The hottest Atmospheric science Substack posts right now

A recent EPA decision tries to reinterpret the Clean Air Act in a way that risks stepping into the judiciary’s role, which almost certainly invites lawsuits and constitutional conflict.
Leaving water vapor out of the regulated greenhouse gases was the Endangerment Finding’s weakest point, because combustion-derived water vapor can measurably affect local and regional climate and therefore fits the logic used to regulate other gases.
Including water vapor in regulation would be politically and practically chaotic and costly, so the real fix is for Congress to update the Clean Air Act or for litigation to force a clear judicial ruling.

Private solar geoengineering companies are rapidly growing, raising large investments, running field tests, and positioning the sector for big market expansion in the coming decade.
Supporters argue that reflecting sunlight could quickly cool the planet and save many lives from extreme heat, which is driving calls for major research funding and more academic trials.
But the approach has serious risks and uncertainties—it can worsen ozone depletion and ocean acidification, disrupt regional climates, and may distract from the more effective long-term solution of cutting fossil fuel emissions.

Ice flowers are unique formations in the Arctic created by a process called sublimation, where water vapor turns directly into ice. They can actually support microbes even though they are very salty.
Hair ice is another strange phenomenon that resembles frozen hair, formed by a fungus that stabilizes thin strands of ice. This shows how nature can create artistic ice structures.
Pykrete is a mix of ice and sawdust proposed as a material for building a large aircraft carrier during World War II. Although interesting, it was deemed impractical because it required constant cold temperatures to maintain its structure.

Studying Venus helps us understand climate change on Earth. Venus and Earth started out similarly, so learning what happened to Venus can give us clues about our own planet's future.
Exploring Venus could lead to new technologies that help us deal with extreme conditions, both in space and here on Earth. These technologies could improve things like batteries and electronics.
New missions to Venus are coming soon, which will gather fresh data and improve our knowledge about the planet. These missions are key to understanding whether Venus could have supported life in the past.

The color cerulean comes from the Latin word for sky and should represent the color of the sky.
Rayleigh scattering explains why the sky appears blue - shorter wavelengths scatter more.
Calculating the color of Anne Hathaway's cerulean sweater using physics resulted in a color close to the original, proving Meryl Streep's character in 'The Devil Wears Prada' was correct.

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The idea of global warming caused by human activities becoming a scientific fact evolved through the cultural evolution process of the scientific method, involving observation, hypothesis testing, and theory formation.
Scientists in the 19th century made key discoveries about radiation and emissions that laid the foundation for understanding the greenhouse effect, and later researchers like Arrhenius and Manabe contributed to the development of climate science.
Measurements and research over time have confirmed predictions about rising CO2 levels and global temperature increase, showcasing the progression of global warming from hypothesis to scientific fact.

Paul Crutzen's research showed how man-made chemicals like CFCs harm the ozone layer. His work helped us understand the direct link between our activities and environmental damage.
The discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica led to global cooperation. Countries came together to create treaties like the Montreal Protocol to reduce substances that harm the ozone.
Public awareness and strong environmental policies from leaders like Nixon and Carter played a key role in ozone protection. These actions set important regulations to help preserve our planet's atmosphere.

Venus has a very thick atmosphere mostly made of carbon dioxide, which traps heat and creates extreme temperatures of about 464°C. This causes a runaway greenhouse effect, making Venus one of the hottest places in our solar system.
In the past, Venus might have had liquid water and a more Earth-like climate. But intense heating from the Sun caused water to evaporate, leading to the loss of its oceans and transforming it into a dry, barren planet.
Earth is not immune to similar environmental issues. If we keep increasing greenhouse gas emissions, we could face severe climate changes in the future, highlighting the need for immediate action to protect our planet.