News & Research Highlights

Atmospheric rivers generate most of the economic losses associated with flooding in the western United States. A new3 study find these damages could increase by over a billion dollars by the 2090s.

August 4: A team of NOAA and University of Washington Cooperative Institute scientists flew over Alaskan waters to conduct renewed research on Arctic ocean heat flows. Scientists deployed 30 floats from NOAA aircraft that will provide key temperature data to better understand how the Arctic ocean is warming.

On August 7, 2022, NOAA employees and residents of Maryland’s Montgomery County participated in the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) “Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign.”

Trend expected to continue into 2023 and beyond.

In partnership with NOAA, Saildrone Inc. is deploying seven ocean drones to collect data from hurricanes during the 2022 hurricane, aiming to improve hurricane forecasts. For the first year, two saildrones will track hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.

For almost half a century, some of the most important observations of the changing Arctic climate were captured and analyzed in a cramped 960-square-foot temporary structure at the northernmost tip of the United States. Researchers have now moved into a 3,000-square foot, state-of-the-art research facility.

A team of coral researchers from NOAA and the University of Miami rescued 43 coral colonies after a sea wall collapsed at Star Island, near Miami Beach. While conducting a routine survey, NOAA scientists noticed the partially collapsed sea wall, which previously hosted dozens of coral colonies, and sprang into action.

Combustion-related emissions (from motor vehicles) have historically dominated urban-center pollution. But recent air-quality research shows that those emissions are falling while non-combustion-related emissions (from solvents, paints, and hygiene products) are rising. A new field campaign in the Greater New York City Metropolitan Area aims to gather real-time data.

NOAA and partners have successfully tested a new methane analyzer that can improve scientists’ understanding of carbon cycling, greenhouse gasses, and sub-seafloor chemosynthetic reactions.

The Simple Planning Tool assists planners, emergency managers, and decision makers in assessing long-term climate risks. Previously available in Oklahoma and Arkansas, the tool is now available to Texas.