Articles tagged with Ocean Surface Temperature
A new NASA study reveals that Saharan dry air and dust likely contributed to the quieter-than-expected 2007 hurricane season. The research found a correlation between the extent of dry air and dust in the North Atlantic and lower sea surface temperatures, atmospheric stability, and reduced hurricane formation.
Researchers propose an alternative explanation for monsoon formation, suggesting interaction between tropical circulation and large-scale turbulent eddies. This new understanding may lead to better predictions of monsoons and semi-empirical models.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists performed a 400-year high-resolution global ocean-atmosphere simulation using the Community Climate System Model (CCSM). The study achieved substantial improvements in simulated surface winds and sea surface temperatures, as well as improved tropical variability and Arctic sea ice thick...
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that natural variability in the Earth's atmosphere is masking the overall effect of global warming in the North Atlantic Ocean. Heat stored in the North Atlantic has a complex pattern, suggesting that natural changes in the atmosphere also play a role.
A new study finds evidence of an ocean 'thermostat' regulating sea-surface temperatures in the Western Pacific Warm Pool, protecting coral reefs from severe warming. This discovery lends support to a long-debated theory that naturally warm waters may be more resistant to climate change.
A 0.5°C increase in sea surface temperature is associated with a 40% increase in hurricane activity and frequency in the tropical North Atlantic region. The research, conducted by University College London scientists, quantifies the link between sea surface warming and hurricane activity for the first time.
Researchers found evidence of 200,000 year period of widespread glaciation in the 'super greenhouse' climate. Ice sheets were approximately 60% the size of modern Antarctic ice cap and existed when alligators lived in the Arctic.
A team of Chilean and IRD scientists found that the Pacific seaboard experienced significant cooling between 1820 and 1878 due to a large continent-ocean temperature contrast. This discovery sheds new light on El Niño's variability, which may intensify in a warming world.
The Arctic's natural 'sunscreen' is melting at an unprecedented rate due to record-breaking amounts of ice-free water, leading to sea surface temperatures rising by as much as 5 degrees C above average. This phenomenon can delay winter freeze-up and impact the growth of thick ice in the winter.
Researchers from NOAA and University of Miami found that natural climate variations can impact hurricane intensity. They discovered that regions with warmer oceans have increased potential intensity, while others experience decreased potential intensity.
A new study suggests that deep-sea temperatures warmed about 1,300 years before the tropical surface ocean and well before the rise in atmospheric CO2. The finding indicates that rising greenhouse gas was likely a result of warming and may have accelerated the meltdown, but was not its main cause.
Rising sea-surface temperatures in the Barents Sea have led to a decline in winter ice cover over the past 26 years. The study found that warming ocean temperatures, driven by increasing greenhouse gases, are the primary cause of this trend. In contrast, Arctic pack ice is expected to continue its rapid decline due to atmospheric effects.
A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that greenhouse gases played a significant role in the near-record US warmth in 2006. The research team found that greenhouse gas increases enhanced the probability of record-breaking temperatures by approximately 15-fold, making El Nino an unlikely contributor.
Scientists detected a long-term increase in tropical rainfall, with the rainiest years since 2001. The increase is attributed to a warming trend, which enhances evaporation and allows more moisture to form clouds.
ESA's Envisat and ERS-2 satellites track Hurricane Dean's path and strength, providing timely warnings with high-resolution cloud structure and wind field data. The satellites' instruments also measure sea surface temperature and height, allowing researchers to predict the hurricane's potential impact on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Sea surface temperatures are crucial for tropical cyclone formation, and recent data shows warming in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and eastern Atlantic. This warming contributed to Hurricane Dean and Tropical Storm Erin, with forecasters warning that the upcoming hurricane season will be a mixed bag.
Climate researchers predict salt marshes in Venice Lagoon may not survive future climate changes due to increased sea-level rise. Meanwhile, scientists have observed high-speed streams of charged particles called sprites, which blaze at incredible brightness and brief duration. The Amazon rainforest also emits large amounts of methane,...
A new NASA study suggests that greenhouse-gas warming may raise average summer temperatures in the eastern United States nearly 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the 2080s. This could lead to extremely hot summertime temperatures, especially during summers with less-than-average frequent rainfall.
A new study finds that high ocean temperatures and low coral cover increase the risk of white syndrome, a deadly disease threatening the world's richest ecosystems. The research suggests that corals in high-density areas will be increasingly vulnerable to disease if global warming continues.
