Tue
03/09 | Exclusive: Chile Earthquake Aerial Pictures
See exclusive views of tsunami-tossed boats, a collapsed bridge, and a crumbled cliff—scenes of the devastating toll of the February 27 Chile earthquake. |
Wed
03/10 | Pristine DNA discovered in fossilized eggshells
By Matt Kaplan Extremely well-preserved DNA discovered in the fossilized eggshells of extinct bird species suggests that they could be a source of ancient genetic material for sequencing efforts. Eggshells are commonly found at fossil sites worldwide. [More] |
Wed
03/10 | Invasion of the Drones: Unmanned Aircraft Take Off in Polar Exploration
A multinational, robotic air corps is quietly invading the polar regions of the earth. Some catapult from ships; some launch from running pickup trucks; and some take off the old-fashioned way, from icy airstrips. The aircraft range from remote-controlled propeller planes--of the type found at Toys “R” Us--to sophisticated, high-altitude jets. All are specially outfitted, not with weapons but with scientific instruments. Unmanned aircraft have made headlines in the mountains of Afghanistan, but the technology has quickly trickled down to scientists seeking a less expensive, safer way to study the earth’s poles. Researchers have begun to put unmanned aerial systems, or UASs, to a variety of tasks, from monitoring the ozone layer to counting seal populations. Thanks to lower costs and improved technologies, “it’s absolutely exploded in the past couple of years,” says Elizabeth Weatherhead, who is an environmental scientist at the University of Colorado at Boulder. [More] |
Tue
03/09 | Storing Megawatts: Liquid metal batteries and electricity
Making aluminum requires a lot of electricity. That's because the metal bonds tightly to oxygen and it takes a lot of energy to break that bond. In essence, the process of making aluminum is a giant battery with the silvery metal being reduced to purity at the cathode while oxygen bonds with the carbon anode to make, you guessed it, CO2. It takes roughly 15 kilowatt-hours of electricity to make just one kilogram of aluminum via electrolysis. [More] |
Tue
03/09 | Smokestash Industry: ARPA-E Seeks Breakthroughs in Carbon Capture Technology
WASHINGTON--Every second, our bodies capture carbon dioxide in our tissues, transport it via the blood, and dump it in the lungs from where it is exhaled. This unconscious process is yet another way humans contribute to the accumulation of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere--albeit in a miniscule volume compared with burning fossil fuels . The key to this metabolic process is an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase and it's efficiency at capturing and releasing CO2 is what human engineers want to mimic at the power plant scale. [More] |
Sat
03/06 | Chile Earthquake Video: Aftermath in Santa Cruz
Chile's February 27 earthquake caused an apartment building in this small city to collapse, killing 23. Video. |
Tue
03/09 | Seismic Science: Is number of earthquakes on the rise?
Are the recent earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and Turkey a coincidence or a sign of increases seismic activity? Dr. Michael Blanpied, associate program coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, takes your questions about the causes of the recent quakes, earthquake forecasting and more. |
Tue
03/09 | Trichodesmium: The world's most famous nitrogen fixer
Editor's Note: Journalist and crew member Kathryn Eident and scientist Jeremy Jacquot are traveling on board the RV Atlantis on a monthlong voyage to sample and study nitrogen fixation in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, among other research projects. This is the sixth blog post detailing this ongoing voyage of discovery for ScientificAmerican.com . Imagine you’re in space, floating high above the Earth. Picture the world’s oceans, glimmering sapphire under the heat of the sun and the protection of the ozone layer. Look closer, there’s a patch of brown in the middle of all that blue. It’s a bloom of phytoplankton called trichodesmium , a “world famous” nitrogen fixer. [More] |
Mon
03/08 | Turkey Earthquake Pictures: The Day After
A strong earthquake rattled eastern Turkey Sunday, killing at least 51 and crumbling minarets, barns, and flimsily built mud-brick houses. |
Tue
03/09 | Federal faces: David Fahey, research physicist at NOAA
Research physicist Earth System Research Laboratory, Chemical Sciences Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Best known for: Scientifically informed the Montreal Protocol by describing some of the causes of the hole in the Earth's ozone layer. Signed by about 200 countries, t... |
Mon
03/08 | Glaciers off the Antarctic Coast
Acquired March 8, 2010, this true-color image shows two icebergs, Iceberg B-09B and an iceberg recently broken off the Mertz Glacier, floating in the Southern Ocean, just off the George V Coast. |
Mon
03/08 | Chilean Quake May Have Shortened Earth Days
The Feb. 27 magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile may have shortened the length of each Earth day. |
Mon
03/08 | Salt-Seeking Satellite Shaken by Quake, But Not Stirred
