Simulated Clouds and Precipitation

GEOS-5 Model Visible || Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere are called aerosols. Windblown dust, sea salts, sulfates, smoke from wildfires, and pollution from factories are all examples of aerosols. Depending upon their size, type, and location, aerosols can either cool the surface, or warm it. They can help clouds to form, or they can inhibit cloud formation. And if inhaled, some aerosols can be harmful to people’s health. To study aerosols and their impact on clouds, researchers from NASA’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office ran a simulation of the atmosphere that captured how winds transport aerosols around the world. This simulation, produced by the Goddard Earth Observing System Model Version 5 (GEOS -5), shows clouds (white), dust (brown shades), sulfates (purple shades), and organic black carbon (green shades) at 7-kilometer resolution from September 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005 (hourly). Simulations such as this one allow scientists to better understand how different types of aerosols travel in the atmosphere, impact cloud formation, and influence weather and climate. || Iage from visualization with colorbars

Carbon Monoxide animation of Dec 1 - 31, 2006 || Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas emitted primarily from bio- and fossil fuel combustion and forest fires. CO is regulated by the environmental protection agency because extremely high concentrations can cause harmful health effects. This simulation, produced by the Goddard Earth Observing System Model Version 5 (GEOS-5) at 7-kilometer resolution, shows carbon monoxide concentrations at Earth’s surface from December 1-31, 2006. In the atmosphere, CO has a lifetime of about one month resulting in the highest mixing ratios over source regions. The CO seen here primarily comes from fires burning in South America and Africa, and industrial activities taking place in urban areas such as Europe, Asia, and the United States. Atmospheric circulation quickly moves CO in concentrated masses, often transporting this pollutant from one continent to the next. Simulations such as this allow scientists to better understand the variability and transport of CO and show both the regional and global impacts of pollution.

500MB winds animation of Aug 1 - Nov 30, 2006 || This simulation, produced by the Goddard Earth Observing System Model Version 5 (GEOS-5), shows 500 mb wind speeds at 7-kilometer resolution from August 1 to November 30, 2006, ranging from 0 to 135 knots (0 to 155 mph). The 500 mb wind speeds are often referred to as the “steering winds” of the atmosphere. Simulations such as this allow scientists to better understand global upper-level wind patterns that influence how weather systems such as cyclones and anticyclones move. In addition, scientists can study how atmospheric constituents such as aerosols can be transported from the surface to upper-levels.

Clouds and precipitable water animation of Apr 1 - Jul 31, 2006. || To better understanding Earth’s hydrological cycle, energy budget, and climate, scientists study moisture and clouds in the atmosphere. This simulation, produced by the Goddard Earth Observing System Model Version 5 (GEOS-5), shows precipitable water and clouds at 7-kilometer resolution from April 1 to July 31, 2006. Precipitable water is the total amount of water vapor contained within a vertical column of the atmosphere. In other words, its how much water would result if all the water in that column precipitated as rain. The amount of precipitable water in the air is small in extremely arid areas and in locations where the temperatures are very low (e.g., polar regions). Simulations such as this one allow scientists to gain new insights into atmospheric humidity and how clouds and water vapor impact precipitation and surface temperature.

GEOS-5 aerosols shown at SC 2014. || This animation was shown on the hyperwall at the Supercomputing conference in 2014 (SC 2014). This animation covers the period March 1, 2007 - June 16, 2007.