Sea ice is a fundamental regulator of Earth’s climate and an increasingly urgent forecast target itself. Can we trust the AI systems now being built to predict it?
forecasting
Scientists Zero In on Tiny Particles to Improve Weather and Air Quality Forecasts
A new method for handling satellite aerosol observations boosts simulation accuracy, with potential benefits for weather and climate forecasting.
Distant Oceans May Help Predict Malaria Risk in Malawi
A new study finds that ocean temperatures thousands of kilometers away shape soil moisture in Malawi, offering a potential tool for forecasting malaria outbreaks months in advance.
What Drives Derechos? The First Derecho Archive Could Help Meteorologists Figure It Out.
Researchers can now use 70 years of data to examine the conditions that create these destructive windstorms.
Vast Space, Sparse Data: An AI Answer to Twin Space Weather Challenges
Modern machine learning and AI methods can help heliophysics researchers and space weather forecasters overcome limitations from a dearth of observations and the infrequency of extreme events.
From Volcanic Vents to Safer Skies
Improved estimates of Eruption Source Parameters can sharpen forecasts of volcanic plume rise and ash dispersal, supporting aviation safety and hazard response.
NOAA Forecasts a Below-Average Hurricane Season
A potentially record-breaking El Niño may reduce the likelihood of storms, but the agency still stressed the importance of preparedness.
Keeping Humans in the Loop Improves Flood Forecasting
Artificial intelligence and machine learning can improve flood predictions—but human expertise still matters for accurate warnings, new research says.
2026 Has Already Broken Climate Records. El Niño Could Break More.
As the midpoint of the year approaches, several climate records have already been broken. Arctic winter sea ice extent reached a record low. Several countries saw record-breaking winter heat waves. And more than 150 million acres have already burned globally in wildfires.
Most of the U.S. West Will Face Above-Normal Wildfire Risk This Summer
The National Interagency Fire Center predicts elevated wildfire potential across much of the West and many Southeast states through August.