NASA's Aquarius instrument, and the Argentinian spacecraft that will carry it into space, rode out the Feb. 27 Chilean earthquake without a scratch. |
Mon
03/08 | Research Team Breaks the Ice with New Estimate of Glacier Melt
The melting of glaciers is well documented, but when looking at the rate at which they have been retreating, a team of international researchers steps back and says not so fast. (Northern Arizona University press release) |
Mon
03/08 | Arctic Seabed Methane Stores Destabilizing, Venting
A section of the Arctic Ocean seafloor that holds vast stores of frozen methane is showing signs of instability and widespread venting of the powerful greenhouse gas, according to a new study. (University of Alaska Fairbanks press release) |
Mon
03/08 | For scientists, Chile becomes the ideal lab for studying seismic activity
TALCA, CHILE -- When an aftershock nearly as big as Haiti's earthquake jolted this city on Friday, those already reeling from last month's huge quake shuddered in fear. But Jeff Genrich, a 53-year-old earthquake scientist from California, lolled in bed. |
Fri
03/05 | Researchers in Chile Hit Hard by Quake
Scientists at research universities in several Chilean cities are reeling from last week's earthquake,... [Read more] |
Fri
03/05 | Undersea Arctic methane could wreak havoc on climate
The potent greenhouse gas appears to be seeping through the Arctic Ocean floor and into the Earth's atmosphere, research shows. |
Thu
03/04 | Podcast: Ancient Polar Bears, a Mitochondrial Medical Mystery, and More
Listen to a roundup of some of our favorite stories from the week [Read more] |
Thu
03/04 | Methane bubbles in Arctic seas stir warming fears
OSLO (Reuters) - Large amounts of a powerful greenhouse gas are bubbling up from a long-frozen seabed north of Siberia, raising fears of far bigger leaks that could stoke global warming, scientists said. |
Thu
03/04 | Glacier melting a key clue to tracking climate change
SINGAPORE/ANCHORAGE (Reuters) - The world has become far too hot for the aptly named Exit Glacier in Alaska. |
Wed
03/03 | USGS Scientists, Research Help Haiti Reconstruction
USGS scientists are helping Haitians lay the groundwork for reconstruction and long-term earthquake monitoring in the wake of the Jan. 12, 2010, magnitude-7 earthquake, by providing geologic research that will assist with the establishment of new building codes in the country. “USGS research will contribute to explicit recommendations to both the Haitian government and the international community that is assisting the reconstruction efforts,” said Walter Mooney, USGS research geophysicist, who recently returned from Haiti. The most recent USGS scientists traveling to Haiti are Carol Prentice and Rich Briggs, who arrived on Feb. 24, 2010. Prentice and Briggs will work with scientists from the University of Texas to measure coastal uplift. This USGS team of scientists is part of the Earthquake Disaster Assistance Team program, a new initiative between the USGS and the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. This research follows the work of Mooney and a team with expertise in seismology and earthquake engineering from the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, who were in Haiti between Jan. 26 and Feb. 3, 2010. This team, supported by the United States Southern Command, surveyed Port-au-Prince to understand the geologic and engineering factors that contributed to the greatest damage from the shaking. Mooney says new building codes for reconstruction in Haiti will be based, in part, on USGS research on geologic conditions that make some areas more at risk for damage than others. Currently, Haiti has no such standards in place, a factor that contributed to the recent widespread devastation. “It’s imperative that we move quickly,” he adds, “because in some areas reconstruction has already begun that may not withstand another earthquake of this magnitude.” Soil conditions, for example, play a big role in how a building fares during an earthquake. "Specifically, we found that buildings on harder, more stable bedrock fared much better than buildings on softer sediments, such as those located in the center of cities like Port-au-Prince and Leogane," Mooney said. The USGS scientists also installed seismic monitoring stations onto hard rock, as well as in the softer sedimentary basins. These monitoring stations precisely measure the location, frequency, and severity of the shaking, giving scientists the ability to assess the most dangerous and vulnerable areas. Though an earthquake of this magnitude has not occurred since 1860, another large earthquake could strike Haiti in the near future. Beyond the immediate research following this earthquake, long-term monitoring using GPS will measure changes in the movement of the fault that runs through Haiti. A PDF of the report from the USGS and Earthquake Engineering Research Institute team is now available online. For additional information on USGS research in Haiti, listen to a USGS podcast . Photos taken by Walter Mooney are available below. [Access images for this release at: <a href="http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2010_03_03a" mce_href="http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2010_03_03a">http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2010_03_03a</a>] |