Scientists reconstructed land temperatures in tropical Africa over the past 25,000 years using a new method based on soil bacteria molecular fossils. The results show that tropical Africa was cooled more than the Atlantic Ocean during the last ice age, leading to drier conditions and a lush rainforest.
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that warmer temperatures contribute to increased hurricane intensity in the Atlantic Ocean. However, this trend does not hold up in other oceans, highlighting the need for further research.
2006 was the fifth warmest year in the past century, according to NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Global temperatures have been increasing steadily, with the greatest warming occurring at high latitudes and most ocean areas.
The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season had near-normal activity with nine named storms, including five hurricanes, due to cooler sea surface temperatures and the shift of the Bermuda High. This resulted in stronger winds and reduced thunderstorm formation.
A new tree-ring study links episodic fire outbreaks in the past five centuries with periods of warming sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic. The study suggests that warmer waters in the North Atlantic correspond with episodes of drought and subsequent fires in the West.
A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that ocean temperature affects the distance marine larvae travel before maturing. This discovery has significant implications for managing commercially important or invasive species.
The new website provides frequent updates on changing ocean temperatures, with two primary types of data: actual temperature readings and sea surface temperature anomalies. Sea surface temperature changes can influence climate, weather, and hurricane patterns, making the website a valuable tool for scientists.
Researchers found a connection between Antarctic ice sheet mass balance and weather systems worldwide, suggesting that storms in the Pacific Ocean may influence calving and iceberg breakup. This discovery provides new insights into past climate shifts and potential mechanisms linking global climate and weather patterns.
A NASA study reveals the Earth is warming at a rate of 0.2° Celsius per decade, pushing global temperatures to levels not seen in thousands of years. This rapid warming trend is forcing species migration and posing a significant threat to biodiversity.
Researchers from Indiana University and Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research found evidence of dramatic climate changes during the Mesozoic Era, with temperature variations ranging from 30 deg C to 36 deg C. The discovery suggests that global fluctuations in carbon cycling played a significant role in shaping ancient climates.
A new study reveals a significant decline in Arctic winter sea ice cover, with losses of six percent per year over the last two winters. This reduction is attributed to rising greenhouse gas emissions and warmer temperatures, posing a threat to marine ecosystems.
A new study establishes a direct connection between global warming and hurricane intensity, predicting increased damage from Atlantic hurricanes. The research uses statistical analysis to link average air temperatures during hurricane season to sea surface temperatures, vital for nourishing hurricane winds.
Research papers explore the effects of glacier shrinkage on alpine uplift, challenge previous theories on the mantle transition zone, and use stratospheric oxygen/nitrogen ratios to constrain carbon uptake budgets by the biosphere and ocean. Mineral dust aerosol emission is also enhanced by electric forces.
Satellite images from ESA's ENVISAT and NASA's Aura Satellite reveal a UK record heatwave and significant increases in nitrogen dioxide pollution. The data shows extreme temperature and pollution effects on large conurbations, while smaller cities display more moderate levels.
NCAR scientists conclude that global warming surpassed natural cycles in fueling the 2005 hurricane season. The study found that ocean temperatures, particularly in the tropical North Atlantic, were record-high and attributed to global warming, accounting for 0.8 degrees F of the rise.
Researchers find that tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature is driving increase in hurricane numbers, with human-caused cooling from pollutants tempering the effect. The study suggests global warming as a primary cause of increased hurricane activity.
Researchers found that only half of the increase in strong hurricanes over the past 25 years can be attributed to rising water temperatures, suggesting other factors are at play. A temperature threshold must be crossed before a weak tropical cyclone can become a monster hurricane.
According to NASA, La Niña will have no effect on the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season due to rising sea surface temperatures and favorable atmospheric conditions. The current La Niña event is fading, with sea surface temperatures returning to near-average levels in the eastern Pacific.
A FSU study suggests that Jesus could have walked on ice in the Sea of Galilee due to a rare combination of optimal water and atmospheric conditions. The researchers calculated the odds of such an event occurring as roughly once in 1,000 years.
A new study by Georgia Tech researchers confirms the link between rising sea surface temperatures and increasing hurricane strength. Sea surface temperatures are found to be the dominant influence on global and North Atlantic hurricanes, with no significant trend in wind shear or other factors over the past 35 years.
Researchers analyzed data from multiple satellites, including NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, to understand the rapid weakening of Hurricane Lili in 2002. The study found that dry air moving into the storm's low levels created an 'open eyewall' that led to a significant decrease in strength.
