Observations from the newest geostationary Earth-observing satellites are offering valuable views of fire progression and smoke plume development and helping simulate impacts from large wildfires.
everything atmospheric
Dust on the Wind
A new study confirms that an important wind system is shifting due to climate change.
Seeing Stripes in the Atmosphere of a Brown Dwarf
A planet-hunting satellite’s observations of the nearby system Luhman 16 AB reveal bands of clouds, high-speed jets, and polar vortices.
Podcast: A Modern Way to Look for Aliens
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence is undergoing a 21st century transformation. The field is poised to lead the way as an example of interdisciplinary research and inclusive science.
Ancient Eruption May Change Our Understanding of Modern Volcanoes
Bubbles trapped in magma from a 1,000-year-old event reveal how scoria cones might erupt and what impact they may have on the landscape and atmosphere.
Deciphering Reactive Nitrogen Emissions from Wildfire Smoke
In-situ data gathered from an aircraft flying over 23 western US wildfires in 2018 reveal the importance of reduced nitrogen, shedding insights on ozone and aerosol formation from wildfires.
Charting Satellite Courses in a Crowded Thermosphere
As the number of satellites in low Earth orbit grows by leaps and bounds, accurate calculations of the effects of atmospheric drag on their trajectories are becoming critically important.
Newly Identified Instabilities Enhance Atmospheric Turbulence
New high-resolution imaging and modeling reveal the first evidence of enhanced turbulence due to gravity wave modulation of Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities.
To Make Better Hurricane Models, Consider Air Pollution
New research uses Hurricane Harvey as a case study to demonstrate the devastating power of aerosols to supercharge tropical storms.
Dust from Receding Glaciers May Have Major Atmospheric Impacts
New research is helping scientists understand how Arctic dust created by receding glaciers affects local air quality and global climate.
