wind speed forecast is the most valuable improvement, with an average willingness to pay of $28.89 per household per year.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 13, 2021

Think climate change is bad for corn? Add weeds to the equation

Researchers found that late-season weeds had a significant impact on corn yields, with minimal control resulting in an average loss of 50% and exacerbating crop losses under hot or dry conditions. The study suggests that climate change is not the only factor affecting corn yield, but rather its interaction with weeds.