Here’s a rundown of what this atmospheric phenomenon really is and why it matters.
seasonal variation
Posted inNews
Rare Wintertime Thunderstorms Recorded over the U.S. Gulf Coast
“Thundersnow”—thunderstorm activity accompanying a winter storm—was spotted near southern Texas earlier this year.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Thawing Permafrost May Cause Streams to Cool
Permafrost thawing associated with climate warming increases contributions to streamflow by deeper, cooler groundwater flow paths, which may result in lower summer stream temperatures.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Why are Earthquakes on the San Andreas Seasonally Modulated?
There is growing evidence that some earthquakes occur seasonally but also that water loading cannot explain these observations.
Posted inEditors' Vox
Summer Monsoons: Regional Manifestations of a Global System
New insights from observations and theory suggest that the essential drivers of Earth’s summer monsoons are not as obvious as was previously thought.
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.