What's New
Click image to see full graphic (Source: NOAA Climate.gov)
Despite rapid Arctic warming, plan for more frigid spells
New research on the Arctic confirms that even as the Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world, cold-air outbreaks from the polar region will continue across the Northern Hemisphere in the coming decades.
The big challenge now is to better understand what triggers these cold-air outbreak events and how to improve their predictability.
Much of the previous research has shown how a weakening of the stratospheric polar vortex can allow pockets of frigid air to plunge much farther south than normal. The new study, conducted by an international team including Arctic researchers from NOAA, provides additional insights as to how other influences - stalled weather systems, stretching of the stratospheric polar vortex and even events in the distant midlatitudes can influence these polar patterns.
"A better understanding of these Arctic-midlatitude... more
PMEL in the News
Experts said they were "blind" to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Twenty years later, working toward a world without tsunami deaths is a challenge.
Warning systems for the deadly waves now exist in oceans around the world.
As the Northern Bering Sea ecosystem emerges from the extraordinary warmth that wreaked havoc on Alaska fisheries, wildlife and communities, a study warns of likely future occurrences.
Feature Publication
Uncrewed Surface Vessels, like this Saildrone, offer a cost-effective way to greatly increase ocean observations. Credit: Saildrone.
The global ocean covers 71% of the planet. Across these vast spaces, interactions between the ocean and atmosphere are primary drivers of Earth's weather, climate and marine productivity.
Satellites, instrumented moorings, and infrequent... more