Developmental Testbed Center (DTC)

Better land models mean better forecasts. Noah-MP® LSM captures how soil, water, plants, and snow interact over time, improving the accuracy of weather and hydrological predictions we depend on every day.
Explore more! ral.ucar.edu/solutions/be...

A group of six people standing outside taking measurements with weather instruments

A family of four working on an activity with pipe cleaners

Families spread out around tables in the Mesa Lab classroom working on activities

What a wonderful Homeschool Day last week at the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social Mesa Lab!

Thank you to all the homeschool families and groups who spent the day with us exploring wind, weather, and Earth science.

Buds begin to bloom, snow slowly melts; it’s the beginning of meteorological spring! March marks the shift from meteorological winter into spring, covering March, April & May. Meteorological seasons follow temperature trends & weather patterns instead of astronomical movements. 📊: @noaa.gov !

Future Changes to Extreme Downslope Windstorms Across the Northern Colorado Front Range, McKenzie Larson, Ph.D. Candidate, ATOC - CU Boulder

🌎 Explore, Learn, Connect - RAL Seminar Series 🌎
🍃 Future Changes to Extreme Downslope Windstorms Across the Northern Colorado Front Range
🍃 McKenzie Larson, Ph.D. Candidate, ATOC, CU Boulder
🍃 WED, March 11, 2026 | 1-2 PM (MT) | Free Hybrid Event
Details: ral.ucar.edu/events/2026/...

Space may seem far away, but space weather can have big impacts on our technology-dependent lives here on Earth. 🛰️ Check out this sneak peek of next week’s NSF NCAR Explorer Series that will discuss this fascinating and important topic. Learn more: https://edec.ucar.edu/events/space-debris

A bright green aurora over dark trees at the bottom

Why are auroras different colors? 🌌
Auroras—called the aurora borealis in the Northern Hemisphere and the aurora australis in the Southern Hemisphere—occur in part of Earth's upper atmosphere, in a layer called the thermosphere.

Do you want to learn more about how tsunamis work? Take our “The Science of Tsunamis” course to discover what makes tsunamis and how the waves can travel around the world.

🔎 Preview the course: www.comet.ucar.edu/course-info-...

✅Take the course: learn.meted.ucar.edu#/online-cour...

A promotional flyer for a seminar hosted by NSF and NCAR. It features a satellite in space. The text reads: "Keeping space safe: Understanding the impacts of space weather on satellite orbits." The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM MT at the NSF NCAR Mesa Laboratory, Boulder, CO. A QR code and headshot of the speaker, Nick Pedatella, are included.

To prevent collisions of satellites and other "space junk," we need to predict the weather in space, just like we predict the weather on Earth. Join the NSF NCAR Explorer Series (virtually or in-person) to learn more about how researchers do that: https://edec.ucar.edu/events/space-debris

Join Us Today! 1-2 PM (MT) 💧David Yates, Scientist VI, NSF NCAR: 💧Integrated Water Systems
🌎 RAL Seminar Series - Explore, Learn, Connect 🌎
Watch Live: ral.ucar.edu/live

Three images of the Sun showing magnetic vectors produced by PINNBARDS.

NSF NCAR and @swri.org researchers have created an AI-enabled forecasting tool that is a first step toward forecasting space weather weeks in advance, instead of just hours. Learn more: https://news.ucar.edu/133059/new-research-takes-first-step-toward-advance-warnings-space-weather

A crowd of people gathered outside for the science-magic demonstrations.

Come join us at the CSU Little Shop of Physics Open House💫
This event is FREE and open to the public, welcoming curious minds of all ages!
🗓️ Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
📍CSU Lory Student Center, Fort Collins, CO

🌟 Registration is open for the 2026 Improving Scientific Software (ISS) Conference! Hosted by the UCAR Software Engineering Assembly, join us April 6–9, 2026 in Boulder, CO (or virtually) as we explore “Maintaining the Joy of Software Development.”

More information: sea.ucar.edu/iss/2026/

Fluffy clouds around mountain peaks in a fjord

A beach sunset with clouds

Curious about clouds? 🔎☁️
With our free Field Guide to Clouds app, you can identify different types of clouds, learn what they can tell us about the weather, and test your cloud knowledge with quizzes! Search "Field Guide to Clouds" in the Apple or Google Play store or scied.ucar.edu/apps/cloud-g...

📆 SAVE the DATE! We are excited to announce that Dr. Baoqiang Xiang will be speaking on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 11:00am MT regarding "How predictable are North American summer heat extremes on the subseasonal timescale?" cpaess.ucar.edu/news/cpaess-...

A booth staff member smiling down at a student.

Today is National Science Day, a day to celebrate curiosity, discovery, and the science that helps us understand the world around us. From weather patterns and Earth's interconnected systems to the Sun and space weather, science helps explain how our planet works.

Hillside wildfire with flames and smoke near residential area with several houses. Photo credit: FEMA

Our researchers have compiled the first nationwide inventory of emissions from structure fires in the wildland-urban interface. The inventory lays the groundwork for communities to be more prepared for and resilient to the impacts of smoke. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4rOBgeu

Integrated Water Systems: Translating Physical Climate Science into Practical Water Management Solutions at Global, Regional & Local Scales David Yates, Scientist VI, NSF NCAR RAL

🌎 Explore, Learn, Connect - RAL Seminar Series 🌎
💧Integrated Water Systems: Translating Physical Climate Science into Practical Water Management Solutions at Global, Regional & Local Scales
💧David Yates, Scientist VI, NSF NCAR
💧WED, FEB 25, 1-2 PM (MT) Free Hybrid Event
ral.ucar.edu/events/2026/...

