Soil moisture estimates, inferred from thousands of tree rings spanning the past 12 centuries, highlight the severity of the recent record-breaking drought.
Research Spotlights
Research spotlights are plain-language summaries of recent articles published in AGU’s suite of 24 journals.
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Researchers Roll Clouds into Climate Modeling
As computational power grows thanks to improving techniques and technology, scientists are working toward incorporating complex systems such as clouds into global and regional climate models.
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Aquifers Spew More Pollution into Oceans Than Rivers
A new model makes a direct estimate of contaminants in submarine groundwater discharge.
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Radar Shows Where Water and Ice Occur in Large Storms
Storms over the Indian Ocean show that precipitation type depends on oceanic airflow.
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Overriding Plate's Properties Affect Subduction
The properties of the plate that does not sink may strongly control subduction zone dynamics.
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Scientists Watch Solar Winds Blast Mercury's Magnetic Field
A NASA team used the MESSENGER spacecraft to analyze Mercury's magnetosphere during intense solar wind pressure.
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Do Cities Cause Thundersnow?
Analysis of lightning within a February 2011 snowstorm reveals that 73% of lightning flashes occurred close to tall, human-built structures.
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As Forests Age, Their Climate Effects Shift
The amount of moisture transpired from leaves increases for some tree species but drops on average.
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Glacial Debris Hints at Ancient Climate Change
Interspersed layers of debris in some of Antarctica's glaciers give clues to ancient swings in climate.
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Large-Scale Electric Currents May Flow Through Mercury’s Crust
NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft discovered electric currents in Mercury's magnetosphere directed toward and away from the planet. Do the currents reach the planet? If so, where do they go?