Articles

Researchers studied satellite rainfall data for 1,056 cities across the globe for the years 2001–20, and found that 63% exhibited an “urban wet island” effect, meaning they received more annual precipitation in and downwind of their urban areas compared to bordering rural areas.

Cliff Jacobs, with more than 50 years of experience in research and administration in the government and private sectors, offers some advice for students and early-career professionals.

As the years pass, we are seeing shorts and tee shirts being worn a lot later into the season as temperatures are staying warmer longer into the fall. This year was no exception. But don’t expect fall as we know it to completely disappear, but be aware of the changes we are experiencing. A warming trend is projected to continue in years to come during all seasons.

Cool cloud formation in Castle Rock, Colorado on November 30, 2024, around 4:40pm MST.

2024 was another busy year in the weather industry! Events ranged from historic flooding across the southern Appalachians, to the crippling ice storm in the Pacific Northwest, the eclipse, and the aurora borealis! Join us as we take a look back at the memorable and impactful weather events of 2024 with Meteorologist Steve Glazier.

Misinformation spreads fast! In this webinar, marine scientist Ellen Prager and AMS Fellow Dave Jones discuss tackling ocean and atmosphere myths, the importance of credible sources, and their new book packed with facts and humor.

~4 Billion Years Ago—The first occurrence of rainfall on Earth, according to recent research that examined oxygen isotopes in ancient minerals. 

As the global climate continues to warm, one may find themselves wondering what kind of temperatures their hometown might experience in the future. The University of Maryland (UM) Center for Environmental Science has developed a new interactive website map called Future Urban Climates that provides the answer for 40,581 locations around the world. 

Stephanie Herring, chief of the Geophysical Science Branch at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information in Boulder, Colorado, on helpful skills for someone looking to be employed in the climate world. For more, listen to the Clear Skies Ahead podcast at https://blubrry.com/clear_skies_ahead/, with new episodes released every month.

Want to get involved in research in your community? Check out these projects doing amazing work across the United States.

“This discovery is like finding a new switch in Earth's climate.”
— Balaji Senapati of the University of Reading, on research he led that for the first time successfully simulated a “new El Niño” in the southwestern subtropical Pacific Ocean.

Brandon Katz, executive vice president, strategy, at KatRisk in Austin, Texas, on one experience that sparked the passion for his career. For more, listen to the Clear Skies Ahead podcast at https://blubrry.com/clear_skies_ahead/, with new episodes released every month.

I photographed the sunset sky on a sunny day. Everyone looked up at the sky with smiles and exclaimed, ``It's beautiful!'' It gave me a very warm feeling.

After Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, Rod Scott and five other guests found themselves stranded at a remote bed-and-breakfast in the Pisgah National Forest. Cut off by landslides, flooding, and power outages, they relied on a generator, a hybrid car, and limited internet access to stay connected and make plans. Five days after landfall, they managed a grueling, two-and-a-half-mile hike through deep mud and fallen trees to finally reach safety.

1.33 milliseconds per century—The amount of time since 2000 that days are getting longer because of rapidly melting ice at Earth’s poles, according to research recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Kim Klockow McClain, UCAR senior social scientist supporting the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, on the expanding opportunities for people coming into the social sciences. For more, listen to the Clear Skies Ahead podcast (https://blubrry.com/clear_skies_ahead/), with new episodes released every month.
 

I grew up in a family that valued intellectual pursuits, discipline, and the importance of women’s education—and was provided the support to make sure I received that education despite external social and cultural barriers. In the 1930s, when my mother was young, such values were uncommon outside of her family. My mother was the first woman in our community in the town of Srinagar, Kashmir, to receive a college degree, back in the late 1930s. She was followed by her younger sisters, one of whom went on to become the principal of the women’s college in town. Thus, I grew up with the important privilege of having strong women as role models.

Hear from Jonathan E. Martin, Sean Potter, and Jim Fleming as they explore the lives and groundbreaking work of meteorology pioneers Joanne Simpson, Cleveland Abbe, and Reginald Sutcliffe. 

Air pollution information for North America is now available at unprecedented detail with the recent release of data from the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) mission.

“We’re not talking about intensification out in the middle of the ocean. We’re talking about it happening right at the coastline, where it matters most.”
—Karthik Balaguru of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), on new research he led that shows a recent significant increase in the intensification of hurricanes near coastal areas.

I managed to capture multiple photos of iridescent clouds (fire rainbows), and I’m pleased to share these

Tropical Storm Helene hit Florida on Thursday. Watch for a recorded live webinar with Josh Wurman and Karen Kosiba from their Doppler on Wheels, moderated by Jen Walton of Girls Who Chase, as they track the storm in real time.

Curious about meteorology or storm chasing but not sure where to start? Watch our webinar for a conversation with weather experts like Ginger Zee, Elizabeth Leitman, Melanie Metz, and Karen Kosiba!