Theresa Barosh

Colorado State University’s renowned tropical cyclone team has received a grant to improve forecasting and warnings for NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters in dangerous tropical storms. Professor Michael Bell’s Tropical Cyclones, Radar, Atmospheric Modeling, and Software team in the Department of Atmospheric Science  will use machine learning to improve NOAA’s airborne Doppler radar data processing pipeline, particularly the quality control software that makes the information available.

Williams Fork Reservoir in Grand County, just over half full. With three-quarters of the state in severe drought, Colorado’s Drought Task Force is leaning on Russ Schumacher, atmospheric science professor at Colorado State University, for regular updates on statewide conditions. Governor Jared Polis issued a statewide drought emergency proclamation on June 4 based on the task force’s recommendation.

Methane emissions come from both natural sources, like wetlands, and human sources, such as livestock farming and landfills. Methane is also emitted throughout the oil and gas supply chain, from production at wells to end-use in homes and businesses. “Natural gas – the stuff delivered to your home – is about 95 percent methane, so natural gas leaks are mostly methane,” said Dan Zimmerle, director of CSU’s Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center (METEC).