Last week’s Arctic outbreak brought some of the coldest air in decades across the U.S. Midwest and South. But interestingly, it didn’t last as long as historic cold waves of the late 20th century.

In parts of California and Oregon, 2013 was the driest calendar year on record, with no sign of relief on the horizon. NCAR scientists are examining how water and energy use intersect across this drought-prone region and how the nexus could evolve in a future climate.

The globally averaged surface air temperature hasn’t risen much in the last 15 years, but new research confirms ample heating of Earth, which becomes evident when looking at certain times of year and in particular locations, including deep in the ocean.

Leading scientists head to the western tropical Pacific, where storms influence climate worldwide.

It’s hard to escape the cold now plowing into the eastern United States. Amid all the hype, what stands out about this early winter onslaught?