Why clouds are the missing piece in the climate change puzzle

Clouds can act as both blanket and parasol – warming our atmosphere at the same time as cooling it. But which effect will dominate?

Ric Williams, Professor of Ocean Sciences, University of Liverpool • conversation
Sept. 11, 2020 • ~7 min
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Why does some rain fall harder than other rain?

Some rainstorms drench you in a second, while others drop rain in a nice peaceful drizzle. A meteorologist explains how rainstorms can be so different.

Jeffrey B. Halverson, Professor of Geography & Environmental Systems, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
Aug. 13, 2020 • ~5 min
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Curious Kids: How much does a cloud weigh?

It's a lot more than you might think.

Rob Thompson, Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Meteorology, University of Reading • conversation
July 24, 2020 • ~5 min
rainfall meteorology curious-kids clouds

We caught bacteria from the most pristine air on earth to help solve a climate modeling mystery

Climate models have been overestimating how much sunlight hits the Southern Ocean. This is because the clouds there are different from clouds anywhere else. Bacterial DNA helped us understand why.

Thomas Hill, Research Scientist, Colorado State University • conversation
June 19, 2020 • ~9 min
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What would it feel like to touch a cloud?

You might have already felt what it would be like inside a cloud made of condensed water vapor.

Katja Friedrich, Associate Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
May 28, 2020 • ~6 min
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