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Research Highlight

Atmospheric rivers over eastern US affected by Pacific/North America pattern

March 12, 2024 – There is a growing awareness that atmospheric river (AR) activities are responsible for a wide range of environmental and socioeconomic impacts on the West coast of the U.S. The related heavy rainfall, snowfall, and associated floods, especially during winter, have been a focus of many previous studies. This research investigates the impact of AR on the Eastern U.S. (EUS). ARs in the EUS remain relatively understudied, despite their frequent occurrence and substantial contribution to heavy precipitation and high-impact weather events.

Research Highlight

Impacts of the North Atlantic biases on the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere over the extratropical North Pacific

February 15, 2024 – The interplay between the ocean and atmosphere plays a crucial role in shaping weather patterns and temperatures around the world. Yet, the winter upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) temperature/vertical motion response over the extratropical North Pacific induced by North Atlantic changes is not well understood. Using GFDL’s high-resolution climate model CM2.5, the authors corrected the North Atlantic Ocean circulation biases to unravel the wintertime atmospheric impacts.

Research Highlight

Ocean biogeochemical fingerprints of fast-sinking tunicate and fish detritus

February 8, 2024 – Marine ecosystems play a critical role in the global carbon cycle through the food web regulation of air-sea carbon fluxes and the transfer of particulate matter from the upper oceans to depth. Recent evidence has suggested that the detritus from fishes and gelatinous zooplankton, specifically the pelagic tunicates such as salps and pyrosomes, may have a disproportionate impact on the ocean’s biological pump due to them sinking approximately ten times faster than bulk detritus.

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Detection of AMOC changes and their potential impact on sea level and storm surges over the U.S. East Coast

February 6, 2024 – Liping Zhang and Hiroyuki Murakami, scientists at GFDL, have been awarded funding for a new climate projections project that will spotlight the critical issue of extreme sea level events along the U.S. East Coast, emphasizing their societal impact. These events, often fueled by storm surges during extreme weather occurrences, substantially threaten lives and infrastructure in coastal regions.

Research Highlight

The Importance of Dynamic Iron Deposition in Projecting Climate Change Impacts on Pacific Ocean Biogeochemistry

December 22, 2023 – Projections of future nutrient limitation and primary production have implications for fisheries management. The authors used GFDL’s Earth system model, ESM4.1, to explore climate-driven changes in the deposition of dust and iron from the atmosphere to the ocean under a range of climate change scenarios, in an attempt to understand where the “fish food” is going to be and why.

Research Highlight

Greenhouse gas forcing and climate feedback signatures identified in hyperspectral infrared satellite observations

December 14, 2023 – Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities trap heat (radiative forcing) and cause global warming. This warming is amplified or diminished by feedbacks in the climate system. We had limited direct observations of global greenhouse gas forcing and feedbacks, despite the fact that they are the primary causes of climate change.

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Seasonal hurricane predictions at GFDL

December 6, 2023 – If you live along a U.S. coast, you’re likely familiar with NOAA’s seasonal hurricane forecasts. Released each year in May (and updated in August for the Atlantic region), these forecasts provide an important preview of what each year’s Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons will bring. “Seasonal predictions provide valuable lead time for communities to prepare for potential hurricanes,” said Hiro Murakami, a research physical scientist at GFDL.

Research Highlight

Skillful multiyear to decadal predictions of sea level in the North Atlantic Ocean and U.S. East Coast

December 1, 2023 – The occurrence of exceptionally high sea levels can cause severe coastal flooding and inundation, threatening lives and infrastructure in the coastal regions. High sea level also alters the coastal environment, moving barrier islands and cutting channels through them, impacting forests and crops, inundating the coastline with salt water, and damaging habitats essential to support wildlife.