EurekAlert! News by Subject: Atmospheric Science - News by Subject: Atmospheric Science

Atmospheric Science

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 20-Jun-2025 07:10 ET (20-Jun-2025 11:10 GMT/UTC)

SwRI’s H2-ICE consortium launches second phase, H2-ICE2

Southwest Research Institute
Business Announcement

SAN ANTONIO — March 25, 2025 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has launched the newest iteration of its industry-supported Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine consortium, H₂-ICE2.

New study uncovers key pathways in hydronium and hydroxide ion neutralization

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study provides fresh insight into traditional acid-base chemistry by revealing that the mutual neutralization of isolated hydronium (H₃O⁺) and hydroxide (OH⁻) ions is driven by electron transfer rather than the proton transfer that is expected in bulk liquid water. Using deuterated water ions and advanced 3D coincidence imaging of the neutral products, researchers found two electron-transfer mechanisms that produce hydroxyl radicals (OH), which are crucial in atmospheric chemistry. These findings reshape our understanding of fundamental reaction dynamics and help explain the surprising finding of high OH and H2O2 concentrations at water microdroplet surfaces. This discovery is significant because OH radicals play a key role in air quality, climate science, and even biochemical processes in the human body. By uncovering unexpected chemical reaction pathways, the study could influence future research on planetary and interstellar medium chemistry, as well as pollution control and medical applications.

Journal: Nature Chemistry
Funder: Swedish National Infrastructure, DESIREE, Swedish Research Council, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, COST, ISF, Minerva Center

Cloud band movement influences wet spells during Indian monsoon

Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The strength of the equatorial cloud band plays a key role in its movement upward and intensity of wet spells during the Indian monsoon, study finds.

5,700-year storm archive shows rise in tropical storms and hurricanes in the Caribbean

Goethe University Frankfurt
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A storm, even once it has passed, can leave traces in the ocean that last for thousands of years. These consist of sediment layers composed of coarse particles, which are different from the finer sediments associated with good weather. In the Caribbean, an international research team led by Goethe University Frankfurt has now examined such sediments using a 30 m long core from a “blue hole” offshore Belize. The analysis shows that over the past 5,700 years, the frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes in the region has steadily increased. For the 21^st century, the research team predicts a significant rise in regional storm frequency as a result of climate change.

Journal: Science Advances

Using machine learning to overcome blind spots in satellite-based PM10 monitoring

Science China Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a paper published in National Science Review, a team of Chinese scientists develop an AI-powered framework designed to achieve real-time, seamless retrieval of PM₁₀ concentrations. This breakthrough addresses the challenges of spatial gaps and nighttime observation deficiencies in current satellite-based PM10 data. It extends daily data to high-resolution, real-time hourly insights, providing strong support for precise dust storm monitoring.

Journal: National Science Review
Funder: National Key Research and Development Program of China

High-skill information in subseasonal ensemble forecasting

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The findings reveal that, although the ensemble mean of the ECMWF model has limited forecasting ability for extreme cold events after two weeks, some ensemble members exhibit significantly high forecasting skill. The members with high forecasting skill can accurately predict the rapid change of surface air temperature and the intensity of the minimum temperature during an extreme cold event. This mainly depends on the accurate prediction of the atmospheric circulation situation in Eurasia (sea level pressure and 500-hPa geopotential height).

Journal: Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters

NRL's narrow field imager launches on NASA's PUNCH mission

Naval Research Laboratory
Business Announcement

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Narrow Field Imager (NFI) was launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as a part of NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission on March 11 and deployed from Falcon 9 on March 12.

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