Djordje Mirkovic

Abstract The rough hailstone scattering library is created to fill the need for results of non-spheroidal hailstone backscattering characteristics. The listed backscattering coefficients at the S-band (2.8 GHZ) are specifically tailored for computing the polarimetric variables. The National Weather Service’s radar operates in this band; hence the library is pertinent to those studying hail in the USA. The library contains several axis ratios and a range of hail sizes from 5 mm to 100 mm.

Significance The annual appearance of massive mayfly swarms is a source of public fascination and spectacular natural phenomenon that plays a key role in regional food webs. Alarming reports of insect declines motivate efforts to uncover long-term and large-scale invertebrate population trends. Monitoring aquatic insect abundance across ecosystems continues to be logistically infeasible, leaving the vulnerability of these communities to intensifying anthropogenic impacts unknown.

A study finds a shift in onset of El Niño events from eastern to western Pacific and increased frequency of extreme El Niño events since the late 1970s.