The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is an eastward moving disturbance of clouds, rainfall, winds, and pressure located in the tropical longitudes, which can drive atmospheric circulation around the planet. On average, this atmospheric disturbance travels across the tropics and returns to its initial starting point every 30 to 60 days.
During the winter of 2014 and 2015, the US west coast (USWC) experienced record high temperatures extending from Baja California to the Gulf of Alaska. This record warming, as high as 3°C in some areas, greatly impacted the California Current System (CCS) and Gulf of Alaska marine ecosystems. However, tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies were weak during 2014, calling into question their role in the USWC warming period.
NOAA Research's Climate Program Office is pleased to announce that its Fiscal Year 2020 grant competitions are now open.
As coastal and inundation flooding cause billions of dollars in damage in the United States annually, it’s important to understand the patterns associated with flooding to make a more prepared nation.
NOAA celebrated the 200th birthday of Eunice Newton Foote, hidden climate science pioneer and suffragette, whose research foreshadowed the discovery of Earth’s greenhouse effect.
Americans’ health, security and economic wellbeing are tied to climate and weather. Every day, we see communities grappling with environmental challenges due to unusual or extreme events related to climate and weather.