The year 2005 may have been the warmest year in a century, with global temperatures returning to levels seen in 1998. The Earth has warmed by 0.6° C or 1.08° F over the past 30 years and 0.8° C or 1.44° F over the past 100 years.
A new study suggests a direct link between increased atmospheric greenhouse gases and global temperatures in tropical regions. The research analyzed fossil plankton shells from the equatorial Pacific and found evidence of past climate reconstruction supporting the attribution of temperature trends to greenhouse gas burdens.
A study found that hurricanes have become more intense and frequent worldwide, especially in the North Atlantic, with Category 4 and 5 storms increasing by 56% since 1975-89. Sea surface temperatures have risen across the globe, contributing to the observed changes.
A study by Georgia Tech researchers found the number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes worldwide has nearly doubled over 35 years, despite a decrease in total hurricanes. Global sea surface temperatures have increased, driving this shift.
Researchers discovered a stable state in the ocean-atmosphere system that is dramatically different from today's, contradicting previous studies. This finding suggests the Earth's system functioned differently in the past, and highlights the need for improved climate models to reproduce various climate states.
A 29-year study reveals that as ocean temperatures rise, the average weight of elephant seal pups decreases, impacting their survival rate. The decline in weaning weights coincided with an increase in mothers' foraging time and a decrease in mass gained.
Researchers found a 7ºC temperature difference causing more evaporation and snowfall, leading to ice accumulation. This discovery helps improve climate models, shedding light on the ocean's role in climate change.
Researchers at Queen's University have discovered the mineral ikaite in ancient marine sedimentary rocks, suggesting that the ocean was colder than previously thought. The study challenges the 'Snowball Earth' hypothesis and proposes an alternative explanation for the formation of this mineral.
Scientists study hydrogen's effect on upper mantle melting, revealing new data for improving earthquake hazard estimates. A computing technique analyzes seismic data to monitor active volcanoes worldwide. Comets may help track solar ejections and heliospheric conditions.
The CBLAST-Hurricane project is using new ocean probes to collect data on water conditions before, during, and after hurricanes. This information helps scientists develop better models to predict a hurricane's development, which can inform the size of storm surges that pose a threat to ships in port.
Researchers at UCSB discovered a correlation between Southern Ocean cooling and the expansion of Antarctic ice sheets around 14 million years ago. The study suggests that changes in global carbon cycling played a crucial role in this process, providing insight into the dynamics of Earth's climate system.
A 117-year coastal temperature record at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, shows sustained warming since the 1960s. The data reveals a significant increase in water temperatures during the past few decades, with averages rising by up to 1.2?C over the annual cycle.
Researchers will study tree rings to reconstruct regional climate histories and analyze relationships between climate variables, leading to improved long-term forecasting of the Asian monsoon's impacts on global population and agriculture.
A giant fossil coral found in Vanuatu provides evidence of the Younger Dryas period's significant cooling event, which affected the tropics. The coral's growth rate and chemical composition reveal that sea surface temperatures were on average 4.5°C lower than present during this time.
Researchers used satellites to create an 18-year record of global land surface temperatures, confirming that snow-free land surfaces have warmed. The satellite data provides a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of climate changes and will improve computer modeling.
A study using modern-era satellite data found that a combination of cooler tropical Pacific Ocean surface temperatures and warmer Atlantic Ocean temperatures led to the US dust bowl drought from 1931 to 1939. This created shifts in weather patterns and reduced moisture supply, resulting in severe dry conditions.
A study by USGS researchers associates drought patterns in the US with multi-decade variations in North Pacific and North Atlantic sea surface temperatures. The research found that positive AMO (warm North Atlantic) and negative PDO (cool North Pacific) are linked to large-scale droughts, affecting regional weather patterns.
A study by NASA and NOAA researchers reveals new climate patterns in the North Pacific Ocean, which differ from the traditional Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) pattern. The findings suggest that a single index like PDO is incomplete for characterizing the state of the North Pacific climate system.
A NASA study suggests that warming temperatures will lead to more warm rain, which accounts for 31% of global rainfall. The increase in precipitation efficiency could make the air lighter and rise faster, creating updrafts producing more cold rain.
A statistical model created at Ohio State University predicts sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, providing a way to quantify the uncertainty surrounding El Niño. The model can forecast El Niño six months in advance, giving farmers and commercial fishermen time to plan for the coming season.