https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/storms/ Thunderstorms, ice storms, even dust storms -- read all the surprising new discoveries here. Will global warming bring violent storms? en-us Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:00:52 EDT Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:00:52 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/storms/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260217005803.htm For years, satellite data suggested that autumn snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere was actually increasing — a surprising twist in a warming world. But a new analysis reveals that this apparent growth was an illusion caused by improving satellite technology that became better at detecting thin snow over time. In reality, snow cover has been shrinking by about half a million square kilometers per decade. Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:58:00 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260217005803.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206232249.htm Arctic sea ice helps cool the planet and influences weather patterns around the world, but it is disappearing faster than ever as the climate warms. Scientists have now developed a new forecasting method that can predict how much Arctic sea ice will remain months in advance, focusing on September when ice levels are at their lowest. By combining long-term climate patterns, seasonal cycles, and short-term weather shifts, the model delivers real-time predictions that outperform existing approaches. Fri, 06 Feb 2026 23:56:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206232249.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260120000259.htm Mountain regions around the world are heating up faster than the lands below them, triggering dramatic shifts in snow, rain, and water supply that could affect over a billion people. A major global review finds that rising temperatures are turning snowfall into rain, shrinking glaciers, and making mountain weather more extreme and unpredictable. These changes threaten water sources for huge populations, including those in China and India, while also increasing risks of floods, ecosystem collapse, and deadly weather events. Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:37:23 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260120000259.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225080725.htm Deep ocean hot spots packed with heat are making the strongest hurricanes and typhoons more likely—and more dangerous. These regions, especially near the Philippines and the Caribbean, are expanding as climate change warms ocean waters far below the surface. As a result, storms powerful enough to exceed Category 5 are appearing more often, with over half occurring in just the past decade. Researchers say recognizing a new “Category 6” could improve public awareness and disaster planning. Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:03:27 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225080725.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251124231904.htm Using a precisely aligned pair of laser beams, scientists can now hold a single aerosol particle in place and monitor how it charges up. The particle’s glow signals each step in its changing electrical state, revealing how electrons are kicked away and how the particle sometimes releases sudden bursts of charge. These behaviors mirror what may be happening inside storm clouds. The technique could help explain how lightning gets its initial spark. Mon, 24 Nov 2025 23:57:11 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251124231904.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251112111015.htm Arctic sea ice is disappearing fast, and scientists have turned to an unexpected cosmic clue—space dust—to uncover how ice has changed over tens of thousands of years. By tracking helium-3–bearing dust trapped (or blocked) by ancient ice, researchers built a remarkably detailed history of Arctic coverage stretching back 30,000 years. Their findings reveal powerful links between sea ice, nutrient availability, and the Arctic food web, offering hints about how future warming may reshape everything from plankton blooms to geopolitics. Thu, 13 Nov 2025 03:44:11 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251112111015.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109032406.htm Around 9,000 years ago, East Antarctica went through a dramatic meltdown that was anything but isolated. Scientists have discovered that warm deep ocean water surged beneath the region’s floating ice shelves, causing them to collapse and unleashing a domino effect of ice loss across the continent. This process created a “cascading positive feedback,” where melting in one area sped up melting elsewhere through interconnected ocean currents. Sun, 09 Nov 2025 03:56:56 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251109032406.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251105050716.htm Scientists discovered 6-million-year-old ice in Antarctica, offering the oldest direct record of Earth’s ancient atmosphere and climate. The finding reveals a dramatic cooling trend and promises insights into greenhouse gas changes over millions of years. Wed, 05 Nov 2025 05:07:16 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251105050716.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251002074001.htm In 2020, California’s Creek Fire became so intense that it generated its own thunderstorm, a phenomenon called a pyrocumulonimbus cloud. For years, scientists struggled to replicate these explosive fire-born storms in climate models, leaving major gaps in understanding their global effects. Now, a new study has finally simulated them successfully, reproducing the Creek Fire’s storm and others like it. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 22:57:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251002074001.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251001092211.htm Swiss glaciers lost nearly 3% of their volume in 2025, following a snow-poor winter and scorching summer heatwaves. The melt has been so extreme that some glaciers lost more than two meters of ice thickness in a single season. Scientists caution that the decline is destabilizing mountains, raising risks of rock and ice avalanches. Long-term monitoring efforts are now more critical than ever. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 03:00:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251001092211.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250817055324.htm With its two tiny CubeSats, NASA’s PREFIRE mission is capturing invisible heat escaping from Earth, offering clues to how ice, clouds, and storms influence the climate system. The insights could lead to better weather forecasts and a deeper understanding of global change. Sun, 17 Aug 2025 05:53:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250817055324.