Climate and Weather on ZME Science

Meet the "Ice Man" saving Himalayan farms with artificial glaciers

An engineer’s clever artificial glaciers bring water back to parched Himalayan fields.

What is a waterspout and did one sink the Bayesian luxury yacht?

Are waterspouts some of Europe's most underestimated disasters?

Stratocumulus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Stratocumulus clouds are an intriguing and common sight in the sky.

Cumulonimbus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Understanding nature's most dramatic skyscape, the Cumulonimbus cloud.

Cumulus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Understanding Cumulus clouds and their significance in weather forecasting can help you connect with the dynamic atmosphere above you

Stratus clouds: overview and weather prediction

The science behind Stratus clouds, their formation, identification, and implications in weather prediction.

Nimbostratus clouds: overview and weather prediction

An impartial and factual guide to understanding and identifying Nimbostratus clouds.

Altostratus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Discover the facts about the fascinating altostratus cloud formation, its characteristics, and how it influences weather predictions.

Altocumulus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Altocumulus clouds are fascinating formations that grace our skies

Cirrostratus clouds: overview and weather prediction

It's time to turn your gaze skyward as we delve into the world of cirrostratus clouds.

Cirrocumulus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Discover the wonders of cirrocumulus clouds, the charming and enigmatic clouds floating high above.

Cirrus clouds: overview and weather prediction

Learn about the fascinating world of cirrus clouds, the wispy and high-flying wonders of the sky.

Why clouds don't fall: the physics behind the sky's fluffy wonders

They never fall but they pour.

The different types of clouds: what they mean for weather

Clouds come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Each type can mean different weather conditions.

What are the different climate zones? A simple explainer

Earth has different types of climate produced by numerous factors, including differences in radiation, geology, and latitude.

Storm Recipe: How Cyclones, Typhoons and Hurricanes Are Formed

Storms can get extremely intense -- and climate change is only making them worse.

Could cloud seeding be mankind's superpower, allowing us to control rain

You can make it rain anywhere, all you need to do is some cloud seeding. At least, that's the theory.

If the atmosphere is chaotic, how can we trust climate models?

There's a lot of chaos in the atmosphere. But that doesn't mean we can't model it.

How scientists predict climate scenarios -- enter the world of climate models

Climate models evolved over the years and have always been accurate.

What is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved?

It won’t be easy but we have to do it for the future of the planet.

How we know climate change is happening -- and that we're causing it

We're way past the point of doubts on this one.

What are climate tipping points?

We are much closer to crossing them than we think -- and it’s all because of our greenhouse gas emissions.

How much of our emissions come from agriculture?

The food on our plates is one of the main contributors to the ongoing climate crisis.

What is the albedo effect, and why it matters in the climate crisis

Warm, sleep, melt, repeat.

A deep look at carbon capture and storage (CCS) and its role in the climate crisis

CCS (or carbon capture and storage) is one of the terms that often pops up in the climate debate -- and for good reason.

Climate change. Facts and figures behind mankind's greatest challenge

The effects are already visible and will get worse if the world doesn't act fast.

How much do clouds weigh?

A typical cumulus cloud weighs as much as 100 elephants.

What causes the wind and where does it come from?

Differences in air pressure are what drives the formation of wind. But, ultimately, the wind is caused by the Sun.

Is there a hoax related to climate change?

It's real, it's dangerous, but some people want to make it seem like a joke.

Here's how corrupt climate change deniers want to change your mind

Back in the 1970s, both the oil and the coal industry were well aware of the effects burning fossil fuels has on the atmosphere. But, despite knowing that their activities are causing global warming, they didn’t tell the world — instead, they launched a campaign to sow doubts about the veracity of climate change, a […]

What are greenhouse gases and why we need to worry about them? A simple explainer

They are in the atmosphere and have an influence on the energy balance of the planet

What is the Paris agreement? A breakdown on its importance

It's one of the most important treaties in modern history.

Water from thin air: a look at how rain and precipitation forms

There are a lot of elements that come together to 'make it rain'. Both in nature and in the club.

What is the Greenhouse effect, and why it's (currently) bad for us

A look at the process which makes life on Earth possible -- but may topple our society if taken too far.

What's the difference between weather and climate? Here's why it matters

Everything you wanted to know about climate. No -- really.

Do volcanoes really emit more CO2 than humans?

Volcanoes emit a significant amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but nowhere near what humans emit.

How palm trees thrive in Vancouver despite the freezing Canadian weather

Palm trees in Vancouver aren't fake.

What is El Niño?

El Niño is an oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific which impacts weather patterns.

What are tornadoes and how do they form?

Tornadoes are associated with the strongest and most violent storms, reaching winds of up to 300 miles per hour (480 km/h).

'Fire Rainbows' - What they are, how they form, and of course, great pictures

With the recent sighting of a fire rainbow in South Carolina, there seems to be a sudden surge of interest for this phenomenon, so I thought I’d come back with some more information. First of all, they’re not ‘fire rainbows’; in fact, they’re not rainbows at all. The correct name is circumhorizontal arc, and it’s […]

The Skypunch - not a fancy anime combat move, but just as awesome

"Skypunch" is the colloquial name of a phenomenon known as a Fallstreak hole - a large circular or elliptical gap that can appear in cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds.

How would the world look like without ice?

There are more than five million cubic miles of ice on Earth, and throughout our planet’s history, there have been periods with both more, and less ice. We tend to think of ice as an immovable reality but in truth, planetary ice is quite volatile. With continuously rising temperatures, melting ice and rising sea levels […]

Why does it rain so much in London? Well, it's not that much really

Did you know it rains more in Miami, Orlando and NYC than in London?

8 examples of photometeors w/ pics

The response to the awesome phenomena article was amazing, I’d really like to thank you all! I was really surprised to see how many of you actually contributed and sent me more pictures of awesome phenomena, so I’ll definitely do a follow up in a few days, mentioning who gave me the tip, so keep […]

8 totally awesome natural phenomena you probably didn't know about

The Maelstrom When you hear a name like maelstrom, you just know it’s about something wicked. Introduced in English by Edgar Allan Poe from the Nordic languages, from which it came from the Dutch word maelstrom (maalstroom in modern spelling), it literally means crushing current, which is quite a very good description. A maelstom is […]

Understanding thunder and lightning

In ancient times, people looked up to the sky and thought it was the home of the gods; they found a divine explanation for pretty much all natural phenomena, and thunder was usually a tool of the gods. Strange enough, but today things aren’t really that different. Sure, you’ll say, we know it’s a discharge […]

How are rainbows made? The colorful physics behind

What are Rainbows? Rainbows are some of the most spectacular phenomena in nature; they’ve fascinated and stimulated our imagination since the dawn of mankind, and continue to do so to this day. There are all sorts of legends surrounding them, from the treasure at the end of the rainbow to the house of gods for which […]