News & Research Highlights

In 2022, the global surface average for carbon dioxide rose by 2.13 parts per million, roughly the same rate observed during the last decade. Atmospheric methane, less abundant but more potent, rose by 14.0 parts per billion, the fourth-largest annual increase recorded since NOAA’s systematic measurements began in 1983.

Scientists make informed predictions about climate and weather with operational models. Scientists test theories and improve forecasts with experimental models, including two new models: SHiELD and SPEAR.

This summer, NOAA and citizen scientists will map the hottest parts of 18 communities in 14 states across the country and in one international city. Identifying these urban heat islands helps local decision-makers take actions to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat, which often target the most vulnerable.

In addition to higher ocean temperatures, corals face threats from stony coral tissue loss disease stresses. Using a crowdsourcing approach, scientists have characterized the global bacteria patterns associated with the disease.

The newly released report includes more than 60 stories about NOAA’s 2022 research and development accomplishments across NOAA’s mission. Accomplishments including improvements in air-quality, storm-surge, and wind forecasts.

For Fiscal Year 2024, NOAA has requested $6.8 billion in discretionary appropriations, an increase of $450.5 million from the FY 2023 enacted budget. The FY 2024 request includes an additional $80.2 million to implement Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.

The Global Meridional Overturning Circulation (GMOC), commonly known as the global ocean conveyor belt, has changed significantly in the Southern Ocean since the mid-1970s. A new study finds a broadening and strengthening of the upper overturning cell and a contraction and weakening of the lower cell.

Both century-long tide gauge data and more recent altimetry data reveal a rapid decadal acceleration of sea level rise over 2010-2022 along the US East and Gulf Coasts, a new study finds. The most notable rise occurred on the Southeast and Gulf Coasts.

The primary source of sulfur dioxide has historically been fossil fuel combustion and industrial activities, but wildfires are expected to occur more frequently and with longer durations due to land use changes and climate change. A new study examines how much sulfur dioxide is emitted by wildfires.

Methane emissions have shown unprecedented growth rates since 2020. These emissions can be thermogenic (from fossil fuel extraction and combustion) and biogenic (from plants and animals). A new study compares results from laser-based analyzers in identifying emission sources.