Check out research and program highlights, as well as MAPP Task Force updates.

The National Weather Service (NWS) recently reviewed four NOAA Climate Test Bed (CTB) MAPP program projects to evaluate whether or not some of the new research capabilities tested during the projects are ready for operational use. The review revealed that all projects had some modeling methodologies and/or prediction tools ready to be implemented in operations or that have already officially transitioned, according to the NWS reviewers.

A new study says that teleconnections with certain phases of a recurring tropical rainfall pattern could extend predictions up to 20-25 days in advance. The authors’ findings provide guidance on which tropical conditions might lead to improved forecasts beyond our current capability – and more time to prepare for extreme events.

A new study has found that seemingly trivial vibrations in the earth's surface can actually encode the power of hurricanes moving over ocean waters. The findings may make it possible to estimate the strength of past hurricanes, to reveal long term changes in the severity and frequency of these storms, and help scientists understand potential future changes.

“Flash drought” has become a popular term in the media, but the debate of what a flash drought really is has caused confusion that affects scientists’ ability to detect their onset, monitor their development, and understand how they evolve.