Scientists use high-resolution models to study how the jagged terrain of the Earth's mountains influences precipitation.
Research Spotlights
Research spotlights are plain-language summaries of recent articles published in AGU’s suite of 24 journals.
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An Unprecedented View of Biogeochemistry off India's West Coast
Yearlong study reveals seasonal changes in oxygen levels, nutrient availability, and plankton growth.
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Sun's Magnetic Fields Best at Forecasting Solar Cycle Peaks
Models based on the Sun's polar magnetic fields performed best in simulating the solar cycle and predicting solar behavior.
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Fewer Tropical Cyclones Form After Volcanic Eruptions
Volcanic eruptions aren't all bad—in some cases, they can lower the frequency of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic by emitting sulfate aerosols.
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Does El Niño Intensity Affect Precipitation in California?
Modeling experiments demonstrate that strong El Niños greatly increase odds for wet winters over California's principal watersheds compared to impacts of weak and moderate El Niños.
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New Methods Measure How Vertical Land Motion Affects Sea Level
Researchers demonstrate the value of combining GPS and satellite data on vertical motion of the Earth's surface with tide gauge measurements to track rising sea levels.
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Can We Predict How Volcanic Ash Disperses After an Eruption?
Researchers investigate what factors influence how particles from a plume spread following a volcanic eruption.
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Tracking Radioactive Cesium Released During Fukushima Disaster
Scientists probe the Pacific to determine how far the damage from one of the largest nuclear meltdowns in history extends.
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Radar Study Examines Pulsing Tropical Climate
In the Madden-Julian Oscillation, shear forces caused by air layers slipping and sliding near the equator play a critical role in forming enormous thunderstorms and monsoons.
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Solar Storms Are More Predictable Than Hurricanes
An encouraging new study finds that solar storms don't propagate chaotically like hurricanes—their arrivals are more predictable, which should make it easier for our planet to prepare for them.