Tue
03/02 | Chile earthquake may have shortened Earth's day
Earth's days may have gotten a little bit shorter since the massive earthquake in Chile, but don't feel bad if you haven't noticed. |
Tue
03/02 | With tax breaks, geothermal system promises deep cuts in heating, cooling costs
Just before Thanksgiving, my family swore off fossil fuels to heat and cool our 4,400-square-foot suburban home. Instead, we're relying on the Earth itself: We've converted to geothermal energy, which taps the constant temperature of the ground below our house. ¶ The project took us into complete... |
Tue
02/23 | USGS Updates Assessment of Earthquake Hazard and Safety in Haiti and the Caribbean
RESTON, Va. — The threat of additional damaging earthquakes in Haiti will remain for the next year. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) issued an update to its Jan. 21, 2010, statement, which includes the aftershock probabilities for the next 30-to-90-day period and for the overall year. U.S. Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt asked the team of USGS earthquake scientists to continue to provide an evaluation of the earthquakes facing Haiti now and in the future. Here is the updated statement in its entirety from the USGS: This statement revises and updates the statement issued by the USGS on Jan. 21, 2010. The magnitude-7 earthquake of Jan. 12, 2010, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, has generated a sharp increase in concerns about the potential for future earthquakes in Haiti and the surrounding region. These concerns extend to understanding the causes of the earthquake hazard and learning what can be done to ensure seismic safety in the future. The purpose of this statement is to convey our best judgment on these subjects. Aftershocks: The aftershock activity will continue for many months, although the frequency of events should diminish with time. Nevertheless, the threat of additional damaging earthquakes within the sequence remains. Based on the characteristics of the aftershock sequence observed so far, we estimate the probabilities of future aftershocks, as of February 23, 2010, as follows: Aftershock magnitude (M) 30-day period 90-day period 1-year period M 5 or greater 55% 80% 95% M 6 or greater 7% 15% 25% M 7 or greater 1 % 2 % 3 % Precautions: Any aftershock above magnitude 5.0 will be widely felt and has the potential to cause additional damage, particularly to vulnerable, already damaged structures. Everyone in the Port-au-Prince area must maintain awareness with regard to their personal earthquake safety. Individuals should always have in mind what action to take if the ground starts to shake. Open spaces are generally safe. If indoors, drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and wait for the shaking to stop. Do not go outdoors until the shaking stops. Only qualified engineers can determine if a damaged building is safe for reoccupation. Until engineering assistance arrives, a general rule to follow is: If it does not look safe, it probably is not safe. Entry into or reoccupation of obviously damaged structures should be avoided. Short-term concerns: The geologic fault that caused the Port-au-Prince earthquake is part of a seismically active zone between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates. The earthquake undoubtedly relieved some stress on the fault segment that ruptured during the event, but the extent of rupture along the fault is unclear at this time. Fault slip models, preliminary radar surface deformation measurements, and examination of satellite and airborne imagery for surface rupture suggest that the segment of the Enriquillo fault to the east of the January-12 epicenter and directly adjacent to Port-au-Prince did not slip appreciably in the earthquake. This implies that the Enriquillo fault zone near Port-au-Prince still stores sufficient strain to be released as a large, damaging earthquake during the lifetime of structures built during the reconstruction effort. In historic times, Haiti has experienced multiple large earthquakes, apparently on adjacent faults. Field studies and ground observations of fault offsets during this earthquake and in past events are essential to evaluate the potential for future earthquakes in proximity to Port-au-Prince. Long-term concerns: Over the past three centuries, earthquakes comparable to or stronger than the recent one have struck Haiti at least four times, including those in 1751 and 1770 that destroyed Port-au-Prince. We have estimated the probabilities of a future large earthquake on the Enriquillo fault . These estimates are based on techniques developed for earthquake hazard assessments in the United States. Our estimates indicate a probability range of 5 percent to 15 percent, less than one chance in six, for an earthquake of magnitude 7 on the Enriquillo fault near Port-au-Prince during the next 50 years. The range of probabilities is due to uncertainties in our current understanding of the seismicity and tectonics of the region. Further study of the historical seismicity and the geological characteristics of the