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☆ Drought-stricken Mexico is flying planes into clouds to make it rain
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In July, the country kicked off the latest phase of a cloud seeding project that aims to artificially stimulate rainfall. However, some scientists remain very cautious about the effectiveness of cloud seeding and warn that it is not a solution to drought. Jose Luis Gonzalez/ReutersMexico contends that its current cloud seeding project, which it has been running since December 2020, has had a positive impact. “But is the rain from cloud seeding or is it not from cloud seeding? Cloud seeding “should be considered only as one element” in a much broader strategy, wrote García and Martínez.

Persons: Roelef, Bruintjes, Jose Luis Gonzalez, ”, Fernando García García, Guillermo Montero Martínez Organizations: CNN, Ministry of Agriculture, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Startup, Reuters, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development Locations: Mexico, United States, China, Coyame, Chihuahua, Reuters Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho

☆ Colorado River Basin has lost 10 trillion gallons -- enough water to fill Lake Mead, study shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Rising temperatures have sucked more than 10 trillion gallons of water out of the Colorado River Basin between 2000 and 2021 – a volume about the size of Lake Mead – according to a recent study. The Tier 1 shortage took effect in January 2022; a Tier 2 shortage – due to even lower water levels at Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir – was implemented in January 2023. Last summer in particular set off alarm bells when the water level in Lake Mead dropped an astonishing 20 feet over the course of four months. Mead, fed by the Colorado River, fell to its lowest level to-date in July 2022, with lake elevation of 1040 feet. “Even though there’s been a wet winter, there’s still going to be that 10% reduction in runoff.”The Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon on the Hualapai reservation.

Persons: Lake Mead –, ” Benjamin Bass, “, John Locher, Lake Mead, Mead, ” Bass, Bass, there’s, Ethan Gutmann, ”, ” Gutmann Organizations: CNN, UCLA, Water Resources Research, AP State, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration Locations: Colorado, Lake, American, Lake Mead, snowier

☆ These are the 10 American states that are the most prepared for extreme weather
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Scott Cohn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

But NOAA puts the Ohio Valley at the low end of its Climate Extremes Index, which considers temperatures, precipitation, drought and hurricanes. 2023 Infrastructure score: 205 out of 390 points (Top States grade: C+) Climate Extremes Index: 8.7% Properties at risk: 2.1% Renewable energy: 12.3%8. 2023 Infrastructure score: 231 out of 390 points (Top States grade: B) Climate Extremes Index: 23.68% Properties at risk: 4.2% Renewable energy: 42.5%5. 2023 Infrastructure score: 254 out of 390 points (Top States grade: A-) Climate Extremes Index: 8.7% Properties at risk: 2.7% Renewable energy: 34.6%2. 2023 Infrastructure score: 193 out of 390 points (Top States grade: C) Climate Extremes Index: 19.78% Properties at risk: 9% Renewable energy: 84%1.

Persons: Jeremy Porter, they're, Porter, John Boyd , Jr, Seth Herald, Joe Biden, Adam J, Brian Snyder, Jim Mracek, Andrew Lichtenstein, Helen H, Richardson, Marshall, Jewel Samad, James McGath, Cole Ruud, Nicole Neri, Scott Olson, Biden, Daniel Acker Organizations: Street Foundation, The Boyd Company, Micron, CNBC, First, Atmospheric Administration, U.S . Department of Energy, Tennessee, NOAA, Seth, AFP, Getty, Volunteer State, Michigan, Dewey, Anadolu Agency, Great, Great Lakes State, FEMA, Green, Nebraska, Corbis, Cornhusker, Colorado Firefighters, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Denver Post, Centennial, Kansas, Oklahoma Electric, Sooner State, Energy Department, Washington Post, North Star State, Mount, Iowa, Bloomberg Locations: New York, States, Memphis , Tennessee, Tennessee, Ohio, Royal Oak, MI, Metro Detroit, Royal Oak , Michigan, United States, Great Lakes, Michigan, Vermont, Montpelier , Vermont, Nebraska, Cass County, Boulder , Colorado, Colorado, Dodge City , Kansas, Kansas, Moore , Oklahoma, Sooner, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Stillwater, Stillwater , Minnesota, St, Croix, Dakota, Salem , South Dakota, Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, Gowrie , Iowa, U.S

☆ The sun’s activity is peaking sooner than expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Every 11 years or so, the sun experiences periods of low and high solar activity, which is associated with the amount of sunspots on its surface. Over the course of a solar cycle, the sun will transition from a calm to an intense and active period. During the peak of activity, called solar maximum, the sun’s magnetic poles flip. A solar activity spikeThe current solar cycle, known as Solar Cycle 25, has been full of activity, more so than expected. The solar storms generated by the sun can affect electric power grids, GPS and aviation, and satellites in low-Earth orbit.

