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Backgrounders
Backgrounders are designed to help journalists get a quick feel for the science, people, and issues involved in major weather and climate topics researched at UCAR, NCAR, and UOP.
Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones
Nitrogen in the Earth System
Persistent Patterns that Shape Weather and Climate Variability
Thunderstorm Glossary
Wildfires
Understanding Climate Change - Feature Story
Following on new reports in 2007 from the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change, find out what we know and what we're still
learning about global warming and the state of Earth's climate
future. (Winter-Spring 2007)
more Feature Stories >
Hazardous Weather Fact Sheets
These fact sheets on the most common hazardous
weather events likely to occur in the United States were prepared
for online and classroom training of community managers and emergency
responders by UCAR's COMET
Program. Hazards addressed: thunderstorms,
tornadoes, flash floods, riverine floods, coastal floods, tropical
cyclones, extratropical cyclones, tsunamis, winter storms, excessive
cold, excessive heat, fog, duststorms, windstorms, and fire weather.
Each fact sheet includes:
- A definition of the hazard event
- Characteristics common to the event, including contributing
factors, stages of development, types, and associated hazards
- Examples of related products, such as outlooks, watches,
advisories, and warnings, provided by the National Weather
Service. (These are examples only and may not represent the
most current products available from the NWS.)
Hazardous
Weather Fact Sheets (UCAR) | Current
U.S. Hazards Assessment (NOAA/NWS Climate Prediction Center)
Topical Brochures
Air quality, including aerosols, air pollution
Air
quality research (NCAR Science Update, Winter
2006) Download as 
Using computer models and specialized observing instruments, NCAR scientists
are making new discoveries about air pollutants and their movements worldwide.
This update highlights research that may help society take steps to improve
air quality as well as work to unravel the subtle interactions between air
pollution and climate. Also see Our Research: Pollution & Air
Quality.
Climate change, including global warming
Climate change research (NCAR Science Update, 2004)
Scientists use sophisticated computer models and datasets to investigate how
climate is shaped by such factors as emissions of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases, solar activity, and volcanic eruptions. This update highlights
some of NCAR's ongoing climate change research, including global warming. Also
see Our Research: Our Changing
Climate.
Climate change impacts (NCAR Science Update, 2004)
Once scientists simulate the likelihood that various regions will undergo significant
climate changes in coming decades, they then examine the resulting implications
such changes, including global warming, may have on crops, forests, air quality,
and fragile ecosystems. This update highlights some of NCAR's ongoing research
on the impacts of climate change. Also see Our
Research: Weather, Climate, and Society.
NCAR science in service to society (NCAR Science Update, 2002)
NCAR programs have always addressed societal as well as theoretical problems,
and NCAR technologies continue to be put to practical use. This update samples
efforts to safeguard the nation's environment, health, safety, and prosperity.
Also see Our Research: Impacts
on Society.
Climate modeling
Picturing Climate's Complexity: The Community Climate System Model (2004)
Get
an inside look at this NCAR-based climate model, including its
components, research highlights, and challenges for the future.
Also see Our Research:
Computer Models.
International collaboration
Partnerships Around the World: Advancing Our Understanding of Earth's Atmosphere (2005)
UCAR and NCAR work with universities and research centers across
the globe to learn more about the atmosphere and its interactions
with the Sun, oceans, biosphere, and human society. This publication
highlights our collaborations with researchers on
every continent.
Research tools
New Heights in Environmental Research: HIAPER (2004)
A research aircraft with exceptional capabilities will soon take
to the skies: the High-performance Instrumented Airborne Platform
for Environmental Research.
Also see Our Research:
Aircraft.
Solar research, including space weather and Sun-Earth
connections
Solar
research (NCAR
Science Update, Spring 2005) Download as
Scientists at NCAR's High Altitude Observatory are sharpening our view of
the vast forces shaping solar magnetism. Their work may point the way to better
predictions of solar storms and other events with impacts on Earth's atmosphere,
such as the solar cycle. The effect of the Sun on Earth's climate is another
focus of NCAR research. Also see Our
Research: The Sun and Space Weather.
Also check out
Tip Sheets
NCAR Research
Weather & Climate Basics for students and educators
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