All articles tagged with #cloud cover
The World Meteorological Organization says the ozone layer has been recovering since 2000, but Europe is experiencing higher ground-level UV because clearer skies and more sunshine allow more UV to reach the surface; the recovery is not uniform and is influenced by local weather patterns, so sun protection remains essential.
A Live Casinos ranking evaluated night-sky darkness and cloud cover across all 50 states, naming South Dakota the best state for stargazing with a 7.79/10 star-visibility score; about half the state lies in the darkest Bortle categories and annual cloud cover is around 11.65%, with Sanborn County highlighted as the prime viewing spot. Wyoming and Alaska also rank highly, followed by Montana, Arizona, Nevada, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Oregon.
The Lyrids meteor shower peaks tonight into tomorrow (April 21–22), with bright meteors radiating from Lyra as Earth passes debris from comet Thatcher. Best viewing is with naked eyes under dark skies between midnight and sunrise; give your eyes about 30 minutes to adapt, and be aware the Moon will be a 27% crescent that can wash out fainter meteors. Weather forecasts point to the Upper Midwest as the likeliest to have clear skies, while Chicago and much of the Northeast may be clouded; pockets of clearing could occur in parts of the West and Southeast as a storm system moves east. The shower can be seen all night through April 30, and no telescope is needed.
A NASA-backed study reveals that the northern hemisphere of Earth is becoming darker and absorbing more solar radiation than the southern hemisphere, due to changes in cloud cover, surface albedo, and water vapor, which could significantly impact future climate models and global warming patterns.
Recent research reveals that Earth's energy imbalance has more than doubled in the past two decades, surpassing climate model predictions and indicating an accelerated warming process, driven by increased greenhouse gases and changes in cloud cover, with serious implications for future climate impacts.
A study by German scientists suggests that the Earth is absorbing more sunlight due to reduced cloud cover, contributing to accelerated global warming. In 2023, a record energy imbalance was observed, with decreased albedo, or reflectivity, largely due to a decline in low-level clouds over northern mid-latitude and tropical oceans. This phenomenon may indicate a feedback loop where rising temperatures reduce cloud cover, further enhancing warming. The findings imply that future climate sensitivity could be higher than current estimates, emphasizing the urgency to understand these changes.
Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute have identified a decline in planetary albedo, particularly due to fewer low-altitude clouds, as a significant factor in the recent surge in global warming. This reduction in Earth's reflectivity has contributed to a 0.2 degrees Celsius increase in global temperatures, which was previously unexplained. The study suggests that this trend, exacerbated by reduced anthropogenic aerosols and natural fluctuations, could lead to more intense warming, potentially exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold sooner than anticipated.
Recent research suggests that diminishing cloud cover may be contributing to unexpectedly high global temperatures, as less cloud cover allows more sunlight to heat the Earth's surface. This reduction in cloud cover could be linked to global warming, maritime shipping regulations, or unidentified climate feedback loops, indicating that the planet may be warming faster than anticipated. The study highlights the complexity of cloud behavior in climate models and raises concerns about the sensitivity of the climate to human pollution, potentially bringing the world closer to exceeding emission targets.
Despite thick cloud cover obscuring the solar eclipse, the author had a memorable experience at the ROC the Eclipse festival in Rochester, NY, with an apocalyptic scene as darkness fell during totality, and a clumsy mistake with security lights dampening the experience. The lead-up to the eclipse was filled with over 40 eclipse-themed events, and the author enjoyed exploring Rochester's museums and galleries. The trip was arranged by Visit Rochester, and the author is determined to see a solar eclipse in all its glory in the future.
A partial solar eclipse was visible in parts of Scotland, while most of the UK missed out due to cloud cover. Tens of millions in the US gathered to view the total eclipse, but in the UK, only northern and western Scotland had clear skies for the partial eclipse. Social media users shared pictures of solid grey clouds, with some joking about the "breathtaking" view. A physicist described partial eclipses as "boring," while the next total solar eclipse visible from the UK is not expected until 2090.
Thousands of people across Texas gathered to witness the solar eclipse, with some lucky enough to have the clouds break just in time for a partial view. The eclipse's path of totality began in Eagle Pass and ended in Texarkana, drawing visitors from other states and nations. While some experienced the awe-inspiring event, others were disappointed by cloud cover. Despite concerns about severe weather, many small town leaders were relieved as the eclipse passed without major incidents.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo is closely monitoring the cloud cover as it slowly clears over Ohio and western Pennsylvania, with hopes that it will dissipate in time for Buffalo to witness the total eclipse. While there is a forecast of 84% cloud cover in Buffalo and Niagara Falls at 3 p.m., forecasters are keeping open the possibility for some unobstructed views of the celestial event, and veteran meteorologist Don Paul remains cautiously optimistic about the viewing conditions.
The total solar eclipse will be visible across parts of the United States, including New York, but the weather forecast indicates that the best viewing conditions will likely be in parts of New England and the Midwest, while clouds may obscure the view in portions of the interior Northeast. New York City is expected to have temperatures in the 60s, with some uncertainty about cloud cover during the eclipse, while Buffalo, New York, is forecast to have thicker cloud cover. However, even if it's cloudy, some of the eclipse may still be visible.
Cloudy conditions may impact the visibility of the total solar eclipse in Dallas-Fort Worth, with some hope for breaks in the cloud cover during the eclipse peak at 1:40 p.m. Severe storms are expected late Monday, with a risk of high winds, hail, and possibly tornadoes, particularly in the DFW Metroplex and to the west, followed by continued wet weather on Wednesday before clearing up later in the week.
The short-term forecast predicts pleasant weather with sunshine and some clouds for the eclipse day, with a mix of sun and clouds and seasonably mild temperatures. The eclipse is expected to be around 90% visible through much of the area, with the best view occurring around 3:22-3:24pm. Following the eclipse, a three-day stretch of wet weather is expected, with increasingly wet weather from Wednesday to Friday and cooler temperatures likely.