Persons: ”, Mark Miesch, “, Alex Young, ” Miesch, Scott McIntosh, Robert Leamon, Leamon, Miesch, Young, auroras, Bill Murtagh, ” Murtagh, NASA’s Parker, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, National Oceanic, Prediction, NASA's Solar Dynamics, NASA, SpaceX, Heliophysics, Goddard Space Flight, GPS, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Goddard Planetary Heliophysics, University of Maryland, College Park, American University, Dynamics, Geological Survey, Probe Locations: Boulder , Colorado, Greenbelt , Maryland, Baltimore County, New Mexico , Missouri, North Carolina, California, United States, England, United Kingdom, Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Scandinavia, Michigan, Upper Midwest, Pacific, Quebec

☆ Severe air turbulence has increased by more than 50% in the past 40 years because of climate change, and it could get even worse, a new study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Severe clear-air turbulence has increased by 55% since 1979, moderate by 37%, and light by 17%. Clear-air turbulence is invisible and hard to forecast and it is predicted to double by 2050. According to a new study by the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, UK, the occurrence of severe clear-air turbulence has increased by 55% in the past 40 years, while moderate turbulence has increased by 37%, and light by 17%. Clear-air turbulence is not the kind you experience going through a storm. As wind shear gets worse, so does clear-air turbulence, with some weather researchers predicting it will double by 2050, with severe turbulence increasing the most.

Persons: It's Organizations: Department, Meteorology, University of Reading, FAA, It's, National Center for Atmospheric Research

☆ NASA footage reveals 4 types of solar eruptions and 'holes' that could affect Earth as the sun grows more active
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The sun is slamming Earth with solar flares and high-speed eruptions of plasma. Solar flares can have the power of 1 billion hydrogen bombsA solar flare erupts — the bright flash on the bottom right of the sun — on March 28, 2023. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash on the upper right – on March 3, 2023. CMEs are common culprits of solar storms on Earth, since they can send a powerful flood of solar particles washing over the planet. Coronal holes open a highway for solar windA video from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the massive hole in the sun's atmosphere.

The sun is sporting a giant coronal hole that could fit 20-30 Earths across, back-to-back. Coronal holes blast rapid solar winds into space that travel 500-800 kilometers per second. Coronal holes are cooler in temperature, so they don't glow as bright and therefore look black against the rest of the sun. In this case, the solar winds from this coronal hole are scheduled to reach Earth by the end of this week. But coronal holes — even large ones like this — are far less violent.

☆ How Can We Measure Droughts and Deluges? Weigh the Planet.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

Scientists have long cautioned that warming temperatures would lead to wetter and drier global extremes — increasingly severe rainfall, more intense droughts. km3/month Global intensity of wet and dry extremes 30,000 20,000 Wet extremes 10,000 -10,000 Dry extremes -20,000 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 km3/month 30,000 Global intensity of wet and dry extremes 20,000 Wet extremes 10,000 -10,000 Dry extremes -20,000 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 km3/month Global intensity of wet and dry extremes 30,000 20,000 Wet extremes 10,000 -10,000 Dry extremes -20,000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 km3/ month Global intensity of wet and dry extremes 30,000 20,000 Wet extremes 10,000 -10,000 Dry extremes -20,000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 km3/ month Global intensity of wet and dry extremes 30,000 20,000 Wet extremes 10,000 -10,000 Dry extremes -20,000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Source: Rodell and Li, Nature Water (2023), based on analysis of NASA Grace and Grace-FO data. Europe July 2018–April 2021 Drought across Europe returned with the La Niña that lasted through 2022. Central Africa 2. Central Africa 2.

