Aerosols from pollution, desert storms, and forest fires may intensify thunderstorms
Researchers identify a mechanism by which small particles in the atmosphere can generate more frequent thunderstorms.
Dec. 31, 2020 • ~7 min
physics environment climate pollution emissions research weather school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf eaps earth-and-atmospheric-sciences
MIT oceanographers have an explanation for the Arctic’s puzzling ocean turbulence
New study suggests waters will become more turbulent as Arctic loses summertime ice.
Dec. 15, 2020 • ~7 min
climate-change climate water global-warming research weather school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf eaps ocean-science earth-and-atmospheric-sciences fluid-dynamics
How airplanes counteract St. Elmo’s fire during thunderstorms
On the ground, windy conditions strengthen these electrical flashes, but new experiments tell a different story for flying objects.
Aug. 11, 2020 • ~8 min
aircraft research weather wind school-of-engineering aeronautical-and-astronautical-engineering
How airplanes counteract St. Elmo’s Fire during thunderstorms
On the ground, windy conditions strengthen these electrical flashes, but new experiments tell a different story for flying objects.
Aug. 10, 2020 • ~8 min
aircraft research weather wind school-of-engineering aeronautical-and-astronautical-engineering
With lidar and artificial intelligence, road status clears up after a disaster
Automated tools can help emergency managers make decisions, plan routes, and quantify road damage at city scales.
April 21, 2020 • ~8 min
artificial-intelligence imaging natural-disasters research sensors weather radar technology-and-society algorithms lincoln-laboratory disaster-response
Staring into the vortex
MIT researchers describe factors governing how oceans and atmospheres move heat around on Earth and other planetary bodies.
March 19, 2020 • ~8 min
sustainability climate-change environment climate water research weather school-of-science oceanography-and-ocean-engineering eaps ocean-science earth-and-atmospheric-sciences fluid-dynamics
An algorithm with an eye for visibility helps pilots in Alaska
Real-time visibility estimates are a critical need in remote areas where visual flight is common and automated weather stations are scarce.
Jan. 6, 2020 • ~7 min
imaging research weather aviation algorithms lincoln-laboratory
Study: For low-income countries, climate action pays off by 2050
Economic benefits of mitigation arrive much sooner than previously thought.
May 1, 2019 • ~5 min
climate-change energy environment poverty climate carbon economics policy greenhouse-gases natural-disasters emissions research weather joint-program-on-the-science-and-policy-of-global-change
Climate change makes summer weather stormier yet more stagnant
Study finds rising temperatures feed more energy to thunderstorms, less to general circulation.
Feb. 18, 2019 • ~6 min
climate-change climate global-warming research weather school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf eaps earth-and-atmospheric-sciences
A “pacemaker” for North African climate
Study shows the Sahara swung between lush and desert conditions every 20,000 years, in sync with monsoon activity.
Jan. 2, 2019 • ~7 min
africa geology environment climate anthropology research weather school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf eaps earth-and-atmospheric-sciences
/
3