By studying past volcanic eruptions, scientists find that the amount of water vapor reaching the stratosphere during moderately explosive eruptions may not be contributing to the greenhouse effect.
everything atmospheric
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Tracking Ions at the Edge of the Atmosphere
The first results from a recently launched satellite hold promise for studying solar storms, the very top of Earth's ionosphere, and how the atmosphere is evolving.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Volcanic Eruptions Stir an Already Complex Atmosphere
A study of Earth's atmospheric response to major volcanic eruptions seeks to reconcile contradictions between observations and climate models.
Posted inScience Updates
Characterizing Climate Fluctuations over Wide-Scale Ranges
Scale and Scaling in the Climate System; Jouvence, Quebec, Canada, 5–7 October 2015
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Mysteries of the Magnetosphere
Scientists investigate how dipolarization fronts in Earth's protective magnetosphere interact with the environment around them.
Posted inNews
Antarctica's Ozone Hole Is Healing, Scientists Say
The ozone hole over Antarctica has shrunk by 16% since its peak in 2000, and some suspect it may disappear entirely by midcentury.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
What Causes Heavy Rainfall?
Scientists investigate atmospheric conditions that correlate to heavy rainfall in the midlatitudes.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Solar Wind Disconnects Venus’s Magnetotail
Polarity reversals in the solar wind magnetic field disconnect the magnetic field trailing behind Venus, allowing ions from the atmosphere to escape.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
A (Dust) Devil of a Time—on Mars
New computer simulations of Martian dust devils could aid Red Planet weather forecasts.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Patches of Low Electron Density Help to Heat the Ionosphere
Simulations show how changes in electron density can trap electromagnetic waves and heat electrons in the ionosphere.