☆ Telescope video shows part of the sun breaking off and forming a vortex, making scientists scratch their heads
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Video from a NASA telescope shows part of the sun breaking off and swirling around its north pole. More plasma is building up to liftoff at the sun's north pole, which is a once-a-decade event. She added that the telescope footage appeared to show a solar prominence — a large, bright filament extending out from the sun, but anchored to the solar surface. More extreme activity is building on the sun's north poleOn Friday morning, more plasma appeared to be swirling at the solar north pole. Cool plasma building at the surface of the sun's pole appears to be getting ready to lift off, or erupt, into space.

Flood watches are in effect for 12 million people in Central and Northern California. The cyclone will send a pair of warm and cold fronts over Northern California, which is already rain-soaked. “When you have more water vapor in the air because the air is warmer — you can transport more water vapor quickly,” Ralph said. Although some smaller reservoirs in Northern California have filled up, larger reservoirs still have the capacity to absorb more. “I think we will have largely alleviated the short-term drought in Northern California," Swain said.

☆ 11 ancient sites that are mysteriously aligned with the sun on the winter solstice, in photos.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Archaeologists have found many ancient sites that line up with the winter solstice sun. Here are 11 sites that line up with the winter solstice, and what experts think about them. Newgrange, County Meath, IrelandPeople celebrating the sunrise at Newgrange on the morning of the winter solstice in 2018. ShutterstockOne of the most famous examples of ancient architecture lining up with the winter solstice is in Machu Picchu, Peru. "From the winter solstice the days are longer, which was a metaphor of the rebirth of the deceased," he said.

"For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic Caucus that I so deeply respect," Pelosi, 82, said in her floor speech. “Pelosi and Hoyer showed a lot of grace in stepping aside,” one younger Democratic lawmaker told NBC News. Meg Kinnard / AP fileAguilar said Friday he is now running for Democratic Caucus chairman. Under that scenario, Aguilar's caucus chair role would move up to No. But with Clyburn going for the assistant job and Aguilar entering the race for caucus chair, Neguse could find himself the odd man out.

☆ ‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ Tonga blast could warm the Earth temporarily
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK — When an undersea volcano erupted in Tonga in January, its watery blast was huge and unusual — and scientists are still trying to understand its impacts. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said lead author Holger Voemel, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado. And since water vapor acts as a heat-trapping greenhouse gas, the eruption will probably raise temperatures instead of lowering them, Toohey said. The water vapor will stick around the upper atmosphere for a few years before making its way into the lower atmosphere, Toohey said. The stratosphere stretches from around 7.5 miles to 31 miles above Earth and is usually very dry, Voemel explained.

☆ The Coming California Megastorm
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-12 | by ( Raymond Zhong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

For their new study, which was published in the journal Science Advances, Dr. Huang and Dr. Swain replayed portions of the 20th and 21st centuries using 40 simulations of the global climate. There are “so many different factors” that make an atmospheric river deadly or benign, Dr. Huang said. Wes Monier, a hydrologist, with a 1997 photo of water rushing through the New Don Pedro Reservoir spillway. Mr. Monier is chief hydrologist for the Turlock Irrigation District, which operates the New Don Pedro Reservoir near Modesto. The Tuolumne River, where the Don Pedro sits, was coming out of its driest four years in a millennium.

☆ Photos: Wildfires burn in Colorado and Texas
▼ + stars: | 2022-03-29 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Helen H. Richardson/Denver Post/Getty Images An air tanker drops water on the NCAR Fire on March 26 as it burns in the foothills south of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. In pictures: Wildfires burn in Colorado and TexasHelen H. Richardson/Denver Post/Getty Images An air tanker drops water on the NCAR Fire on March 26 as it burns in the foothills south of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. It has already been a dreadful year for wildfires. But many of these recent fires haven't been igniting in California or the Pacific Northwest, which have endured several devastating fire seasons in a row. They've been popping up in places like Colorado and Texas, and they have burned hundreds of thousands of acres in the past few weeks alone.

This season, they have gone on 28 flight missions for cloud seeding in Wyoming. This photo shows flares fixed on the aircraft's wing that house the silver iodide used for cloud seeding. Weather Modification International 2022Once the pilot flies into the storm, they ignite the cardboard casings full of silver iodide and “seed” the clouds. Their results, published in 2020 in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, managed to quantify how effective cloud seeding is. The amount of precipitation produced by cloud seeding — up to 10% — isn’t enough at all to quench the drought-stricken West.

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