Environment
Eight States Are Seeding Clouds to Overcome Megadrought
But there is little evidence to show that the process is increasing precipitation
Weather395 articles archived since 1845
Climate
NASA Says 2020 Tied for Hottest Year on Record
Meanwhile NOAA put the year just behind 2016 in the charts, but it was remarkably hot by either agency’s measure
Climate
What Happens to White Christmases as the World Warms?
Although more winter precipitation will fall as rain because of climate change, don’t say goodbye to snow just yet
Weather
In 2020, Record-Breaking Hurricanes Arrived Early—and Often
A record 30 storms have formed, compared to the previous high of 28; almost all were the earliest on record
EARTH
Science News from around the World
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one from Israel about what DNA reveals about the Dead Sea Scrolls’ parchment.
Natural Disasters
Storm Surge: The Science behind This Year’s Unusual Hurricane Season
Meteorologist J. Marshall Shepherd explains Hurricane Laura in the Gulf of Mexico and the ingredients for tropical cyclones
Natural Disasters
Recipe for a Busy Hurricane Season: Warmer Water, Cleaner Air
The peak of the season just started, but already there have been as many storms as in an entire average season
Climate
Extreme Heat Exposure Could Really Ramp Up in U.S. Cities
Unchecked climate change, urban development and population rise could all contribute to more people being exposed to punishing heat
Natural Disasters
Shelters Stay Empty as Isaias Barrels Up the East Coast
Concerns over COVID-19 have officials urging evacuees to stay with friends and family or at hotels
Weather
How COVID-19 Decreases Weather Forecast Accuracy
Meteorologists take advantage of weather data collected by commercial jetliners at different altitudes and locations. Fewer flights mean less data.
Weather
Accurate Weather Forecasts 28 Days Out
Meteorologists are using supercomputers and the latest data about climate phenomena to predict temperature and precipitation four weeks in the future
Weather
Drop in Global Travel May Have Hurt Weather Forecasts
Commercial planes and ships usually gather valuable data to feed into weather models
Public Health
Summer Weather Won’t Save Us from Coronavirus
Though hotter, humid weather can dampen transmission, it is not enough to significantly curtail the pandemic
Climate
Science on the Hill: Calculating Climate
For the fourth Science on the Hill event, Future Climate: What We Know, What We Don’t, experts talked with Scientific American senior editor Mark Fischetti about what goes into modeling our climate—and how such models are used in addition to long-term climate prediction...
Natural Disasters
Tougher Building Codes Would Avert Major Losses, FEMA Study Shows
In California and Florida alone, such codes have prevented $1 billion a year in structural damage
Public Health
Summer Presents Dangerous Choice: Swelter in Quarantine or Risk Contagion
Extreme heat is deadly to many of the same populations that are most vulnerable to COVID-19
Environment
How COVID-19 Could Ruin Weather Forecasts and Climate Records
As climate- and ecological-monitoring projects go dark, data that stretch back for decades will soon contain coronavirus-associated gaps
Chemistry
Meteorologists Rain on Cloud-Seeding Parade
Originally published in July 1957
Climate
A Climate Fluctuation That Could Improve Forecasts Remains a Mystery
The unknown influence of climate change has thrown a wrench into efforts to understand the Madden-Julian Oscillation
EARTH
The Ocean’s Swirling Currents Are Migrating Poleward
The shift, which may be linked to climate change, can affect sea levels and the distribution of heat and nutrients
