Scientists review studies of the tropical Madden-Julian Oscillation to better frame its role in air-sea interactions.
Research Spotlights
Research spotlights are plain-language summaries of recent articles published in AGU’s suite of 24 journals.
Forecast Versus Reality: High-Resolution Weather Prediction
Researchers test the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model with real-life observational data to evaluate forecast accuracy.
Aftershocks of Old Quakes Still Shake New Madrid Seismic Zone
Geodetic data show that earthquakes in 1450 and 1811–1812 may be responsible for present-day seismic activity in the region.
Cooling Galápagos Sea Surface Temperatures Affect Local Penguins
The Galápagos cold pool is expanding northward as a result of climate change, and local penguin populations are rising.
Slow-Moving Glide Avalanches Still Pack a Punch
Predicting glide avalanches and explaining how they work are difficult tasks, but the forces they exert can be calculated fairly well.
Improving Indian Summer Monsoon Prediction
A new study analyzes temperature and moisture variations in different layers of the atmosphere to improve forecasting of Indian summer monsoon precipitation patterns.
Climate Variability Across Scales Affects Ecosystems over Time
Given enough time, short-term variations in temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation influence the fluxes of water and carbon through ecosystems.
New Insights into the Complicated World of Tropical Convection
New study identifies key variables that move solar heat from the ocean to the troposphere in the tropics.
Low-Altitude Clouds Play an Important Role in a Changing Climate
Scientists uncover the mechanics behind tropical marine low cloud cover and its influence on models of anthropogenic climate change.
An Ionospheric Index to Predict Earthquakes Falls Short
Scientists disagree about the validity of the spatial scintillation index, a tool that aims to forecast earthquakes based on atmospheric disturbances.