Enriquillo fault zone will help to reduce the uncertainty. For comparison, the probability of a magnitude 7 or greater earthquake within the next 50 years on the Hayward-Rodgers Creek fault in the eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay region of California is about 15 percent. For the future: Given the estimates of earthquake hazard cited above, buildings in Port-au-Prince and environs will continue to be at risk from strong earthquake shaking. These risks can be minimized through the use of earthquake-resistant design and construction practices that apply the results of a comprehensive earthquake hazard assessment. It has been shown that the benefits of losses avoided through earthquake mitigation practices outweigh the costs. The probability estimates given above fall far short of a thorough seismic hazard assessment that takes into account all of the relevant information on the geology, tectonics, and seismicity of a region. Such assessments include maps of the levels of ground shaking expected over various time periods. Seismic hazards assessments, coupled with site-specific studies of rock and soil conditions and landslide susceptibility, are essential for land use planning and safe, cost-effective earthquake resistant construction. Regional concerns: The experience of the Port-au-Prince, Haiti, earthquake reveals a need for better understanding of the nature and extent of earthquake and tsunami hazard in the Caribbean region. This entire region is seismically active due to the relative motion between tectonic plates and is prone to damaging earthquakes: It is a small-scale “ring of fire” similar to that encircling the Pacific Ocean. Historical earthquakes greater than magnitude 7 have occurred in Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. Along the northern coast of Venezuela, the juncture of the Caribbean and South American plates has caused damaging earthquakes in the vicinity of Trinidad and Tobago. Earthquake safety policy, including building codes throughout the region, should be based on thorough seismic hazard assessments. A current map of aftershocks can be accessed online and you can listen to various podcast interviews about the Haiti earthquake and aftershocks at the USGS CoreCast Web site . |
Mon
02/22 | Ice Shelves Disappearing on Antarctic Peninsula
Ice shelves are retreating in the southern section of the Antarctic Peninsula due to climate change. This could result in glacier retreat and sea-level rise if warming continues, threatening coastal communities and low-lying islands worldwide. Research by the U.S. Geological Survey is the first to document that every ice front in the southern part of the Antarctic Peninsula has been retreating overall from 1947 to 2009, with the most dramatic changes occurring since 1990. The USGS previously documented that the majority of ice fronts on the entire Peninsula have also retreated during the late 20 th century and into the early 21 st century. Related Podcasts Disappearing Ice Shelves on Antarctic Peninsula Download directly | Details or subscribe by e-mail . The ice shelves are attached to the continent and already floating, holding in place the Antarctic ice sheet that covers about 98 percent of the Antarctic continent. As the ice shelves break off, it is easier for outlet glaciers and ice streams from the ice sheet to flow into the sea. The transition of that ice from land to the ocean is what raises sea level. “This research is part of a larger ongoing USGS project that is for the first time studying the entire Antarctic coastline in detail, and this is important because the Antarctic ice sheet contains 91 percent of Earth’s glacier ice,” said USGS scientist Jane Ferrigno. “The loss of ice shelves is evidence of the effects of global warming. We need to be alert and continually understand and observe how our climate system is changing.” The Peninsula is one of Antarctica’s most rapidly changing areas because it is farthest away from the South Pole, and its ice shelf loss may be a forecast of changes in other parts of Antarctica and the world if warming continues. Retreat along the southern part of the Peninsula is of particular interest because that area has the Peninsula’s coolest temperatures, demonstrating that global warming is affecting the entire length of the Peninsula. The Antarctic Peninsula’s southern section as described in this study contains five major ice shelves: Wilkins, George VI, Bach, Stange and the southern portion of Larsen Ice Shelf. The ice lost since 1998 from the Wilkins Ice Shelf alone totals more than 4,000 square kilometers, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. The USGS is working collaboratively on this project with the British Antarctic Survey, with the assistance of the Scott Polar Research Institute and Germany’s Bundesamt fűr Kartographie und Geodäsie. The research is also part of the USGS Glacier Studies Project, which is monitoring and describing glacier extent and change over the whole planet using satellite imagery. The report, “ Coastal-Change and Glaciological Map of the Palmer Land Area, Antarctica: 1947—2009 ” and its accompanying map is available online. The other completed reports in the Coastal Change and Glaciological Maps of Antarctica series can be viewed online . [Access images for this release at: <a href="http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2010_02_22" mce_href="http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR_2010_02_22">http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2010_02_22</a>] |
