ScienceDaily: Weather News

Climate change and wildfire

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:26:26 EDT

Concerns continue to grow about the effects of climate change on fire. Wildfires are expected to increase 50 percent across the United States under a changing climate, over 100 percent in areas of the West by 2050 as projected by some studies. Of equal concern to scientists and policymakers alike are the atmospheric effects of wildfire emissions on climate. A new article synthesizes recent findings on the interactions between fire and climate and outlines future research needs.

NASA’s BARREL mission launches 20 balloons

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:45:45 EDT

In Antarctica in January, 2013 -- the summer at the South Pole -- scientists released 20 balloons, each eight stories tall, into the air to help answer an enduring space weather question: when the giant radiation belts surrounding Earth lose material, where do the extra particles actually go?

European winter weather harder to forecast in certain years

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:52:52 EDT

Weather forecasters have a tougher job predicting winter conditions over Europe in some years over others, concludes a new study.

First X-class solar flares of 2013

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:37:37 EDT

On May 13, 2013, the sun emitted an X2.8-class flare, peaking at 12:05 p.m. EDT. This is the the strongest X-class flare of 2013 so far, surpassing in strength the X1.7-class flare that occurred 14 hours earlier. It is the 16th X-class flare of the current solar cycle and the third-largest flare of that cycle. The second-strongest was an X5.4 event on March 7, 2012. The strongest was an X6.9 on Aug. 9, 2011.

Impacts of strong solar flares

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:35:35 EDT

Given a legitimate need to protect Earth from the most intense forms of space weather -- great bursts of electromagnetic energy and particles that can sometimes stream from the sun -- some people worry that a gigantic "killer solar flare" could hurl enough energy to destroy Earth, but this is not actually possible.

Satellites see double jeopardy for Southern California fire season

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:45:45 EDT

New insights into two factors that are creating a potentially volatile Southern California wildfire season come from an ongoing project using NASA and Indian satellite data by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.; and Chapman University, Orange, Calif.

More hurricanes for Hawaii?

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:59:59 EDT

Hawaii, fortunately, has been largely free from hurricanes, only two having made landfall in more than 30 years. Now a new study shows that Hawaii could see a two-to-three-fold increase in tropical cyclones by the last quarter of this century.

Storm study reveals a sting in the tail

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:06:06 EDT

Meteorologists have gained a better understanding of how storms like the one that battered Britain in 1987 develop, making them easier to predict.

Exploring the saltiness of the ocean to study climate change

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:13:13 EDT

Details are emerging from a recent research expedition to the Sub-Tropical North Atlantic. The objective of the expedition was to study the salt concentration (salinity) of the upper ocean. Scientists explored the essential role of the ocean in the global water cycle.

Plants can moderate climate warming, new research shows

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:49:49 EDT

As temperatures warm, plants release gases that help form clouds and cool the atmosphere, according to new research. The new study identified a negative feedback loop in which higher temperatures lead to an increase in concentrations of natural aerosols that have a cooling effect on the atmosphere.

NASA mission to study what disrupts radio waves

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:56:56 EDT

A NASA-funded sounding rocket mission will launch from an atoll in the Pacific in the next few weeks to help scientists better understand and predict the electrical storms in Earth's upper atmosphere These storms can interfere with satellite communication and global positioning signals.

New metric to measure destructive potential of hurricanes

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:12:12 EDT

Researchers have developed a new metric to measure seasonal Atlantic tropical cyclone activity that focuses on the size of storms in addition to the duration and intensity, a measure that may prove important when considering a hurricane’s potential for death and destruction. Just ask the survivors of Hurricane Sandy.

Asian monsoon is getting predictable: Strong correlation between summer monsoon and preceding climate pattern

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:58:58 EDT

For much of Asia, the pace of life is tuned to rhythms of monsoons. Its variations can mean the difference between drought and flood. Now a new study reports on a crucial connection that could drastically improve the ability of forecasters to reliably predict the monsoon a few months in advance.

Precision agriculture improves farming efficiency, has important implications on food security

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:07:07 EDT

Precision agriculture promises to make farming more efficient and should have an important impact on the serious issue of food security, according to a new study. A scientist assesses how there is potential to manage land more effectively to improve the farming economy and crop quality, and to ensure food security.

Less rainfall expected for the Hawaiian Islands

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:24:24 EDT

Almost imperceptibly, rainfall over the Hawaiian Islands has been declining since 1978, and this trend is likely to continue with global warming to the end of this century, according to scientists.

