News & Features

A new study conducted in Wisconsin indicates that low, fair-weather, cumulus clouds stimulate stronger surface energy exchange in comparison to other sky conditions over a forested landscape.

In the tropical Pacific, year-to-year changes in chlorophyll is dominated by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. El Niño can sharply reduce the regional supply of nutrients, limiting phytoplankton growth. GFDL’s new Earth System Model captures not only the onset and extent of chlorophyll anomalies during El Niño events, but also a pronounced post-El Niño “chlorophyll rebound” that produces positive equatorial Pacific chlorophyll anomalies in the summer following El Niño events.

The Northeast Pacific Ocean has experienced multiple marine heatwaves. One notable marine heatwave, nicknamed the Blob, lasted from the winter of 2013–2014 through mid-2016. A new study indicates that specific ocean surface conditions may help scientists predict Northeast Pacific marine heatwaves months in advance.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a key component of global climate. A new study shows that, since 1980, AMOC has had periods of strengthening and weakening, although the magnitudes of change are uncertain.

A new study shows a link between ENSO variations in the Pacific, and anomalies in the Florida Current three months later. This finding may give scientists a three-month lead time to better predict coastal sea level anomalies and possibly extreme weather events.

A new study concludes that, in southwestern North America, 2000–2021 was the driest 22-year period since at least the year 800. The study used tree rings to reconstruct past climates, including periods of megadroughts occurring between 800 and 1600.

Methyl bromide is an ozone-depleting trace gas currently emitted mostly from natural sources. New research suggests a strong correlation between methyl bromide variability and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, particularly ENSO-driven biomass burning.

A new video shows the efforts of NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory coral researchers to document climate-driven impacts on coral reefs in Dry Tortugas National Park.

After a year and a half of coordination and planning, the Hurricane and Ocean Testbed (HOT) has been successfully launched in the newly designed William M. Lapenta Laboratory. This testbed establishes a physical and virtual collaboration space for researchers and forecasters.

Understanding how dust moves through the atmosphere will be important as scientists try to predict how climate change will influence weather patterns. New research suggests that dust particles spur the formation of cirrus clouds.