New insights from observations and theory suggest that the essential drivers of Earth’s summer monsoons are not as obvious as was previously thought.
seasonal variability
Posted inNews
Reindeer Have to Eat Up to Survive the Winter
Arctic biologists use 25 years of data to find that warmer autumns might be enough to increase the odds of reindeer’s winter survival on Svalbard.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
A Census of Snowdrifts in Northern Alaska
Snowdrifts prove less ephemeral than they might seem, occurring in the same places year after year.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Autonomous Minisubmarine Measures Seawater Conditions
Forecasts of carbonate chemistry in coastal ecosystems determined from seasonal robotic measurements can improve fisheries management and help mitigate short-term ocean acidification events.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
An Extraordinary Winter in the Polar North
An exceptionally strong stratospheric polar vortex coincided with a record-breaking Arctic Oscillation pattern and ozone destruction during the 2019–2020 winter season.
Posted inNews
Winter Drought Relief Unlikely in Western U.S.
This year is still on track to be one of the hottest years on record around the globe.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Meiyu: The Dragon Dictating Rainfall Variability in East Asia
According to Chinese myth, rain is water poured out of a dragon; in reality is the Meiyu that dictates rainfall in eastern Asia, producing rain belts jumping from south in spring to north in summer.
Posted inNews
Early Sprouting of Leaves Enhances Northern Hemisphere Warming
As leaf out has been advancing 4–5 days per decade, scientists say the effect of vegetation on climate remains poorly understood.
Posted inNews
Cleaner Air Takes Some of the Bite out of European Winters
Scientists find that reduced aerosol emissions correspond to fewer extremely cold days.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Extreme Summer Heat over Europe Is Predictable Week-to-Week
Forecasts made one to a few weeks in advance, known as “subseasonal to seasonal” predictions, show more skill in predicting extreme summer heat waves over Europe than spells of normal or cold weather.