'First step' in addressing effects of climate change

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:44:44 EDT

A new report on potential effects of climate change uses existing observations and science-based expectations to identify how climate change could affect habitats, plants and animals within the sanctuary and adjacent coastal areas.

Seasonal patterns of tropical rainfall changes from global warming revealed

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:25:25 EDT

Projections of rainfall changes from global warming have been very uncertain because scientists could not determine how two different mechanisms will impact rainfall. The two mechanisms turn out to complement each other and together shape the spatial distribution of seasonal rainfall in the tropics, according to a new study.

Blue tits provide insight into climate change, bird study shows

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:45:45 EDT

Researchers believe that the size of birds’ nests created in response to changing weather patterns may be partly to blame for reproductive failures over the last two years.

NASA and JAXA's GPM mission takes rain measurements global

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:40:40 EDT

As anyone who has ever been caught in a sudden and unexpected downpour knows, gaps still exist in our knowledge about the behavior and movement of precipitation, clouds and storms. An upcoming satellite mission from NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) aims to fill in those gaps both in coverage and in scientists' understanding of precipitation.

Arctic nearly free of summer sea ice during first half of 21st century, experts predict

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:28:28 EDT

For scientists studying summer sea ice in the Arctic, it's not a question of "if" there will be nearly ice-free summers, but "when." And two scientists say that "when" is sooner than many thought -- before 2050 and possibly within the next decade or two.

Warmest summers in last two decades in northern latitudes were unprecedented in six centuries

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:48:48 EDT

Through developing a statistical model of Arctic temperature and how it relates to instrumental and proxy records derived from trees, ice cores, and lake sediments, scientists have shown that the warmest summers in the last two decades are unprecedented in the previous six centuries.

New technique measures evaporation globally

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:46:46 EDT

Researchers have developed the first method to map evaporation globally using weather stations, which will help scientists evaluate water resource management, assess recent trends of evaporation throughout the globe, and validate surface hydrologic models in various conditions.

Snowflakes falling on cameras: What snow looks like in midair

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:20:20 EDT

University of Utah researchers developed a high-speed camera system that spent the past two winters photographing snowflakes in 3-D as they fell – and they don’t look much like those perfect-but-rare snowflakes often seen in photos.

New live bi-ocular animations of two oceans now available

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:41:41 EDT

NOAA's GOES-13 and GOES-15 weather satellites sit 60 degrees apart in a fixed orbit over the eastern and western U.S., respectively, providing forecasters with a look at the movement of weather systems in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The GOES Project announced the creation of satellite animations of both GOES-13 and GOES-15 to show continuous views of both oceans, with conjoined images reminiscent of binoculars.

Ancient climate questions could improve today's climate predictions

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:13:13 EDT

Climate models for the early Pliocene might be missing key processes. If researchers can uncover these missing processes, they can apply them to models of modern climate and improve future climate predictions.

Rising temperature difference between hemispheres could dramatically shift rainfall patterns in tropics

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:25:25 EDT

One often ignored consequence of global climate change is that the Northern Hemisphere is becoming warmer than the Southern Hemisphere, which could significantly alter tropical precipitation patterns, according to a new study by climatologists.

NASA's SORCE satellite marks a decade in the sun

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:22:22 EDT

NASA's Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) satellite has been providing data on the sun's irradiance for 10 years. SORCE measures electromagnetic radiation produced by the sun and the power per unit area of that energy on Earth's surface.

Extreme algal blooms: The new normal?

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:10:10 EDT

A research team has determined that the 2011 record-breaking algal bloom in Lake Erie was triggered by long-term agricultural practices coupled with extreme precipitation, followed by weak lake circulation and warm temperatures. The team also predicts that, unless agricultural policies change, the lake will continue to experience extreme blooms.

Gene discovery may yield lettuce that will sprout in hot weather

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Plant scientists have identified a lettuce gene and related enzyme that put the brakes on germination during hot weather -- a discovery that could lead to lettuces that can sprout year-round, even at high temperatures.

Is global warming slowing Boston Marathon winning times?

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:43:43 EDT

Researchers recently looked into whether the effects of climate change can be found in the winning times of Boston Marathon runners.

Americans back preparation for extreme weather and sea-level rise

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:06:06 EDT

The majority of Americans express support for stronger coastal development codes, according to a new survey.

