Exploring the Science Behind Vibrant Fall Colors
Every year, millions of people set out on a quest to witness the breathtaking transformation of leaves as autumn arrives. The striking colors that adorn the trees during this season create picturesque landscapes, attracting visitors eager to experience the peak of fall foliage. However, timing this natural spectacle can be tricky, as the exact moment […]
Darwin200 Project Sets Sail To Retrace Charles Darwin’s Legendary Expedition
A brave and dedicated group of scientists is setting sail to inspire a new era of conservation and ignite a global passion for environmental stewardship. Stewart McPherson, the project leader behind Darwin200, has spent more than a decade breathing life into this audacious expedition, retracing Darwin’s historic 1830s voyage on a century-old tall ship. “There […]
Globe’s Warmest April Is 11th Straight Record Month, NOAA And NASA Found
April was Earth’s warmest on record, the latest in a stretch of monthly heat marks going back almost a year, according to newly-released data from four different agencies. New month, another record: In a report released Tuesday, NOAA found April’s globally averaged temperature was 2.38 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average, and about 0.32 degrees warmer than […]
Total solar eclipse wows North America. Clouds part just in time for most
A chilly, midday darkness fell across North America on Monday as a total solar eclipse raced across the continent, thrilling those lucky enough to behold the spectacle through clear skies. Street lights blinked on and the planets came into view, as the moon shrouded the sun for a few minutes across the land. Dogs howled, frogs croaked and some […]
The Earth’s tectonic plates made the Himalayas — and could rip them apart
Researchers theorize that the Indian plate is plunging under the Eurasian plate, but as that process plays out, part of it is splitting apart under Tibet. In the heart of Asia, deep underground, two huge tectonic plates are crashing into each other — a violent but slow-motion bout of geological bumper cars that over time has sculpted […]
How Does Fog Form?
Fog is a visible mass of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air near the ground. It forms when the air becomes saturated with moisture and the water vapor condenses into small water droplets. Several factors contribute to the formation of fog: Humidity: Fog forms when the air becomes saturated with moisture. This […]
Twelve days of AOML research
Happy Holidays to all! As we close out 2023, join us as we look back at some of our top research highlights this year! From responding to heat waves to setting records and launching new tech, our dedicated team continues to push the boundary in an effort to support NOAA’s mission to build a climate-ready […]
Endangered Species List Grows By 2,000. Climate Change Is Part Of The Problem
Climate change is worsening the planet’s biodiversity crises, making environments more deadly for thousands of species and accelerating the precipitous decline in the number of plants and animals on Earth, according to an international organization that tracks species health. Species of salmon and turtles are among those facing a decline as the planet warms. Atlantic […]
Even With Carbon Emissions Cuts, a Key Part of Antarctica Is Doomed to Slow Collapse, Study Says
No matter how much the world cuts back on carbon emissions, a key and sizable chunk of Antarctica is essentially doomed to an “unavoidable” melt, a new study found. Though the full melt will take hundreds of years, slowly adding nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters) to sea levels, it will be enough to reshape where […]
NASA Spacecraft Launched to Mysterious and Rare Metal Asteroid in First Mission of its Kind
Most asteroids tend to be rocky or icy, and this is the first exploration of a metal world. Scientists believe it may be the battered remains of an early planet’s core, and could shed light on the inaccessible centers of Earth and other rocky planets. SpaceX launched the spacecraft into a midmorning sky from NASA’s […]