A volcanic eruption sent enough water vapor into the stratosphere to cause a rapid change in chemistry

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on January 15, 2022, produced the largest underwater explosion ever recorded by modern scientific instruments, blasting an enormous amount of water and volcanic gases higher than any other eruption in the satellite era.

Top NOAA Research stories from 2023

Record-breaking marine heatwaves, increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, an above average hurricane season, and numerous deep sea discoveries made 2023 a busy year for NOAA Research. Let’s explore some of our top stories from this year!

One year after the eruption, Mauna Loa Observatory has resumed key science activities

Over the past year since the eruption of Mauna Loa volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island on Nov. 27, 2022, MLO staff visiting the site once a week via helicopter have restored limited power to four key observatory buildings by augmenting existing solar generation and adding battery systems.

NOGAP survey completed its first flights to document greenhouse gas distribution across the U.S.

The National Observations of Greenhouse gasses Aircraft Profiles (NOGAP) survey completed the first of six loops around the United States to document and understand in great detail the vertical distribution of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) in the lower atmosphere.

2023 ozone hole ranks 12th largest on record, find NOAA and NASA

The 2023 Antarctic ozone hole reached its maximum size at 10 million square miles (26 million square kilometers) on September 21, which ranks as the 12th largest since 1979, according to annual satellite and balloon-based measurements made by NOAA and NASA.

Photo feature: 'First bit of orange glow’ greets NOAA crew at South Pole

After six months of darkness, the return of the sun at the South Pole signals the arrival of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. For scientists at NOAA’s South Pole Atmospheric Baseline Observatory (SPO), that’s a welcome sight.

#EarthDay: Invest in our changing planet now to secure a more livable future

Since the first Earth Day, billions across the globe have invested their time, creativity and energy to honor and nurture our home planet. In the decades since April 22, 1970, however, global climate change has had an alarming effect on Earth and its inhabitants. So how is NOAA addressing climate change and other environmental challenges?

GML highlights at the AMS 2023 Annual Meeting

GML and CIRES researchers are presenting several talks and posters, and collaborating on others, at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society.

GML highlights at AGU 2022 Fall Meeting

GML and CIRES researchers are presenting several talks and posters at the 2022 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, and collaborating on many more.

Path to recovery of ozone layer passes a significant milestone

An annual analysis of air samples collected at remote sites around the globe that is tracking a continued decline in the atmospheric concentration of ozone-depleting substances shows the threat to the ozone layer receding below a significant milestone in 2022, NOAA scientists have announced.

GML is replacing the surface ozone instrument in Summit, Greenland

Scientists have sent out the surface ozone instrument replacement for the site in Summit, Greenland.

Surface ozone depletion events are taking place in Utqiaġvik, Alaska

Springtime (March-May) in the arctic is the prime time for surface ozone depletion events. Since March, several depletion events have been captured by surface ozone measurements at NOAA Barrow Atmospheric Research Observatory near Utqiaġvik, Alaska.

NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory Development of a UAS “Virtual Tower” for Gas and Ozone Measurements

Scientists from NOAA’s Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) have undertaken novel development of an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) “hexacopter” that will enable the lab to not only recommence a long-standing mission that was recently forced to halt, but paves the way toward enhanced operations in the future.

A lucky guess? Learn the science of ozone depletion with NOAA and NASA!

As NOAA and NASA announced the 2021 Antarctic ozone hole condition on October 27, the 8th- and 9th-grade science classroom at Lafayette Junior/Senior High School also concluded their first science project on ozone hole prediction.

GML highlights at AGU 2021 Fall Meeting

GML and CIRES researchers talks and posters at the 2021 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union.