According to independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Earth’s global surface temperatures in 2019 were the second warmest since modern recordkeeping began in 1880. Globally, 2019 temperatures were second only to those of 2016, and continued the planet’s long-term warming trend: the past five years have been the warmest of the last 140 years….
Rossby waves naturally occur in rotating fluids. Within the Earth’s ocean and atmosphere, these waves form as a result of the rotation of the planet. These Rossby waves play a significant role in shaping weather and climate. An animation from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center shows both long and short atmospheric waves as indicated by the jet stream. The colors represent the speed of…
A seven-meter (23-foot) long, wind-powered unmanned surface vehicle (USV) called a Saildrone has become the first unmanned system to circumnavigate Antarctica. The vehicle, known as SD 1020, was equipped with a suite of climate-grade sensors, and collected data in previously unchartered waters, enabling new key insights into ocean and climate processes. The 196-day mission was launched from Southport in Bluff,…