Short-term forecasts of precipitation and convection can be improved when lightning data are assimilated in the Weather Research and Forecasting system.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
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 inResearch Spotlights
Ocean Showers Power the Global Electric Circuit
Satellite measurements confirm hundred-year-old observations collected by boat.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
The Microphysics of Squall Lines
Scientists tracked the distribution of raindrops of different sizes as a row of thunderstorms formed by a cold front developed and intensified over eastern China.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How the Micrometeorology of Alpine Forests Affects Snowmelt
A field study in the Swiss Alps showed considerable spatial and temporal variability in forest air and surface temperatures, with implications for snowmelt models.
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New Data Record Extends History of Global Air Pollution
Researchers extend long-term aerosol records to the past 40 years by combining two existing algorithms to process satellite data over both land and sea.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
New Technique Could Help Scientists Track Nitrous Oxide Sources
A long-term study in Switzerland reveals the promise of a new method to determine isotopic composition of the potent greenhouse gas.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How Storm Turbulence Can Spark Lightning
The turbulent pockets of air inside storms can help to build up static electricity in the atmosphere, according to a new study.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Sorting Waves in the Sky
Gravity waves in the atmosphere drive weather around the globe. A new study helps interpret gravity wave data and identify annual patterns of this atmospheric mechanism.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Using Multiple Satellites Gives a Fuller View of Cloud Structure
The unique strengths of different satellites reveal different facets of cloud systems and precipitation.