Summer melt season getting longer on Antarctic Peninsula

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:37:37 EDT

New research from the Antarctic Peninsula shows that the summer melt season has been getting longer over the last 60 years. Increased summer melting has been linked to the rapid break-up of ice shelves in the area and rising sea level.

'Moderate' New England red tide forecasted for 2013

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:54:54 EDT

New England is expected to experience a "moderate" red tide this spring and summer, report scientists studying the toxic algae that cause blooms in the Gulf of Maine. The "red tide" is caused by an alga Alexandrium fundyense, which produces a toxin that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. Red tide typically occurs annually along some portions of the Gulf of Maine coast. This year's outlook is similar to the 2012 red tide which was also classified as "moderate."

Climate models are not good enough, researcher argues

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:35:35 EDT

Only a few climate models were able to reproduce the observed changes in extreme precipitation in China over the last 50 years.

Understanding the continuous corn yield penalty

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:32:32 EDT

As escalating corn prices have encouraged many farmers to switch to growing corn continuously, they wonder why they have been seeing unusually high yield reductions over the past several years.

Ten times more hurricane surges in future, new research predicts

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:15:15 EDT

How much worse will the frequency of extreme storm surges get as temperatures rise in the future? How many extreme storm surges like that from Hurricane Katrina, which hit the U.S. coast in 2005, will there be as a result of global warming? New research shows that there will be a tenfold increase in frequency if the climate becomes two degrees Celsius warmer.

When it rains these days, does it pour? Has the weather become stormier as the climate warms?

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:48:48 EDT

Scientists have shown that the signature of an increase in storminess could be extracted from precipitation data for the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The scientists suspect the same signature lies hidden under naturally stormier weather at other locations as well.

An accurate way of predicting landslides

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:54:54 EDT

A landslide can seriously injure or even kill people. Now, a new early warning system will be the first to employ geological data in tandem with the latest weather forecasts to provide a concrete warning in emergency situations. A deluge of rain pelts down on the already thoroughly sodden ground. Rivers burst their banks as local residents haul up sandbags to protect themselves from the rising waters.

Remote clouds responsible for climate models' glitch in tropical rainfall

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:13:13 EDT

New research shows that cloud biases over the Southern Ocean are the primary contributor to the double-rain band problem that exists in most modern climate models.

Pittsburgh's leaky faucet: How aging sewers are impacting urban watersheds

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:42:42 EDT

Aging sewer systems are spilling a considerable amount of nitrogen into urban watersheds, diminishing both the quality of water and ecosystems' habitats. However, many studies documenting the impacts of nitrogen on urban environs have not properly estimated the contribution of leaky sewer systems -- until now.

Statistical physics offers a new way to look at climate

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:58:58 EST

New research suggests that statistical simulations rooted in basic physics could make for new climate models that are more useful and require less brute-force computing power. A new article shows how statistical simulations can be applied to fluid jets like the ones in Earth's atmosphere and oceans.

Accurate water vapor measurements for improved weather and climate models

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:51:51 EST

A new laser hygrometer for research aircraft has proven suitable as a transfer standard.

Early warning system provides four-month forecast of malaria epidemics in northwest india

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 15:48:48 EST

Sea surface temperatures in the tropical South Atlantic Ocean can be used to accurately forecast, by up to four months, malaria epidemics thousands of miles away in northwestern India, theoretical ecologists have found.

Living through a tornado does not shake optimism

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:30:30 EST

Even in the face of a disaster, we remain optimistic about our chances of injury compared to others, according to a new study. Residents of a town struck by a tornado thought their risk of injury from a future tornado was lower than that of peers, both a month and a year after the destructive twister. Such optimism could undermine efforts toward emergency preparedness.

NOAA and NASA's next generation weather satellite may provide earlier warnings

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:15:15 EST

A new satellite that will detect the lightning inside storm clouds may lead to valuable improvements in tornado detection. The GOES-R satellite is currently being built with new technology that may help provide earlier warnings for severe weather.

NASA's Van Allen Probes reveal a new radiation belt around Earth

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:54:54 EST

NASA's Van Allen Probes mission has discovered a previously unknown third radiation belt around Earth, revealing the existence of unexpected structures and processes within these hazardous regions of space.

Every degree fall in winter air temperature equals 1 percent drop in ambulance response time

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:56:56 EST

Every one degree fall in outside air temperature during the winter corresponds to a drop in ambulance response time of more than one percent, reveals new research.

