After maritime shipping emissions were sharply reduced following a mandated switch in fuels, University of Utah atmospheric scientists sprang into action to see how the change would affect cloud formation over North Atlantic. Review of satellite observations and weather data determined few droplets formed, yet the clouds’ ability to reflect sunlight remained surprisingly stable.

Researchers at the University of Kansas have shown the National Severe Storms Laboratory’s Warn-on-Forecast System(WoFS) has potential to help weather forecasters issue warnings to emergency managers and the general public well before tornado formation. Their study appears in the peer-reviewed journal Weather and Forecasting.

Methane eating microbes could help turn a powerful greenhouse gas into everyday products like animal feed, green plastics, and cleaner fuels, according to a new scientific review of fast moving research on these unusual bacteria. The study highlights how methane consuming communities, known as methanotrophs, are emerging as biological “gatekeepers” that can both curb climate warming emissions and convert waste gases into valuable resources.

A new study published in Big Earth Data evaluates ten satellite-based and reanalysis precipitation datasets available in Google Earth Engine using rain gauge observations across Czechia from 2001 to 2021. The results show that the gauge-adjusted GSMaP dataset provides the highest overall accuracy, while ERA5-Land performs well for long-term analyses despite systematic overestimation. The findings offer clear guidance for selecting reliable precipitation datasets for hydrological, climate, and environmental applications, particularly in regions with complex terrain.

Atmospheric scientist Amanda Staudt will join the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the professional society for weather, water, and climate sciences and services, as its new executive director in March 2026.