One bolt of lightning covered a horizontal distance of 515 miles during a 2017 storm. A re-examination of satellite observations revealed the record-setting megaflash.

Since the beginning of Earth's history, tiny particles of rock and metal from space have been hitting our planet. On clear nights, we can even see their traces as shooting stars. Trapped in layers of rock, these micrometeorites can remain preserved for billions of years. An international research team led by the University of Göttingen and including the Open University, the University of Pisa, and Leibniz University Hannover has developed a method that allows them to reconstruct the atmosphere of the past using fossilized micrometeorites. The results were published in Communications Earth & Environment.

Tiny droplets of sea spray generated at the ocean surface can affect the intensity and evolution of hurricanes and other tropical storms.

Their impact, however, is not well understood because of the difficulty of measuring spray concentration and the size and velocity of individual droplets under high wind conditions.

At The University of Texas at Dallas, researchers are studying sea spray, particularly spume, or foam, droplets, in the lab to develop a model based on machine learning to improve hurricane forecasting. The model incorporates the effects of the spray generation function, which quantifies the rate at which droplets form.

Though scientists have long understood how lightning strikes, the precise atmospheric events that trigger it within thunderclouds remained a perplexing mystery. The mystery may be solved, thanks to a team of researchers led by Victor Pasko, professor of electrical engineering in the Penn State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, that has revealed the powerful chain reaction that triggers lightning.

The Asian monsoon is one of the world's most influential climate systems, directly impacting the weather, water resources, agriculture, and livelihoods of billions of people across Asia. A recent review paper by an international team is expected to inspire new research and innovation to advance monsoon prediction further, ultimately supporting better risk management and adaptation across Asia