Wed
02/17 | NOAA National Weather Service to Use New Hurricane Wind Scale
NOAA's National Weather Service will use a new hurricane scale this season called the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The scale keeps the same wind speed ranges as the original Saffir-Simpson Scale but storm surge and flooding prediction have been dropped. |
Tue
02/09 | Haitian earthquake seems to have had little impact on country's ecosystem
The human toll of the earthquake in Haiti has been devastating, but what, if anything, does the disaster mean for the environment? |
Mon
02/01 | Meeting Tomorrow's Challenges: Start with Science
In a fiscally responsible budget that emphasizes cost containment, management efficiencies and program savings, the President's proposed $1.1 billion budget for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in fiscal year 2011 reflects his commitment to use science as the basis for natural resource management decisions. "Science is a cornerstone for sound decision making," said Marcia McNutt, USGS director. "Today's complex, interrelated natural resource issues—such as climate change, energy conservation and development, and water quality and availability—demand that policy makers and managers start with timely, unbiased science. The President’s budget supports that vital perspective." Because of the significant role USGS plays in climate change monitoring and adaptation, energy, ecosystems, and other priorities, the 2011 budget represents an increase of $21.6 million from the FY 2010 enacted level. Major USGS program increases proposed are summarized below. For more detailed information on the President’s proposed USGS FY 2011 budget, visit the FY 2011 Budget and Related Information Web site . New Energy Frontier $3.0 million The USGS will work closely with Department of the Interior bureaus to provide the scientific information needed to make decisions concerning permitting, implementing, and operating wind facilities on public lands by using USGS research, modeling, and monitoring to assess the ecological impacts to fish and wildlife. In 2011, USGS efforts will begin in the Great Plains and offshore Cape Cod region and will work toward developing an assessment methodology that can be applied nationwide. Climate Change Adaptation $11.0 million Management and policy decisions made in response to climate change impacts must be informed by science. The USGS will continue to assist the Department of the Interior in the development of regional climate science centers that provide climate change impact data and analysis geared to the needs of the fish and wildlife management community, in partnership with other Federal, State, university and other non-governmental partners. Additionally, the USGS will continue to assess biological carbon sequestration options and develop decision-support tools through the USGS Global Change program. WaterSMART $9.0 million Water shortages and water-use conflicts have become more commonplace in many areas of the United States. Water is essential to the economic security of individual communities and the economic vitality and environmental health of our nation as a whole. The USGS will begin an assessment of the availability and use of water resources in the United States in FY 2011. The information will provide tools to address a new set of water resource challenges, including aging infrastructure, rapid population growth, depletion of groundwater resources, water quality impairments associated with land uses, and climate variability. Treasured Landscapes: The Chesapeake Bay $3.6 million President Obama issued an Executive Order in May 2009 directing Federal agencies to use their expertise and resources to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. The USGS will support restoration strategies by providing tools and science for assessing climate change impacts and adaptation, for conserving landscapes, and for restoring habitats, fish and wildlife, in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards $4.0 million The USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project in Southern California will continue to support emergency planning by developing earthquake early warning capabilities and conducting impact analysis of environmental, human-health and ecosystem responses to earthquakes and other hazards. This project will be expanded into the coastal communities of Alaska, and the USGS will invest in earthquake, tsunami and volcano science to support community planning in the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, the USGS proposes to add a volcanic earthquake detection role to the USGS National Earthquake Information Center, which will provide critical early warning to give observatories and affected communities time to plan and prepare for an eruption. Landsat Data Continuity $13.4 million Scientists, educators and the general public around the globe use USGS Landsat data for a wide array of activities ranging from supporting disaster relief efforts to making agricultural crop assessments to identifying sites for cell phone towers. The USGS will accommodate ground-system requirement changes for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission associated with moving the Operational Land Imager to a free-flying satellite and the addition of a Thermal Infrared Sensor on board the spacecraft. These activities are required to meet the mission launch in December 2012. Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning $4.0 million The Department of the Interior has substantial coastal and ocean resource management responsibilities and a critical role in implementing the Administration's National Ocean Policy. USGS mapping, monitoring and research provide information to assess the status and vulnerability of ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources. The USGS will engage with other Department of the Interior bureaus and Federal agencies to make available an information framework that provides critical information for coastal and marine planning. |
Tue
01/19 | NOAA Produces Images of Haiti for First Responders
A specially equipped NOAA jet conducted aerial surveys of earthquake-stricken Haiti on Jan. 17 and 18 as part of NOAA’s effort to help responders assess damage and plan recovery efforts. |
Mon
11/30 | Slow Atlantic Hurricane Season Comes to a Close
The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season officially ends today marking the close of a season with the fewest named storms and hurricanes since 1997 thanks, in part, to El Niño. |
Fri
11/13 | Storm Wreaks Havoc in Mid-Atlantic
Hurricane Ida remnants will continue to churn along the mid-Atlantic coast through Saturday. The storm is causing widespread rainfall and gale-force winds from southern Virginia into southern New England. Some areas will continue to experience significant coastal flooding, above-normal high tides and dangerous storm surge. |
Sun
11/08 | Tracking Tropical Storm Ida
Ida is weakening over the Gulf of Mexico, but is still forecast to bring heavy rain and gusty winds to parts of the northern U.S. Gulf Coast. Get the latest information from NOAA’s National Weather Service. |
Fri
08/28 | NOAA Study: Nitrous Oxide Now Top Ozone-Depleting Emission
Nitrous oxide has now become the largest ozone-depleting substance emitted through human activities, and is expected to remain the largest throughout the 21st century, NOAA scientists say in a new study. |
Thu
08/20 | Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke Approves Fisheries Plan for Arctic
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke today approved a plan to prohibit the expansion of commercial fishing in federal Arctic waters until researchers gather sufficient information on fish and the Arctic marine environment. |
Mon
08/10 | NOAA Joins Other U.S. Agencies and Canada to Survey the Arctic Continental Shelf
NOAA will join a multi-agency joint expedition to collect and share data useful to both countries in defining the full extent of the Arctic continental shelf. |
Thu
08/06 | NOAA Lowers Hurricane Season Outlook, Cautions Public Not to Let Down Guard
According to its August Atlantic hurricane season outlook, NOAA now expects a near- to below-normal Atlantic hurricane season, as the calming effects of El Niño continue to develop. But scientists say the season’s quiet start does not guarantee quiet times ahead. |
Thu
05/21 | NOAA Projects Near-Normal Atlantic Hurricane Season, Encourages Preparedness
NOAA’s National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center calls for a 50 percent probability of a near-normal season, a 25 percent probability of an above-normal season and a 25 percent probability of a below-normal season. |
Thu
05/21 | NOAA Predicts Normal or Below Normal Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season
NOAA’s National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center announced that projected climate conditions point to a 40 percent probability of a below normal season, a 40 percent probability of a near normal season, and a 20 percent probably of an above normal season. |
Mon
05/11 | National Tornado Experiment Begins
VORTEX2, the largest-ever field program to study how tornadoes form and dissipate, has hit the road. Follow live reports from NOAA's National Severe Storm Laboratory Web site. |
Thu
02/05 | New NOAA Satellite Launched
NOAA's new polar-orbiting environmental satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California today to support NOAA’s efforts to forecast and monitor the environment. |
Thu
01/29 | Report: Arctic Region Underprepared for Maritime Accidents
Existing infrastructure for responding to maritime accidents in the Arctic is limited; more needs to be done to enhance emergency response capacity as Arctic sea ice declines and ship traffic increases according to a UNH/NOAA report. |
Mon
01/26 | Study: Climate Change Largely Irreversible
