Hurricane Erin was one of the largest storms recorded in the Atlantic basin, with only around 5% of storms matching or exceeding its size. Both operational and experimental NOAA forecast models for Erin proved incredibly accurate, especially for Erin’s track early in the forecast period. NOAA’s flagship hurricane forecast model, the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast […]
Jen McWhorter, Ph.D., a Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Science (CIMAS) Assistant Scientist with AOML’s Ocean Biogeochemistry and Physical Oceanography teams, has been selected to serve a one year term as a member of the NOAA in the Caribbean Executive Team. As a member of the Executive Team, McWhorter will help provide strategic direction […]
A new study led by AOML and CIMAS scientists further shows that the impacts of Atlantic Niño/Niña on tropical cyclones are not limited to the Atlantic basin (i.e., hurricanes), but also extend to the western North Pacific basin (i.e., typhoons) through inter-basin teleconnections.
The flow of the Florida Current, one of the most powerful ocean currents in the world, has been measured by a submarine telecommunications cable between Florida and the Bahamas since 1982. Unfortunately, this record was interrupted in November 2023 due to a mechanical failure of the cable. Building on prior research, a new study presents an alternative method to continue providing the Florida Current daily transport estimates until the cable can be repaired.
The Hurricane Research Division (HRD) within NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) is a worldwide leader in the advancement of hurricane science and prediction by collecting novel airborne observations, testing new observing technologies, and developing state-of-the-art forecast model systems that optimally ingest these unique datasets. These efforts make hurricane forecasts more accurate, ultimately protecting […]
Uncrewed systems are a rapidly emerging tool for NOAA in hurricane research and forecasting as they allow researchers to gather data from otherwise inaccessible regions of the storm. While some uncrewed system deployments in hurricanes have already been shown to improve hurricane intensity forecasts, others still require further research and development. Prior to hurricane season, NOAA tests new and updated emerging technologies in non-storm environments, or “clear air,” to consider incorporating them into the hurricane reconnaissance program.
In celebration of National Intern Day, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) is proud to recognize its FY 2025 class of interns. Ranging from high school to graduate students, these talented individuals are gaining hands-on experience across a wide array of research areas—including coral reefs, microbial ecology, hurricanes, ocean acidification, physical oceanography, science communication, […]
Phytoplankton covering the ocean’s surface are responsible for over 50% of the oxygen that has been produced on Earth. In a spoonful of oceanwater, there are thousands of these microscopic organisms of different species. And without them, most – if not all – marine food webs would collapse. Studying what species comprise planktonic communities in […]
From July 14-16, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and the University of Reading held the inaugural Joint US-UK Symposium on Emerging Technologies for High Impact Weather in Reading, UK. Through this collaboration, AOML sought to bring together subject matter experts from the government, academia, and industry on both sides of the Atlantic.
Extreme heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States. In a new study published in Nature Communications, scientists found a link between the long-lasting 2023 heatwave over the southwest US and Mexico and the record warm sea surface temperatures in both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.