Research Highlights
We aim to feature the latest research results from US scientists whose published paper features work that is sponsored by one or more sponsoring agency programs of US CLIVAR (NASA, NOAA, NSF, DOE, ONR). Check out the collection of research highlights below and sort by topic on the right. Interested in submitting an article for consideration? See our Research Highlight Submission Guidelines page for more information.
Much study has been devoted to the possible causes of a decrease in the upward trend of global surface temperatures since 1998, a phenomenon that has been dubbed the global warming “hiatus.” However, a new study by Karl et al. has called into question the underlying data used to detect the “hiatus”.
As of spring 2015, a wide strip of relatively warm water was present along the entire West Coast of North America. The causes and effects of this warm ocean water event is sometimes referred to as the “blob” and are the results of a new paper in Geophysical Research Letters.
The Southern Ocean absorbs a large fraction of anthropogenic-sourced carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, driving decreases in the pH and the carbonate ion concentration. A recent study reports a decrease in phytoplankton calcification in the Southern Ocean over the satellite record (1998 to 2014).
The coastal sea levels along the Northeast Coast of North America show significant year-to-year fluctuations in a general upward trend. Analysis of long-term tide gauge records along the North American east coast identified an extreme sea-level rise event during 2009–2010. Within this relatively brief two-year period, coastal sea levels north of New York City jumped by up to 128 mm.
Climate extremes such as hurricanes and typhoons can cause death and destruction for communities around the world. Scientists are interested in studying both the predictability and possible future changes in the frequency and intensity of such storms.