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801021015.htm A Penn State-led research team has unraveled the long-standing mystery of how lightning begins inside thunderclouds. Their findings offer the first quantitative, physics-based explanation for lightning initiation—and a glimpse into the stormy heart of Earth’s atmosphere. Fri, 01 Aug 2025 09:59:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801021015.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801021013.htm A jaw-dropping 515-mile lightning bolt lit up the skies from Texas to Kansas City, smashing previous records and reshaping our understanding of extreme weather. Thanks to advanced satellite tech, scientists like Randy Cerveny and Michael Peterson are uncovering the mechanics of "megaflash" lightning—rare, colossal discharges that span hundreds of miles across the sky. These massive bolts, emerging from long-lived, sprawling thunderstorms, pose real danger even when skies seem clear. Fri, 01 Aug 2025 09:30:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801021013.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250721223835.htm Ancient river landscapes buried beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet have been uncovered by radar, revealing vast, flat surfaces formed over 80 million years ago before Antarctica froze. These hidden features, stretching across 3,500 kilometers, are now acting as natural brakes on glacier flow, potentially moderating current ice loss. Their discovery adds a new piece to the puzzle of Earth's climate history and could help scientists better forecast how this enormous ice sheet will behave as the planet warms. Tue, 22 Jul 2025 02:37:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250721223835.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250716000858.htm An ancient glacier high in the French Alps has revealed the oldest known ice in Western Europe—dating back over 12,000 years to the last Ice Age. This frozen archive, meticulously analyzed by scientists, captures a complete chemical and atmospheric record spanning humanity’s transition from hunter-gatherers to modern industry. The core contains stories of erupting volcanoes, changing forests, Saharan dust storms, and even economic impacts across history. It offers a rare glimpse into both natural climate transitions and human influence on the atmosphere, holding vital clues for understanding past and future climate change. Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:41:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250716000858.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230305.htm Long-lost 1960s aerial photos let Copenhagen researchers watch Antarctica’s Wordie Ice Shelf crumble in slow motion. By fusing film with satellites, they discovered warm ocean water, not surface ponds, drives the destruction, and mapped “pinning points” that reveal how far a collapse has progressed. The work shows these break-ups unfold more gradually than feared, yet once the ice “brake” fails, land-based glaciers surge, setting up meters of future sea-level rise that will strike northern coasts. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 01:06:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230305.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704235554.htm For decades, scientists believed the Arctic Ocean was sealed under a massive slab of ice during the coldest ice ages — but new research proves otherwise. Sediment samples from the seafloor, paired with cutting-edge climate simulations, show that the Arctic actually remained partially open, with seasonal sea ice allowing life to survive in the harshest climates. Traces of ancient algae, thriving only when light and water mix, reveal that the region was never a frozen tomb. This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of Earth’s past but offers vital clues about how the Arctic — and our planet — may respond to climate extremes ahead. Sat, 05 Jul 2025 09:40:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704235554.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703092609.htm Tropical trees are dying faster than ever, and it's not just heat or drought to blame. Scientists have uncovered a surprising culprit: ordinary thunderstorms. These quick, fierce storms, powered by climate change, are toppling trees with intense winds and lightning, sometimes causing more damage than drought itself. The discovery is reshaping how we understand rainforest health and carbon storage, as storms may be responsible for up to 60% of tree deaths in some regions. Researchers now warn that failing to account for this hidden force could undermine forest conservation and climate models alike. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:26:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703092609.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250701020711.htm A massive and surprising change is unfolding around Antarctica. Scientists have discovered that the Southern Ocean is getting saltier, and sea ice is melting at record speed, enough to match the size of Greenland. This change has reversed a decades-long trend and is letting hidden heat rise to the surface, melting the ice from below. One of the most dramatic signs is the return of a giant hole in the ice that hadn’t been seen in 50 years. The consequences are global: stronger storms, warmer oceans, and serious trouble for penguins and other polar wildlife. Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:54:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250701020711.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250619090850.htm During Earth's ancient Snowball periods, when the entire planet was wrapped in ice, life may have endured in tiny meltwater ponds on the surface of equatorial glaciers. MIT researchers discovered that these watery refuges could have supported complex eukaryotic life, serving as sanctuaries for survival amid extreme conditions. Their investigation into Antarctic melt ponds revealed not only evidence of eukaryotes but a striking diversity shaped by factors like salinity. These findings reshape our understanding of how life weathered one of the harshest climate events in Earth s history and ultimately set the stage for the evolution of complex life forms. Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:08:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250619090850.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154901.htm Researchers have developed a deep learning model called LSTM-SAM that predicts extreme water levels from tropical cyclones more efficiently and accurately, especially in data-scarce coastal regions, to offer a faster, low-cost tool for flood forecasting. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:49:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154901.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154722.htm California Central Valley, which is known for the agriculture that produces much of the nation's fruits, vegetables and nuts, is a major contributor to a growing dust problem that has profound implications for people's health, safety and well-being. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:47:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154722.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522124738.htm Scientists found that neural networks cannot yet forecast 'gray swan' weather events, which might not appear in existing training data but could still happen -- like 200-year floods or massive hurricanes. Thu, 22 May 2025 12:47:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522124738.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521161228.htm A multi-sensor detection of an intense gamma-ray flash, which occurs when two lightning leaders collided, has been observed. Observations across a wide radiation spectrum enabled precise measurement of the electric current produced during this extreme event, and demonstrated that the gamma-ray flash preceded the collision of the lightning leaders between the thundercloud and the ground. Wed, 21 May 2025 16:12:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521161228.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250520122238.htm The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth, but in recent decades, the region has been rapidly warming, at a rate three to four times faster than the global average. However, current climate models have been unable to account for this increased pace. Now, researchers have reported that clouds may be to blame. Tue, 20 May 2025 12:22:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250520122238.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508113134.htm A glacier in Antarctica is committing 'ice piracy' -- stealing ice from a neighbor -- in a phenomenon that has never been observed in such a short time frame, say scientists. Thu, 08 May 2025 11:31:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508113134.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505121805.htm Atmospheric and climate scientists show that biological particles may induce rain events that could contribute to flooding and snowstorms, owing to their ability to precipitate ice formation in clouds. They call for an update of meteorological and climate models. Mon, 05 May 2025 12:18:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505121805.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250502133930.htm The disappearance of sea ice in polar regions due to global warming not only increases the amount of light entering the ocean, but also changes its color. These changes have far-reaching consequences for photosynthetic organisms such as ice algae and phytoplankton. Fri, 02 May 2025 13:39:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250502133930.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250429162117.htm New research finds that tropical cyclones reduce years of schooling for children in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in areas unaccustomed to frequent storms. Girls are disproportionately affected. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:21:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250429162117.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428221220.htm Flash floods resulting from extreme rainfall pose a major risk to people and infrastructure, especially in urban areas. Higher temperatures due to global climate change affect continuous rainfall and short rain showers in somewhat equal measure. However, if both types of precipitation occur at the same time, as is typical for thunderstorm cloud clusters, the amount of precipitation increases more strongly with increasing temperature, as shown in a recent study. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:12:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428221220.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250422132007.htm Dust-on-snow is a major threat to water in the Colorado River, yet no snowmelt forecasts integrate dust-accelerated melt. Using pioneering remote sensing techniques, new research is the first to capture how dust impacts the headwaters of the Colorado River system. The new method could help predict the timing and magnitude of snow darkening and impacts on melt rates on snowpacks, in real time. Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:20:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250422132007.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250411175457.htm For the highly populated coastal country of Bangladesh, once-in-a-century storm tides could strike every 10 years -- or more often -- by the end of the century, scientists report. Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:54:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250411175457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250404122621.htm Storm forecasting is traditionally based on studying atmospheric conditions but ground-breaking research that also looks at land surface conditions is set to transform early warning systems in tropical regions. This will enable communities to better adapt to the destructive impacts of climate change. The new study has shown that a large contrast in soil moisture levels over a range of hundreds of kilometers results in atmospheric changes that increase rainfall area and amount in several megastorm hotspots globally. This increase ranges from 10 to 30% depending on the region and size of the storm. Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:26:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250404122621.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250401174907.htm Mountain snowpacks accumulate snow throughout the winter, building up stores of water that will supply communities across the American West throughout the long dry season. Now, a new study shows that as storms carry snow to the Rocky Mountains, they are also bringing mercury and other contaminants from mines in the region. The research helps scientists understand how contaminants are spread by atmospheric circulation and has implications for snowpack preservation and illuminating the lasting environmental impact of mining activities. Tue, 01 Apr 2025 17:49:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250401174907.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250328173539.htm A new study measured water vapor in Greenland's air, collecting data crucial for improving climate models and forecasting Arctic changes. Fri, 28 Mar 2025 17:35:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250328173539.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250326123249.htm A new study uncovers a critical challenge in accurately classifying precipitation as rain or snow using surface weather data. Accurately identifying precipitation phase is critical for weather forecasting, hydrologic modeling, and climate research, with significant implications for transportation. At temperatures near freezing, however, all traditional methods struggle to accurately predict rain and snow due to the meteorological similarity of the two phases. Leveraging multi-source data integration rather than relying on surface weather data alone may offer improvements. Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:32:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250326123249.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250326123018.htm Getting zapped with millions of volts of electricity may not sound like a healthy activity, but for some trees, it is. A new study reports that some tropical tree species are not only able to tolerate lightning strikes, but benefit from them. The trees may have even evolved to act as lightning rods. Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:30:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250326123018.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250324152445.htm A storm, even once it has passed, can leave traces in the ocean that last for thousands of years. These consist of sediment layers composed of coarse particles, which are different from the finer sediments associated with good weather. In the Caribbean, an international research team has now examined such sediments using a 30 m long core from a 'blue hole' offshore Belize. The analysis shows that over the past 5,700 years, the frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes in the region has steadily increased. For the 21st century, the research team predicts a significant rise in regional storm frequency as a result of climate change. Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:24:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250324152445.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250320145454.htm Nearly 3 out of every 4 older Americans have experienced at least one extreme weather event in the last two years, a poll finds. And living through such an event appears to make a big difference in how they view the potential impact of climate change on their health. People over 50 who recently experienced an extreme weather event are far more likely to express concern about the effects of climate change on their health. Thu, 20 Mar 2025 14:54:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250320145454.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250314170431.htm A study shows that electrical charges in sprays of water can cause chemical reactions that form organic molecules from inorganic materials. The findings provide evidence that microlightning may have helped create the building blocks necessary for early life on the planet. Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:04:31 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250314170431.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250224111809.htm It is no strange sight to see icebergs break off of the Antarctic ice cap and drift away, like the gigantic sheet of ice that is currently heading for the island of South Georgia. But climate change is making it happen more frequently, with ever-larger icebergs in the waters around Antarctica. Researchers are studying the routes that icebergs followed during geological periods of rapid ice cap deterioration, such as the ends of ice ages. That provides crucial information about the effect of melting icebergs on the oceans, and its consequences for the future. In the process, they also found an explanation for the mysterious discovery of ancient material from Antarctica near South Orkney, an island to the southwest of South Georgia. Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:18:09 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250224111809.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250219105829.htm New research reveals that ice algae can store nutrients which may enable them to colonize more of the ice sheet, darkening and melting it. Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:58:29 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250219105829.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212134730.htm A study gives possible insight into the underprediction of sea ice depletion and the formation of Arctic cyclones. The study could lead to more accurate weather and climate models and better forecasting of Arctic cyclones. Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:47:30 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212134730.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206142403.htm An international team of researchers has shown that countless tiny ice quakes take place in one of Greenland's mightiest ice streams. This finding will allow the flowing of the ice sheet and associated changes in sea level to be estimated more accurately. Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:24:03 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206142403.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250129194555.htm Scientists have successfully analyzed more than 30 years of vital data on the thickness of landfast sea ice in Antarctica's McMurdo Sound, which will prove useful to measure future impacts of climate change. Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:45:55 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250129194555.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250127124427.htm Ice nucleating particles as a kind of aerosols have a significant impact on the Arctic climate by promoting the formation of ice clouds at a temperature above -- 38 degrees Celsius. Wildfires in mid-latitudinal areas are a major source of these aerosols. However, a direct observation of wildfire-emitted aerosols facilitating ice cloud formation has never been documented. Now, using field and climate data, scientists have linked aerosols emitted by Canadian wildfires in 2023 to the formation of ice clouds over the Arctic Ocean. Mon, 27 Jan 2025 12:44:27 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250127124427.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250117161225.htm New research emphasizes that studying the impacts of past tropical storms can help communities better prepare for future storms. A key part of the study is analyzing the types and quantities of storm-related precipitation in affected regions to understand its role on local water resources. By mitigating excessive damage, such preparation could enable more people to remain in their home countries. This is increasingly urgent as climate change is expected to make tropical storms 10-15% more frequent and intense. Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:12:25 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250117161225.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250109141120.htm Laboratory experiments designed to deform ice at its pressure-melting temperature were like grabbing a bagel at the top and the bottom, then twisting the two halves to smear the cream cheese in the middle, according to new research. The resulting data could lead to more accurate models of temperate glacier ice and better predictions of glacier flow and sea-level rise. Thu, 09 Jan 2025 14:11:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250109141120.