A new look at urbanization's environmental impact

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:56:56 EST

A research team from Sweden has developed a technique for quick, simple and cost-effective mapping of worldwide urban growth and its environmental impact.

Restoration planned for shoreline protecting NASA's Kennedy Space Center infrastructure

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:59:59 EST

Late last October, one of the most destructive storms ever to hit the United States bashed the beaches of Brevard County in Florida, including the shoreline of NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Scientists are assessing damage along a 1.2 mile stretch of shoreline near Launch Pads 39A and B and developing restoration plans.

Weather extremes provoked by trapping of giant waves in the atmosphere

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:31:31 EST

The world has suffered from severe regional weather extremes in recent years, such as the heat wave in the United States in 2011. Behind these devastating individual events there is a common physical cause, propose scientists in a new study. It suggests that human-made climate change repeatedly disturbs the patterns of atmospheric flow around the globe's Northern hemisphere through a subtle resonance mechanism.

Clues to climate cycles dug from South Pole snow pit

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:31:31 EST

Particles from the upper atmosphere trapped in a deep pile of Antarctic snow hold clear chemical traces of global meteorological events, climate scientists from France have found. Anomalies in oxygen found in sulfate particles coincide with several episodes of the world-wide disruption of weather known as El Nino and can be distinguished from similar signals left by the eruption of huge volcanoes, the team reports.

Macroweather is what you expect: Should there be a distinct category between weather and climate?

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:16:16 EST

While short-term weather is notoriously volatile, climate is thought to represent a kind of average weather pattern over a long period. This dichotomy provides the analytical framework for scientific thinking about atmospheric variability, including climate change. But the weather-climate dichotomy paints an incomplete picture, according to a physics professor. He argues that statistical analysis shows there is a period between short-term weather and long-term climate that should be recognized as distinct.

NASA deciphering the mysterious math of the solar wind

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:46:46 EST

The sun and its prodigious stream of solar particles, called the solar wind, can be particularly tricky to model since as the material streams to the outer reaches of the solar system it carries along its own magnetic fields. The magnetic forces add an extra set of laws to incorporate when trying to determine what's governing the movement. Indeed, until now, equations for certain aspects of the solar wind have never been successfully devised to correlate to the observations seen by instruments in space. Now, for the first time, a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has created a set of the necessary equations.

Conserving corals by understanding their genes

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:40:40 EST

In reef-building corals variations within genes involved in immunity and response to stress correlate to water temperature and clarity, finds a new study. This information could be used to conserve or rebuild reefs in areas affected by climate change, by changes in extreme weather patterns, increasing sedimentation or altered land use.

Common swifts make mysterious twilight ascents

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:47:47 EST

Common swifts climb to altitudes of up to 2.5 km both at dawn and dusk. This unexpected behavior was discovered by a geo-ecologist.

Six years in space for THEMIS: Understanding the magnetosphere better than ever

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:29:29 EST

On Earth, scientists can observe weather patterns, and more importantly can predict them, through the use of tens of thousands of weather observatories scattered around the globe. Up in the space surrounding Earth -- a space that seethes with its own space weather made of speeding charged particles and constantly changing magnetic fields that can impact satellites -- there are only a handful of spacecraft to watch for solar and magnetic storms. The number of observatories has been growing over the last six years, however. Today these spacecraft have begun to provide the first multipoint measurements to better understand space weather events as they move through space, something impossible to track with a single spacecraft.

Lake-effect snow sometimes needs mountains

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:05:05 EST

Researchers ran computer simulations to show that the snow-producing “lake effect” isn’t always enough to cause heavy snowfall, but that mountains or other surrounding topography sometimes are necessary too.

Extreme weather and Resilience of coastal communities in United States

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:42:42 EST

Hurricane Sandy was a fearsome reminder that coastal communities are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events and environmental variability, and that vulnerability is only expected to increase with climate change.

Climate change's costly wild weather consequences

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:45:45 EST

Atmospheric scientists show concern about how climate change is increasing the number of severe weather events.

Preparing for climate change-induced weather disasters

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:43:43 EST

The news sounds grim: Mounting scientific evidence indicates climate change will lead to more frequent and intense extreme weather that affects larger areas and lasts longer. However, we can reduce the risk of weather-related disasters with a variety of measures, according to scientists.