Wildfires that burn buildings create significantly more air pollution | NCAR & UCAR News Learn about our resources for journalists, our brand guidelines & how to contact our staff.

Fires that burn buildings in the wildland-urban interface create more air pollution, according to work led by @ncar-ucar.bsky.social and co-authored by CIRES scientists @earthlabcu.bsky.social, @cu-esiil.bsky.social & @cugeography.bsky.social.

Read more from NSF NCAR

✈️ 🚗 ❄️ Happening tonight! Weather on the Move: Understanding Weather Hazards for Cars, Trucks, & Drones, a free, in-person lecture & conversation at Bambei Brewing, 7-8 PM MST in Superior, CO. Featuring NSF NCAR RAL's Brittany Welch. Details edec.ucar.edu/events/winte...

George McCabe - DTC PROUD Award winner

🌟Congratulations, George McCabe - DTC PROUD Award winner!🌟 His initiative, technical leadership, & commitment to excellence consistently go beyond expectations, establishing George as a cornerstone of DTC software development & profoundly deserving of this recognition. 🤩 dtcenter.org/news/george-...

A photo of a snowplow plowing a snowy highway with two lanes of cars behind it. Text in the top left corner says "Innovations in Road Weather Science. Feb 19"

Final reminder for our February 19th virtual teacher professional development session "Innovations in Road Weather Science!"
Hosted by NSTA, this session dives into how scientists use weather data, modeling, and emerging technologies to better understand road conditions and improve traffic safety.

Mark your calendars for an in-person Explorer Series event at Bambei Brewing on February 17th. Come listen to Dr. Brittany Welch talk about how NSF NCAR research can keep cars, trucks, and drones safe in hazardous weather. No registration required. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4kmIt2V

The Derecho supercomputer at the NSF NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center

How does a supercomputer help further research?
At the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social-Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC), high-performance computing systems support data visualization, weather forecasting, and other critical space and Earth system research.

➕ Learn more about NSF NCAR RAL's Road Weather Research: https://ral.ucar.edu/solutions/benefits/predicting-hazardous-road-conditions

Smarter winter road forecasts mean safer travel for everyone.❄️🚘 Pikalert® delivers road-level hazard guidance & treatment recommendations that help transportation agencies act earlier, respond smarter, & use resources more efficiently.➕Learn more! ral.ucar.edu/solutions/be...

Reduction of Global Sulfate Aerosol Concentration and Corresponding Radiative Effects From Recent Chinese SO2 $ Emission Reduction Updated Chinese emissions increase the rate of SO2 ${\text{SO}}_{2}$ emissions reduction over 2010–2020 compared to a previous estimate Using the updated emissions, modeled upper tropospheric SO2...

New published paper by @ncar-acom.bsky.social scientist Ren Smith at Geophysical Research Letters: "Reduction of Global #Sulfate #Aerosol Concentration and Corresponding #Radiative Effects From Recent #Chinese #Emission Reduction"
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
#emissions #SO4 #SO2

A high-resolution simulation illustrating ocean currents with vibrant colors. The warm currents are depicted in red and orange, centrally concentrated along the equator, while cooler currents appear in blue and green. Continents, including North America, South America, Africa, Eurasia, and Australia, are visible.

We’ve got a new dataset that’s hi-res and research ready: MESACLIP. Researchers used two supercomputers to create the MESACLIP dataset which features the Earth system in unprecedented detail, including snow cover and sea surface temperatures. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4rBK9bg

Person in a red parka stands beside the South Pole marker, holding up a finger. There are reflective sunglasses, and various flags, including the United Kingdom and Norway flags, are in the background. The landscape is snowy and bright.

A small utility vehicle is pulling a sled with the SCARGO instrument across a snowy field. In the background, a U.S. Air Force ski plane is parked, featuring visible markings and propellers. Buildings are visible in the distance against a cloudy sky.

A view inside a military aircraft showing a large, heavy-duty case with a laptop open on top, displaying a digital interface. The interior is equipped with numerous seats and cargo secured with red netting. Various equipment and bags are visible around the space.

A large propeller airplane is flying over a snowy landscape with a backdrop of tall, majestic mountains.

NSF NCAR researchers will go to the ends of the Earth to collect data. The SCARGO project is wraps up this week, but for the last couple of months, the SCARGO instrument has been hitching a ride on flights to the South Pole to collect data on the Southern Ocean. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4auVMLB

Join Us Today! 2-3 PM (MT) 🌆 Aaron Alexander, Postdoctoral Researcher, UW Madison presents: 🌆 Current Plans & Future Heat Extremes: Modeling Nature-Based Solution Impacts on Urban Eco-hydrometeorology in Milwaukee, WI
🌎 RAL Seminar Series - Explore, Learn, Connect 🌎
Watch Live: ral.ucar.edu/live

Temperature field across the globe produced by Artificial Intelligence Global Forecast System. Shows all the continents and oceans on a spectrum of blue to red representing cold to hot.

📢 AI-driven global weather prediction model output is now available in NSF Unidata!

We're pleased to announce AI-driven global weather prediction model output in NSF Unidata datastreams thanks to a partnership with NOAA and NWS.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/45HHDYt

That’s a wrap for #AMS2026! 🌟 We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and learn alongside such an inspiring and supportive community. See you next year in Denver. Until then, please reach out and continue to connect with us!
NSF NCAR RAL • Science Serving Society • ral.ucar.edu