A pioneering study, led by NOAA senior scientist Susan Solomon, shows how changes in surface temperature, rainfall, and sea level are largely irreversible for more than 1,000 years after carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are completely stopped. |
Wed
11/26 | Atlantic Hurricane Season Sets Records
The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season produced a record number of consecutive storms to strike the United States and ranks as one of the more active seasons in the 64 years since comprehensive records began. |
Wed
09/17 | Texas Coastline Photos
A collection of more than 4,000 aerial photos are now available showing the damaged Texas coastline in the wake of Hurricane Ike. This imagery was acquired by NOAA's Remote Sensing Division to support NOAA's national security and emergency response activities. |
Wed
09/17 | NOAA Aids with Hurricane Ike Recovery
Responders from NOAA are on the move as residents and businesses in Texas and Louisiana recover from the effects of Hurricane Ike. |
Wed
09/03 | NOAA Assists with Gustav Recovery Efforts
Responders from NOAA are on the move as residents and businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas assess the impacts of Hurricane Gustav. |
Fri
08/22 | Fay Downgraded to Tropical Depression
View the latest forecasts from NOAA's National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service as Fay brings heavy rain to parts of Mississippi and Louisiana. |
Mon
08/18 | Tracking Tropical Storm Fay
Check with NOAA's National Hurricane Center for the latest forecast for Fay in the western Atlantic Ocean. |
Thu
08/07 | Increased Chances for Above-Normal Atlantic Hurricane Season
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center has increased the likelihood of an above-normal hurricane season and raised the total number of named storms and hurricanes that may form. |
Mon
08/11 | Bush Administration More Than Quadruples 2009 Hurricane Forecast Improvement Budget Request to $17 Million
The Bush Administration is bolstering funding for hurricane research and forecast improvements by $13 million to accelerate NOAA scientists’ ability to more accurately forecast tropical storms, hurricane intensity, the paths of these storms, and related storm surges. |
Mon
07/28 | Hurricane Dolly Offers Silver Lining To Some Drought Stricken Texas Counties
The remnants of Hurricane Dolly have provided a mixed bag of damaging floods and welcome drought relief for residents of south Texas. |
Fri
07/25 | NOAA Rapid Response Helps Ensure Safe Navigation
NOAA's Office of Coast Survey's Navigational Response Teams are scanning the seabed of the Brownsville shipping channel for debris and other navigation hazards in the wake of Hurricane Dolly to ensure the safe passage of vessels in and out of the port. |
Fri
07/25 | Weakening Dolly Moves Into Mexico
Rain and the threat of flooding will diminish across Southwest Texas as the remnants of Tropical Depression Dolly move westward across northern Mexico. NOAAWatch has the latest storm information. |
Mon
07/14 | Tracking Tropical Storm Bertha
Check with NOAA's National Hurricane Center for the latest forecast for Bertha in the western Atlantic Ocean. |
Wed
06/04 | Tornado Season Could Be Record
This year may set records for tornadoes and tornado-related deaths. Only halfway through the season and there have already been 111 tornado-related deaths, making it the deadliest tornado season since 1998. |
Mon
06/02 | Hurricane Preparedness
Reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. Learn what to do before, during and after a storm at NOAA’s Hurricane Preparedness Web site. |
Thu
06/05 | Severe Storms for Central USA
NOAA's National Weather Service is forecasting severe weather through this weekend in parts of the central U.S. Be sure to have a NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards for life-saving warning information. |
Wed
05/21 | Government Lab Selected to Develop Key NPOESS Sensor
The NPOESS Integrated Program Office has selected the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to develop the microwave imager/sounder sensor planned for the next generation of polar-orbiting weather satellites. The sensor will bring improved data and imagery, paving the way for better weather forecasts, severe-weather monitoring and climate change assessment. |
| USGS recent earthquakes
(magnitude greater than 5)
M 5.8, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 11, 2010 19:28:08 GMT
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M 5.1, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 11, 2010 17:18:50 GMT
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M 5.3, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 11, 2010 16:56:33 GMT
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M 5.0, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 11, 2010 16:23:52 GMT
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M 5.4, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 11, 2010 15:26:18 GMT
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M 6.0, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 11, 2010 15:06:03 GMT
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M 6.7, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 11, 2010 14:55:30 GMT
