Arthur Few explains lightning activity at Chaiten volcano, Chile

Arthur Few explains lightning activity at Chaiten volcano, Chile

In May 2008 the Chilean volcano Chaiten erupted spectacularly and exhibited remarkable lightning activity. Photographer Carlos Gutierrez captured a few images showing unusual kelly-green lightning channels. In this briefing, lightning researcher Arthur Few explains the

Air pollution in northeastern China reached hazardous levels

Air pollution in northeastern China reached hazardous levels

A cold front has sent temperatures plummeting in most northeastern Chinese provinces, causing fog and haze to linger across the region. Agricultural fires in the region in the fall,  following the harvest, also influenced levels of smog. Since

Antarctic ozone hole reaches maximum size for 2013

Antarctic ozone hole reaches maximum size for 2013

Each year for the past few decades during the Southern Hemisphere spring, chemical reactions involving chlorine and bromine cause ozone in the southern polar region to be destroyed rapidly and severely. This depleted region is known as the “ozone

Outdoor air pollution a leading cause of cancer

Outdoor air pollution a leading cause of cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO's agency specialized for cancer, announced on October 16, 2013 that it has classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). The world’s leading experts

Saharan dust cloud travels across Atlantic

Saharan dust cloud travels across Atlantic

NOAA's satellites have detected a plume of dust moving off the coast of Africa. The Saharan Air Layer has a relatively constrained area of high concentration. This animation bellow, released by NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory, uses a recently enhanced

Canada and US wildfire smoke crosses the Atlantic Ocean

Canada and US wildfire smoke crosses the Atlantic Ocean

Smoke lofted above the part of the atmosphere closest to the ground (the boundary layer), where topography has a significant impact on winds, is spreading farther than smoke that remains trapped near the surface.  Intense fires in Canada produced

Smoke plumes from North American wildfires over Spain

Smoke plumes from North American wildfires over Spain

Massive wildfires in US and Canada produced smoke plumes that drifted over the Atlantic Ocean and reached Europe in late June 2013. MODIS satellite imagery shows smoke plumes hovering over Spain and the western Mediterranean Sea on June 26-27,