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250106133157.htm In the Arctic, the old, multiyear ice is increasingly melting, dramatically reducing the frequency and size of pressure ridges. These ridges are created when ice floes press against each other and become stacked, and are a characteristic feature of Arctic sea ice, an obstacle for shipping, but also an essential component of the ecosystem. In a recently released study scientists report on this trend and analyze observational data from three decades of aerial surveys. Mon, 06 Jan 2025 13:31:57 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250106133157.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241220132852.htm Scientists have delivered the first measurements of Greenland Ice Sheet thickness change using data from ESA and NASA ice satellite missions. With global warming causing the Greenland Ice Sheet to melt and flow more rapidly, raising sea levels and disturbing weather patterns across our planet, precise measurements of its changing shape are of critical importance for tracking and adapting to the effects of climate warming. Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:28:52 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241220132852.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241210115917.htm Snow cover in the Sierra Nevada is expected to shrink overall as the climate warms, but avalanche frequency could remain the same or even increase at high elevations. That's bad news for bighorn sheep that live there, according to new research. Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:59:17 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241210115917.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241210115107.htm Geoscientists have created a new climate record for early Antarctic ice ages. It reveals that the early Antarctic ice sheet melted more rapidly than previously thought. Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:51:07 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241210115107.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241206161926.htm Researchers show that the all-time record low in winter sea ice extent in 2023 can be explained by warm Southern Ocean conditions and patterns in the winds that circled Antarctica months earlier, allowing forecasts for sea ice coverage around the South Pole to be generated six or more months in advance. This could support regional and global weather and climate models. Fri, 06 Dec 2024 16:19:26 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241206161926.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241205184615.htm Rising sea levels, melting glaciers, heatwaves at sea -- 2023 set a number of alarming new records. The global mean temperature also rose to nearly 1.5 degrees above the preindustrial level, another record. Seeking to identify the causes of this sudden rise has proven a challenge for researchers. After all, factoring in the effects of anthropogenic influences like the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, of the weather phenomenon El Nino, and of natural events like volcanic eruptions, can account for a major portion of the warming. But doing so still leaves a gap of roughly 0.2 degrees Celsius, which has never been satisfactorily explained. A team puts forward a possible explanation for the rise in global mean temperature: our planet has become less reflective because certain types of clouds have declined. Thu, 05 Dec 2024 18:46:15 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241205184615.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241204145411.htm The rainforest in the Amazon basin transpires vast amounts of gaseous isoprene. Until now, it was assumed that this molecule is not transported far up into the atmosphere, as it rapidly declines when exposed to light conditions. The CAFE-Brazil measurement campaign provided data for two studies which demonstrate, however, that nocturnal thunderstorms transport the isoprene to an altitude of up to 15 kilometers. There, it reacts to form chemical compounds capable of forming vast numbers of new aerosol particles. These grow further and contribute to cloud formation as condensation nuclei. This mechanism is likely to affect the climate, too. Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:54:11 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241204145411.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241203154440.htm Scientists demonstrate how a series of extreme weather events could lead to the Arctic's first ice-free day within just a few years. Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:44:40 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241203154440.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241126135827.htm A study found that dust from snow- and ice-free areas of the Arctic could be an important contributor to climate change in the region. Higher levels of dust help promote the formation of ice crystals in the clouds, which weakens the efficiency of clouds to contain more liquid droplets and fewer ice crystals by Arctic warming. Tue, 26 Nov 2024 13:58:27 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241126135827.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241119132424.htm Researchers employ machine learning to more accurately model the boundary layer wind field of tropical cyclones. Conventional approaches to storm forecasting involve large numerical simulations run on supercomputers incorporating mountains of observational data, and they still often result in inaccurate or incomplete predictions. In contrast, the author's machine learning algorithm is equipped with atmospheric physics equations that can produce more accurate results faster and with less data. Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:24:24 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241119132424.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241108150736.htm New research reveals for the first time how a major Antarctic ice shelf has been subjected to increased melting by warming ocean waters over the last four decades. Scientists say the study -- the result of their autonomous Seaglider getting accidentally stuck underneath the Ross Ice Shelf -- suggests this will likely only increase further as climate change drives continued ocean warming. Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:07:36 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241108150736.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241108113529.htm Only a few weeks ago, massive precipitation produced by the storm 'Boris' led to chaos and flooding in Central and Eastern Europe. An analysis shows that in a world without the current level of global warming Boris would have deposited roughly nine percent less rain. Such conclusions can be drawn thanks to a new modelling approach called 'storylines'. Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:35:29 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241108113529.htm