Joint Polar Satellite System-1 is the first in a series of planned polar-orbiting satellites to provide critical weather forecasting data. Two follow-on satellites, however, face uncertain funding.
Climate Change
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Satellites Accurately Capture Ocean Salinity in the Arctic
On-the-ground measurements are notoriously difficult in the harsh environment of the Arctic, but satellites could help close the gap in measuring sea surface salinity.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Is Global Warming Suppressing Canonical El Niño?
A study explores the relationship between diverse El Niño events and the background state of the tropical Pacific.
Posted inScience Updates
Pine Island Glacier and Ice Sheet Stability in West Antarctica
The iSTAR Programme Science Integration Meeting; Leeds, United Kingdom, 18–19 May 2017
Posted inOpinions
Maintaining Momentum in Climate Model Development
As the current funding for climate process teams comes to an end, scientists emphasize the continuing need for teams that translate basic research into improved climate models.
Posted inEditors' Vox
Future Looks Drier as Drylands Continue to Expand
A recent article in Reviews of Geophysics examined the areas of land globally that are classified as drylands and the impact of their growth on human communities.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Atmospheric Particles Aren’t the Same Cloud Seeds They Once Were
Still, more than half of the seeds required for cloud droplets to form in both the present-day and preindustrial atmospheres are made by trace gases that condense to form minute aerosol particles.
Posted inNews
Experts Ponder Why Administration Released Tough Climate Report
Scientists and policy experts say the White House released the report, which differs from the administration’s stance, without political tampering to avoid potential further controversy.
Posted inFeatures
How Will Climate Change Affect the United States in Decades to Come?
A new U.S. government report shows that climate is changing and that human activities will lead to many more changes. These changes will affect sea levels, drought frequency, severe precipitation, and more.
Posted inOpinions
Monitoring Coastal Zone Changes from Space
The resilience of coastal communities depends on an integrated, worldwide coastal monitoring effort. Satellite observations provide valuable data on global to local scales.