Atmospheric aerosol particles modulate climate and the Earth’s energy balance by scattering and absorbing sunlight. They also seed clouds, acting as cloud condensation nuclei.

High-resolution hydrodynamic-sediment modeling shows that inundation, suspended sediment concentration in the Amazon River, and floodplain hydrodynamics drive sediment deposition in Amazonian floodplains.

Lakes are important sentinels of climate change and contribute significantly to the emissions of the second most important greenhouse gas—methane.

This study used historical data, remote sensing, and aquatic sensors to measure how far wildfire impacts propagated through the watershed after the 2022 Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire, New Mexico’s largest wildfire in history.

Extensive in situ and remote sensing measurements were collected to address data gaps and better understand the interactions of convective clouds and the surrounding environment.

To assess the impact of observation period and gauge location, model parameters were learned on scenarios using different chunks of streamflow observations.

PNNL scientist James Stegen and an international team of collaborators recently published a comprehensive review of variably inundated ecosystems (VIEs).

This study presents an automated method to detect and classify open- and closed-cell mesoscale cellular convection (MCC) using long-term ground-based radar observations.

A new study led by PNNL researcher TC Chakraborty provides some answers about how irrigated agricultural land near cities affects urban heat stress.

Three PNNL technologies have been declared winners of 2025 Federal Laboratory Consortium Awards, named for a program that recognizes federal laboratories and their industry partners for outstanding technology transfer achievements.

Several Earth system components are at a high risk of undergoing rapid, irreversible qualitative changes or ‘tipping’ with increasing climate warming.

Seawater threatens to intrude into coastal freshwater aquifers that millions of people depend on for drinking water and irrigation. This study investigates sea-level rise impacts on the global coastal groundwater table.

New datasets delineating global urban land support scientific research, application, and policy, but they can produce different results when applied to the same problem making it difficult for researchers to decide which to use.

A recent paper published in Science sheds light on how aerosols—tiny particles in the air—released by industrial activities can trigger downstream snowfall events.

His expertise in data science and commitment to open science will drive dataset dissemination and advance collaborative global research efforts.

A new study reveals just how costly Earth's tipping points can be.

Through a detailed examination of historical data supported by mechanistic analysis and model experiments, researchers unveil that a large-scale climate system intensifies heat extremes and wildfire risks in the PNW.

This study shows that dry dynamics alone is not enough to understand jet stream persistence. Instead, clouds and precipitation are more important contributors than internal “dry” mechanisms to this memory of the Southern Hemisphere jet.

The research presented in this article enhances the ability to predict and prepare for compound flood events along the U.S. coastline.

Pyrocumulonimbus clouds are increasing in frequency as large wildfires become more prevalent in a warming climate. These clouds can inject smoke particles into the atmosphere, where they can remain suspended for several months.