Punctuating a trend of declining reflectivity, the Greenland Ice Sheet reflected less sunlight in August 2014 than it did in any previous summer on record.
Compared to 2012’s extreme warmth, surface water temperatures were more moderate in summer 2014. Nevertheless, pockets of very warm temperatures existed.
A worldwide network of Argo floats gives scientists an unprecedented understanding of the ocean depths. Argo floats descend and ascend through the top 2,000 meters of the ocean, collecting observations as they move.
For some states, the coldest day of the year usually occurs near the start of winter, while for others it comes near the end. This map reveals when history says your state will have its coldest day of the year.
The spotlight may have been on California this past summer, but groundwater reservoirs—often the back-up for surface water supplies during prolonged drought—are in decline across much of the southern United States. Meanwhile, people are using millions of gallons of water per day in regions dependent on groundwater aquifers
Never in the historical record have such large areas of the country experienced such radically different temperature extremes as they have so far in 2014.
Since we last covered the California drought, conditions in the state have stayed, well, dry—very dry. Statewide, total precipitation is about equal to or below the lowest three-year period since 1895.
More than halfway through August, the Atlantic Ocean has seen just two named storms. Despite the availability of heat energy at the sea's surface, atmospheric conditions have not been favorable for storm development.
Despite uncertainties around future precipitation change, it is clear that as temperatures rise in Colorado, the state is expected to face significant challenges to managing water resources, according to a new report.
