One process driving the North Pacific's trajectory into uncharted waters is rising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Those rising concentrations are driving more heat into the ocean's surface layer.
Clouds produced by some wildfires can send black carbon high into the atmosphere, where it can linger for months. Black carbon particles with thicker coatings of other materials absorb more light, potentially doubling their warming effect.
Dry air plays a surprisingly important role in these heatwaves by suppressing upward movement of warm, moist air, a process that usually cools the surface.
A new study finds 2023’s record-breaking temperatures came from a mix of ongoing global warming and natural climate variability, including transition from cooler La Niña conditions to warmer El Niño conditions.
New research finds large-scale circulation shifts have helped increase atmospheric river activity, boosting summer moisture in the Arctic.
A new study suggests that in a high emissions scenario where water availability could decrease up to 60 percent, solar radiation modification could increase water availability up to 50 percent.
Cooler temperatures in the spring, autumn, and winter might significantly increase ammonium nitrate formation, potentially leading to higher levels of particulate matter.
Two experimental tools that will speed fire detection and warning got a week-long test run in June 2024. Hands-on simulations involved National Weather Service fire weather forecasters, state wildfire managers, researchers, and social scientists.
Heading to the theater to see the new "Twisters" movie? Keep an eye out for NOAA! But remember: While it's exciting to think of chasing tornadoes, please don't attempt it yourself. These storms are deadly forces of nature.
Models have overestimated atmospheric levels of hydroxyl radicals, which break down methane. A new discovery shows that water vapor reduces sunlight's availability to make hydroxyl radicals, slowing methane’s atmospheric breakdown rate.