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M 6.9, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 11, 2010 14:39:48 GMT
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M 5.1, Araucania, Chile
March 11, 2010 12:44:06 GMT
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M 5.1, Tonga
March 11, 2010 12:31:26 GMT
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M 5.6, South Sandwich Islands region
March 11, 2010 06:22:19 GMT
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M 5.5, offshore Valparaiso, Chile
March 10, 2010 12:20:59 GMT
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M 5.1, offshore Bio-Bio, Chile
March 10, 2010 09:37:59 GMT
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M 5.1, off the coast of Libertador O'Higgins, Chile
March 10, 2010 08:45:23 GMT
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M 5.2, central Mid-Atlantic Ridge
March 10, 2010 08:07:24 GMT
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M 5.1, Vanuatu
March 10, 2010 05:19:06 GMT
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M 5.4, Bio-Bio, Chile
March 10, 2010 02:41:49 GMT
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M 5.1, offshore Valparaiso, Chile
March 09, 2010 22:10:47 GMT
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M 5.0, off the coast of Libertador O'Higgins, Chile
March 09, 2010 21:59:23 GMT
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M 5.7, Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
March 09, 2010 14:06:52 GMT
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M 5.1, south of the Fiji Islands
March 09, 2010 12:42:44 GMT
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M 5.2, Samar, Philippines
March 09, 2010 06:00:41 GMT
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M 5.1, Valparaiso, Chile
March 08, 2010 18:43:29 GMT
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M 5.3, offshore Valparaiso, Chile
March 08, 2010 18:08:03 GMT
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M 5.4, offshore Valparaiso, Chile
March 08, 2010 17:50:48 GMT
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M 5.7, Salta, Argentina
March 08, 2010 17:03:18 GMT
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M 5.0, offshore Valparaiso, Chile
March 08, 2010 16:49:52 GMT
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M 5.0, offshore Bio-Bio, Chile
March 08, 2010 16:04:10 GMT
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M 5.0, Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands
March 08, 2010 11:37:35 GMT
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M 6.0, Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands
March 08, 2010 09:47:10 GMT
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M 5.5, eastern Turkey
March 08, 2010 07:47:40 GMT
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M 6.1, eastern Turkey
March 08, 2010 02:32:34 GMT
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M 5.4, offshore Bio-Bio, Chile
March 07, 2010 23:46:57 GMT
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M 5.5, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 07, 2010 22:00:36 GMT
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M 5.0, Mariana Islands region
March 07, 2010 16:15:33 GMT
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M 5.8, Bio-Bio, Chile
March 07, 2010 15:59:44 GMT
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M 5.1, State of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia
March 07, 2010 07:51:11 GMT
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M 6.3, southern East Pacific Rise
March 07, 2010 07:05:24 GMT
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M 5.0, Rota region, Northern Mariana Islands
March 06, 2010 17:53:47 GMT
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M 5.6, Kuril Islands
March 06, 2010 13:31:14 GMT
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M 5.4, Vanuatu
March 06, 2010 12:10:57 GMT
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M 5.0, offshore Libertador O'Higgins, Chile
March 06, 2010 03:09:31 GMT
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M 5.0, western Mongolia
March 06, 2010 00:33:02 GMT
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M 6.8, southern Sumatra, Indonesia
March 05, 2010 16:07:01 GMT
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M 5.0, Maule, Chile
March 05, 2010 12:28:58 GMT
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M 5.3, Bio-Bio, Chile
March 05, 2010 12:01:53 GMT
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M 6.6, offshore Bio-Bio, Chile
March 05, 2010 11:47:10 GMT
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M 5.1, Halmahera, Indonesia
March 05, 2010 10:14:26 GMT
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M 6.0, offshore Bio-Bio, Chile
March 05, 2010 09:19:37 GMT
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M 5.2, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 05, 2010 03:55:18 GMT
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M 5.7, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
March 05, 2010 03:34:32 GMT
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M 6.3, Antofagasta, Chile
March 04, 2010 22:39:25 GMT
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