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Scientists turn to sharks to improve hurricane predictions

Scientists turn to sharks to improve hurricane predictions

By Marta Serafinko Aug 8 (Reuters) - From the killer shark of "Jaws" to the tornado-tossed predators of the "Sharknado" movies, films long have portrayed sharks as objects of summer fear. But when a shark cuts through the waters off the U.S. East Coast, it now may be doing more than hunting.
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Sharks Aid in Improving Hurricane Predictions

Sharks Aid in Improving Hurricane Predictions

Researchers at the University of Delaware are utilizing sharks as mobile data collectors to improve hurricane predictions. By attaching CTD tags to sharks, scientists can gather real-time data on ocean conditions, such as salinity, temperature, and depth. This information is crucial for understanding the heat content of the ocean's mixed layer, which influences hurricane intensity. Sharks are ideal for this research due to their abundance and wide distribution. The tagging process is conducted with minimal impact on the sharks, ensuring accurate data collection. This innovative approach aims to enhance the accuracy of hurricane forecasts, providing communities with better information to prepare for storms.
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Max Planck Institute Unveils Hidden Cloud Structures Key to Rain Formation

Max Planck Institute Unveils Hidden Cloud Structures Key to Rain Formation

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization have discovered previously invisible structures within shallow cumulus clouds that may be crucial for rain formation. Using the Max Planck CloudKite platform, the team identified submeter regions where cloud droplets cluster together, creating ideal conditions for droplet collisions and potentially triggering rainfall. This finding challenges the long-held belief that droplet clustering is weak and evenly distributed throughout clouds. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the importance of these localized 'hotspots' in understanding rain initiation in clouds without ice crystals.
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El Niño Poised to Impact U.S. Weather Patterns Significantly

El Niño Poised to Impact U.S. Weather Patterns Significantly

A powerful El Niño is developing, with scientists predicting it could be one of the strongest on record. According to Berkeley Earth, there is a 90% chance that this El Niño will push tropical Pacific temperatures to unprecedented levels, potentially leading to higher global temperatures and extreme weather. The phenomenon, which officially formed in June, is expected to bring wetter conditions to the southern U.S., milder temperatures in the north, and a quieter Atlantic hurricane season. The World Meteorological Organization anticipates El Niño's effects to peak in the winter, with significant impacts on U.S. weather patterns.
Palm Beach Post Palm Beach Post
Hurricane center tracking tropical wave with low chance of formation

Hurricane center tracking tropical wave with low chance of formation

Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 to Nov. 30, 2026, with most tropical activity between August and October in Florida.
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Super El Niño to Suppress Atlantic Hurricane Activity in 2026

Super El Niño to Suppress Atlantic Hurricane Activity in 2026

Colorado State University (CSU) has maintained its forecast for a below-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2026 due to the strengthening Super El Niño. The August forecast predicts 9 named storms, 4 hurricanes, and 1 major hurricane, significantly lower than the average of 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. El Niño conditions, characterized by warmer-than-average Pacific Ocean temperatures, are expected to dominate during the peak hurricane season from mid-August to mid-October, creating wind patterns that hinder storm development in the Atlantic.
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California Research Institutions Launch DNA Barcode Project to Document Tide Pool Biodiversity

California Research Institutions Launch DNA Barcode Project to Document Tide Pool Biodiversity

A coalition of top research institutions in California has initiated the California Intertidal Biodiversity DNA Barcode Library project. This ambitious effort aims to document every organism in the tidal areas from San Diego to the Oregon border over the next two years. Led by institutions such as Scripps, the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, and the California Ocean Protection Council, the project seeks to create a comprehensive baseline of current biodiversity. This initiative is expected to aid in tracking the effects of climate change on these sensitive ecosystems, particularly as they face threats from rising sea levels and water temperatures. The project, which has received $10 million in state funding, involves collecting and analyzing samples to build a DNA library that will be housed at the L.A. County Natural History Museum.
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How Cold Fronts Impact Weather Patterns

How Cold Fronts Impact Weather Patterns

Cold fronts bring significant changes to weather, including cooler temperatures and shifts in humidity. Understanding these patterns can help you prepare for sudden changes in your local forecast.
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MIT Develops Flapping Robot Capable of Flying and Swimming for Ocean Monitoring

MIT Develops Flapping Robot Capable of Flying and Swimming for Ocean Monitoring

A team at MIT has engineered a $300 flapping robot that can both fly and swim underwater, inspired by the mechanics of diving birds like petrels and puffins. The robot, known as a flapping aerial-aquatic vehicle (FAAV), weighs 250 grams and is powered by a battery-operated motor. It features nylon wings and a tail coated with water-repellent nanoparticles. The FAAV can fly at speeds over 6 meters per second and swim at nearly 1 meter per second. The development team, led by Raphael Zufferey, aims to use this technology for ocean monitoring and protection. The robot has been tested in a water tank in Massachusetts and Lake Geneva, Switzerland, and is designed to operate in mild wave and wind conditions.
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CSU Forecasts Below-Average Atlantic Hurricane Season Due to Super El Niño

CSU Forecasts Below-Average Atlantic Hurricane Season Due to Super El Niño

Colorado State University (CSU) has maintained its forecast for the Atlantic hurricane season, predicting a below-average number of major hurricanes due to the presence of a strong El Niño. The forecast anticipates 9 named storms and 4 hurricanes, including 1 major hurricane, which is a reduction from earlier predictions. El Niño, characterized by warmer than average water temperatures in the Pacific, typically results in fewer hurricanes in the Atlantic due to increased wind shear. This year's forecast aligns with NOAA's predictions and includes Tropical Storms Arthur and Bertha, which have already made landfall.
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Coral Reefs Exhibit Genetic Adaptation Amidst Climate-Induced Bleaching

Coral Reefs Exhibit Genetic Adaptation Amidst Climate-Induced Bleaching

A recent study led by Texas A&M University researchers has uncovered significant genetic adaptation in coral reefs following a mass mortality event caused by a 2019 heat wave in Mo'orea, French Polynesia. The heat wave resulted in severe coral bleaching, with up to 80% of local coral populations affected. Researchers collected and sequenced genomes from 349 coral colonies before, during, and after the event, revealing that corals with heat-tolerant genetic variants were more likely to survive and reproduce. These findings suggest that the surviving corals passed on advantageous genetic traits to their offspring, providing a genetic blueprint for future resilience against rising ocean temperatures.
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National Weather Service Proposes Changes to Excessive Rainfall Outlook

National Weather Service Proposes Changes to Excessive Rainfall Outlook

The National Weather Service (NWS) is proposing updates to its Excessive Rainfall Outlook (ERO) system, aiming to improve forecasting accuracy and public understanding of rainfall risks. The changes include transitioning from a four-tier risk scale to a five-tier system, introducing a new 'Enhanced' category between 'Slight' and 'Moderate' risks. This adjustment aligns the ERO with other national forecast risk graphics. The ERO provides graphical maps predicting the probability of rainfall exceeding Flash Flood Guidance within 25 miles of a point across the contiguous United States for Days 1 through 5. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) synthesizes data from twelve River Forecast Centers to identify rainfall thresholds likely to cause rivers and streams to reach bankfull levels. Public comments on these proposed changes are being solicited through September 5, 2026 (Source: NWS, 2026).